Running — the Ultimate Challenge

Hendrik Voll, Vice-Rector for Student Development and head of the TalTech Development Fund, considers swimming his strongest discipline in triathlon, followed by cycling, and finally running — which, in his own words, is the toughest due to his weight.

“I’ve never actually ridden 90 km continuously or run a half-marathon,” he admits. During training, he hasn’t focused much on running to spare his knees but has walked extensively instead.

At the Rector’s Cup final stage in spring, Voll decided to test himself in a 10 km run — and successfully completed it without walking breaks. “That was a joyful moment, and for the first time, I felt confident that I might actually finish the Ironman 70.3,” he recalls.

Make It Your Race

According to Voll, the most important thing is to focus on your own race, not get carried away by faster participants.

“My plan is to swim at a pace where I come out of the water feeling as if I haven’t even started yet. I aim to cycle sustainably, consume plenty of energy, and save enough strength for the run. One thing’s certain — every last ounce of energy will be spent by the end.”

On race day, Voll is most looking forward to the finish line, with the song Kuutõbine by Terminaator playing in his head. Before the start, a good long sleep gives him the strength he needs.

Open-Water Joys and Surprises

Like Voll, Toomas Vaimann, senior research fellow at the School of Engineering, also favors swimming — a sport he has practiced for much of his life.

“The best thing about open-water swimming is realizing that, no matter the weather, you can still complete your distance,” he says. Jokingly, he adds that while he has no special tricks, he prefers to start from a spot where he can easily watch the crowd — and sneak away quietly if needed.

Vaimann has also faced some unexpected situations in the water.

“One time, during a race in Tartu’s Anne Canal, the sun was shining, my goggles fogged up, and I thought I’d just swim by feel since the finish line was near. Suddenly, everything went dark — I had veered off course and ended up between boat docks. I was inches away from swimming straight into a boat,” he recalls.

Another unforgettable moment came during training when both his thigh muscles cramped simultaneously — front and back.

“That’s the kind of situation where you can’t straighten or bend your legs without triggering a cramp. For a moment, I thought I’d drown in the shallow end of the pool, but luckily, I managed to roll myself to the edge and slowly release the cramp,” Vaimann explains.

Looking ahead to the competition, he admits a small fear that something might go wrong with his goggles — but believes such situations can usually be prevented.

Overcoming Challenges and Staying Motivated

For Vaimann, the hardest part isn’t any single workout but rather maintaining consistency when it’s dark, windy, rainy, and you’re tired after work.

“This year, I’ve swum nearly every open-water competition in Estonia, covering distances from 800 meters to 3.3 kilometers, with longer ones still ahead. During these long swims, the question inevitably pops into my head: ‘Why am I doing this to myself?’ In the pool, I pass the time by counting laps — or more accurately, counting how many are left,” he says.

Cramps, knee pain, and the shoulder issues common among swimmers occasionally trouble him as well. He believes that when something happens, it’s best to pause training and figure out why.

“Surprise, surprise — most of the time, it turns out I’ve done something silly myself. The good thing is, if your arms hurt, you can train your legs — and vice versa,” he adds.

The Feeling at the Finish Line Brings You Back

Vaimann actually completed a full triathlon once before — solo, at about 15 years old. At Ironman, however, he has previously competed in the relay team for TalTech.

“That’s my strength — I love swimming, especially in open water. There’s something special about it: despite the wind, waves, and temperature, you can still complete your distance. At the finish, you’re usually exhausted because you’ve given everything on the course, but afterward comes that wonderful ‘I did it’ feeling — and that’s what keeps bringing you back,” he explains.

On race day, what he looks forward to most is crossing the finish line. “That’s the moment when everything is done, and you can finally breathe. While every race and distance is different, the finish line is always that sweet spot where you can forget everything else for a while.”

For him, good preparation and a bit of self-irony are the keys to success. He jokes that during races, a random, often terrible song tends to get stuck in his head: “And never a good one,” he laughs. “But no one can hear me underwater, so I’m singing in my head almost the whole time.”

Before the start, he sometimes wonders, “Why am I doing this again?” — but, as Vaimann says, the answer always comes at the finish line, where the sense of satisfaction takes over.

Nearly Fifty TalTech Athletes at Ironman

In addition to Vice-Rector Hendrik Voll and Senior Research Fellow Toomas Vaimann, the TalTech representatives competing this summer include: Siim Läänelaid, Hanno Tomberg, Kaspar Lepp, Raul Maidvee, Jakob Valdma, Jako Kilter, Rait Käbin, Külli Taro, Raul Palk, Andres Must, Mark Toomsalu, Carlos Kuiv, Fred Kuiv, Tom Erik Luoma-Aho, Markus Soodla, Ivar Palk, Robin Rahula, Raul Hanson, Robert Kitt, Taavi Tamm, Ants Vill, Rait Käbin, Madis Meibaum, Karmen Kuusik, Laura Tammik, Kaidi Kleinson, Anette Kallasmaa, Eliisabet Bremann, Anette

Reinapu, Elinor Toming, Laura Valdisoo, Carolyn Rõuk, Karoliina Rebane, Hanna-Liisa Värik, Kristina Keerdo, Sirli Paas, Eliisa Metsoja, and Kirke Maar.

The entire TalTech family stands behind these brave athletes, cheering them on.