Post by doug on Jul 17, 2008 11:57:59 GMT
This report was done by my brother Eric who done Tri Athlone.
My first triathlon.
Last year I took part in the Tri-to-beat cancer triathlon. Having done poor preparation I only did the cycle and the run on that. However I had such a great experience that this year I had determined that I would do a full sprint triathlon. On my own. So I signed up for the Triathlone. My big problem is time management. I have great intentions but working in Dublin most of time messes up with potential training schedules. Having to leave at 6am leaves me tired coming home (that’s getting my excuses in before you read how I got on!).
In preparation for the Triathlone I did the Aquathons in Lilliput. As I approached the last Aquathon I had some worries about whether I would be able to do the 750m swim in a river. On my final Aquathon as I passed the last buoy a canoeist paddled over to me and said:
‘Sure grab the front of the canoe there and you’ll be grand.’
As I sputtered and coughed I assured the canoeist that I was grand.
‘Its not cheating, just grab the canoe and take a rest.’
The canoeist kind regards hardened my resolve to finish the swim on my own. I steeled myself and started my well practised stroke which lasted me all the way for another 10 feet. As I threaded water again the canoeist came over:
‘Sure grab the …..’
Once again I set off and made it as far as standing distance where I leapt up and waded strongly to the edge tasting the sweet scent of victory in my mouth. However my victory was short lived as I realised I was still crap at swimming and would be in serious difficulty if I entered the 750m swim in a river where I couldn’t stop and stand up. So three weeks before race day I changed my swim to the Try-a-tri swim to 200 metres.
Race day:
I registered by 7am and was pacing around liked a caged lion (a fairly tame lion at that, one that wouldn’t savage you but rather kind of half roar if he got annoyed over something and even then the roar would be followed by an apology) anyway I paced restlessly. I saw several fellow Midlanders and I have to say they gave me a great lift. An important part of any sport, in my opinion, is when you actually look like you can take part in the sport. Take golf for an example. It is my firm opinion that golf is 90% image and 10% ability. So when I play golf I really really look the part. I have the clubs, the bag, and the outfits. I play off 28 (but I will work on that – at some stage, maybe this weekend, no wait I can’t…)
Seeing the distinctive black and red hoodies of my fellow Midlanders really made me feel like I was part of a gang. Not a real rough gang but a nice gang that meet up and have coffee and do nice things. Definitely no knives or anything like that. I found my self swinging my shoulders a bit more and throwing a few shapes as I paced restlessly around transition like a lion …..
Transition shut at 8.30 and all the first timers like me duly stayed outside. Imagine my surprise to see people casually saunter up at 8.30 to leave their stuff in transition. I looked at their coolness and experience and felt jealous. I only had to wait till 10.15 and I would be off in the first wave of Try-a-triers. Not long and once I got started I knew my nerves would settle down.
The try-a-triers all gather loosely upriver near our entry point. We watched the first wave of sprinters set off. A guy beside me asked me
‘Where do they have to swim to?’
‘The bridge.’
‘Really? And is there a pontoon there for them to get out?’
‘No they swim back and exit at the same pontoon.’
‘Jesus Christ! Are you serious? All the way to the bridge and then back up?’
The sprinters all got into the water and had to listen to a guy with a microphone waffle for ages and then some of them got out as they were all suppose to hold onto the pontoon but there was too many in the wave and some couldn’t fit and so they got out and then they were told to get in and then they were off!! I timed the swim and the first guy was out in about 10m 30 seconds. I silently prayed that I would do my 200m in somewhere round the same time. He flew through transition and was out in a flash and on his bike. The crowd clapped as he ran to the mount line. A guy behind me shouted ‘get on yer bike, for f*&ks sake!’ I turned to look and he says to me Whats keepin him?’ I noticed his wetsuit immediately. It was about three sizes too big on him. He was quite literally swimming in it! ‘He’s not allowed mount before that line’, I explained.
‘Oh right, so you know a bit about this stuff do you?’
‘A bit.’
‘He’s in an awful hurry isn’t he? Sure he has all day?’
‘Well he wants to do it in a good time.’
‘Time doesn’t bother me! Once I finish it I don’t mind. Do ya know what training I did for this? None. Nothing. Sure I wouldn’t have the time. Where would I get I time?’
‘We are all in the same boat. Its hard but you have to try.’
