To sum it up in one sentence: not my day š
I chose Austria as my second race because it was a country Iād not been to before and the race in Klagenfurt is ranked as the most beautiful Ironman in Europe. 100% deserves this title! I am choosing abroad races because if Iām paying so much money for closed roads I want decent road surfaces so that rules out Bolton! (I suppose it also rules out Wales but I'll make an exception for that one!)
I went in with high expectations which I didn't think were unrealistic given the hours I'd put in towards it. I was feeling really ready for a good race, but it was the hottest day of the year in Klagenfurt: 34Ā°C and 70% humidity š„µ waiting for the start on the lakeside was less intense than Barcelonaā¦ I think less of the nerves and fear, a bit more confidence and probably more excitement.
SWIM
The lake was so toasty it was non-wetsuit which actually probably favoured me; my swim went really well ā very happy with 22nd female overall!! The water was lush. So clear, that greeny kind of glacial lake with an absolutely stunning mountainous backdrop. It was roughly a 3km loop before heading up the weedy canal. The last 800m were more challenge with it being directly into the blinding sun, narrow and quite shallow. There were crowds both sides though and that was fun, I even managed a wave exchange with my support crew! I was spurred on by the spectators and found myself overtaking a lot of blokes in the last 10 minutes. Bang on target, happy with that.
BIKE
I started off on the bike feeling strong and loving it; the scenery was stunning and there were some awesome crowds going through the cobbled villages š I couldnāt believe what a great day I was having as I was on track for a comfy sub 6 before the halfway point. I was riding on cloud 9 with a smile on my face. I was nailing my nutrition plan and pretty much on point with the race plan power caps, but by about 90km I was starting to feel the heat. I was pouring water over me at every aid station but my head was overheating in my stupid black aero helmet that lacks holes. I don't know how different my day would have been if I'd worn my other one and I hate that I'll never know. It's extra annoying that I'd even tested it out in the heat a few days before and felt fine. Lesson learned for Kona. The second half got hilly and with the sun beating down and bouncing off the tarmac, and no breeze under that lid when you're climbing, I was really not okay; at 120k I was dizzy and sick, then from that point on it was pure survival š it was seriously savage. I very nearly pulled over at a medical tent but that would likely be race over and I'm not one to quit.
RUN
I couldn't stomach anything and I couldn't face the beta fuel that had been doing me wonders before, so I had to get round the marathon on empty. My goodness me that was suffering like I've never known. I also didn't realise an empty stomach could continue to empty itself so many times š Alfie passed me just towards the end of his run so I got to see him run down the finish line (it was two laps!) and he got ample time to recover before watching me finish lol. I haven't got much recollection of those 42km but I do remember the feeling of total disbelief at the finish that I'd made it. There were so many points in the day that I didn't think I'd be getting a medal ā only 74% of people who started that race actually finished.
I struggled to shake the disappointment of this one... it was not a reflection of the work I'd put in; 13h43 was not what Iād gone there for. But being completely honest, I knew from the start that I only had to make it to the finish line to qualify because I knew the superstar Chiara had already qualified (she even reached out before the race to tell me!) and there was only me left in my age group. I think thatās what got me round. But I didn't want to just get round; I wanted to qualify with a decent time and a solid race. I was totally gutted and utterly disappointed in myself that heatstroke got me and I just couldn't pull it off. So I told myself I didn't deserve it and I wasn't going to take it.
Luckily I'm surrounded by enough amazing people who have my back and convinced me that I did earn it. There's a reason there were only 2 people in my age group.. it's hella hard to even get to the start line and it's not what women my age do. Although I didn't put the times down that I'd prepared for, I pushed on when I literally thought I had nothing. When I was dizzy and sick at 120km I could have called it a day, but I couldn't face a DNF with so much at stake, so I just kept going. Never been to such a deep hole. So yes it took me 13hrs and 43 minutes, and yes I only got the rolldown slot, but that's how the game worksā¦ gotta be in it to win it.
I have dreamt of going there for years and I'd have been dumb to turn it down because I had a bad day, so I decided to take the learnings and go again šŖ
šŗ KONA BABYYY šŗ
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