Racing 795

Report By Nigel MCCord

Wow ..quick week .
Early flight last Saturday morning at 6 arrived in Amsterdam for half 8 where we were picked up by Peter a Dutch friend of mine . He drove us to Rotterdam to our hotel giving us some local knowledge along route . Arrived at the hotel and got freshened up and Peter took us to the city centre . We dropped the girls , , Trish her sister Bernie and a friend of their’s Lynda at the Expo . Myself and Peter took a trip and boat tour around the city . Its fantastic to see . When Trish was at the Expo she bagged me an entry in the 1/4 marathon simply because we were Irish . We then returned Back to the hotel for fodder and bed .
Marathon Day .. girls were up early to get the breakfast then back to the room for Prep. ( this was the start of my downfall.. ie lack of food .). then Bags packed and ‘Timing Chips ‘ fitted and then Taxi to the Start . I said good bye to the girls and wished them well . I left the bags in the drop zone and headed on my way to my run . ( second mistake …left water and Jellys in me bloody bag ) .. anyway got to the start of my wave which was No.3 and stood around in the heat waiting to start with my mouth getting dry with every min . I knew I was in trouble . The waves were huge I only realised at the end there was 11, 000 runners in the 10.5k race !! Race starts and I.m struggling to even move or walk . After a k or 2 the road widened and I was able to get free of tge crowd and start running . I got thru wave 3 only to catch wave 2 in an open park . With the footpaths blocked I along with others had to run on the grass and even jump a few fallen trees . Got to the half way mark and water stop and picked up 2 cups with sponges . Drank these and freshened up and started at a nice pace but the damage was done , calves burning and roastin due to the heat I got across the line in my worst time ever of 54.30 .
Freshened up and waddled to the 28k marker to catch the girls . Picked them up on the tracker at 25k . Got me flag and supplies ready for the girls . Lynda first and a big cheer and a wave and a Mars Bar given to her  and off she went . A few minutes later Trish arrives , I shout and wave and immediately she spots me and makes a beeline for me I think fook what’s wrong , then theres a big hello and smile and runs to me for a hug and salty kiss and she sprints off , I wash my mouth out and think to myself ‘ shes fookin Flying ‘ all good she’s never ever done that before in all the races I.v followed her . Turns out she decided at the start to just display the distance on her watch …no pace or time … she just ran and took it all in . Berni was a few minutes later all smiles and happy out also to have seen me . Soon after this her stomach cramped again for the second time . I shouted at some other Irish runners and waddled to about a km from the finish . Lynda thru first again but this time Trish was closer behind her !! Still all smiles she grabbed the flag and ran across the line hit stop on the watch ..a new PB of 3.45 she was ecstatic .
We all met at the Hilton Hotel lobby and hugs and kisses all round . A drink was had and photos taken as we soaked up the atmosphere around us . Lynda finished in 3.35 .. Trish with her 5th Marathon in a little over a year in 3.45 ..and Bernie in 4.35.
Overall it was a fantastic weekend . Lovely city . Easy to travel . Good food . Nice people . well run event . Not that expensive either . We hope to return next year . I have a argument to settle with my race .
Thank Jim for getting this idea rolling and sorry you didn’t make it .

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Race report by David Furlong

NPS RD1 hosted by Team WORC, Djouce, Wicklow, 19th April

Our own Blackstairs XC League (preceded for me and DC by a Winter of CX racing) had us in what we thought was reasonable shape, even better than usual for this time of year. Some especially good showings in the Blackstairs XC by DC and Ross had us hopeful of great things.

Djouce is known as probably the most technically difficult place in Ireland to ride, and that coupled with the fact that the host club is XC legends Robin Seymours club, we were expecting a technical challenge. Robin usually lays out difficult course, with steep off-camber always a feature. So we were praying for a dry week leading up to the race, which we thankfully got. Still there was some trepidation, for me especially, having fractured my knee in a race there in 2008.

So off we set, me DC, Ross and Brian – all in S3 category. We arrived to find an ashen-faced Brian after his practice lap. He described two particularly tricky sections..So we went for a track walk – well worth it. What we saw was typical Djouce – steep technical off-camber singletrack down and steep kickers back up. But it was dry!

Practice lap done, time to line up. Ross and DC got themselves on the front of the grid, Brian and me a few rows back. Gun goes – the usual sprint. But we’ve got used to this now and it’s not the shock that it used to be. The CX racing definitely helps.

Ross layed up with the leaders for 2 laps, going out on the third and final lap in 3rd place. But whilst going well, he’s probably not in peak shape yet and finished 6th. Definitely better things to come. DC also flew out the gate and despite a few small mechanicals got into the top 20 in 18th place.

