Racing 795

Speaks for itself…

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Sun Oct 4th 2009 Barcelona 3.8k swim 180k cycle 42.2k run

Celebrations! L-R Tony, David, James, Jim, Barry

It all started at 5.30am with the alarm clocks buzzing. I don’t think anybody was really asleep, just lying in bed waiting for the big moment to arrive. It was down to transition then to check on the bikes which had been racked the previous evening. Everything seemed ok and we departed to watch the first wave of swimmers enter the water at 7.30am. First up were the pro men followed by the pro women and the a break for the age groupers.

The Swim.

James was first in the water at 8.10am. We were assigned to waves of approx 200 swimmers except for Barry who was in the last wave with the relays which had only 27. Jim was next in at 8.50am with Barry 10 mins behind at 9.00am. The water was warm but a little salty and very calm which made for excellent swimming conditions. James was first out in 1:48 followed by Jim in 1:22 and Barry in 1:19. Very good performances all round and everybody had got off to a good start.

T1

James was first in and settled in to the ham sandwiches with Jim following behind to tuck into the porridge. Meanwhile Barry was handing over to David who was rarin to go.

The Cycle.

James was first out on the road followed by David and not far behind was Jim. After a short 3k spin to the course it was out on the first 66k lap. The first 10k was undulating and the flat to the turnaround. This was our first opportunity to see how we were positioned on the course and I was surprised to see that we wer all within a couple of km of each other with James out front followed by David and Jim. It was back to the turnaround at Calella then where the support crew was waiting. By this point David had edged in front of James with Jim still behind. Jim was flagging at this stage and gave some very short replies when asked “Where were you till now?”. Apologies to Ciara for the choice words given in reply. On again on lap 2 in the warm sunshine, what a beautiful day for a spin, with Jim just about catching James at the turnaround but then stopped at the aid station for a welcome break. Jim was back on the bike again then in hot pursuit catching up again at Calella in front of the big support crew. Suprisingly David had not steretched out any more advantage at this stage and the 2 J’s set out after him. This third lap was a bit shorter at 42k and Jim met up with David at the aid station at the turnaround. They stuck together for about 5k with David reporting that he hadn’t eaten for a couple of hours. This could explain the lack of energy. Jim went on and was first into transition in 6:44 followed by David in 6:52 and James in 7:06. A good days cycling by all.

T2

Tony was chomping at the bit when Jim arrived in but had to wait a little longer to get away. Meanwhile Jim was getting on the running gear while James was coping with the last few undulations on the bike. More ham sandwiches for James and the we were all away running.

The Run.

Jim and Tony started off together at a nice steady pace. The conversation was flowing early on but when the sweat started flowing the conversation dried up. First stop was at the aid station after 3k for light refreshments of gatorade,water,fruit and gels. This was to set the tone for the run with an aid station every 2.5k. The course consisted of a flat 10k lap to be run four times with a short run to and from the start line. Jim and Tony carried on and met James at the 7k mark ( James was at 4k). After the first 10k we had great encouragement from our large support crew who were very vocal whenever we passed. Jim and Tony continued on together for about 23k stopping to have a chat with James every time they met. At this point Tony had to call in the nurse (Nora) for a quick fix for sore nipples. Jim couldn’t watch and decided to push on on his own. Darkness was setting in and we all settled in for some nightime running which we are well used to from our winter training sessions in Bunclody golf club. We pushed on with the running with the rest stops coming more frequently as the km’s passed by. With midnight approaching the finish line loomed large with Jim coming home in 4:57 followed by Tony in 5:25 and James in 6:17. The reception at the finish line was like nothing we have experienced before with our band of weary supporters making a huge amount of noise.

The Finish.

After crossing the line we were all presented with our medals and finishers shirts and the it was straight to the food and recovery tents for massage and cold pizza. A great day was had by all made even better by the fantastic supporters, Ciara,Fiona,Joy,Lorraine,Nora,Yvonne and PJ. Thanks a million for all your encouragement and support.

More pictures…

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With the season coming to end it was time for Eireman X2 and mud, sweat and gears in Courtown!

The happiest club in Ireland.

Barry and David were taking on the individual challenge for the second time, having competed in the season opening Eireman X in May. Jim, James and Peter were also having a second go, this time in the relay. They were joined by Aisling, PJ and club and triathlon debutant Adrian.

Another beautiful triathlon day lay ahead (unlike the last event in Courtown) and the sea was as flat calm as could be. Adrian was introduced immediately to the vagaries of dealing with triathlon equipment when he saw that what goes up doesn’t always stay up. Tyres that is. Luckily Jim was on hand to sort it out for him.

