Endurance 13 up for some action

Manama : The Bahrain Endurance 13 Team races in Asia and America this weekend with Caroline Steffen defending her title at Ironman 70.3 Vietnam.

Fredrik Croneborg lines up for Challenge Taiwan, and Brent McMahon and Ben Hoffman take on Ironman 70.3 St. George.

Steffen won the inaugural race in Vietnam last year and promises to be no different this time. 

“It looks like the Danang oven is gonna be on again with Liz Blatchford and Radka Vodickova both excellent runners,” she said after returning from a podium finish at Ironman 70.3 Oceanside four weeks ago.

Besides defending her title, the Swiss star returns to Vietnam for an advocacy she began last year after donating her first-place prize money of U$3,000 to Newborns Vietnam, a charity organisation devoted to reducing newborn mortality rates in Asia.

She is auctioning off three different packages of personal items and sponsor products. With a little help, she hopes to donate the same amount and provide the hospital with another CPAP machine, a piece of life-saving equipment.

At Challenge Taiwan, Fredrik Croneborg is on his first full-distance triathlon since competing in the Ironman World Championship last year. The Swede, who had a recurring foot injury restricting training, said, “I hope for a good race in Taiwan on Saturday. I’m ready for it.”

Eric Watson of HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa’s resident team in Bahrain also joins Steffen in Vietnam.

Ironman 70.3 St. George doubles as the North American Pro Championship, with Canadian Brent McMahon and American Ben Hoffman on the start list. 

McMahon took silver last year and was the first North American pro across the finish line. 

“There’s something about the rugged and beautiful scenery that makes this course so special. It is this geography that makes this course so challenging and that’s what I love the most about this event, he said. 

Hoffman is coming off winning at the Ironman African Championship four weeks ago, and looks forward to returning to one of his favourite races. 

“I have been there for every edition of the event since 2010 and the scenic beauty of the course is only outdone by the savagery of the challenging hills. This is the soonest I have raced after an Ironman event and I will give everything I have,” he said.