2007 XTERRA Hall of Fame Inductee - Kerstin Weule

If you saw her walking down the street near her home in Evergreen, Colorado, you might think, "Oh, there goes another typical tree hugger Coloradan." Her blond hair would probably be in a braid, skin aglow from spending a little too much time in the mountain sun. She'd most definitely be smiling and her blue eyes would have that telltale glint of adventure.  You might event think she was a Heidi poser.  But you would be wrong… she is real Heidi and even having retired in 2002 could probably stomp you on the course today.
 
Kerstin Weule, using equally deadly swim, mountain bike and run speed, won more XTERRA races than anyone, until Jamie Whitmore took on the challenge.  She has won nineteen XTERRA titles, including the US. Pro Series in 1999 and 2000, and the 2000 World Championship. But, that's just one of her claims to fame... It has been reported she can also touch the tip of her nose with her tongue. -

Born in Braunlage, Germany in 1966, Weule credits much of her athletic ability to her parents. "Growing up, they used to drag me to the running track twice a week where we would perform all kinds of track and field disciplines. Also, the Germans are very well organized in their "Verein," where you don't just practice one main sport, but lots of other ones too. I think all this early activity probably helped me in my coordination and balance."

And, apparently, Weule's ability to touch her tongue to her nose. At any rate, 
Her first foray into real competition started with swimming at age eleven. Here, a strict German coach engrained in her the values of hard work, doing long distances and athletic "suffering." By seventeen, swimming wasn't enough, and she ventured into the original multisport, modern pentathlon, for four years. The triathlon bug finally bit her in 1991, and it has shaped her life in large ways.

She moved to the United States (and to Colorado) because she loved the climate. In 1994, she was ranked fourth for US short course triathlons and was the runner-up for "Rookie of the Year." In 1996, her involvement in the sport spurred her to become a naturalized American.

Despite being ranked seventeenth in the world in 1997, the drafting format simply did not gel with what motivated Weule to do triathlons - competing individually and making her body perform independently  at its highest level.  She did not want to tow people around on the bike and turn her sport into a running race -- and she almost  nearly  quit the sport. It was at about this same time that she discovered XTERRA. 

Weule's name was synonymous with XTERRA for five years.  She was 5th at Maui in 1997 after a second in Kirkwood and a third at Big Bear.  The winning started in 1998 in Louisiana and she won the next two big races before having troubles on the bike in Maui for a disappointing 7th.

She's won at almost every U.S. venue plus early races in the UK and Canada.

Her early battles in 97-98 and 99 with Lorraine Barrow and Jody Purcell were wonderful to watch, but during those years she simply could not get it right at Maui.  Neither could one of our best men Michael Tobin.  The new millennium was the key for both and Kirsten and Tobin stood on the top as World Champions in 2000.

Weule brought much to XTERRA - an open disposition, the ability to share all that she knew at XTERRA University clinics, a great laugh, her cartwheel at the finish line, and blue painted toenails on race day.  Kirstin retired from XTERRA racing in 2003 while still able to podium anywhere.   Today she is a practicing massage therapist, she skis in the winter, still runs or bikes every day but hasn't swum in years.  Maybe it was that mean German coach many many years ago.  She still lives in Colorado with her husband Robert and the greatest dog ever!

For her early contributions and influence on the sport…We salute Kerstin Weule as the 2007 inductee into the XTERRA Hall of Fame.