The morning of the race my head was a bit like my rubiks cube - lots of pieces in the wrong place. Most of my equipment I packed the night before but when I got to the race sight I realized that I forgot my water bottles, my race belt, and my power gel. Not sure what I was thinking but luckily it was only 10am and I had 2 hours left until race start. Pola went home for me to supplement my scaddered brain.
I wasn't feeling like racing until I got in the water. We were swimming in the Donau which isn't known for cleanliness. The water looked a bit muggy and the wind created some smaller waves. The day of the race Vienna experienced a temperature drop from 86 degrees to 50 degrees within one day.
My brother, his girlfriend (Linda) and Pola were watching the swim start from the top of a bridge. It was a trianglular course of 700m + 100m + 700m. Since SI experience a jelly fish attack all summer I lacked serious swim practice for this race. I went swimming 3 times in Vienna to get a feeling for the water. As soon as the start signal went of I was glued to the feet of the guy infront of me. I felt great. After a few meters someone passed us so I saw my chance to glue myself onto his back end. Until the second turn we were a group of four. One guy lead the entire way and three drafting. I was in fourth position when the guy infront of me couldn't close the gap between himself and the second guy. With a quick sprint I passed #3 and tucked myself behind #2. 700m to go and I felt great. On the second turn I looked to my right to see where I positioned myself in regard to the 180 other triathlets and to my surprise I saw a lot of flying arms. #2 and I kept drafting off #1 until about 150m before the swim exit. We swam below the bridge where my mini fan club was waiting. I got out of the water still not knowing what position I was in. When I came to the transition area I saw 5 other guys and about 170 bikes still waiting for pickup. I GOT OUT OF THE WATER IN 12th POSITION. This was by far the best swim I ever had. 0:26:11 for 1500m!
how cool is that picture :) thanks to my personal photographer - aka Pola
The bike course consisted of a 10km loop up and down the Donau. We had to loop around 4 times to complete the 40k. To my surprise the race wasn't draft legal since it wasn't the professional race. The 120 pros started 2 hours after us. The course was flat and slightly windy. On the first 5k of the loop I average 24mph and the on the back portion 22mph. After my first loop I saw people still entering the bike course from T1. Even though I felt fast on the bike I lost a few spots to some even faster bikers. At one point a drafting group of three past me but besides those rule brakers everyone seemed to follow instructions. The bike was fast and took its toll on my legs. My gatorade was way to sweet to consume without spitting up a storm. Every time I drank some I felt like puking on the nice flat pavement. I got back to T2 when I heard the commentator say that two more people (me and some other guy) will soon join the other 17 runners already on the run. I was still in 18th position which was amazing. I didn't feel too good anylonger but who cares? I was fast...1:02:00 for 40k.
After a 49 secong T2 I was on the run course. It was a 2km loop that everyone went through five times. Sounds really boring to see the same route five times but I kind of liked it. 1km seems to go by fast and it keeps me more motivated because I could quickly count my loop and do my 2463 calculations to keep me busy during the race. While running I always calculate how far I have to go, what is left and what's left if I finish this lap or the next. By the time I put every step in fractions I already past another km-stone which means I have to start my calculations over again. But the fun I had calculating was the only enjoyable thing about the run. I basically hit a wall at km 0.00. As mentioned before my legs were tired when I got off the bike and my running form looked like that of a cavemen. Even my mini fan club had to let me know how horrible I looked on the run (at least they are honest). Struggeling through 10k my first loop of 9min slowed down to a final 10:48min loop.
I finished 31st in 2:20:19. I ended up 5th in my age group. (#3 & #4 overall were my age and took the glory of a bronze medal) Overall I was very happy with my swim and bike but now it's time for a cranky speed workout. I have to get fast for the 2009 season.
official PDF results (I am the guy with the German flag in 31st position)
PS: notice how many people on that list are officale Tri-club members? This is insane. Alomst everyone is enrolled in a club. I am just saying...we need to watch out for those Austrians. They are fast and they have a lot of money for the nice equipment I always wanted to have.
me eating the driest piece of bread with meat that I ever had
aaaaahhhhhhhh....down it goes
my favorite....perfect aerodynamics like my bike frame...too bad their plane was made out of metal and didn't glide too well
