What is Biestmilch.....??? Natural immunity...

One of my biggest changes in the run up to Kona this year was the introduction of Biestmilch into my daily routine. I was conscious that in the run up to early October many of my friends were coming down with coughs, colds and flu.... This was no good!! And to be honest I was fearful of coming down with something myself and worried how this could affect my training and ultimately my race.

I've always adopted a prophecy that I will try my best to minimise risk and influence the odds ( where I can) in my favour. A friend, Mark Hughes, had been using Biestmilch, and had suggested I give it a go. From that point onwards it became part of my daily routine... I've not been sick since!!

What is Biestmilch?

Biestmilch is not an invention. It is the name for the colostrum or the foremilk, this quintessentially natural substance, which is produced by the breasts of all female mammals for their offspring after the birth. Our Biestmilch originates from cows.
Biestmilch is a food product. Those who have personally experienced its almost magical effects will be tempted to call it a natural remedy.

Biestmilch is a life principle. The offspring of many animals is highly endangered without Biestmilch. Some animals die, others remain sickly. Every animal needs at least one hearty mouthful for a healthy start in life. Our Biestmilch is only harvested after the little calf has had its share .The difference in species hardly matters where the consumption of Biestmilch is concerned. If e.g. a mare does not produce any Biestmilch, a mother cow can help out without any problems.

The term Biestmilch derives from Old High German. In Indo-Germanic the origin of this term appears for the first time. The Indo-German »buskhos« is the root of words like Busen (bosom) and Bauch (belly) as well as Biestmilch or »der« Biest respectively. In Alemanic German North German, Dutch as well as in Switzerland »Biestmilch«, »der Biast« or »Beest« has remained a part of everyday language. The corresponding English word is until today beestings.

In technical literature Biestmilch from the cow is also called bovine Colostrum.
Cows observe us, we observe cows

Biestmilch nowadays experiences very extreme forms of reception. Some people demonise it others praise it. Biestmilch is considered as a life principle on the one hand and as a tabu on the other. For our ancestors Biestmilch was already both lucky stuff or devilish. Today we mainly have little relation to Biestmilch or lost it completely. Many of us have a rather sceptical approach to it.

But in short in worked for me, and alongside Macca, Terrenzo, Ronnie, Yvonne, Nicole to name but a few I feel in a very exclusive club of Athletes

Ironman World Championships 2010 - Kona Hawaii

The lead up to my race hadn't been perfect; I'd qualified in Wisconsin the previous year. Since then I'd had to pull out of both IM Lanzarote and IM Nice due to injury. I had torn ligaments in my left ankle which had affected my running for the rest of the year. My early plans of a sub 3 marathon were slipping away...



Kona would be my first Ironman of the year, with this came the uncertainty of how I would race. I arrived earlier this year than I had in the past, this was to be a very special couple of weeks for me and few weeks that would shape my future. Mette and I were married in St Peters Church, Kailua Kona - Hawaii on the 3rd October. It was a very special day for both us and made even more special by all our friends and family who were there


My race didn’t have a perfect start I had positioned myself two rows back in the middle. As the cannon sounded the paddle boarders were too close to me and blocked my swim. I had to go sideways before I could go forward and this wasn't easy with around 1500 other athletes behind me. From that point onwards I tried to relax in the 'melee or thrashing arms and feet' that was the swim. Exiting the swim, I felt good, relaxed. I hadn't been any where close to the red line; I was conscious that this was where I could make up some time.



I ride to watts and quickly settled into a rhythm passing the faster swimmers. I’ve recently been Retul’d by Freespeed and my position felt strong even in the Trade winds at Hawi. This gave me confidence and a sub 5 bike was the result!! my first ever in Kona…..... I put this down to having a plan and sticking to it. I use a concentrated Infinit Speedfil on the down tube and have a profile torpedo with water on the bars. This is all I carry, no bars, saltsticks or any other nutrition.




The run was hot, and although I was just off my target pace I felt like was just hanging in there...At the turn point I saw Declan Doyle was about 200m behind me and Tim Bishop was a little further back. Both looked strong. I train with both Dec and Tim and know how capable and talented they are, I wasn't sure if I could hold my pace. I saw a sign at the side of the road that said ’ Pain reassures you that you’re alive’ I was alive alright… and hurting!! From the start my run felt hard, I didn't remember 2008 being like this. But this year I was shooting for better than 21st in my age group and it came at a cost. Richard Hobson, my coach, was just ahead and it spurned me on to see familiar faces. I could see that he was hurting too, thank goodness for that as Tim and Dec still looked fresh. Heading out onto the Queen K into the lava fields, I felt alone and strangely took strength from this, my race was in my hands and it was mine to let slip away. I took solace that I was still passing more athletes.

I was so glad to see the finish, there’s nothing quite like the finish on Alii Drive and I will cherish that forever. My friend’s from Disney Tri were there cheering me on and for the first I shared the finishing flume with no one.... It was mine and mine alone.



My fastest race to date in Kona, 89th overall including all the Pro's. 36th Amateur and 10th in age group. 1st British Age grouper again

Swim 1:06.21
T1 3.03
Bike 4:55.30
T2 3.10
Run 3:09.15