Run Mona Run

On Hawaii, Natascha Badmann is called Mona Lisa. Six times so far she has been the first to cross the finish line at the Ironman: with blisters on her feet and a smile on her face.

“Natascha is like a good red wine”, says her husband and coach, Toni Hasler, “the older she gets, the better she becomes”. She will be celebrating her 40th birthday later this year and is stronger than ever before. She was first or runner-up in her preparatory races. Only the very best men can keep up with her in cycling. And once she’s dropped the bike, neither blisters on her feet nor torrid heat can stop her from winning.

Toenails strewn by the wayside

That’s what happened last year too, when she crossed the finish line in first place for the sixth time in Hawaii. She got lost in the choppy seas of the swimming leg. After the cycle section, she – who has no need for a pacemaker – was given a four-minute time penalty for slipstream cycling. Having to start the marathon from an unfamiliar second place only fired her up more. She overtook the leader at the Energy Lab of all places, where spectators aren’t allowed because it’s too hot. Running through the Hawaiian lava fields regularly costs Natascha all her toenails. Stairs are a real problem the next day. But during the 226 kilometers she laughs and enjoys herself.

The Hawaiians call her Mona Lisa. Not that there’s anything mysterious about her smile. “If I didn’t have fun, I’d never manage it. Neither the hard training nor this race. And I Iike to show my pleasure, that’s all.” It’s as simple as that. That’s how simple 35 hours’ training a week, a fat-free diet and living strictly to a schedule can be.

For a handful of flowers

Her sixth victory has made her a Triathlon legend. But for her that’s not the point. Neither is the record of eight victories on Hawaii, what matters is the flower garland that’s placed around the winner’s neck. “I had its scent in my nose all day”, she explained after the race. In the three months required to recover from the Ironman she finally had time for her garden. Enough time to plant a tree as a reminder of the best race of her life.

In the meantime everything is focused back on the big day, on swimming 3.8 kilometers in the rough seas of the ocean, cycling 180 kilometers into the wind and running 42 kilometers in searing heat. This is the day she puts together the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle she has created in the preceding months. Pleasure is a part of each and every one of them and her main source of energy.