Racing 795

[Report by Fran Burke, photo by Orla O’Muiri]

The excitement was building on the week leading up to Triathy, as it promised to be the biggest triathlete turnout in quite a while and all were looking forward to Racing795 and our distinctive jerseys popping up at this well attended and very well organised event.

I had my usual travel companion, but mercifully the journey to Athy is much shorter than Valentia! Due to local knowledge (I was right again PJ), we parked very close to transition after registration (A very well organised, no fuss setup i might add). Set up in transition under damp conditions. Again the transition was very professional and bike allocation takes all the hassle out of ..”Where is the best place to setup”. Along came the Furlongs and Orla O’Muiri (present in an official capacity with Triathlon Ireland). The rest of the crew followed suit, Fintan and Tracy, Paul Hutton, Adrian and Ann-Marie, Don.

I would safely say, it was the most miserable, cold wet morning spent on the side of a river and hats off to Tracy and Ann-Marie for sticking it out as support crew, carrying flip-flops, hats, duffel coats, fake tan and suncream . Joy was first to go in wave 3, Adrian in wave 5 followed by PJ, Fintan and Don in wave 6, David and I in wave 8 and Paul Hutton in wave 9. Unbelievably, it was warmer in the water than standing on the bank (and that’s with a wetsuit on). While the atmosphere was typically subdued as all apprehensive trathletes ponder on “how cold will the water be, etc”, once in, everyone livened up. Our wave headed up the Barrow to shouts of “Come on the aul lads”.

The swim went well for everyone, particularly Don who reached the 250 marker in third place and got an elbow in the jaw for his troubles ( not sure if the giver of said elbox has been recovered from the Barrow yet). No more than myself, Fintan took his time in the water, but his delay was due to looking for brown trout!. King of T1 was Don once again – he manages to fasten his helmet while removing the wetsuit as PJ flossed his teeth and gelled his hair .

The bike was particularly unpleasant with rain in the face going out and having to clear visors/glasses of fog and rain droplets. It’s a pity helmets don’t come with wipers! Having got to the turnaround, we were then faced with strong winds and biting cold, resulting in numb hands and feet, which makes T2 more difficult. Yours truly took the honours in the bike split (secret lies in the colour of the bike – white goes faster), followed closely by Don and PJ. Pj took the honours in T2 as the gel kept the hair in place . For the rest of us, numb hands and feet resulted in many fumbling to get into the runners. The run in Athy is probably the only crib that triathletes may have with the event – part road with a bad camber/path and lots of puddles, followed by running across someones backyard (Fintan thought he was lost at this point) and onto a muddy, grassy track along by the Barrow – not for the purest runners. Fintan completed the fastest run split in 20:14, on a route that does not lend to fast times, particularly in those wet conditions.

Great to see DavidF returning to triathlon (word has it he’s givin up the mtb stuff) along with Joy who was on secondment to that 26mile thingy. Tracy, amazingly, when David F emerged from the Barrow on Sunday morn, the crowd gasped – they thought it was Jenson Button strutting his stuff, 2 days on the trot in Athy. Paul Hutton returned to the fray with a very respectable time, following a lengthy absence due to injury, eventhough, as he queued for food afterwards, he was told “Athletes only” – he wasnt too impressed. Nice to see Adrian Ryan returning to competitive action also and happily he arrived with air in the wheels this time! PJ, you could learn from Adrian and do as Adrian does and have the hair gelled before the event – save time in T1!

More importantly, it was great to have a crew from the club, thanks to all the shouts of encouragement from Orla, Ann-Marie and Tracy. The post mortem continued in Bradbury’s of Athy over tea and cakes.

Results

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[Report by PJ Dunne]

I have a rule if it takes longer to get there than your going to be racing it’s too far! Valentia island triathlon is the exception . Stunning location and the idea of swimming from the main land to the island sounded appealing.

