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MY ROAD TO IM AUSTRIA 2012
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One word...."HOT" arrived thursday afternoon after a long drive from Vienna in my little Fiat 500
, just in time to register and get the bike assembled in record time. Today I had a lovely swim in the cleanest lake I've ever seen!! Water is getting warm and there is a real possibility now of a non wetsuit swim - that would freak me out being a poor swimmer at the best of times.
Spent a fortune at the Expo, all the usual gear, gels, aero bottle bracket, and all the stuff I forgot. It reached 36 degrees mid afternoon and looks same for the weekend. Its going to be carnage on the run.
Domestic issues on the homefront have distracted me the last 6 months and things are not improving. Needless to say its good to be away but just putting off the inevitable upon my return. Things haven't been very rosy for a while, and Ironman training certainly doesn't help.
Anyway its nearly race day, its all getting very real.0 -
Don't stress about the wetsuit if you can't wear it. I've been in races with and without wetsuits and the good news is you're all in the same boat so most of the other swimmers will be fretting and all the times will be slower. You just need to remember to stay relaxed and rhythmic in the swim...and enjoy the peace and quiet and loveliness of the cleanest lake you've ever seen....and think about how incredible this experience is, but try not to choke on the water you'll be taking in from grinning too much at the excitement of it all. You'll be fine. No worries.
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Race Report Ironman Austria 2012
After completing IM Switzerland and Challenge Roth I choose IM Austria as its renowned for being a fast course, and
probably one to get a good PB. Since doing 10hrs 49 mins in Roth, I knew that I was capable of at least sub 10:29:59.
For 2 reasons - I knew if it wasn't as warm I could bike stronger and run much better Hmmmmmmmmm!
I flew into Vienna and took a hire car and drove the 330k to Klagenfurt, I was in no hurry and arrived late afternoon. The weather
was very warm with little or no breeze at all. Registration was simple and easy and I was happy to have that done an dusted. From there
I made my way to my city centre Hotel - No Air Con and the room is like a furnace. Next morning headed back to the IM village to soak
up the atmosphere and have a swim. Decided about 30 mins with the wetsuit should be fine, the water in the Worthersee is drinkable and
so clean, it was warm and a lovely blue green hue. Lots of swimmers about including lots of white bodied Irish folk!
After lunch I had to pick up some stuff at the Expo which I had forgotten and ended up spending a fortune, then changed into my run gear,
and did 3 miles @ 7min mile pace. Christ when I was finished I was soaked through, there was no way I could maintain that pace on Sunday
which was expected to be even hotter. The car temp guage was now showing 37 degrees plus I'd just got a parking ticket Ggggrrrrr. Decided
the best option was to cool down with another swim sans the wetsuit - just in case.
Didnt sleep a wink friday night with the heat again, made a note to myself to try and get a rest Saturday pm. Race briefing was 9am on Saturday
morning where they announced to a shocked audience "a non-wetsuit Swim" I went pale as did many others. I'm not the strongest of swimmers
and maintain the same slow pace but 2.4 miles with no wet suit scared the living daylights out of me. Something I had never done in open water
before. I saw lots of people in tears, in particular one girl who flew from Texas who was now pulling out of the race. Hung around the Expo for the
rest of the day as bike racking was at 4pm for me, I managed to bump into Chrissie Wellington at the TYR stand, my God she is thin. I reminded
her she passed me sprinting like a hare in Roth the previous year to which she apologised, she had time to speak to anyone and everyone and
to me is a real champion.
RACE DAY
Breakfast 4:30am and bus to transition at 5:15am, its already 29 degrees and the eery silence of what lay ahead was very obvious in transition. I
finally managed to meet Oryx and Red B who both seemed as nervous as I about the swim ahead. After depositing various nutrition to the bike, I pumped
my tyres and set off to the start line. As the Austrian national anthem played, the helicopters and hot air ballons circled overhead. Red B and I
shook hands and the cannon went off. 3 mins later I'm panicking and dont want to continue, this is not what I signed up for, I needed my wetsuit.
I breast stroked and tried to calm down, I was being left for dead, everybody else it seemed could manage no problem. I made myself swim to the first
bouy and then the second, I glanced at my watch and saw I was way off already time wise. I could not find any feet to draft off and slowly very
slowly progressed to the first turn. As I looked back I still saw a lot of white hats behind me, this gave me small bit of encouragement at least.
The rest of the swim seemed to take ages, I was tiring and my right calf starting to cramp. I kept thinking "I should be on the bike by now". The last 1k
of the swim is down a narrow canal where the spectators line the banks to cheer you on. But by now it was sparse as everybody had moved to watch the bike
leg, this was supposed to be the fun bit, it was a real grind and already it clearly wasn't any fun.
Swim 1hr47mins - the longest swim of my life, I was purely exhausted with having 30 mins extra energy used up that I hadnt planned on.
