CAT GOT THE CREAM

Everyone has got a discipline in triathlon that they are ‘less keen on’. As indicated in my previous contributions I have two – swim and run. I never learnt to swim as a kid and have never been able to feel at home in the alien aqueous environment. About 13 years ago I tried to get to grips with it but to no avail. I improved but the improvement was a result of increased strength and effort rather than improved technique. I know that I could get my running ‘going’ if I set my mind to it but I have always seen the swim as the big obstacle for me to overcome in triathlon.

So far this year I have competed in a few events and my swim times have gradually improved. The Carrick-on-Suir Try was my first event (when I was taken down the river in the current so it did not count as a valid comparator). My second event was the Lisburn Sprint (when I did 17 and a half minutes for 750m) and I hated the pool swim. At the Mourne Triathlon in Castlewellan lake I managed to exit the water in 30 minutes 13 sec for the 1500m. I exited the swim section at each of these events absolutely wrecked and somewhat dispirited. I had been pleased just to complete the Castlewellan swim as I did not know that I could last the distance but I had worked too hard. I finished Castlewellan but was ‘in bits’ at the end. The spirit was willing but I just had not done the training for my two weaker disciplines and the Olympic distances exposed this in the run.

After the Castlewellan event I concluded that I needed a few more races to get some pacing experience and really test whether I had any potential as a triathlete. Its clear to me that I won’t have the swim technique in the pool so will have to overcome my fear of open water swimming in order to maximise the benefits of wetsuits to improve my competitiveness. So I was disappointed that the Lough Neagh Triathlon was full (a lucky escape given the monsoon conditions it took place in) but places were still available at the Carlingford Triathlon and we duly entered. It would be my last event of the season and part of Kay’s build up to Monaco 70.3. When we had successfully entered it meant that the race would be my first sea swim. Kay took me for some sea swim practice off Portstewart Strand. I had one practice swim and didn’t like it. Basically the feeling of being alone in the ocean was too scary for me. That was therefore ‘enough practice’.

275 Competitors turned up on the shores of Carlingford Lough for the 2008 Carlingford Olympic Distance Triathlon run by Setanta Triathlon Club. The Carlingford event had a two lap swim, two lap cycle and an out and back run. When we arrived in Carlingford the sea was calm (whoopee) and my objective for the race was to learn to pace my race better than I had done at Castlewellan (where I had trashed myself in the swim, imploded on the bike and then hobbled home in the run).

At the swim start at Carlingford I stood back for a few seconds after the starting hooter had sounded and the ‘washine machine’ of swimmers thrashed into life. By hesitating at the start I thereby tried to ease into the swim and control the adrenaline surge. I certainly was not alone in this ocean and soon I was into the group of other swimmers and detected a swimmer with green wetsuit legs who seemed to be going at a similar speed to me. He was duly designated as my tow-rope. I sat on his feet for the first lap and was in a group during the whole race. I came out of the water and the clock said 25 minutes something. Talk about a boost – never in my wildest dreams… grinning like the cat that got the cream – all the clichés are appropriate. This counted as victory for me and I was elated and so distracted that I ran past my bike (coming rudely back to earth and feeling like a plonker).

I got onto the bike leg but it seems to take me a long time to get a timetrial rhythm after the swim. I kept the bike pace steady and was so buoyed by the swim that I just cruised along and resisted the temptation to blast it. Off the bike and, after the initial struggle when I had someone else’s legs attached to my body, I actually started to run. The run went ok for about the first two and a half miles but gradually fell apart after that and towards the end and I had to stop 3 times in the last mile or so. But on the whole I finished the race with the feeling that ‘I could do this properly with a bit of proper training’. The race was a real boost for me. The format for the event - laps on the cycle and an out and back run – meant that the Triangle athletes were able to encourage each other at each meeting point and it was great to see the club colours so well represented and get the supportive calls. It was also nice to get a chat at the finish with other club members who I had not had the occasion to meet previously. However the best reward for my swim performance was the look of surprise on Kay’s face when she saw me on the bike leg. Usually she gives me an encouraging call but the surprise of seeing me earlier than she expected meant that the initial expression on her face read ‘hell, will he catch me?’. Her question after the race was ‘did you go round all the buoys?’ – Good I thought, I’m improving and now perceived as a potential ‘competitor’.

