At the end of the year 2008 Dresdner Kleinworth Triathlon Team member Markus Fachbach takes a look forward and backward ...

Cookies and biscuits are definitely a part of Christmas. So I would like to present my absolute favourite recipe: “Great nutty corners” – a classic, which my mother rarefied a little.
I wish you all Merry Christmas and lots of fun with baking and eating these awesome cookies...

You are looking back on a tough season. What was your personal highlight of 2008?

Most likely I’m looking back at my first place at the middle distance German Championship in Kulmbach. 12th place at Ironman Hawaii can’t be a highlight for a two time Hawaii Champion. But the way to this result was one of the most important physical experiences during the past year. Although I had big pains, I bit through and made into the finish...

The hardest workouts don’t have a great effect, when the timing of the training plan is not right. Only who knows the exact courses of his body, is able to set the right stimuli to the right time.

Fitness in 4 steps

Endurance- or interval method, strength- or pace training: Triathletes discuss the effect of different methods a lot in their daily training sessions. Not known very well so far is the timing of a good training plan. What ergonomic findings is the transition of charge and discharge based on and why are the athletes supposed to take a week for recovery after three weeks of hard training? Or why is it especially after the training camp so important to get some time to rest?...

On this past weekend, the NBC Ironman Hawaii broadcast featured Normann Stadler in a leading role - until a series of cramps on the run cut down the two-time champion from 1st place at the half marathon mark to an eventual 12th place finish. Thus for the second straight year, the man who signed a whopping great Dresdner Kleinwort contract after his second World Championship struggled through a disappointing finish at the only race that really counts.

A lesser man with normal insecurities might be feeling the heat. After all, Stadler signed on for fewer races, misfired for his German sponsors at Frankfurt, and is now 0-for2 at Kona. But a man of Stadler’s singular talents maintains his champion's confidence, sure that with a few centimeters adjustment to his bike fit and a couple of sessions in the lab to determine his sweat rate and mineral composition he was just a few ticks away from another dominating, even-year triumph...

You are looking back on a tough season. What was your personal highlight of 2008?

I love winning, so my highlight has to be the 3rd win in a row at Ironman Austria.

2)How you are going to train and prepare during the winter 08/09?...

You are looking back on a tough season. What was your personal highlight of 2008?

Ironman Hawaii, for sure. I think it was the biggest step of my career so far. It was a big goal of mine getting under the top ten on Hawaii. That it already happened this year is so exciting. It gives me a lot of self-confidence for the next years. Now I believe that I can reach more with taking great pains and a little luck...

You are looking back on a tough season. What was your personal highlight of 2008?

My personal highlight was the 2nd place at Ironman UK. Being a rookie winner and defending champion at this years’ Ironman UK, there was a lot of pressure going back. After a very poor swim, I exited the water in 12th position much further down the field than anticipated. I think I showed good character and mental toughness in my own race. First my race didn’t go to plan, but then I climbed through the field from 12th to 4th position off the bike and then to 2nd position at the end of the marathon...

Today Mathias Hecht takes you to the Christmas market in Willisau...

I have been working with several coaches since the beginning of my Ironman career. The Australian Scott Penny coached me during my first two Ironman years. He was the one, who motivated and convinced me for my first Ironman. In 2007 I worked with Olivier Bernhard and since the middle of 2008, Greg Bennett is my coach. Most know Greg Bennett, because he is one of the best short distance athletes of the world and he dominated the famous Life Time Fitness series in the USA the past two years. Even though I’m doing triathlon for ten years now and made a lot of experiences, I’m happy that there is a person in the background, who plans my daily training sessions...