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 Epic Race in Savage Conditions
19 June 2010 (Report by Dave) |
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It was like being on holidays. Jonathan and Siobhan were sitting their exams but the prospect of a long summer lay ahead. You know the feeling. No hurry, no rush, all the time in the world. The seaside always does that to me. However there was the small matter of a race to contend with.
High temperatures, a blazing sun and light breeze welcomed 24 Trilogy Competitors, families and friends to Dunmore East. And what an idyllic spot to race. A beautiful village with houses perched on rocky outcrops overlooking the tranquillity of the bay. You cannot beat Ireland when the sum comes out. Transition was hidden in a little corner overlooking a beach.
 Everyone commented on how quick it was to get to Dunmore East with the new motorway. It will be open all the way from Dublin next year. Trilogy bodies were beginning to appear in our distinctive colours and transition was not all that crowded early on. The usual debate ensued as to where the optimal position to put the gear. We were littered all over transition but there was a good crowd of us near the swim exit. And what an exit it was. Switchbacks up an incline from the beach. I was tired just looking at it nevermind running up it.
Simon Tsang had to pull out late due to a tummy bug. Bummer but fair play to him for travelling while sick in the hope of competing. No turning over in the bed and calling it a day. Personally I was very disappointed to see Simon withdraw as myself and Simon had a ding dong battle in the first two test tris and I was looking forward to crossing blades again. But there will always be another race!!!
Myself and Liam Byrne decided to do a recce on the bike route and off we went down the hill dodging cars and people. We met the lovely ladies on the way down and Eimear quite rightly reminded me that cycling without a helmet was not good for the health. Mea culpa. Ominously there were two round bails of straw at the very bottom of the hill for those less inclined to use their brakes. I won't say another word in light of recent close encounters of the four legged baa baa kind. A headwind and a drag greeted us as we headed out the road. At least the legs would be spared somewhat for the run on the way back.
Back to transition and the announcement that the start was being delayed half an hour due to a wedding. Well they picked a good day for it and you could not begrudge them their day out. Thank god it was not raining! So everyone checked their gear for the twentieth time and soaked in the rays. The Racing 795 guys even had a picnic. Now those guys are organized. Every race I go to their distinctive colours stand out and at Clogherhead last year they even brought a BBQ. Hint hint next year guys.
From the top of the hill the swim course looked long but the surface was flat and the tide was slack. Off we went to start the race. No beach so down a slipway and straight into the cold irish water. That's the worst thing about a hot day, it makes the water seem even colder when you get in. Oh well, head down and keep swimming. Pain is only temporary and all that guff.
We were all keen as mustard to get started. Murt and Karl were raring to go. There were two waves, the strapping male under forties in Wave 1 and everyone else in Wave 2. After 5 minutes paddling and talking we were all called back into the wall and then we were off. The quiet placid bay of Dunmore East soon turned into a maelstrom of thrashing water. Does anyone ever think of the Jaws movie during an open water swim or is it just me? I mean you could forgive a Great White for mistaking you for a seal. Unfortunately it does not speed me up so I would be an easy lunch but he would probably spit me out for being too bony. At least that's my excuse to draft a larger bloke. Eat the big guy!!!
Anyway back to the race, the first buoy was obscured by the slight swell and the thrashing bodies more often than not when I lifted the head up. Mike Tyson, Chris Eubank, Kenny Egan and the like were obviously taking part judging by the comments after the race. The second and third buoys were much easier to sight and as always the beach could never come quick enough as I glanced competitors scurrying up the switchbacks to transitions like little ants. Karl excelled as always in the swim leg and Murt did a great swim staying with the main pack. Shane Delaney also demonstrated his love of neoprene and put in a good time.