And so on to the swim. After an interesting 1km walk down the road to the start (lots of oohs and aahs) it was time for the off. The Barcelona-bound Jim and Barry had promised a flat out sprint and so it was, with Barry coming in at 16 mins with Jim 30 seconds back. David was next at 18:40, seconds ahead of Peter, with PJ and Aisling close behind.

Barry took a good lead on to the bike section. Jim handed over to James, and Peter handed over the baton to his relay partner Adrian who got out of T1 just in front of David, with PJ and Aisling chasing. Down to the sandy beach and through the river, into some sweet singletrack and quite some hardship. More oohs and aahs, lifting of bikes, running up hills, falling over. At least there was no mud this time. David soon forged ahead of Adrian and James, and started in hot pursuit of Barry. He was showing a clean pair of heels though. Further back PJ was cutting a swathe through the field with Aisling close behind.

Barry was flying now and looking possibly at a top 10 finish. David exited T2 knowing that just like in Clogherhead, PJ would soon be breathing down his neck. James handed over to Tony (making his first appearance since TriAthy!), and Adrian and Aisling further back.

There was no catching Barry now as he finished in 14^th place. David was hanging on grimly, but had enough time in hand to stay clear of PJ; finishing 27^th and 34^th respectively. Next home was Adrian’s team (56^th) followed by Tony’s team (83^rd) and finally Aisling (93^rd).

At the risk of sounding cliche’ed this was another great day for our young club. Barry had a marvellous performance to finish 14^th (actually 12^th individual) with David in 27^th (24^th). Both improved greatly on their first Eireman X performances, shaving 11 and 9 minutes respectively from their times. PJ as usual put in a solid performance for another high finish and Aisling showed that the summer of early morning swims and late evening mtb’ing was worth it after all. The relays also put in strong shows, well done especially to Adrian in his first triathlon. Incidentally, the event was won for the second time by Adam Kelly of Wicklow Tri Club in atime of 1:14:33.

Thanks to the support crew – too many to mention this time!

Full results: http://eireman-x.eireman.org/sites/eireman-x.eireman.org/files/EiremanX2_Results2009.xls

Photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/racing795/Races

Vimeo footage

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The inaugural Eireman Long (Ironman) /Middle(Half Ironman)/Olympic/Sprint Triathlon took place on the 23rd August 2009 with great anticipation for the 795’ers on their relatively local turf.

Some of our crew in sunny Courtown

In all 8 from Racing 795 completed the course namely Jim, James, Peter(Half Ironman) Martin (Olympic), Barry, PJ, Aisling and Siobhan (Sprint) took part.

The gales that blew on Saturday didn’t bode well for Sundays’ race and so it came to be…. the much anticipated swim was cancelled by the RNLI Coastguard to gasps of disappointment from some and quiet sighs of relief from others. (Anybody want an unworn recently acquired wetsuit?).

And so triathlon became duathlon- the swim was replaced with a 4 km run for the Half Ironman setting off 2 hours late at 8.30am and a 2km run for both the Olympic and the Sprint setting off approximately 2 hours later with staggered starts.

So first off the Half Ironmen of James, Jim and Peter did their 2 laps of the block to replace their swim, James kindly stopping for the paparazzi and to give interviews on his way into T1 and onto the bike leg on the closed motorway of 90, 93 or 97km, depending on your source. Jim completed the run in 18.32 and Peter in 19.38.

Meanwhile the Olympic race began with Martin completing his 2km starting run in just over 6 minutes and out onto the 40km bike leg on the motorway.

Back in the Sprint, competition was fast and furious with ‘Rubberman’ Barry and PJ psyching each other out at the start line. For the first 2km run leg Barry completed in 6.30, PJ in 6.31, Siobhan and Aisling in 7.31 and 7.37 respectively.

The wind tunnel effect of the motorway – not quite the flat fast course we expected, meant that the bike leg was a testing duel of mind over matter with no drafting (or any) marshals on the motorway to prohibit same. On a positive note, the closed motorway was great to ride on, if a bit grueling. Martin completed the bike leg in 1.07 for the Olympic distance, in the Sprint PJ in 38.12, Barry in 40.07, Aisling shedding her non aero-dynamic jacket on the motorway to complete in a time of 45.35 and Siobhan in 47.24.

(Incidentally, PJ Dunne maintaining his title of ‘Transition King’ earned in Clogherhead with the 4th fastest T2 for both Sprint and Olympic distance- at an astonishing 35 seconds- PJ we all want lessons!)

