The Trip Over:
We flew out late on Aug 14th, the last flight from Perth to Vienna, Austria.
Having arrived in Austria the next day I noticed my bike had been badly
damaged (a new one is coming so Allan there could be a bike for you
haha!!) I didn't no what to do or how to talk the language. Lucky I
managed to find a bike shop in Prague where i could speak to them and
ordered in some parts. For the first 6 days it was just swimming in a
pool where no one follows lanes or direction, and running in the
smallest gym with a treadmill that is only set to 13km/hr.
Finally a week later my bike was fixed and we were on the move to Zell am see Austria.
OMG!!
what an amazing place to race and visit. I still had a little over 7
days left where I could train and acclimatise to the heat and
the massive hills.
Race week was huge with people from all over
the world coming to compete, the feeling was amazing and breathtaking. Four
days out the nerves hit hard, being involved in something so massive
was so daunting, it was a feeling like no other.
2 days out
from the race, was amazing with check in open... The most free goodies
one can wish for, the parade of the nations as always the Aussies were
nothing but loud and in full spirit. Dinner and a briefing to finish off
the day before a well earned rest day.
Hope you enjoy my story, it is a little long though. so grab a coffee!!!
Race day!!
With almost no sleep at night, I managed to pull my self out of bed around 8am,
so late for a race!!! I walked down to the bike area where I set up the
bad girl.
When I exited there was no marking or signs directing us to
enter for the swim, so as if the event its self wasn't enough they added
in some extra difficulties. I managed to find the entrance as my wave
was in the water and the cannon to explode in 90 sec. I only just made
it. I seem to have this habit creeping into my morning routine!
Swim:
What a brutal swim a tight and congested swim from start to finished,
there was no room with legs and arms flying everywhere. To the point
where I saw one person stop and punch another swimmer in the back! Was
this what the worlds best are like or does it really mean that much to
them? ... Either way I was thinking that this is going to be one long,
hot and challenging day. 29 minutes later the swim was finished.
Happy with my swim time I
exited the water and ran into transition, grabbed my bag ran through transition, found my bike and sprinted to the exit. "Nothing worse then having to
collect bags and change in a tent, so much quicker having everything
ready on the bike!!"
Bike: starting out in a good frame of
mind, with the massive hill not too far away knowing I had concurred it
just a few days before. We left in a group of about 6 across bridges and
rail lines we finally hit the highway. Freedom at last after nearly 40
minutes of annoyance. 22km into the ride the legs were feeling good and I
was feeling strong, holding the fastest 22km in my life of just 28
minutes (mainly downhill haha). It was time to begin the massive climb
18kms at 14% of pure punishment, with all the Europeans coming flying
past. Finally I was at the top of the hill, 1 hr later it was time to
descend, a very technical one at that. With my bike broken just days
before I was a little nervous so coasted down the 15% decent and watch
several guys go flying past and several go flying into the bush. At the 70km
mark I was beat I didn't have a lot left in the tank and wanted it all
to be over, normally this hits well into the run!!! 5km up the road
there was a town (Kaprun) with screaming fans, big crowds and loud music I was ready to go again. So I picked up the pace again overtaking a European, who told me that he was going to do me in for an illegal
pass, he had my race number and looked rather serious, so I hit the
breaks and followed him until a could find a wider road and easier place
to pass. Man these people were giving me the sugar nuts!!! 2 hrs and 39
the pain was over or was it just beginning??
Run: leaving
transition, my legs were heaving as the heat really hit. A cool 35
degrees. For the first 5kms there was no aid station and no way I could cool
myself down, but though the town I ran following another who had a
similar pace. Down town was a different feeling seeing all the flags,
the people and all the different nationalities it was a real booster.
Finally I hit the aid station running through and grabbing nothing but
water and sponges, I set off to the next one!!! Next part of the run
(5kms) was around the lake with nice shadows and amazing scenery. Around
the turn I felt finished the heat was too much, I had massive
cramps and was once again ready to pass out. Some how with all the
people around there was no time for stopping only slowing and before I
knew it I was back in town turning around up another hill and
cobblestone streets - somehow the crowds made all the pain go away until
they were in my rear view mirror... I managed to find some Aussies
along the 2nd lap so that helped finish off the run, all of us finished
within 1 minute of each other so it was a great feeling. Finally up the
cobblestone streets we ran again although this time it was the finish
line, there were massive crowds, music, streamers, flags you name it, it was
there. Running past the president of Tri Australia, who handed me a
flag which went down the finishing chute with pride. OH BOY what a day,
but glad it was over and I could enjoy some of the best of what Europe
had to offer. Finishing in 5 hrs and 7 minutes, the 7th Aussie in my
age group!! (3 of us within a minute of each other) and the
11th across the line out side of a European country! Needless to say I
was rather happy with the efforts. There is some serious work to be done
so hopefully Taiwan 70.3 can show some stronger improvements again.
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