D’ya know what I think?’ I tried to answer but he went on ‘I think we’re all gone in the head. Wud ya look at us? What are we like? Wait till I get me hands on John O’Brien. He bleedin roped me into this. I have a cow calfin at the moment at home and look at me here in my f*%kin wetsuit like a gobnutse! Me poor cow in a heap at home and that swine of a neighbour of mine promised to watch her but ya know what? Ya know what?’ I nodded my head no. ‘He’s awful rough that neighbour of mine. If he has to turn that calf and he damages that cow I’ll damage his head.’ Without so much as a pause fro breath he continued,’ Would you look at the bikes on them? Whoooeeee! There some lookin bikes wha? Where wud ya get the like of them? Huh? I’d nearly say them bikes are worth more than my car! Jesus Christ you know what? As I look at them Im thinking to meself I shoulda borrowed a racer of Matty. All I have is a mountain bike. Sure these fellas will be finished before we even get outta the water! Would ya look at that? No mudguards and its goin to start p*&^*n rain! Their gone in the head. They’ll be soaked! I wont cos I have me mudguards.’
I managed to say ‘I don’t think they will mind.’
‘Ya think? Maybe not today but what about tomorrow or the next day. Nutin worse than a summer cold. You watch. They’ll be lashed on. I wonder should I hav takin the carrier of the back of me bike? I probably wont need it!’
As I stood in stunned silence he noticed two other try-a-triers.
‘Well, John, well Pat, would ya look at yous two? Don’t tell me John O’Brien got to yous as well. I shouldn’t even be here, I have a cow calfin at home and that swine of a neighbour….
I used this distraction to make my escape up to the entry point for the Try-a-triers. No pontoons or fancy looking blow up stuff for us. We had a gravel bank where we had to make our entry. Ah well. There was now a large group of nervous looking people gather and talking among themselves. We awaited and waited and 10.15 came and went. People were obviously getting excited. Some even entered the water which started a lemming like reaction as more people got into the water and the word spread – ‘our swim is starting’ which prompted a virtual stampede as people rushed to the entry point. No officials were present so I calmly kept my head and only entered the water to my hips!!
10.50am and a man wearing a high vis vest arrived. A spontaneous round of applause erupted as we greeted him. And he was carrying a walkie talkie. He fairly smelled of officiallness. He shouted instructions and the first wave entered the water (I didn’t have to enter as I was still in it after the initial stampede earlier). Some people immediately start swimming downriver and the canoeist had to bring them back. We formed a rough line and we were away. I set off with great gusto and determination. After a couple of minutes I raised my head to avoid a barge and got a mouth full of the Shannon. I coughed and spluttered and threaded water as I thought I was going to choke to death in a wetsuit in the Shannon. I genuinely felt a moment of panic and thought about calling a canoeist. However I cleared the pipes and kept swimming with the breast stroke. The hands pulled me out at the pontoon and I continued coughing and spluttering. My wife and children saw me and starting cheering and this gave me the boost to start running into transition.
I ran around the football pitch that was transition and got changed for my bike. The way in was very narrow so I had to bump past a few people to get in.
I was away on the bike and spent the first 8km coughing and spluttering. I felt like I had half the Shannon in my lungs. At the turn I was surprised by the blank faces and the quietness of the 10 or so people standing there. I kept thinking back to the tremendous support all along the way last year around Lilliput. Heading back on the bike I passed a girl on a mountain bike with angel wings on her back.
Your flying it I shouted as I passed.
Back in transition I ran around the football pitch a few more times. The atmosphere here was very dead. I know my experience is very limited and you don’t do triathlons for support from the public but this area was very dead. Despite saying that transition wouldn’t be open till 12.30 there were people who were finished and were collecting their gear. They had scant regard for us and I had to run around several groups of people in the rack area. Back out onto the road and the atmosphere was very good. The marshals were cheering everyone on. My wife and kids once again shouted their encouragement and I settled in for the last part. As I headed to the turn on the first lap I saw my friend the farmer with the cow calfin back at home. He was steaming past me in a full Offaly county football outfit and heading towards the finish line. He looked like he was taking a stroll in a park as there wasn’t a bead of sweat on him. He looked determined to get home before his cow calfed or his neighbour had to intervene. Before I knew it I was on my SECOND lap. I have wondered how some people got to do only the short run. If I had known you could do that I probably would have opted for a short run as well as a short swim. However I was unaware that you could do just the one lap so I continued and did the 2 laps and finished. Again the atmosphere at the finish was very dead.
However it was great when my son ran up to me and said,
‘Well done daddy, at least you didn’t come last this time’ (he had seen me do the Aquathons).
