Philipp Gubler - Where I am from and where I go
April 22nd, 2008 by Philipp
My first athletic footsteps did I in the tender age of 12 years. First I went reluctantly to the junior sports club of the “TV Kradolf-Schönenberg” (small village in the east of Switzerland). Where I was introduced in the daily sports business and the high art of playing “snap ball”. I discovered my passion for running soon.
With some other enthusiasm sportsman I practised regularly. I didn’t force myself to much, I trained on average two times a week. After I have finished my high school I laced my spikes for the athletics club “STV Arbon”. The 400 meters track was my second home and I look back to several regional good placements. I did all distances from 800 to 3000 meters. As all young people I had to look for a professional training. Professional Sportsman was at this time no topic. My sport results were even not good enough.
I loved cooking so I trained three years to become a chef. During this period, I still did athletics. Unfortunately I never finished an 800m race under 2:00,00, once I was very close, I missed only around one second. When I was 20 years old, I had to go to the Swiss military. As I enjoyed carrying a lot of luggage so much and had so much fun there, I signed for four years. In 2004 I admit to the “CIOR” Team Swiss and in 2005 I celebrated the world championship title in the category “International”.
Towards the end of 2005 I left the Swiss military and looked for new professional challenge at the hotel and gastronomic school in Thun. At this time I tried my first triathlon and I caught fire. My grandfather was I great cyclist. Although he worked every day very hard, he practised regularly. Often when I was a young boy I heard his melancholy voice, when he saw the sportsmen on television: „If I had got the chance, I’d have been become a great sportsman”.
During my education at the hotel and gastronomic school in Thun, I had my chance the passion for triathlon was kindle and I wanted more. I followed the motto: now or never. Initially I was looking for a new bike. I met Dan Aeschlimann, and now I even have my own Griffen, but can profit from the excellent training plans from Toni Hasler, successful coach of Natascha Badmann. Dream goes on…
Now I am 27 years old and live in Werdenberg, close to Vaduz the capital of Liechtenstein. Last November I got my diploma and I decided to start with triathlon more seriously. With the diploma in my back, I always have the chance to work as a F&B Assistant. As long as I live my dream I can work partial time for my father in his hotel. That give me the support I need to really focus on the sport.
This year is my 1st serious triathlon season. My principal purpose is to fulfil the selection criteria for professional Swiss triathlon license. It is expected to finish a race in less than 10% of the winning time at an official Ironman competition. This is very hard and to achieve this you have to train like almost like a professional.
On my fist Ironman 70.3 South Africa in January I lost up to Raynard Tissink 17%. It was my first race over the distance 1.9/90/21.1. I overdone a little bit, but I collected a valuable experience. My next try is the Ironman 70.3 Switzerland in Rapperswil on the 1st of June. I have been training on the island of Gran Canaria since 2nd of February. I learned a lot and I especially gained a lot of power on the bicycle. In swimming I did a lot of kilometres. On running I think I could keep my level. In the nutrition I changed a lot. (Later more!)
Finally in athletics I discover some very nice exercise which I started practising regularly. (Later more, too!) This year is to get used with the increase of the training extent. I know 30% from the training I can profit from next year. I will not do any Ironman competition this year and focus on the half Ironman and the “Volkswagen Circuit” total valuation (7 competitions on the Olympic distance in different cities in Switzerland).
I will stay on the Island of Gran Canary until the 10th of May.