The road trip:

Roll on Friday morning and another epic road trip. Frank and myself were travelling together, Don coming down later in the day. Shared driving was the order of the day as by the time we had got to Portlaoise I’d heard all about how driving effects Frank’s medical condition. (Won’t mention it as I don’t even know what it is!)

Got to the B&B after lots of forced rest stops by the boss late afternoon.  Dump bags and catch car ferry over to the island (your man is still counting the €6 Frank gave him in 5cents)

We decide to do recce of the bike & run route, just as well as there’s an awful rattle coming from my rear end and quite a few very sharp downhill turns. Time well spent. Return to car and check my bike, turns out my cassette is very loose. Of course we didn’t bring any tools. Will sort Saturday morning.

Down to registration and we meet Don there.

The two lads are hungry so we head for food. Just as well I’m not hungry because there’s fish, fish and more bloody fish on the menu! The two more refined 795ers tuck into smoked salmon and brown bread. I sip water as we all look out window at the sea. Eamonn Tilley had been in for a dip that evening and had said that the current was very strong, he had to aim way over to the right. Frank and myself I’m sure looked worried.

Retire to room which turns into a bike workshop with Frank changing tyres and all sorts of things. Now that I think of it what was that battery pack for? An engine?

Race morning:

I find a nice man from Cork who gives me the cassette tightening tool I need, but in my haste to get it done quickly I lose the quick release spring! Drama. That same nice man from cork gives me one from a spare bike we has with him. Drama over.

We set up in a numbered transition with minutes to spare. Meet Don and we just chill. Sea is like a swimming pool ,not a ripple. 5 ferry trips later and we are ready to go.

Don is off in wave 1 me in 2 and Frank in 3. Only 3 minutes between each wave which is nice. Don reports after that there were mass brawls at the start. We all concur that the water wasn’t near as cold as Courtown.

Before we all knew it the swim was over, Don gliding across in 10:52 Frank a pb of 15:51 And me 14:30. Happy days.

Transition was long and narrow (easy now) so a good 200m run from the water.

I think Don must have a PA in transition he’s so quick. Meanwhile Frank & myself shower and change clothes!

The first 4 km of the bike is up a hill. Roads are narrow and with 550 or so competing and 3 waves there’s people everywhere. Frank reckons he passed about 200 on the bike but with his counting who knows. But he did put in the quickest bike split of the 3 of us and had the 10th quickest spilt of he day in his age group. Don will have his work cutout for him to stay with Frank on that fast white bike this year.

Franks bike 32:04 Don 32:32 PJ 34:16

T2 was a breeze for everyone with Frank getting his now customary calf cramp .

The run was an out & back, 2.5 km up hill 2.5 down simple!

Saw Don when he had 1.5 left in the run and he was giving it socks.

Got to the turnaround and it was all downhill from there. Opened up and let fly for 2.5 km.

Saw Frank coming up the hill, shite he’s not that far behind and the big lanky legs will get me coming down the hill! I open up some more turns out I did the 2.5 km in 9:08. Beat that Hogan!

We all cross the finish line empty but happy.

“Great triathlon will definitely do this one again” was the consensus.

Weather gods also helped. Ideal conditions, sunny, little wind and 15 deg c.

We pack up and head for home. Just before we stop for food our phones go with the results. Dean Watson Sports Timing on the ball. (they did mtb race and are doing our Tri)

Great discussions (or shite talk) over dinner re times.

Overall:

Don came 65 th in a time of 1:07:43

13th in his age group

Frank 163 th in a time of 1:14:17

22th in his age group

Myself 149 th in a time of1:13:38

30 th in my ag.

Considering the top quality field I think we did great if I do say so myself! Frank and myself will have some right battles this year cant wait. Frank and Don will do battle on the bike splits every race. And Don in the swim well 3 rd fastest time in his age group says it all really.

C’mon we could do with some company, or you will get fed up hearing about he 3 stooges all summer!

Results: Overall | Sorted by Category

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