So it seems that there is hope for us all if I can find such improvement with very little commitment (other than entering events). If there is anyone out there thinking of taking up triathlon and that they are too old for it – think again. Give it a try, learn from the experience and then give it another go (repeat). My intention is to give triathlon another lash next year so I will see you there!

The Carlingford race was well run and the course pretty flat. Local athlete Bryan McCrystal picked up the win in a time of 1:55:21, with Shane Scadding second 1 min 33 seconds behind and Newry athlete Peter Savage 3rd a further minute and 14 seconds adrift.

In the ladies race, the honours went to Eimear O'Brian from Northwest Tri in a time of 2:10:11, second was Keira-Eve Mooney from Belpark in 2:12:42 and 3rd was Setanta's own Mary Laverty in 2:13:05.

Triangle members did the club proud and the results are shown below (apologies if I have left anyone out). Well done to everyone who participated and doubtless like myself had their own personal battle during the event. Particularly noteworthy was Adam Wilson’s performance. He is absolutely flying and seems to be really enjoying his racing. He and Kay top the table in terms of the club and both were at the business end of the race throughout.

Pos

Forename

Surname

Cat

Cat Pos

Swim

Rank

Trans1

Cycle

Rank

Trans2

Run

Rank

Overall

11

Adam

Wilson

M30-34

(004)

0:21:13

(017)

0:01:31

1:01:57

(034)

0:00:41

0:39:04

(013)

2:04:24

49

Kay

Hack

F40-44

(001)

0:23:07

(042)

0:01:07

1:04:53

(067)

0:00:56

0:44:04

(069)

2:14:06

99

Gary

Kendall

M45-49

(006)

0:25:51

(111)

0:02:04

1:04:50

(066)

0:01:24

0:48:10

(130)

2:22:17

101

Rodney

Young

M35-39

(020)

0:28:38

(162)

0:01:40

1:05:52

(084)

0:01:25

0:44:52

(079)

2:22:25

132

Christopher

Doherty

M35-39

(026)

0:28:14

(153)

0:02:03

1:05:16

(077)

0:00:58

0:51:28

(184)

2:27:56

134

Kevin

Murphy

M45-49

(010)

0:27:19

(137)

0:01:44

1:11:21

(160)

0:01:29

0:46:22

(104)

2:28:14

153

Bernie

Gribbin

F45-49

(002)

0:28:46

(165)

0:02:01

1:12:37

(172)

0:01:21

0:47:35

(121)

2:32:17

217

Paul

McErlain

M40-44

(026)

0:35:57

(230)

0:02:11

1:20:03

(239)

0:01:49

0:48:00

(129)

2:47:58

231

Linda

Tomb

F35-39

(007)

0:35:59

(231)

0:02:20

1:18:45

(233)

0:01:13

0:54:18

(202)

2:52:34

PS

Whilst I have learnt a lot from and enjoyed my few events this season the big lesson that I literally took away from Carlingford was that I have to get a tri-suit. Apologies for sharing this with you all but the blistering and chaffing was extraordinary – side and back of my neck from the wetsuit, under each armpit from the wetsuit rubbing against the armhole seam of my running vest and both nipples (honest gov, no man boobs – the vest is too loose) and the old undercarriage suffered from an unfortunate wrinkle in wet tri-shorts. When I got into the shower after the event I must have sounded like a cross between Homer Simpson and Yogi-bear – oh! Oh! Oh! I think that Sudocream should be my official sponsor given how much of the stuff I have used this week. I did the club 10 mile TT on Tuesday night sitting side-saddle! So if the club is putting in an order this winter count me in for one and if the club suits are not comfy let me know! Now I know why they call them Ironman events – how could you survive the chaffing never mind the distances!