As I grabbed my bike I was already tired, hot and my stomach was not in a good place mind you neither was my head. Out on the bike course, there was little
shelter from the sun and its blistering reflective heat bouncing back off the asphalt. It was going to be important to drink all day, I had set my Garmin to beep every
15 minutes as a reminder as I know after a few hours cycling my brain goes to mush. I was passing loads and keeping a good average speed up, but the power seemed to
be lacking, its was like someone had grabbed a big syringe and sucked every bit of energy from me, I kept eating and getting calories in as much as I was able.
There were a few steep climbs 10-12% gradient that at home I would comfortably stay in the big ring and motor up them, however today I was in the granny ring
in my lowest gear and struggling. I had completely overheated so I took a full bottle of cold water at the next aid station and poured it over my head and legs.
The demons in my head were praying for a puncture so I could maybe DNF and retire. However there were some lovely decents near the end of the first loop and managed to
just touch 70kmh on one of them, as we turned back in Klagenfurt to start the second loop, I had to have a serious talk with myself as i had lost interest totally in the race.
The second loop was more of the same and I just wanted it over, there were lots of people struggling and had death like stares when I passed them, It wasn't only
me who had serious thoughts as to why they had signed up to this torture. I was calculating that I was not going to be over 6 hours on the bike no matter what so i pushed on to
finish in 5hrs 50 min - at least 30 mins slower than what i had origionally planned to do.
Into T2 and collapsed on the bench to change - I had a complete change of clothes as my bike gear was going to be soaked at this stage, as I stripped off I removed
my timing chip for some reason ? grabbed my gear and took off, I managed to run the first 2k but then reality struck. The wall of heat was incredible, and the majority
of people were walking. The first aid station seemed ages away and i just wanted liquids, what was supposed to be a run was a jog, walk, run, walk, but with far more
emphasis on the walk. On the run course which ran behind many peoples houses the locals were out with there hosepipes showering runners as they passed by, but this only
gave a momentary relief from the intense heat. By now the ice was gone and aid stations stocks were becoming very sparse, I felt for those who would be out alot longer
than I looking for aid. I realised after 21k I had no timing chip and could just imagine the panic going on at home for all those who signed up to the text alerts.
I found a marshall and explained what happened with my chip in T2 and though nothing more of it until he found me a hour later and gave me a new one! This gave me a boost
of sorts as I thought with no chip i would get no proper finish time. I just had 10k to go and decided to HTFU and get this nightmare over. One my final few K I passed
Red B, I could hear the finish line announcers - only a few 100 m's and the pain would end. I crossed the line in 12hrs 26 mins my 3rd and slowest Ironman. I sat down at the
finish, I was disgusted with myself, disappointed for everyone at home, sunburnt, cross and feeling weak. I went to the recovery area, with bodies strewn around it, the choice
of food and drink was pathetic considering the cost of race entry and not a patch on the Challenge series events. So the journey ends, now with time to reflect the heat
took its toll more than I could imagine, I'm really cross for not HTFU more than I did but on the day it didnt happen for me. Austria was an experience and i will have to
look at my nutrition more and become mentally stronger to deal with those type of days.
Roll on Beast of the East Sunday week 0 -
That really wasn't a day for the Irish. 17 degrees is too much for us, I can't imagine what it was like to race in 37 degrees. Congrats on finishing. No matter how disappointed you are you still struggled on to finish. Many others won't/didn't.Roll on Beast of the East Sunday week
I'll see you there 0 -
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You are an inspiration to Ironman wannabee's like myself, you did a great time in unbelievable heat especially with the huge disappointment of not being able to wear wetsuit, I know if it was me I would have chucked the towel in after the first lap of bike.. congrats and hold your head up high- you have COMPLETED 3 IRONMAN races!!!!!!! your a LEGEND 0
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From your report, it sounds like you had already checked out during the swim, so fantastic guts to keep it together and bag the medal.
Your photo at the finish line says it all.
One for the grandkids....
I actually think I checked out at the race briefing the day before when they announced no wetsuits! I was on auto pilot from then on.
I didnt enjoy one part of the day except the finish line party which was rocking. I may just come in near the end some day to experience it
On a happier note I won the Club TT last night, thats a first, first, second and first over the 4 races with 2 to go 0 -
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Back at it from today, I need to get some focus after a week off, my race schedule is as follows:
Beast of the East - for NS points
Kilkenny Grand Prix Olympic
IM Galway 70.3
Challenge Barcelona.......?????
Challenge Barcelona is on the horizon as I'm kicking myself for my non show in Austria, it cant be as hot as it was last week and maybe worth a shot. I've been checking the temperatures online, it will be wetsuit as its a sea swim and should only be in the low mid 20's.
However the 70.3 in Galway is only 4 weeks before, I know I'll have recovered. I need to do myself justice for the training, its the finance issue aswell. Spent a fortune in Austria. What you think guys??0 -
Back at it from today, I need to get some focus after a week off, my race schedule is as follows:
Beast of the East - for NS points
Kilkenny Grand Prix Olympic
IM Galway 70.3
Challenge Barcelona.......?????
