5 November 2011 – Sofie Goos of the Uplace Pro Triathlon Team has finished third in today’s Ironman Florida. It was a hard-fought podium place for Sofie. She was comfortably in the lead halfway into the bike leg when the back pain that had forced her to retire from the Ironman Hawaii a few weeks ago, reappeared. She quickly lost time and her position in the race. Thanks to a final effort well into the marathon, Sofie managed to fight her way back into the top three with a time of 09:22:21.

Jessica Jacobs (US) won the race for the second consecutive year with a course record of 8:55:10. Mackenzie Madison (US; 09:10:21) came in second.

In the men’s race, the podium places went to Ronnie Schildknecht (Switzerland; 07:59:42), Maxim Kriat (Ukraine; 08:10:43) and Justin Daerr (US; 08:18:02).

After a back injury had forced her to retire from the Ironman Hawaii in October, Sofie was intent on proving herself in the Ironman Florida, a race she had won in 2009.

She got to an excellent start, recording the third fastest swim time and taking over the lead from Bree Wee only ten minutes into the bike leg. But then the back pain happened. Sofie rapidly lost time and in the second half of the bike segment, she got passed by Wee and Jacobs. The marathon didn’t bring much relief. Sofie had to resort to walking a few times and encountered problems with her nutrition. Determined to finish the race no matter what, Sofie all of a sudden found her running rhythm and managed to run herself onto the podium.

For Sofie, the returning back pain naturally was a disappointment, “I was cycling really well until my back acted up again. I tried to maintain a good position on my bike, but I felt that I was losing strength rapidly. When Wee and Jacobs passed me, I couldn’t even keep up. Contrary to Hawaii, I was able to start running, but my pace was oh-so slow. And then I started throwing up too. Halfway the marathon, I was in fifth position, with the sixth athlete hot on my heels. But the Ironman Texas taught me that in Ironman, everything is possible. And I did start to get better. I managed to run with smaller steps then I settled into a good rhythm. In the second round I ran really well, which does leave me feeling okay about my running. Let’s just say I started well and I finished well. I am going to give up on the Ironman Cozumel in a few weeks. I have to focus on resting my back and getting it examined so I can start the new season pain-free.”

Sofie’s third place finish brings the Ulplace Pro Triathlon Team 2011 Ironman podium* count to 11. (*half and full Ironman distance races)

Complete results: http://ironmanlive.com/tracking.php?race=florida&year=2011