A 23-year-old Ironman athlete is attempting a groundbreaking feat: to be the first person to complete an ultra-triathlon across Bavaria, all to raise money for charity. Benedikt Held is currently preparing for “BAVARIA MAN,” scheduled to begin May 28th and 29th.
The sheer scale of the challenge is daunting: 390 kilometers total, with an elevation gain of around 2,500 meters. Held plans to swim 3.8 kilometers, cycle 360 kilometers, and run 42.195 kilometers, aiming for a completion time of approximately 17 hours. “It’s sportily feasible, but mentally it’s a challenge,” Held stated calmly.
Hero Starts in Franconia, Destination: Neuschwanstein Castle
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Having already completed three Ironmans – including the 2022 Challenge Roth as the youngest participant – Held sees this as a natural progression, doubling the cycling distance while maintaining the standard Ironman distances for swimming and running. “I don’t see this as a crossing of the line, but rather as a logical next step.”
• Info: Anyone interested can accompany Held on his challenge, whether by cycling or running. Participants are responsible for their own safety, as Held will maintain his own pace.
The starting point is Froschgrundsee in Upper Franconia, with the ultra-triathlon culminating at the foot of Neuschwanstein Castle. A support team will provide technical assistance, food, and fluids, while a media team – consisting of two cameramen, a photographer, and a social media manager – will document the entire event. Held’s friend, Serafina Heerling, is the driving force behind the organization.
Looking at the almost all-day challenge, the athlete knows that he can overcome all the hurdles. However, the exact finishing time remains uncertain. “I don’t want to show how badass I am, my focus is on a good cause,” he emphasized.
The Donations Give the Project Meaning
Held is motivated by a desire to support children in need. The donation organization he’s partnering with has been assisting sick, disabled, and disadvantaged children in Bavaria, Germany, and worldwide for 33 years. All funds raised through the project will go directly to Sternstunden via a link on Held’s website. “The money never ends up in my hands, but in a donation account,” explained the athlete.
Beyond the charitable aspect, Held is drawn to the sporting challenge – and the fact that no one has ever completed a triathlon across Bavaria.
After a stint playing for SV Mengkofen, Held transitioned to triathlon. “Because I wasn’t just bad at football, I was really bad,” he joked. He discovered the sport through documentaries, becoming particularly captivated by Ironman competitions. “My favorite triathlon discipline is cycling,” said the SC Landshut athlete, adding that he enjoys running just as much, but finds swimming more challenging. “I haven’t swum much lately, but with training I’ll quickly get back to a good level.”
Skiing in Winter
When not training for triathlons, Held, a member of the Aitrachtal Ski Club, can be found skiing or teaching ski lessons. He currently resides in Regensburg and is pursuing a master’s degree in business informatics at the local university. He is also involved with the Bayern fan club Aitrachtal as a media representative and serves as a scholarship holder representative of the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
