ABOUT ME
Running and sport in general have always been in my blood.
It was only after meeting Jasmina in 2009 and participating in my first triathlon that I fell in love with endurance training. In 2011, while living and working in Rio de Janeiro we both managed to qualify and race the IRONMAN world championships.
It was an experience of a lifetime seeing so many fit people in one place.
Our focus shifted with the birth of our first child Elvin in 2012.
We moved back to Nice, participating in different endurance events, including the Salomon 4 trails, a 160km long trail run through the Alps passing 3 countries and conquering 10km of altitude difference.
Completely fed up with my job, I resigned in 2013, bought a house, and moved to Kirkkonummi (Finland). Inspired by the Finnish archipelago we discovered swimrunning. Both strong runners and descent swimmers we had a blast in our first swimrun ever in Utö (Sweden) where we won the mixed category and got 4th overall.
Filled with enthusiasm we decided to participate in the famous (75km) ÖtillÖ swimrun race. After 5 hours of racing we had to pull out due to a knee injury. It was a very tough decision since we were in a leading position. Mentally and physically recovered from ÖtillÖ we took part in Utö swimrun 2015. Again, it turned out to be one of those days where nothing goes right. We got sick on race day and missed a marking due to a passing car - game over. Hungry for a perfect race we finally managed to pull it off when we won the Engadin swimrun in the mixed category and finishing 4th overall. Running and swimming in the Alps was truly an amazing experience.
Following on from Engadin we heard about the Porkkala swimrun, one of the few races where you get to swim in the sea and lakes in a single race. So for a change we decided to race in our “backyard”. Not far into the race lack of focus from both sides took its toll when Jasmina slipped on the rocks and broke her foot. Not being able to race for several months, it made us realise different things so in 2016 we celebrated the birth of our second child Viivi.
Testing our shape in a short but fun local SPRINT!! race called (Järvesta järveen swimrun) we knew that we were on the right track.
Taking the overall victory at Solvalla swimrun despite Jasmina not feeling 100% was a bonus but also a warning not to get sick in the final build-up to ÖtillÖ 1000 Lakes in Germany. On race day severe cramps and hyperventilation due to unseasonably cold air and water temperatures made us dig deeper than ever before. Struggling to reach the finish line we won the mixed category, taking second place overall.
Next year we will be racing Hvar, Utö and ÖtillÖ if all goes well.
Enjoy the training and see you out there!
“For me swimrunning is all about the experience of
getting to know yourself, nature and your partner
under different conditions through
good times and bad times.”
“Be serious but don’t take it too serious….”
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DATA
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RACEs
ÖtillÖ swimrun series Utö 2013 1st mixed (4th overall)
ÖtillÖ swimrun World championships 2013 DNF due to knee injury
ÖtillÖ swimrun series Utö 2014 DNF due to missed course marking
ÖtillÖ swimrun series Engadin 2014 1st mixed (4th overall)
Porkkala swimrun 2015 DNF due to fall on rocks resulting in broken foot
Järvestä Järveen swimrun (Lake to Lake) 2016 1st mixed (1st overall)
Solvalla swimrun 2016 1st mixed (1st overall)
ÖtillÖ swimrun 2016 1000 Lakes, Germany 1st mixed (2nd overall)
Picture credits to heading and footer pictures: Jani Kiri (Järvestä järveen swimrun 2016)
ÖtillÖ swimrun World championships 2013 DNF due to knee injury
ÖtillÖ swimrun series Utö 2014 DNF due to missed course marking
ÖtillÖ swimrun series Engadin 2014 1st mixed (4th overall)
Porkkala swimrun 2015 DNF due to fall on rocks resulting in broken foot
Järvestä Järveen swimrun (Lake to Lake) 2016 1st mixed (1st overall)
Solvalla swimrun 2016 1st mixed (1st overall)
ÖtillÖ swimrun 2016 1000 Lakes, Germany 1st mixed (2nd overall)
Picture credits to heading and footer pictures: Jani Kiri (Järvestä järveen swimrun 2016)