Race Review: Ironman Austria Kärnten-Klagenfurt
This race review was written by our very own Chris McFaul, who is in the process of becoming our new club chairman.
Non-Swimmer to Ironman in Two Years
It all started in June 2023 when Doc Dan and I were engaging in a bit of one-upmanship. I mentioned I would love to do Austria if only my swimming was better. The “I’ll do it if you do it” conversation intensified until, on the night of Thursday, June 23rd, 2023, while waiting at the start of a Bayside swim drills session, Dan said, “I’m doing it.” He promptly went home that night and sent me a screenshot saying, “Here you go, I’ve entered!” I couldn’t back out then, so the journey began.
Along the way, we convinced Hayden to join us, and so it was set. The Doc, Hayden, and I were going for it.
The Challenge of Planning
Putting the travel together in a cost-effective way proved to be difficult, especially finding a flight that guaranteed two hold bags and a hotel within a reasonable distance of the start line. Collectively, we agreed to bring in a travel agent at Hays Travel, and it proved to be a revelation. Business class BA flights, barely any more expensive than normal flights, took care of the bike boxes. A beautiful four-hour train ride from Vienna to Klagenfurt 1st class for £35 return and a hotel that was literally 500 yards from the train station and only 3 miles from the event meant we were all set!
Overcoming Obstacles
As most of you know, four weeks out from the Ironman event, both Dan and I were involved in a serious accident at the Hampshire Hilly Hundred. Suddenly, our goals and targets had become more difficult, and it was going to be a race against time to heal enough to make it to the start line. Thankfully, my good friend and genius Ahmed was able to push, pull, crack, manipulate, and inject me to the start line. My coach and I had reset the objectives from getting a sub-14-hour finish to just getting around—completing the event would be an achievement given the circumstances.
The Journey to Klagenfurt
The travel could not have been any smoother. The flight from Heathrow Terminal 3 was perfect, the trains were on time, and the Atrigon hotel was spot on. The room was plenty large enough for the three of us plus all the bags, bike boxes, and bikes once rebuilt.
Pre-Race Preparations
As you would expect from Ironman, the organisation, registration, and racking were all brilliantly managed. The city of Klagenfurt is lovely, with fantastic period architecture, plenty of restaurants and bars, and even a fan park for the Euros. Food and drink were cheap, easy, and fresh.
Race Day
Early Morning
A 3 am alarm ensured we were all up and had everything we needed, including our ankle timing chips and fuelling. The hotel arranged a 4 am breakfast for us to get those last-minute carbs in, and a taxi to pick us up at 04:30.
We arrived at transition shortly before it opened, and my nerves began to kick in. When it did open, we went straight to the bike racking and grabbed the track pump before there was a large queue. Thankfully, the bikes were good, although a little wet as it had started to rain. Fuel was safely deposited, then we made our way to the bag area to add last-minute bits before using the portaloos to take care of more race day nerves.
We left transition to make the short walk over the bridge of the canal that we would soon be swimming up to the lake start area. The stunning early morning view of the lake settled open water fears a little.
The Swim
After wandering around for half an hour, it was time to get the wetsuits on as the pro men’s field was off at 06:30, followed a few minutes later by the sub-hour swimmers where Dan the aqua man was placing himself. The three of us shared a hug and a handshake, wished each other the best of luck, and made our way to the self-seeded pens. I was in the 1:30 to 1:40 group, and Hayden had placed in the 1:15 to 1:20 group.
The Austrian national anthem played, the excitement was building to a frenzy, and after a short countdown, BOOM, off went the famous Klagenfurt start line cannon and the pros were off! A few minutes later, there was a further countdown and boom, off went the cannon again, and the quicker swimmers, including Dan, were off, followed by everyone else in waves.
I finally entered the water at around 7:40, some three hours after we had arrived at transition. The length of time waiting helped me as the adrenaline had worn off a little, and I was able to focus on the task ahead.
I’m not the best swimmer, but having had a short swim the day before in the lake really helped, and the panic I had in the water at the Huntsman 5 weeks earlier felt a long way away. The buoys still went out an awful long way, so much that you could barely see them, but Dan and Hayden had both reassured me it would be fine and to just take it in and enjoy it. Thanks, chaps, it was excellent advice because enjoy it I did.
I did quite well with sighting, and Strava shows I stayed fairly much in a straight line. The swim up the canal was an amazing experience, and when I finally made it to the end and was pulled out of the water in 1 hour 38 minutes, I felt good and ready to get to my stronger disciplines.
The Bike
12 minutes in transition, which included an approximate 300-500 meter run and a pee, and I was off out on the bike. As soon as I entered the course, I had the pleasure of being passed by the lead bike plus associated police bikes and cars completing lap 1. Over the next hour or so, all the pros and some age groupers raced by while I settled into my plan of sticking to 90 rpm and a wattage of around 135-150 where possible.
