Ironman Austria : Official Thread

I did the 2013 version. This is an amazing race top to bottom. Great fans, volunteers and venues. Far and away the loudest finish line of any of the races I've done. You are in for a real experience. Wish I were going back but have got other things on the schedule for 2014.

Some random thoughts -
The swim venue is beautiful with a mass start on the beach, out and back are straightforward, then the swim up the Lendkanal is where the fun starts. Its about 10 meters wide and you swim six to ten across, hands to heels, to the swim finish. The overall effect is being carried on an incoming tide, but lots of contact. Wetsuit legal last year, the prior year was unusually warm and not wetsuit.

The bike can be challenging due to a few signature hills - MapMyRide has the course so you can get an idea of the climbs. I rode every hill in Central Florida (there aren't many) over and over, and never felt like I was in trouble. NOT a strong cyclist, but used a 12/28, and enjoyed the scenery. Amazing vistas - take the time to look.

The run is mostly trail and streets, two loops, with the first and third about 10k along the lake (beside the railroad tracks) and through neighborhoods around the Worthersee. The second and last 10k head up from the lake, along the canal to the city of Klagenfurt, with turn around in the town square - don't forget to ring the bell on the way by! Almost all dead flat.

The finish is outrageously loud. Big crowd, lots of noise.

I got my travel package from Nirvana Europe (used them before for IM Zurich) and can recommend them highly. I arranged my own flights, but they picked me up in Vienna and took by bus to Klagenfurt, arranged hotels, bike service, pre- and raceday transport and back to Vienna. Very well organized. Picked up my bike and bags and returned them to the hotel so I didn't have to worry about it raceday. The staff onsite answered all my texts and emails promptly. (Take your iPhone and make sure you have a European roaming plan!) I did meet some other Americans who used Ken Glah's Endurance Travel and they had similar good experiences. A warning - if you plan to travel with your bike, confirm the airline will be able to carry it. Some of the regional carriers to Klagenfurt or Graz will not carry bike cases. Thats why I flew into Vienna.

My daughter was finishing a study(?) year in Graz, so we took the next week to travel the country - don't pass up the opportunity after the race to explore. We visited Klagenfurt, Vienna and Graz. Public transport is cheap,efficient, and easy - you can find a train or bus to anywhere, and it is clean and safe. As always, keep your eyes open, but I feel safer traveling in Europe than in most large US cities. Hope that helps, if you have any specifics, let me know.
JB

Have you received entry information from Nirvana? I have not.

This summary is great. Thanks for posting. Myself and a friend are doing IM Austria this year. I registered with Nirvana and so far they have been great to deal with. I hope it all works out with them once I get there (first time using them). Was the expo a typical IM expo? I will need to pick up some CO2 cartridges prior to the race since I won't be able to bring them on the plane.

The expo was quite large - larger I thought than many IM North American Races. You can get anything you need and a lot of stuff you don't! Get there early if you are looking for CO2, because there will be lots of folks in the same situation. Also check with Nirvana - they may be able to hook you up with some cartridges if you arrange in advance. (I take off my CO2 inflator and mount a good old frame pump when the bike flies, just so I don't have to worry about it.) Enjoy the day.

Well it is getting closer and travel plans coming together. I met Exnavydoc on the run in Ironman Los Cabos. He speaks well of the race. Not too many on BT doing it. Shallowsaltwater is a training partner of mine.

How is your training going?

TriBike Transport now has service to Austria. Signed up even though it is expensive. In the long run, I hope it pays off. Hotel and airline reservations all set.

Training time is running out!

I bit the bullet and using Tri Bike Transport. I have used them 3 times before. It is really convenient. Drop your bike off at a bike shop that you select. Take off the pedals and the bike ships complete. No break down or rebuild. You pick the bike up near transition a couple days before checkin. Put you pedals back on.

Usually IM has a pass for someone to grab your gear if something happens to you. I give my pass to my wife and she pulls the bike and gives it to the Tri Bike guys while I am on the run. I dont have to mess with the bike when I come across beat and ready for a beer.

I just used them for IM Los Cabos and my only complaint is that I have to give them my bike about 10 days before the race. I didnt get it back for 11 days and I had a 167 mile bike across Florida the weekend after IMLC and IM 70.3 New Orleans. I had to rent a bike for both.

I like Tri bike transport and gulped and paid the $650. No worry about a bike box in the rental car, up stairs in hotels through out Europe and worry about fitting or extra charges on airline. Done worrying about it now.

Do you happen to know the elevation change for Austria? I have seen 4696 and 7828 feet. I have done Lake Placid and plan on doing the same training.

My buddy is renting a bike for $550. A road bike but he is training on a tri bike. He put a downpayment on the rental before hearing about Tri Bike Transport.

Hang in there. You will finish. Just stick to your training plan. We all are affected by the family and work things