Post by veramccool on Aug 21, 2008 11:29:20 GMT
Race Report – Ballyronan 2008-08-21
Or should I say Bally raining !!!
Just a few lines on Ballyronan while it is still fresh in everyones mind how wet last Saturday was.
Off we set for registration on Saturday am 7:30
Weather forecast on radio on the way was “atrocious” all day but to clear over night when ye are all asleep !! - this was going to be a real test for the goretex
The meaning of atrocious in the thesaurus is: appalling, fearful, dreadful, frightful, horrible, horrific, brutal, wicked, evil, cruel.
Anyway, the forecast is regularly incorrect. Arrived at Ballyronan with another 300 athletes - “the rain” was the main topic of conversation – but a few people did remember worst conditions.
Organisers decided to cut short the swim to 1,200 metres as L. Neagh was too rough and brown so we were kept within the harbour – 3 laps of 400 metres, exiting after each lap and running along the grass and down on “yer arses” and slide into the water again – no diving allowed
As the morning went on, transition area was very desolate looking, I think Mick Macken from Midland was the 1st bike racked – which reminds me there is still rain dripping out of my saddle a full week later
Race to start at 12:00 at 11:45 the organisers begged us to rack our bikes
Winter cycle jackets were worn to deal with the wind, rain, sleet, holes in road that we were to experience.
Swim went by uneventful except for the leader, he quit the race due to hypothermia I’m told – he needs a bit more body fat !!!
Into Transition, cycle jacket on – d**n can’t do this zip should have worn it under the wet suit ! then there is a race belt in there somewhere Off out on cycle, just thankful to get around it safety – average speed reached an all time low
Back to T2 and out on the run – just when we thought it couldn’t get any worse – a steeple chase effect on the run course. Run course consisted of 4 times in and out this mean that we had to run through 2 ft. of water 8 times for 50 metres
Finish line was very welcome when it finally came in 2 hrs. 42 for me, not far behind was Brendan and then Paul (Paul was just recovering from “The Back”)
A great day was had by all and well done to Organisers for coming up with Plan B.
Or should I say Bally raining !!!
Just a few lines on Ballyronan while it is still fresh in everyones mind how wet last Saturday was.
Off we set for registration on Saturday am 7:30
Weather forecast on radio on the way was “atrocious” all day but to clear over night when ye are all asleep !! - this was going to be a real test for the goretex
The meaning of atrocious in the thesaurus is: appalling, fearful, dreadful, frightful, horrible, horrific, brutal, wicked, evil, cruel.
Anyway, the forecast is regularly incorrect. Arrived at Ballyronan with another 300 athletes - “the rain” was the main topic of conversation – but a few people did remember worst conditions.
Organisers decided to cut short the swim to 1,200 metres as L. Neagh was too rough and brown so we were kept within the harbour – 3 laps of 400 metres, exiting after each lap and running along the grass and down on “yer arses” and slide into the water again – no diving allowed
As the morning went on, transition area was very desolate looking, I think Mick Macken from Midland was the 1st bike racked – which reminds me there is still rain dripping out of my saddle a full week later
Race to start at 12:00 at 11:45 the organisers begged us to rack our bikes
Winter cycle jackets were worn to deal with the wind, rain, sleet, holes in road that we were to experience.
Swim went by uneventful except for the leader, he quit the race due to hypothermia I’m told – he needs a bit more body fat !!!
Into Transition, cycle jacket on – d**n can’t do this zip should have worn it under the wet suit ! then there is a race belt in there somewhere Off out on cycle, just thankful to get around it safety – average speed reached an all time low
Back to T2 and out on the run – just when we thought it couldn’t get any worse – a steeple chase effect on the run course. Run course consisted of 4 times in and out this mean that we had to run through 2 ft. of water 8 times for 50 metres
Finish line was very welcome when it finally came in 2 hrs. 42 for me, not far behind was Brendan and then Paul (Paul was just recovering from “The Back”)
A great day was had by all and well done to Organisers for coming up with Plan B.