Overall I have to say that I did enjoy it and am hoping to do the full sprint distance next year in Athlone. If not next year, definitely the year after……
My first triathlon.
Last year I took part in the Tri-to-beat cancer triathlon. Having done poor preparation I only did the cycle and the run on that. However I had such a great experience that this year I had determined that I would do a full sprint triathlon. On my own. So I signed up for the Triathlone. My big problem is time management. I have great intentions but working in Dublin most of time messes up with potential training schedules. Having to leave at 6am leaves me tired coming home (that’s getting my excuses in before you read how I got on!).
In preparation for the Triathlone I did the Aquathons in Lilliput. As I approached the last Aquathon I had some worries about whether I would be able to do the 750m swim in a river. On my final Aquathon as I passed the last buoy a canoeist paddled over to me and said:
‘Sure grab the front of the canoe there and you’ll be grand.’
As I sputtered and coughed I assured the canoeist that I was grand.
‘Its not cheating, just grab the canoe and take a rest.’
The canoeist kind regards hardened my resolve to finish the swim on my own. I steeled myself and started my well practised stroke which lasted me all the way for another 10 feet. As I threaded water again the canoeist came over:
‘Sure grab the …..’
Once again I set off and made it as far as standing distance where I leapt up and waded strongly to the edge tasting the sweet scent of victory in my mouth. However my victory was short lived as I realised I was still crap at swimming and would be in serious difficulty if I entered the 750m swim in a river where I couldn’t stop and stand up. So three weeks before race day I changed my swim to the Try-a-tri swim to 200 metres.
Race day:
I registered by 7am and was pacing around liked a caged lion (a fairly tame lion at that, one that wouldn’t savage you but rather kind of half roar if he got annoyed over something and even then the roar would be followed by an apology) anyway I paced restlessly. I saw several fellow Midlanders and I have to say they gave me a great lift. An important part of any sport, in my opinion, is when you actually look like you can take part in the sport. Take golf for an example. It is my firm opinion that golf is 90% image and 10% ability. So when I play golf I really really look the part. I have the clubs, the bag, and the outfits. I play off 28 (but I will work on that – at some stage, maybe this weekend, no wait I can’t…)
Seeing the distinctive black and red hoodies of my fellow Midlanders really made me feel like I was part of a gang. Not a real rough gang but a nice gang that meet up and have coffee and do nice things. Definitely no knives or anything like that. I found my self swinging my shoulders a bit more and throwing a few shapes as I paced restlessly around transition like a lion …..
Transition shut at 8.30 and all the first timers like me duly stayed outside. Imagine my surprise to see people casually saunter up at 8.30 to leave their stuff in transition. I looked at their coolness and experience and felt jealous. I only had to wait till 10.15 and I would be off in the first wave of Try-a-triers. Not long and once I got started I knew my nerves would settle down.
The try-a-triers all gather loosely upriver near our entry point. We watched the first wave of sprinters set off. A guy beside me asked me
‘Where do they have to swim to?’
‘The bridge.’
‘Really? And is there a pontoon there for them to get out?’
‘No they swim back and exit at the same pontoon.’
‘Jesus Christ! Are you serious? All the way to the bridge and then back up?’
The sprinters all got into the water and had to listen to a guy with a microphone waffle for ages and then some of them got out as they were all suppose to hold onto the pontoon but there was too many in the wave and some couldn’t fit and so they got out and then they were told to get in and then they were off!! I timed the swim and the first guy was out in about 10m 30 seconds. I silently prayed that I would do my 200m in somewhere round the same time. He flew through transition and was out in a flash and on his bike. The crowd clapped as he ran to the mount line. A guy behind me shouted ‘get on yer bike, for f*&ks sake!’ I turned to look and he says to me Whats keepin him?’ I noticed his wetsuit immediately. It was about three sizes too big on him. He was quite literally swimming in it! ‘He’s not allowed mount before that line’, I explained.
‘Oh right, so you know a bit about this stuff do you?’
‘A bit.’
‘He’s in an awful hurry isn’t he? Sure he has all day?’
‘Well he wants to do it in a good time.’
‘Time doesn’t bother me! Once I finish it I don’t mind. Do ya know what training I did for this? None. Nothing. Sure I wouldn’t have the time. Where would I get I time?’
‘We are all in the same boat. Its hard but you have to try.’
