When I awoke this morning at 09:10 it was pouring rain, only 18 ° Celsius with strong slashing winds, the men had already swum 2.4.miles / 3.86 kilometers and most had also already completed 67 kilometers of the 112 mile / 180.25 kilometers, and the women an avaerage of 60 kilometers.

I look out the rainy windows and think of the poor athletes having to compete under these conditions. When I open the balcony door the windows slam throughout the house, the wind is howling here on the 10th floor. I shiver grab my housecoat and go make coffee.

 

Today is the FRANKFURTER SPARKASSE IRONMAN TRIATHLON EUROPEAN CHALLENGE

The official rules issued by the World Triathlon Corporation state:

An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) consisting of a 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.25 km) bike and a marathon 26.2-mile (42.2 km) run, raced in that order and without a break. Most Ironman events have a strict time limit of 17 hours to complete the race, where the Ironman race starts at 7:00 AM, the mandatory swim cut off for the 2.4-mile (3.9 km) swim is 2 hours 20 minutes, the bike cut off time is 5:30 PM, and all finishers must complete their marathon by midnight.

I watch the triathletes bike by in the rain and need a hearty but fruity breakfast to fight off the July chill.

Oatmeal always calls to me when I need warmth and comfort. I adore oatmeal and my family does too.

A perfect food, a healthy athlete’s breakfast combined with fresh grilled fruit. Yum, yum says Pooh!

Wiki tells us:

Rolled oats have long been a staple of many athletes’ diets, especially weight trainers, because of its high content of complex carbohydrates and water-soluble fibre that encourages slow digestion and stabilizes blood-glucose levels. Oatmeal porridge also contains more B vitamins and calories than other kinds of porridges.

Yes this is what I’m craving this morning and this is what I made.

Grilled Peaches and Apricots over Oatmeal

Grilled Peaches and Apricots over Oatmeal

Breakfast for 2

For the grilled fruits:

• 4 ripe white-fleshed Saturn peaches – or other ripe peaches of your choice
• 4 ripe apricots
• 2 TBSPs of almond slivers
• Juice of 1 orange
• 1 pinch of anise seed
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 grind black pepper
• 2 TBSPs of Agave sirup or 2 TBSPs honey or brown sugar
• 2 tsps hazelnut oil or other oil or use butter – used to butter the small gratin dishes
• 1 pinch of vanilla seeds or ¼ tsp of vanilla aroma

Heat the oven grill to medium high (on the grilling with convection setting if you have it). In a large bowl combine ½ the orange juice, the almonds and the spices. Wash and peel the peaches into eigths and the apricots into sixths adding them to the bowl as you go along. Mix well.

Oil or butter 2 small gratin dishes use a larger one if you don’t have 2 small ones. Divide the fruit amongst the 2 dishes.

Place dishes in the middle of the oven and grill for 10 minutes, checking occasionally that the fruit doesn’t burn.

Turn off the oven and leave the fruit in there with the door open until using.

For the oatmeal:

• 1 ½ cups of milk – I use lactose free – you can also use fruit juice for making oatmeal if you don’t want to use milk
• 6 heaping TBSPs of rolled oats
• 1 pinch of salt

Combine all ingredients in a small pot, Stir well. Bring to a boil stirring occasionally .
Once it boils stir it vigourously for 1 minute letting it bubble and boil and spit taking care not to burn yourself or the oatmeal. Remove from the heat, cover with a lid and let stand to thicken.

For the orange sauce:

• the other ½ of the orange juice from the grilled fruit
• 2 TBSPs of confectioner’s sugar
• 1 lump of butter

Place all ingredients in a small pot. Bring to a boil stirring constantly. Reduce heat to a low boil and boil about 5 minutes to reduce and thicken stir occasionally.

Putting it all together:

Divide the oatmeal between 2 deep pasta plates. Spoon the grilled fruit and juices around the oatmeal, pour ½ of the orange sauce over each plate.

Spoon and enjoy!

While I was making this the wind died out and took the rain clouds with it – the sun now peaks through the clouds making it steamy after all the rain. All in all still lousy conditions to start the last and most difficult part of the Triathlon: the 42 kilometer / 26 mile run.

Courage all and may the best man and woman win.
May there be little injury and may the heartbroken defeated find solace in having given it their best.

Update on July 9th 2012:

I dedicate this post to my friend and colleague Thomas Selmayr for his amazing results under difficult conditions. Your a champ Thomas for having completed!
Times: swim: 1:10:28 / bike: 5:21:15 (with 6 without brakes!) / run: 4:07:23 – total: 10:49:06 – ranking 790 in total and 190 in his division.

You can find further results here:

Iron Man Frankfurt 2012

Congratualtions to the winners:
Male: Marino Vanhoenacker from Belgium – swim: 00:45:07 bike: 04:26:26 run: 02:48:19 – total time 08:03:31
Female: Caroline Steffen from Switzerland – swim: 00:48:58 bike: 04:52:34 run: 03:06:52 – total time 08:52:33