Challenge Barcelona is on the horizon as I'm kicking myself for my non show in Austria, it cant be as hot as it was last week and maybe worth a shot. I've been checking the temperatures online, it will be wetsuit as its a sea swim and should only be in the low mid 20's.
However the 70.3 in Galway is only 4 weeks before, I know I'll have recovered. I need to do myself justice for the training, its the finance issue aswell. Spent a fortune in Austria. What you think guys??
Well, what's your plan for next year? If IMAT was your last IM for a while, then finances and family allowing, I would jump at it.
From a readiness perspective, I don't see a problem doing Barca 4 weeks after Galway, as long as you are motivatied to keep at it.
Maybe give it another week or 2 before deciding and let the frustration of Austria die down a bit.
On the flip side, I think being in a constant state of "IMness", can be draining all round (personally, finances, family etc..) so it can be good to take the foot off for a while.0 -
Back at it from today, I need to get some focus after a week off, my race schedule is as follows:
Beast of the East - for NS points
Kilkenny Grand Prix Olympic
IM Galway 70.3
Challenge Barcelona.......?????
Challenge Barcelona is on the horizon as I'm kicking myself for my non show in Austria, it cant be as hot as it was last week and maybe worth a shot. I've been checking the temperatures online, it will be wetsuit as its a sea swim and should only be in the low mid 20's.
However the 70.3 in Galway is only 4 weeks before, I know I'll have recovered. I need to do myself justice for the training, its the finance issue aswell. Spent a fortune in Austria. What you think guys??
Personally I wouldn't bother with Galway. I did both last year and decided to do Galway at IM pace rather than risk it. I believe Galway is too close to Barca race it and then recover enough to race Barca to the best of your ability. Barca is a class race. Be warned though, it's damn hot. It was hitting 28 to 30 on the run last year - Barca that is, not Galway.
Accomodation in Callela is cheap and the resort itself is cheap too. Lovely area also. Flights aren;t too bad to Barcelona either and there''s a train that will take you from the airport to the Callela for around 30 return.0 -
+1 on Galway. If you have Barcelona in mind, particularly for redemption, then that will undoubtedly be the main foucs. Galway is just an expensive training session then. Rightnow it may seem like it may not affect Barcelona but consider some scenarios
1. You need a swim boost and tha weekend will be better served with a couple of long OW swim sessions
2. You missed a long bike the week before due to Life getting in the way and now need to do a 5hour bike instead of a 5 hour race
3. Its wet and windy and you get cold. This will increase the injury potential.
4. You have a fabulous race at Galway, blitzing your expectations. However you went very deep to do so and need a week of hard recovery. You feel lethargic then with Barca 3 weeks away and do too much in the weeks leading up to it
5. The extra pocket money you will have for post race celebrations in Calella
Well done on plugging away and getting through IMAT after that swim. It was a gutsy effort0 -
Great report re. Austria. You might have been pissed off with yourself at the end, but just finishing in that sort of heat is slightly mind-boggling (considering that melting-point for the average Irish male is 29 degrees*)
*This is scientific fact 0 -
Personally I wouldn't bother with Galway. I did both last year and decided to do Galway at IM pace rather than risk it. I believe Galway is too close to Barca race it and then recover enough to race Barca to the best of your ability. Barca is a class race. Be warned though, it's damn hot. It was hitting 28 to 30 on the run last year - Barca that is, not Galway.
Accomodation in Callela is cheap and the resort itself is cheap too. Lovely area also. Flights aren;t too bad to Barcelona either and there''s a train that will take you from the airport to the Callela for around 30 return.
I know all about Galway and FOUR Seasons in 1 day there last year :eek:, the problem is its all booked and paid for including the accomodation. I hadnt planned at all on doing Barcelona, it looks cheap enough to get to and looks a cool race. Decisions, decisions!!0 -
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SAT AM Went on a quick reconnaissance of the 16k route for Thursday nights final TT. Its pretty exposed on the early section with 3k of a pretty long drag, after that its rolling with poor enough road surfaces. I need to average at least 43kph on the night to win the overall series. We race 3 courses twice, however I missed this one when in Austria, and it was the only decent nights weather that week - TYPICAL!
So I will be watching the weather forecasts hourly praying for no wind whatsoever! Interestingly enough from the Tri Club and 2 local Cycle clubs involved circa 60/70 competitors the TRI club has the top 4 Positions on the leaderboard.
SUN PM Still now running or swimming since Austria, but managed 40 mins on the turbo @ 200w watching the last 48k of the Tour, I was suffering as much as they were and it was hot and sweaty especially the last 10 mins.
I have been deliberating purchasing a Zipp disk wheel all week, but I think I can justify it now, whether I have the balls to turn up to a race with one remains to be seen, plus the pi$$ taking from the Club members.
I always thought it cool passing a pointy helmet or a disc wheel, now I'm rarely every passed on the bike.........maybe thats because the good bikers are fast swimmers and are gone ages before me!0 -
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