2023
Quarter of a year gone already: an update from the Derron Sisters
01.04.2019: How time flies. We are already into April of this year and we feel like the last three months have gone by in a couple of weeks.
So here is a little update of what the Derron Sisters have been up to.
We all spent a good number of weeks in Gran Canaria in January and February. The training there has been great, both with the Trisutto squad and Brett himself on deck but also just chipping away in training by ourselves.
Helping each other out where we could and giving space where needed. We have learned to use our mini squad to the fullest by pushing each other in the sessions and supporting each other rather than being overly competitive like you could imagine for siblings.
Michelle and Julie passed all their exams of the last semester.
Nina earned her Masters Degree in Biomedical Engineering with flying colours and we are all very proud of our smart ass sister! She is
February meant that Michelle and Julie were back to university and a busier schedule but managing fine this semester.
By the end of February Nina and Julie entered the first race of the year in running the 11km Bremgartner run. The spring temperatures and sunshine made for a beautiful day and both were very happy with their respective runs.
To say goodbye to winter we spent a long weekend in St. Moritz swimming, running and cross country skiing. We love this place any time of the year! Nina participated in the Engadin Ski Marathon, skiing faster than ever, so the fitness is definitely there.
As the weather improved in Zürich we were able to start riding our bikes outside and we are loving it, but still using the turbo frequently for specific sessions.
In March Nina and Julie entered another run race. This time it was the Swiss Championships over the 10km distance on the road. They did this as the final run of a double respective a triple run day. Nina found the going tough on the day after a big week of Ironman training while Julie had a good day finishing 5th.
A few weeks ago we recorded a Podcast with fellow Trisutto family member and successful coach Perry Agass. Find the Podcast on iTunes by searching for ‘’Ask Tripezza’’.
Now it’s already April and Nina and Michelle are gearing up for their first triathlon of the season. They are travelling to Mallorca and will take part in the Portocolom International Triathlon which will be the first race of the Spirit Triathlon Series. Both are part of the Home of Triathlon Team and are racing over 1km swimming, 100km cycling and 10km running. They are very excited to see where their fitness levels are and are eager to get back on the start line.
Find out more about the Spirit Triathlon Series by following this link.
Julie will start her season on the 5thof May at the ITU World Cup in Madrid.
That’s the latest from the Derron Sisters.
Happy Training and enjoy the sunshine :)
U23 EM Eilat
28.10.2018: Last weekend was a big one as I raced the u23 European Championships in Eilat. I knew I was fit and I had large goals. To be honest I was nervous two weeks out of the race and wearing race number 1 didn’t help ease off the pressure I felt. The pressure I felt was mainly caused by my own expectations.
weiter lesen...28.10.2018: Last weekend was a big one as I raced the u23 European Championships in Eilat. I knew I was fit and I had large goals. To be honest I was nervous two weeks out of the race and wearing race number 1 didn’t help ease off the pressure I felt. The pressure I felt was mainly caused by my own expectations.
Three days out I was a bundle of nerves and I don’t even want to talk about race morning.
At the start line however, I was calm and ready to rumble. A slower start in the water left me some 40seconds off the leaders when exiting the water. I got onto the bike ready to chase and half way through lap two of six I bridged up to the leaders. The hilly and windy bike course suited me and all I wanted to do was ride hard. However, I knew I had to be smart as the heat was getting more intense and it would come down to the run and who would handle the high temperatures the best.
I was comfortably riding in the lead group with seven other athletes and we hit transition two with a two minute advantage.
A quick transition saw me second onto the run and I quickly took charge and moved into the lead. From there I never looked back and could increase my lead throughout the hot 3 lap run course. On the last lap I struggeled but a smile crept onto my face as I realised that I would cross the finish line first.
I achieved a goal that I never said out loud but that I was focused on since deciding to race the championships.
However we didn’t get much time to celebrate as the next day the team relay race was on. As my team mate Max Studer also won the men’s race, it seemed like Team Switzerland was the one to beat.
This time I didn’t feel too much pressure but was ready to go hard and enjoy the short and hard racing.
I raced the third leg for our team, having been handed over by Felix Studer right within the lead group of athletes. I stayed with four other teams on the bike but sought a preliminary decision on the run and it was down to Switzerland, Great Britain and Russia to battle out the medals in the fourth leg. A sprint to the line saw Max edge out the British athlete and made the weekend a golden one for us Swiss.
A very successful and emotional weekend and another step into the right direction.
One more race to go as I head to Japan for the last World Cup of the year on November 11th.
CHRISmag Story: Drei Schwestern, drei Sportarten und ein grosses Ziel
12.02.2019: Im untenstehenden Link findet ihr unsere Geschichte im CHRISmag, welche wir für unseren Partner CHRISsports geschrieben haben. Wir hoffen sie gefällt euch.
CHRISmag Story: Drei Schwestern, drei Sportarten und ein grosses Ziel
Hier findet ihr das komplette CHRISmag.
Nina: The Season 2018
29.11.2018:
2018 was probably my best year in triathlon so far. I did 13 triathlons, one duathlon, one marathon and a couple of run races.
