Kaidi Kivioja sets Estonian record in full Ironman debut

Estonian triathlete Kaidi Kivioja has achieved a significant milestone, setting a new national record in her debut at the full-distance Ironman European Championships held in Hamburg, Germany. Competing against the world's best, Kivioja completed the grueling event with an impressive time of 9:04:20.

The race involved a 3.8km swim, a 180km cycle, and a full marathon of 42.2km. Kivioja's swim time was 1:00:03, followed by a 4:30:16 for the cycling segment, and she finished the marathon in 3:07:01. She noted that while she was separated from her initial swimming group, the cycling portion was her strongest and most satisfying discipline. The marathon, her longest run to date, presented an unknown challenge, but she managed it without significant pain or cramps, despite a drop in pace.

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I had never run more than 32 kilometers before, and the last ten kilometers were unknown territory for me. My pace did drop, but I didn't feel bad. There were no pains, cramps, or stomach problems. I expected it to get harder.

Kivioja chose the Hamburg event for its suitable course and the opportunity to test herself against elite competition. Her preparation involved extensive training, including long bike rides of five to six hours and 30km runs. "I had never run more than 32 kilometers before, and the last ten kilometers were unknown territory for me," Kivioja described, adding that she anticipated it would be tougher.

Looking ahead, Kivioja is determined to continue competing in Ironman events. Her next major goal is the World Championships in Kona. The previous Estonian record was held by Liis Rametta, who recorded 9:15:18 at the California Ironman two years prior. The Hamburg race was won by Norway's Solveig Løvseth in 8:11:11.

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I definitely plan to compete in more Ironman events in the future. The next one will be the World Championships in Kona.