Terra firma at long last and off with the top half of the wetsuit and goggles and hat nicely lodged down my right sleeve. There were a few pedestrians on the switchback as was to be expected but transition was not too crowded but there were a lot of bikes gone already. No problems slipping the wetsuit off. Johnsons baby oil on the calves, thanks to Simon and John Fox for that tip. No sign of any of the guys in transition. Bugger. Oh well, the more the merrier to try and catch. That's the lot of the weak swimmer, by the time you get on the bike you have to catch just about everyone else.
The announcer let it be known that there was another man from Laois about to hop on his bike. Wasn't the time or the place to correct him so a quick roar of "Come on the Lillies" and I left him looking perplexed. Bike mount was quick and painfree ( you know what I mean lads!). Thanks for the elastics Liam. Worked a treat. Down the hill and around the corners without incident and off I went.
The cycle was very civilised. No drafting that I saw and I flew out to the turnaround. The drag and headwind was taking its toll on riders as they tried to push too big a gear and were easy pickings. The eventual winner, Matt Molloy went by me on a spaceship but I stuck to my own pace, fair play to him he was really motoring. No sign of Shane ahead but I spotted Karl who was well ahead and dug a bit deeper. The turnaround marker was a Heineken Crate. Pity it was empty I would have murdered a beer in that heat. Oh well my tepid diluted orange would have to suffice. Murt was going strong and roared encouragement as always.
 The course became less congested and more strung out and the run back to Dunmore East was quick with only a few small lumps to contend with. Even though the road was open to traffic the marshals were doing a great job keeping it clear for us. Back into Dunmore East and time to manage the corners and hill. As I went up the hill there were runners coming down and cars trying to go up. Recipe for disaster but got safely into transition. No bother with the dismount and racked the bike cleanly. A quick look at my bandaged toe (courtesy of slipping in T2 in TriAthy) and all was well, so into the runners and off I went. I'm glad I didn't bump into a Garda Sniffer Dog with all that white powder in my runners. There was a good crowd around Transition and great encouragement for all the athletes.
The legs felt good but I should have brought a hat for a day like today. Dunmore East is a seven kilometre run and it starts with a two kilometre slog up a hill and not an escalator in sight. Nice drag to begin with, you turn a corner and then you have a steeper climb before it levels out and then you start a slow descent. One lad from Cork turned the corner and just sighed. I knew how he felt. The suffering had started early for some. My pacman impression was going well but no sign of Trilogy colours ahead. Everyone was feeling the heat and while not quite Kona it was testing by Irish standards.
The water station was most welcome but I still have not mastered drinking while running. Three gulps later and most of it down my chest but what little went down my throat was most welcome. The roads were quiet with no traffic and two little kids were having great craic shouting encouragement at the competitors as we sauntered by their gate. We hit the bike route and knew we were on the way back in. The runners were thinning out and were cutting the corners and watching for bikes and cars. About a kilometre from the finish I hear a bullock coming behind me, at least that was what it sounded like. Time to kick on but he of the heavy footfall kept coming. You know the feeling. You don't look back but you are expecting someone to draw up behind you. But not this guy he kept breathing down my neck and I kept pushing it on a bit more. Why didn't I do this earlier?
After a long hot run the last challenge in Dunmore is the little hill about 400 metres from the end. The bullock ran into the proverbial wall when we hit the hill and that was the end of the pressure from behind. One or two were suffering at this stage and the traffic had to be watched but then there it was, the final stretch! Hallelujah, the crowds were great and the end was in sight. One final push and I was home. Now where was that fire hydrant and the hose? Shane was well home. Karl was just in ahead and Willie Fitz was not too far behind having started in Wave 2.
Time to relax and soak in the atmosphere. One by one the guys and gals arrived in. Trish, Mary, the two Noels, Mick, Murt, Taco, Roy, Eimear, Niall, Liam, Stephen, Denise, Helen, Louise and Michelle in no particular order. Deirdre and Susan arrived in together and were only a second apart. A great crowd lined the finish line for Mary Fingleton to round off a great days racing.
What a great course. Just the warm up for Kilkee next week. Looking forward to next year already.
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