As for me, I was on my new 29er hardtail,which was great. I was happy with my performance – made a few errors near the start but generally rode well. Myself and Brian basically rode the first 2 1/1 laps together, trading places a few times. But the elixir of youth kicked in then and the whippersnapper pulled away..We finished 22nd and 24th respectively – out of a field of 70 odd

All happy. Ross maybe a little disappointed not to hang on to the podium spot, but that will come. DC in the top 20. Brian and I together just a few mins behind DC.

I guage my performance against guys that I am racing against year in year out – including my own clubmates.The last few years I would normally be a few mins behind Brian and 5 or more behind DC…so I closed that gap a little…and other lads that are usually around my position I had well behind me – so on that basis I’m happy with my performance

The next round is next weekend – but it’s in Delphi Co Mayo which is a bit far for me.

So the next race is Rd 3 at the beginning of June

We’ll try to keep the race shape by doing some of the IMBRC club races on Tuesday nights

lastly – thanks to Jim and Brian for organising the XC league – definitely has us sharper than usual for this time of year…

and thanks to Ross for the driving duties

Results: http://www.elitetiming.co.uk/Results/NPS_2015_RD1.pdf

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Report By Dena Hogan

So was on the waiting list for this one as left it till the last min to enter, got the email tue to say i could have a spot. Which i was really glad to take as i think its the only triathlon I’m going to get in before the European Championships.

On the road for 6am to be registered and attend mandatory race brief at 8:15am, now only 4 hours to kill till my wave, shopping it it is pop over to TK max, and a pre race tea and scone.

So id been a bit ambitious and put down 12 min for swim, but i wanted to make sure i was in a fast lane and hopefully reap the rewards of a drafting off a fast swimmer. I had been chatting to the 4 men i was sharing the lane and decided to go 4th in the pecking order, finished the swim with alot left in the tank, hard to know could i have gone a whole lot faster or did i make the smart choice of being on your mans feet and saving myself?

Head out on the bike, great rolling course nothing too savage and perfect weather made for great race conditions, very happy with my bike time, maybe im not a runner that dabbles in a bit of biking after all

Run was a gentle down hill 2.5k round a cone and a gentle up hill back. Its great because got to spot my frenamie Lizanne making ground, gave me a little push on.

Great start to the season, Well done Jarlath i know that hard work in the pool is paying off shaving over 2 min off your swim time!

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This year our Club training duathlon will take place this coming Sunday morning 8th March, starting at 10am registration from 9am at Kildavin Gaa. Format will be 3km run 22km bike and 3km run to finish.

There will be no charge, but as with previous years we will ask for a five euro donation to cover tea coffee buns biscuits etc. We will have limited marshals but we will be able to have time keepers who will give as accurate race times as possible.

This as always is a perfect opportunity for anyone new to the sport to experience everything associated with race day, transition bike racks changeovers etc, in a super relaxed environment.

We are limited by the amount of non triathlon Ireland members allowed take part as guests so if you’re not a triathlon Ireland member please contact us to ensure you have a place. We are not as limited on Triathlon Ireland members, Just to be clear as this is just training any triathlon ireland membership will suffice full, associate or student.

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Small race report….by Dena Hogan

Tom and myself headed up to a hotel near the start for less hassle race morning (and it got tom out of buying a valentines present, sure wasn’t I getting a night away..)
Good breaky of the usual and headed over to register for 9. Race was a rolling 5k x10 lap course.
So I had a goal of podium place, and qualifying time for the world championships 2016 (3:50) my race plan was to stick to a 7:05 mile no matter what anyone else does.
So we had josh and friends on the course that handed out our nutrition, I knew I was fully trained but I had a big fear of stomach problems like Roth. However it was all going brilliantly, too brilliantly … First 7 laps 21 miles 6:55 pace.
I lead the entire race till mile 29 and the last lap, where the 2nd place lady ran by. I had nothing in me to respond. If I had of gone out at my original plan I’m sure things would have gone differently. #heartbreaking

However I can’t be disappointed I came 2nd in the national Irish championships in my first ever ultra. I ran a pb for the marathon and I had a really enjoyable time doing it. The course and people involved made it a great experience.

My advice for anyone .. Joy is have belief and discipline , make a race plan and stick to it no matter how good u feel. After 29 mile even 2 miles can seem so hard.
You will do great joy. Sure u only have to do my race twice is it? It will be an unbelievable achievement for u. Keep up the hard work and like always u will see it through with your no die attitude.

Tom did great too, although he made the same mistake and ran to hard in the beginning 5:45 per mile for the first 20.
2:33 marathon

You live and learn,

Thanks Tracy and Fintan for the support and pics.

Now 12 weeks till the European championships …….

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