25/26 August - Zell Am See Ironman and Exploring
We took our first day in Zell Am See pretty quiet. We sunbaked on a deck chairs at our chalet, we went to town and did some more shopping and walked along the lake. Nathan, Todd and dad rode their bikes around the lake.
They said the views were incredible. Nathan went for a swim and a run. We walked up from town which was a pretty hard 2 km and very steep but heaps to look at and enjoy as we walked up.
Dad and Todd went and registered for their Ironman race. They were doing the Ironman 70.3 Austria Zell Am See. (A 70.3 is a half distance ironman). Dad said he suspected the weather might not be the best overnight because they gave everyone plastic bike covers to cover the bikes ready for the race the next day.
We stayed at our chalet and relaxed in the beautiful weather, 30 degrees celsius and just breathed in the lovely fresh mountain air and absorbed the views. We had a big pasta dinner and watched some dvds then had a great sleep.
A cold change came through in the night and it snowed on the peaks around us. It was cloudy in the morning first thing. Dad and Todd set off for their race at about 8am for a 10am start. They had to walk to race start which was about 3km away on the lake. When they started the 1.9km swim it was very cloudy and showery with some sun. The water was warm though.
They had a good race except that it poured rain throughout the bike and run legs. Dad wasn't prepared for the 10 degree air temp and wind chill temp of 0 degrees wearing only his tri top and then a thin run top, but he made it whilst many others pulled out with hypothermia. Todd had a good race too. It was unfortunate the weather wasn't the best.
The race was a big thing for the region and the organisers spared no money in running the event. Even though the weather was bad, spectators lined the course including 5 people deep along the swim course and the run and bike legs through Zell Am See and the 5 other towns that the race went through. People rang cow bells and cheered and shouted encouragement all the way. At the swim start dad said there was a remote control miniature helicopter with a camera taking pics and videos of the start and swim leg. There were 2000 competitors.
Mum, Nathan and us watched dad and Todd race through town several times first on the bike then the run. Dad and Todd crossed paths at one stage and ran together for a lap. We gave them a high five as they ran past.
We got a little wet but we had a great time including a few hot chocolates and lollies and some other snacks.
We cheered them both through the finish line. Erin ran with dad down the finish chute and across the finish line. They gave her a finisher medal as well. Dad and Todd said that the race was spectacular and scenery was incredible even though the weather was bad.
They had to have thermal blankets after the race to help warm them up. They really earnt their ironman finisher medals today.
We went home after the race and got dressed up and went out for dinner at a little restaurant in a chalet/gastof just below ours. It was a beautiful dinner - we had several traditional austrian dishes including turkey ragou, austrian cheese pasta, vegetable soup and apricot pancakes and heaps of other yummy food. Mum, dad, Nathan and Todd had austrian beers and schnapps after. We talked to the waitress who was from Hungary and she taught us a couple of words in Hungarian. Thankyou is Kersinom in Hungarian (and Dunka in Austrian/German). We think she fancied Todd.
We had a great couple days in Zell Am See. Tomorrow we are hoping to go up to the top of the mountain in a cable car. We hope the weather is good. There were some stars as we walked back from dinner.
The Creber Girls xxx
We took our first day in Zell Am See pretty quiet. We sunbaked on a deck chairs at our chalet, we went to town and did some more shopping and walked along the lake. Nathan, Todd and dad rode their bikes around the lake.
They said the views were incredible. Nathan went for a swim and a run. We walked up from town which was a pretty hard 2 km and very steep but heaps to look at and enjoy as we walked up.
Dad and Todd went and registered for their Ironman race. They were doing the Ironman 70.3 Austria Zell Am See. (A 70.3 is a half distance ironman). Dad said he suspected the weather might not be the best overnight because they gave everyone plastic bike covers to cover the bikes ready for the race the next day.
We stayed at our chalet and relaxed in the beautiful weather, 30 degrees celsius and just breathed in the lovely fresh mountain air and absorbed the views. We had a big pasta dinner and watched some dvds then had a great sleep.
A cold change came through in the night and it snowed on the peaks around us. It was cloudy in the morning first thing. Dad and Todd set off for their race at about 8am for a 10am start. They had to walk to race start which was about 3km away on the lake. When they started the 1.9km swim it was very cloudy and showery with some sun. The water was warm though.
They had a good race except that it poured rain throughout the bike and run legs. Dad wasn't prepared for the 10 degree air temp and wind chill temp of 0 degrees wearing only his tri top and then a thin run top, but he made it whilst many others pulled out with hypothermia. Todd had a good race too. It was unfortunate the weather wasn't the best.
The race was a big thing for the region and the organisers spared no money in running the event. Even though the weather was bad, spectators lined the course including 5 people deep along the swim course and the run and bike legs through Zell Am See and the 5 other towns that the race went through. People rang cow bells and cheered and shouted encouragement all the way. At the swim start dad said there was a remote control miniature helicopter with a camera taking pics and videos of the start and swim leg. There were 2000 competitors.
Mum, Nathan and us watched dad and Todd race through town several times first on the bike then the run. Dad and Todd crossed paths at one stage and ran together for a lap. We gave them a high five as they ran past.
We got a little wet but we had a great time including a few hot chocolates and lollies and some other snacks.
We cheered them both through the finish line. Erin ran with dad down the finish chute and across the finish line. They gave her a finisher medal as well. Dad and Todd said that the race was spectacular and scenery was incredible even though the weather was bad.
They had to have thermal blankets after the race to help warm them up. They really earnt their ironman finisher medals today.
We went home after the race and got dressed up and went out for dinner at a little restaurant in a chalet/gastof just below ours. It was a beautiful dinner - we had several traditional austrian dishes including turkey ragou, austrian cheese pasta, vegetable soup and apricot pancakes and heaps of other yummy food. Mum, dad, Nathan and Todd had austrian beers and schnapps after. We talked to the waitress who was from Hungary and she taught us a couple of words in Hungarian. Thankyou is Kersinom in Hungarian (and Dunka in Austrian/German). We think she fancied Todd.
We had a great couple days in Zell Am See. Tomorrow we are hoping to go up to the top of the mountain in a cable car. We hope the weather is good. There were some stars as we walked back from dinner.
The Creber Girls xxx
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