D’ya know what I think?’ I tried to answer but he went on ‘I think we’re all gone in the head. Wud ya look at us? What are we like? Wait till I get me hands on John O’Brien. He bleedin roped me into this. I have a cow calfin at the moment at home and look at me here in my f*%kin wetsuit like a gobnutse! Me poor cow in a heap at home and that swine of a neighbour of mine promised to watch her but ya know what? Ya know what?’ I nodded my head no. ‘He’s awful rough that neighbour of mine. If he has to turn that calf and he damages that cow I’ll damage his head.’ Without so much as a pause fro breath he continued,’ Would you look at the bikes on them? Whoooeeee! There some lookin bikes wha? Where wud ya get the like of them? Huh? I’d nearly say them bikes are worth more than my car! Jesus Christ you know what? As I look at them Im thinking to meself I shoulda borrowed a racer of Matty. All I have is a mountain bike. Sure these fellas will be finished before we even get outta the water! Would ya look at that? No mudguards and its goin to start p*&^*n rain! Their gone in the head. They’ll be soaked! I wont cos I have me mudguards.’
I managed to say ‘I don’t think they will mind.’
‘Ya think? Maybe not today but what about tomorrow or the next day. Nutin worse than a summer cold. You watch. They’ll be lashed on. I wonder should I hav takin the carrier of the back of me bike? I probably wont need it!’
As I stood in stunned silence he noticed two other try-a-triers.
‘Well, John, well Pat, would ya look at yous two? Don’t tell me John O’Brien got to yous as well. I shouldn’t even be here, I have a cow calfin at home and that swine of a neighbour….
I used this distraction to make my escape up to the entry point for the Try-a-triers. No pontoons or fancy looking blow up stuff for us. We had a gravel bank where we had to make our entry. Ah well. There was now a large group of nervous looking people gather and talking among themselves. We awaited and waited and 10.15 came and went. People were obviously getting excited. Some even entered the water which started a lemming like reaction as more people got into the water and the word spread – ‘our swim is starting’ which prompted a virtual stampede as people rushed to the entry point. No officials were present so I calmly kept my head and only entered the water to my hips!!
10.50am and a man wearing a high vis vest arrived. A spontaneous round of applause erupted as we greeted him. And he was carrying a walkie talkie. He fairly smelled of officiallness. He shouted instructions and the first wave entered the water (I didn’t have to enter as I was still in it after the initial stampede earlier). Some people immediately start swimming downriver and the canoeist had to bring them back. We formed a rough line and we were away. I set off with great gusto and determination. After a couple of minutes I raised my head to avoid a barge and got a mouth full of the Shannon. I coughed and spluttered and threaded water as I thought I was going to choke to death in a wetsuit in the Shannon. I genuinely felt a moment of panic and thought about calling a canoeist. However I cleared the pipes and kept swimming with the breast stroke. The hands pulled me out at the pontoon and I continued coughing and spluttering. My wife and children saw me and starting cheering and this gave me the boost to start running into transition.
I ran around the football pitch that was transition and got changed for my bike. The way in was very narrow so I had to bump past a few people to get in.
I was away on the bike and spent the first 8km coughing and spluttering. I felt like I had half the Shannon in my lungs. At the turn I was surprised by the blank faces and the quietness of the 10 or so people standing there. I kept thinking back to the tremendous support all along the way last year around Lilliput. Heading back on the bike I passed a girl on a mountain bike with angel wings on her back.
Your flying it I shouted as I passed.
Back in transition I ran around the football pitch a few more times. The atmosphere here was very dead. I know my experience is very limited and you don’t do triathlons for support from the public but this area was very dead. Despite saying that transition wouldn’t be open till 12.30 there were people who were finished and were collecting their gear. They had scant regard for us and I had to run around several groups of people in the rack area. Back out onto the road and the atmosphere was very good. The marshals were cheering everyone on. My wife and kids once again shouted their encouragement and I settled in for the last part. As I headed to the turn on the first lap I saw my friend the farmer with the cow calfin back at home. He was steaming past me in a full Offaly county football outfit and heading towards the finish line. He looked like he was taking a stroll in a park as there wasn’t a bead of sweat on him. He looked determined to get home before his cow calfed or his neighbour had to intervene. Before I knew it I was on my SECOND lap. I have wondered how some people got to do only the short run. If I had known you could do that I probably would have opted for a short run as well as a short swim. However I was unaware that you could do just the one lap so I continued and did the 2 laps and finished. Again the atmosphere at the finish was very dead.
However it was great when my son ran up to me and said,
‘Well done daddy, at least you didn’t come last this time’ (he had seen me do the Aquathons).
Overall I have to say that I did enjoy it and am hoping to do the full sprint distance next year in Athlone. If not next year, definitely the year after……
