A baker’s dozen – 13 weeks till Ironman Austria

This Sunday just gone marked three full months – 13 whole weeks – until I tackle my second Ironman, in Klagenfurt, Austria, on 1 July. This – to borrow the theme of 75% of all Cosmo and Marie Claire articles ever written – is how you know when things are getting serious.

Until now, training has just been training – not exactly aimless, but less targeted. For the next three months, however, I’ll be more targeted than a high school cheerleader in a slasher horror movie. I’ve had my structure through from coach and let’s just say I’ll be making sure I have plenty of chamois cream in the kit bag, Gatorade in the fridge and ice in the bath...

So, first things first, Ironman Austria. Why? The answer to this is several-fold.

Firstly, while I was proud of myself for having finished Ironman Wales last year (which was, after all, my only real goal), I also felt like I didn’t do myself justice. I was immediately ready for another Ironman and, when deciding which race to do, I knew that I wanted something with the amazing atmosphere and feel of Wales, but without the uncertain weather.

IM Wales’ September date meant training right through the Dubai summer which, in retrospect, meant I couldn't do the training mileage required on the bike or run, so I wanted something that’d give me time to rest then pick up the training again (i.e. summer) but a few months earlier meaning that I’d enjoy the truly hellish training months of July and August when temperatures hover around the mid-40s all day and night.

Most importantly, I needed something altogether flatter on the bike and run.

Austria seemed to fit the bill. The organisation and support are legendary. The weather is almost always perfect (he says, touching more wood than a gay pornstar) and the course, surprisingly perhaps, is much more suited to my strengths (that should perhaps be “strengths”).

One more reason: the venue is stunning!

Just one problem – it’s such a popular race, it’d sold out within hours of opening for entries on the day after the previous event.

Mostly, being a journalist means no money, long hours and continuous deadline stress but there are certain times I’m very happy with my chosen career; such as those times that I read emails and Facebook posts from people who earn way more money than me but get to feel smug about their shocking grasp of grammar and toddler-like spelling ability... this was one of those times!

A quick email to the awesome Klaus who represents Tourism Austria here in the Middle East; he forwarded me to the wonderful Nicole and Gernot at Worthersee Tourism (Worthersee is the stunning lake that is central to the event) and, before I could say “Der hund ist auf dem auto” (“the dog is on the car” is the only phrase I remember from school German other than “Ich bin im bett mit seiner freundin” which means “I’m in bed with your girlfriend”... every time I’m in Germany or Austria, I’m dying to see a dog sat on a car, just so I can impress all the locals with my language skills and powers of observation!) I was signed up to Ironman Austria! Result.

So, there’s part one of my little tale. Tomorrow – what can I expect from the race itself?