Andrew Notter Reflects on Completing 1st Olympic Triathlon

Andrew Notter, Chair of the British Chamber of Commerce for Luxembourg (BCC) and Founding Partner at recruitment firm Anderson Wise, recently completed an Olympic Triathlon organised by Ironman.

The 5150 triathlon took place in Knokke-Heist in Belgium on Saturday 7 September 2024 and comprised a 1.5 km swim, a 40 km bike ride and a 10 km run at the end.

Chronicle.lu caught up with Andrew after the event to find out more about his experience.

Chronicle.lu: When did you decide to take part in this specific event?

Andrew Notter: I made the decision to join the event at the end of 2023 after discussing with a friend over a few glasses of wine and dinner! By February, I officially signed up and began my training.

Chronicle.lu: What training regime did you undertake to prepare for the event?

Andrew Notter: I started with consistent 5 km runs, gradually increasing to 10 km, and invested in a new road bike to practise. Swimming was the biggest challenge for me, but I worked my way up from a few lengths of front crawl to swimming 1.5 km at Coque swimming pool. Ideally, I aimed for two sessions per week for each discipline.

Chronicle.lu: Is this your first triathlon? Have you participated in other such events, like full or half marathons before?

Andrew Notter: This was my first triathlon, but I've completed the ING Luxembourg half marathon several times over the years, though my last one was in 2018. I'm new to road cycling and longer-distance swimming.

Chronicle.lu: What are your strongest and weakest disciplines?

Andrew Notter: I'm still improving my overall fitness in all three, but cycling turned out to be the most enjoyable during the event, while swimming definitely remains my weakest.

Chronicle.lu: Did you ever feel like your body might not get you to the finish line?

Andrew Notter: At the beginning! The excitement mixed with nerves got to me, especially in the swim when I couldn't see clearly through my goggles and my heart rate shot up. It took time to settle into a rhythm. Later, during the run, the heat (over 25 degrees) and a cramping hamstring made me doubt I'd finish. But after a quick stretch and seeing my wife and kids cheering me on, I managed to pick up the pace for the final 2 km.

Chronicle.lu: Did you participate alone, or did you have a training buddy?

Andrew Notter: I completed the event alongside a good friend who lives in Luxembourg too. It helped to keep motivated and was good to complete the event with a friend.

Chronicle.lu: Would you participate in such an event again, or is once enough?

Andrew Notter: Absolutely! I enjoyed the event and even the training process. I've already started looking into possible events for next year, and, hopefully, the next one will be a little easier!