70.3 Austria

70.3 Austria (90 / 21.1) 4:54:31 [Results] [Certificate]

T1 - 1:18
Bike - 2:54:44
T2 - 2:35
Run - 1:56:03

M45: 141st out of 246
Male: 931th out of 1446
Overall: 1005th out of 1681
 

This was supposed to be the dress-rehearsal for IM Austria, but it turned out to be a slightly different event altogether. The swim had to be cancelled due to severe weather conditions (water temperature less than 13 Celsius, air 6 degrees and forecasted gale force winds).

The start was organised in mini waves where 15 athletes started every 30 seconds. This was slightly comical as you had to line up for the start and then run to your bike through a huge transition area dressed with your cycling shoes and helmet. Almost all riders, including the pros, rode in long sleeves - highly unusual for this time of the year.

The bike starts with a flat 15k on the motorway and with a very strong rear winds, I reached speeds of up to 50km/h. This all changed once we hit the first hills, which were manageable as the wind was still kind. The middle part was a long stretch alongside the Danube where we had the wind - by now up to 60 km/h! - face on. As a result, the next penalty tent was quite packed. At about 60k, the big hill started - nothing too steep, but quite a long way up to over 700m altitude. Some of the downhill sections were rather dangerous what resulted in a number of crashes. The last 10k should have been an easy back to St. Pölten, but it turned out to be the toughest part of the entire bike leg due to strong and totally unpredictable side winds. Aero position was impossible and speed dropped to silly levels.

Back to the fantastic event arena and into T2. The run was 2 laps. Since I started in the last of 8 waves, the course was quite packed on my first lap. Everything was ok until km12 when I started to get cramps in my right upper leg and my stomach started to rebel. I started to walk the feed stations and also the few uphills bumps. I had things timed to get me under 5 hours, but it turned out that the run course was approx. 800m short, so this was no problem in the end.

My legs felt fine after the race, but my stomach wasn't too happy. I felt for about an hour the urge to vomit, but no joy. Things started to improve once I drank loads of liquid and had a few bites of melon. This is a bit of a worry as I don't know what has gone wrong with the nutrition. I might be the new energy bars I have been taken or something I drank that didn't agree with me. Also, I think the amount of water / iso I drank was insufficient. What did work quite well, was the odd sip of Coke during the run, though.

All in all, a good event with loads of participants from countries such as Slovenia, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary and Russia. A real shame we missed the unique swim in 2 lakes, but it was still good prep race for the big day in 5 weeks time. Now onwards to Klagenfurt where we are going to sample the bike course.


All wrapped up at the start

On the run

All done

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