Meet the athletes - Morten Dahl Hermansen

Tell us about yourself. Where are you from and what do you do.
I am Morten, 43yrs, living in Ås, 35 km south of Oslo, together with my soon-to-be-wife; Tale, and her son. Together with my business-associate, I run a Chaffeur-service-company in Oslo, and have done so for the last 7 years.
What is your background in sports.
When I was at school, I was swimming, and it became natural to “convert” to Water-Polo, which I played until I was 24.
After quitting Water-Polo, I spent most of my time working, eating and drinking. At the age of 36, I decided to stop being fat and shortwinded, and bought a mountain-bike. I am still rather fat, however not so shortwinded, as I gradually have gone from being a slow mountain-biker to be a slow long-distance triathlete with several different bikes in the garage.
Since my Norseman-debut in 2006, I have completed 6 Ironman-distance-competitions( incl. 2 Norsemen), and during 2010, I am planning to complete no.7 and 8.
Why did you choose to race Norseman and what is your race goal?
My reason for doing long-distance triathlon is that it gives me a good opportunity to test my own mental capacity. I work a lot, and that often affects my training in a negative manner. Hence, I have never really been as fit and prepared for the IM, as I really want. And what I lack in physical strength and endurance, I will have to compensate with mental strength.
The main reason for choosing Norseman is that it is great fun! Of course it is also blood, sweat and tears; but the whole essence of the competition is fun, and good spirit! Everyone, the organizers, the crew and the other competitors are very friendly to each other. The top-athletes and the “bottom-athletes”(as myself) mix in a friendly manner, and everyone is happy.
My goal, as always, is to complete the race, and to have a beer in the bath-tub afterwards.
Asides from Norseman, what is your other plans for the 2010 season?
I am thinking of going to the Czech republic and do the Moraviaman in June, and I will definetly go to Arendal the week before the Moraviaman , and do the HoveTri, Olympic distance.
Most likely, I will also to try to do one or two MTB-competitions, one will probably be “Grenserittet”, the weekend before Norseman.
Do you do any special training for Norseman? Riding a lot of hills? Swimming in cold water etc? Or is it basic but intense and hard Ironman training?
I usually do things more or less the same, no matter the course lay-out. However, I will try to ride a lot of hills before this years edition of Norseman.
What other races would you like to compete in the future?
I am for sure going to try the Challenge Copenhagen, maybe next year, and if anyone suggest travelling to an IM on any exotic location, I sure will consider participating.
What are your favorite places to train?
I don’t really have any favorite place. Before last years IM Austria, I spent some time in Croatia, on the Dalmatian coast, and the nice weather and the beautiful nature made it a very nice place for biking(both MTB and TT) as well as running. Swimming in crystal-clear water made it a perfect place for triathlon-training.
And your favourite workout?
Biking. No doubt. A fast, flat ride on the TT-bike on a beautiful summer-day, or perhaps getting really muddy and wet on the MTB in the woods in the autumn… Great!

And what I really don’t like, and use every possible excuse to avoid; is swimming in indoor-pools. Booooring.