Yvette did a great write up of her recent Ironman experience in Austria in June. If you’re getting a bit bored of domestic racing, then perhaps looking for a race abroad is the way to go.
“So, I wanted to do an interesting Ironman and my main criteria was for it to be beautiful. IM Austria really didn’t disappoint.
The swim is in Lake Worthersee – absolutely stunning at any time of the day – a huge body of clear water (so no silly laps or Australian exits) and stunning scenery.
The bike is two separate loops with a variety of terrain but also rural and on closed roads. After doing Outlaw full I wanted something with a bit of variety and a few hills but not crazy hilly like the UK Ironmen routes.
The run was ‘flat’ (it isn’t) around the lake so I thought ‘oh that might be OK heat wise’ – mmm.
The bike was the best bit for me. Took me longer than I’d hoped but I properly enjoyed it and waved at all the photographers and on-course supporters (there were loads in the tiny villages that really looked pleased to see us). Got chatting to other competitors which was also lovely. Arrived in T2 in good time to finish and remember sitting down in the baking heat thinking ‘how on earth am I going to run a marathon now?’ Well, you just put one foot in front of the other and you finish.
When is an Ironman run pretty? Well, the views were stunning and the shade when it came was beautiful. The feed station guys were absolutely top notch – there’s a really amazing ironman culture to these guys on the marathon – they can’t do enough to help. Everyone is going through their own deep dark place and your demons come to taut your big time, but you soldier on and to be honest, this is the real Ironman race. Even though I felt I’d done awful I made up 200 places on the run so can’t have been that bad.
I would definitely recommend this race to people who want beauty and aren’t too worried by time achievements or the threat of a non-wetsuit swim (2022 was non wetsuit so they moved this year’s race earlier and that paid off as this year was wetsuit legal) and who don’t mind run/walking in heat – because it’s likely to be a scorcher with a mid-afternoon marathon start in this part of the world. If these don’t phase you – absolutely go for it. It gets you to a stunning part of the world with no traffic and fantastic support. It’s what Ironman is all about.
Thanks to Coach Pat for designing a training plan that took over 6 months of very gradual gains that got me to the start race ready and confident of being able to do my best. No small feat!”
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