I had some great successes, some hard fights and some major blow-ups. And I didnt write about any of it.
Now it would be rather hard, and boring to recapitulate the whole year but here we go with a little recap of some races in case you're interested.
My year started in Australia with the infamous "Hell of the West" tri, this is where in 2016 I decided that I want to race pro.
First race of the year, first flat in a race ever. I fixed it and kept pushing, ending up just 10 seconds behind the podium.
Thinking I would go to Australia for a training camp, I soon ended up doing a race 3 out of 4 weekends in Australia.
Just before heading home I did IM 70.3 Geelong. Up until 17km on the run, I was leading the race, which was awesome, then I really struggled. However, anything is possible and in a dramatic finish I was able to take my first 70.3 victory, which I was very proud of.
Being back home and settling into student life again, we switched focus and prepared for a marathon (Zurich marathon).
I really enjoyed the focused run training, even though there is a lot that can go through your mind on a 3h run. One time I remember I just ran out all along the Sihl-river, when I finally turned around I never felt so far from home.
After about 8 weeks, I felt well prepared for the marathon, but also didn't know what to expect. Like every beginner I went out way too fast, I mean I just felt so great...well for the first 12km. After that it was increasingly a case of "one foot infront of the other".
Getting across the finish line in 3:04 and in the top10, I was still happy with my effort.
But man, it hurt. Apologies to everyone who tried to hug me at the finish line, I was barely able to stand up.
Recovered, I was ready to get into some tri-action.
I am not really keen on reflecting on IM 70.3 Kraichgau and Rapperswil (back-to-back races,
but I do believe it is the races that don't go according to plan that we learn most from.
In Kraichgau I raced like I always do and just went from the gun. I pushed really hard on the bike to stay with two of the best bikers, so that at 70km I popped like popcorn or a like champagne bottle. Not very much in style, I shuffled (which felt like crawling) my way through the 21km, very much hating the nice motivational quotes Ironman put up (example).
With a knocked self-confidence and a knock-off-the-bike three days before race-day, I still wanted to do my homerace IM 70.3 Rappi.
It was not a great idea and it was not a great result, but again I finished.
Time to hit the alps and the trainingscamp in St. Moritz.
I had roughly four weeks of really good training, broken up with a race at the 111 Rohrschach (a really cool new format of 1k swim, 100k bike and 10k run). The hills at Rohrschach really suited me and in a good battle with a teammate I was able to take the win.
Sooner than I expected I was at the startline of IM Zurich for my first ironman and in hindsight probably my favorite race of the year. Saying that it was not easy at all.
Probably a little apprehensive of the task ahead, I missed the front group in the swim and early on had to focus on my own race. On the bike I was feeling pretty good and knew I just really have to focus on staying on my nutrition plan. The first 90km flew past and then I realized sh*** I am doing a full Ironman, not the half, meaning I got another 90km to go and so the second loop of the bike was probably the hardest part of the race and I was glad to get off the bike. Onto the run I went and I was happy to see so many familiar faces. The first lap was actually pretty funny, everyone was cheering GO GO GO, only my coach Susie and Brett were the ones telling me to stay comfortable, to not go too fast, to drink, eat and cool myself. I actually do not remember a lot of those 42km, I just ran (and drank and ate and cooled myself down a lot) without stopping once. Crossing the finish line in 6h in 9:31 and seeing my family and friends there I was really happy and proud of my race. I was hooked for Ironman racing and I actually can’t wait to do it again.
With still being at university we decided to a couple of shorter races for the rest of the year though.
Another favorite race was the Gerardmer Triathlon in France. This year I did the Olympic distance race. A good swim set me up for a great race, but I suffered deeply first time up the 10+% hill. Once I caught my breath and settled my nerves I was not ready to give up in this race and tried to make up as much time as possible. Hitting T2 I was only about a minute behind the leader and I was glad to have some speedy legs on the day to take the win in the end.
My next race was in France too, in Nice this time for the IM 70.3. Shortly, good swim, good bike and a good run got me 2ndplace and leaving me hungry for that win.
After a couple of weeks training in the warm autumn in Zurich I was excited for the ETU Middle Distance Championships in Ibiza. Unfortunately, one race-day rain was pouring down for hours and due to thunderstorms, the race was delayed to 3pm (latest start ever) and the bike was cut in half, with a couple of very strong runners I knew it was going to be tough day. I pushed the bike as much as I could, got a break into T2 and was able to show a consistent run, ending up in 5thplace and so qualifying for the swiss national team for another year.
I learnt so much about how to train and how to race this year, that I am already so excited for next year’s races. For now I should get back to writing my master thesis.
Thanks a lot, to my family, friends and Coach Susie for supporting my journey!
Nina: Datasport Interview
29.08.2018: Nach ihrem erfolgreichen Rennen am TriStar Triathlon in Rorschach hatte Nina die die Möglichkeit ein kurzes Interview mit Datasport zu führen.
Ihr findet das Interview unter dem folgenden Link: