Rasmus Henning ready to take the title in Hawaii

Press release October 7th 2010

Dane Rasmus Henning, 34, was in excellent shape last year when he crashed on his bike on a rainy day and broke his right hand just days before departure to Kona and his Ironman Hawaii debut. The preparations had been perfect but suddenly his debut was hanging by a thread. Rasmus Henning is not a quitter and decided to give his chance a go and managed to get fifth despite the broken hand.

This year, the preparations have gone more smoothly, no mishaps or crashes, and Henning has had good preparations leading up to the race. A solid two week training camp in Playitas, Fuerteventura in Hawaii like conditions, and a 15 day period in Kona before the race to get used to the time difference of 12 hours, train in the heat and humidity and to get accostumed to the course.

Henning ready for a title shot

"I feel ready. My training has been pretty ideal the last many weeks and opposed to last year I've been able to follow my schedule 100 percent without interferrences. My bike has still not been optimal but after my physio Bjørn came to Kona and got to work on me it's been better. I'm sure I will reach my level on Saturday. My swimming and running is still according to plan and I feel as well prepared this year as I was last year before my accident with the broken hand. The big difference this year is that I have been able to train all the way up to the race," the Dane says.

Training with the rivals

Rasmus Henning has been training in Kona with fellow Dane Martin Jensen and Dirk Bockel - a long time friend and training partner, but the group have also on occations teamed up with Macca, Terenzo Bozzone and had a swim with Crowie at one point.

"We randomly met some of the other pro's down at the swim start one day and Dirk asked Terenzo and Macca if they wanted to join. We have trained a little with them and also crossed paths with Crowie during swimming but the past week everybody minds their own business and puts on their poker face. Everybody looks really lean and fit so I think it os going to be a really cool race on Saturday."

High expectations after Roth and Hawaii last year

Everybody knows that Rasmus is a clutch performer and doesn't suffer much in the heat and humidy. Some of his biggest wins on the Olympic distance came in Hawaii like conditions in Des Moines in 2007 and 2008 and both Olympic apperances in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 was with scorching temperatures not to mention one of the warmest races on earth, the Ironman China i 2009, where Rasmus won by half an hour.

"I know that many expect me to do well this year and I feel fine about the pressure. Most of it comes from myself anyway as it is my dream to win here and I think I have it in me to be the Ironman World Champion. Everybody who dreams of winning this must be able to cope with the word 'favorite' sticking to them and if you want to win you deal with it automatically. I'm just looking forward to getting out there and race my very best and to show that I'm capable of doing what I and others expect me to do," the Danish ironman says.

Photo by: Ramser1.