The bike route was stunning with two laps of flats and climbs with a total climb of approximately 6000 feet. There was one particularly nasty climb that went on and on, but otherwise, there was nothing we can’t do around Old Winchester Hill, and the support as you went through the populated areas was immense. The views were amazing—the hour plus of apocalyptic rain, not so much! There were at least 13 aid stations, plus mechanic stations and portaloos for those that can’t pee in a tri suit (me).
I completed lap one in approximately 3.5 hours, which included one pee stop. I was ahead of plan, which was 7 hours 40 approximately, and I had overtaken more riders than had overtaken me. Lap 2 was more spread out, but I continued to pick off individuals. Two pee stops on this lap, one first-hand witness of an accident, and a rider separated from his bike by a large drop into a farmer’s field.
I hit the major climb for the second time at 150 km, knowing that once I was at the top, it was all pretty much downhill from there. I made sure to swap out my remaining personal bottle for an Ironman course bottle at the last aid station so I had two, put my head down, and raced for the bike finish. 7 hours 3 minutes, and I was back in transition.
The Run
Almost 12 minutes later, I was out on the run course, having fully changed into running gear. The run route was also two laps, taking in views of the lake, the finish funnel, and the city centre. I agreed with my coach to walk 1 minute and slowly run 4 minutes to manage my hip injury, but I felt pretty good and slowly set out to run as long as I could.
I picked up lap band one and was properly out. I settled into a 10-minute mile pace with the view to hold that as long as I could and walk through the aid stations if required. By the time I picked up lap band two, the pain was really starting to kick in. I took more paracetamol and then changed strategy to the original plan, but the pain meant I had to walk for longer and ended up walking almost all of mile 25.
Once I got to the 40k marker, I dug as deep as I’ve ever gone and told myself that’s it, you’re running the last 2k, whatever happens, suck it up! The crowds were brilliant, the stands around the finish line were great. What was rather cruel was approaching what you think is the finish, then running back away again along the lake before coming back.
I was being high-fived, cheered, and encouraged in the last few hundred meters, and my pace had increased to 7-minute miles despite the pain! I was going to do it!!
I approached the finish mat, stopped my watch at the advice of Ben (thanks, mate), and made my way into the lights and crowd. The announcer loudly pronounced, “Christopher McFaul – you are an Ironman,” an emotional moment and the stuff of dreams!! The run had taken 4 hours 56 minutes, way outside the original plan pre-injury, but I’d managed to achieve 14 hours 1 minute and 25 seconds, only just outside my initial goal of sub-14!!
Hayden was waiting for me just as I left the initial medal area, having finished in an amazing time, and we walked through to the finisher marquee where Dan was sat waiting, having had his own challenges on the course but still finishing faster than I, albeit by only 30 seconds!
Post-Race Reflection
Medals issued, lovely finisher shirts, food, drink, and beer if desired, and we were ready to make the slow journey back to transition to collect our gear and figure out how to travel 3 miles back to the hotel. We ended up hanging transition bags on our backs and riding back in the dark, which I do not recommend.
A rubbish night’s sleep, and soon it was Monday morning. The aches and pains needed to be put to one side to get packed, deconstruct bikes back into travel boxes so we could go out, eat, drink, and be merry. We met up with two of Dan’s friends and enjoyed the football fan park for the Austria game, which was electric until half-time when we couldn’t hold off sleep any longer.
Tuesday morning was an early breakfast, and the journey back was as easy as the journey out. I crossed my front door threshold at 21:00 approximately Tuesday evening, exhausted but still buzzing.
The whole trip from start to finish was great, and having the strength of Hayden and the experience of Dan by my side, encouraging me and checking that I was okay despite having their own races to concentrate on was invaluable. I could not imagine having two better mates to have achieved this with. Take a bow, gents—I owe you both more than I could ever repay!
Final Thoughts
I would highly recommend Ironman Austria. There were loads of first-timers, easily identifiable by the orange first-timer swim hats, plus plenty of experienced athletes. The travel worked a treat, and the company was excellent. It was well-organized with plenty of happy-to-help volunteers, and the locals were out in force to support.
The lake and bike course were immense. The run course wasn’t quite so smooth with some lumpy surfaces, but when you’re used to running here, it felt immaculate!
The training is hard and takes over your life somewhat, but if you’re dedicated and put the effort in, then I can now say from first-hand experience it’s worth every drop of blood, sweat, and tears!!
I’m still not sure it’s all quite sunk in yet that I have finally achieved, at the age of 51, something I didn’t think I could ever achieve as a non-swimmer only two short years ago!
I AM AN IRONMAN – WE ARE IRONMEN
