I didn’t train specifically, nor did I participate in any competition, but only ran for its own sake. This came only later, after having moved to Cologne in 2003, where I also met my future wife Anja; 12 years ago now!

I think I have two lifes. In the first life I'm working as an editor at Handelsblatt, Germany's leading business and financial newspaper.  And my second life is, guess what, very much centered around triathlon. 

In my first life as an editor I truly agree to the statement “Writing makes me purely happy!” In my second life you only have to replace “writing” by triathlon, and it’s similarly true. There I can feel the strength of my will. There I can extend my limits. There I can feel. That's the reason why triathlon is the passion of my life; in addition to my love for Anja and for Finland of course. Miraculously, triathlon has been a life-changer. I quit smoking, I quit drinking and my enthusiasm for the sport just keeps growing.

My motto for both lifes is: "Bring your enemies to underestimate you, and you've already won half", which is a quote by Napoleon. I enjoy competing in small-distance-races and it's so satisfying to work hard in silence and let the success be your noise, you know! 

But this year has also brought some changes for me; as I have learned that your health is the most important asset you have. I can say this now after having spent the first two months of this year in a pain clinic. A variety of reasons brought me there, but an important point was that I didn't spend enough attention to my recovery - today I know that this is one of the most important parts in training! And I’m getting better in it!

This season, I do not have to be the fastest in my age group. I want to be the fittest, the healthiest and therefore perhaps the happiest. This mind-set was probably also the reason I was appointed brand ambassador for the Austrian sports manufacturer Cocoon this June. It has given me more confidence to care for my health and myself. Luckily, I’m currently in training again for some relaxed races in Germany. And I'm so happy that our first international competition ever takes place here in Turku, the city which feels like a second home for us.

I am looking forward to Turku Triathlon Weekend. It will be  a truly emotional, exhausting, epic and euphoric race that will live long in my heart!

Carina & Anja

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