The run leg was through Courtown wood- a good location, with a vertical- yes, really- climb which was personally easier to go up than come back down, but with 4 races running concurrently, a bit crowded with some collisions along the route- some athletes not being able to work out what ‘keep left’ meant. Martin completed the 10k in 46.33 for an overall finish in 13th place in a time of 2.01.52.

In the Sprint, PJ ran the 5k in 26.13, Barry in 30.49, Aisling in 32.09 and Siobhan in 35.34.

In the Sprint race PJ finished in a time of 1.12.31 in 10th place, with Barry completing in 1.20.00 in 50th place, Aisling in a time of 1.27.46 in85th place and Siobhan in a time of 1.32.57 in 96th place. Out of a field of 142 finishers, the 795’ers are moving well up the ranks.

Back with the Half Ironman (Middle) distance, Jim completed in 5 hours 31 minutes after a gruelling 3hours12 min bike and a sub 2hr half marathon in 84th place out of a field of almost 220. Peter finished not far behind in just over 5 hours 46 mins after a 3hr18min bike leg and just over 2hrs half marathon in 117th place, James deciding to focus his Ironman efforts on sunny Barcelona in October instead of rainy Courtownin August.

Well done to all particularly PJ and Martin who both achieved top 20 places. For what was a tough days racing it’s great to see the efforts paying off. For the Racing 795 view on the Eireman Festival itself, judging from reports, the experiences didn’t appear as negative as some ofthe other athletes. Hopefully Eireman will happen again next year in some form, it was great to be so close to a race when you usually travel for hours – but perhaps lessons will be learned from this years’ event to make it more successful in 2010.

Siobhan Mimnagh

Note: All results provisional as per Eireman website

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The racing season continued unabated on Saturday, as six Racing795 members journeyed to Cloghergead, Co Louth for Pulse Triathlon Club’s Sprint Distance Triathlon. Barry Byrne, Padraig Doyle, PJ Dunne, David Furlong and Martin and Siobhan Mimnagh all headed north with high hopes of good performances.

All the lads were off in Swim Wave 1, with Siobhan in Wave 2. The swim was a running beach start which made for some interesting manoeuvres. Martin and Padraig got off to a flier, with Martin rounding the first buoy in what looked like a top 10 position. Barry wasn’t far behind, with PJ and David in the ‘washing machine’ in mid-division. Martin was first out in 23rd place with Padraig not far behind, closely followed by Barry, David and PJ. Meanwhile, back in Wave 2, Siobhan sporting her new 795 trisuit was putting in a sterling effort.

On to the bike leg, and strong efforts by all, in what seems to be becoming the club’s forte. Martin was in under the magic 35 minute mark (yes that’s 35 kph!), with Padraig only marginally behind. Only 26 seconds seperated David and Barry, with PJ less than a minute behind. Siobhan clocked in at 46 minutes, improving by almost a minute on her bike time in TriAthy.

So, out of T2 and the race hots up. Martin out in front, Padraig chasing hard. Padraig trying his best to fend off Barry. Barry digging deep to catch Padraig. David looking over his shoulder trying to keep PJ at bay. PJ hunting David down. Siobhan pushing hard for that elusive PB.

So how did it all end? Martin stayed out in front, finishing a fantastic 24th overall after a strong run. Padraig managed to keep Barry at bay, finishing in an excellent 44th overall (in only his second triathlon) with Barry not far behind in 57th. PJ hunted David down on the run, finishing just inside the top 100 in 97th, with David less than a minute behind in 111th. Siobhan was in at 261st and 11th (out of 57) in her age-group.

Some super performances all round, in particular in the Age Groups. As well as 24th overall, Martin was 3rd in his age group, marking a historical moment for Racing795; the first club member to record a podium finish in triathlon. Hats off to Martin. No doubt he will continue improving, especially as right over his shoulder is one P Doyle, who at current rates of progress will be a live contender for big honours soon. He’ll be doing well to hold off Barry who is the big improver this year. And we all need lessons from PJ ‘Transition King’ Dunne. 26 seconds in T2? Whats’s that all about? Siobhan is leading the way for the female triathlete’s, although I hear rumblings that she will soon be joined by a few more.. As for David, he’s still trying to figure out whether he’s a triathlete or a mountain biker.

Thanks also to all the support – Lorraine and gang, Joy and bigger gang, the biggest gang of all – the O’Neills, and of course Mary the Photographer . Thanks also to James for his gazebo, which proved to be a big hit on the day.

Next up Courtown and the Eireman weekend!

Results

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