We had to swim about 200 to 300 metres to the race start. I got into the water and because it didn’t initially feel too cold I hadn’t realised I hadn’t closed the wetsuit correctly. As the whistle blew for the start I was well back but glad to be out of the madness up front! I caught people quite quickly though and there wasn’t too much pushing and shoving. After about 10 minutes I realised that water was getting into my suit and ponding in the hollows in my back and I was freezing and shivery. I just couldn’t warm up for the rest of the swim and my legs were really stiff and sore. I got through the laps and as I approached the last ten minutes or so I was determined no matter how cold to swim well and get out of the water happy. In tranisiton I got wrapped in foil blankets while I tried to get dressed. I was so cold I set off on the bike with about 4 layers of clothing!!
The bike was three 60k laps and it seemed to go by very slowly. They were hilly and meandered through little villages and country lanes. I just could not wait to get off that bike. I was not enjoying it at all but with 30k to go I suddenly realised that no matter what happened now I was actually gonna get through this! I had been worried about something going wrong with the bike that I couldn’t fix but with 30k to go I reckoned I could run the rest and still make the cut off (I probably couldn’t have, but that’s what I thought at the time!!!)
The next transition was a much quicker affair…threw the bike at someone, changed my shorts, put on my runners, grabbed a gel and my watch! Happy days! Finally running…..

That’s the face I had on leaving transition (trying to put on my watch!)and for the entire run. I felt like I was absolutely flying. I received huge crowd support because I was moving so much quicker than those around me and also wearing my Ireland kit was a good move (don’t anyone tell me the legalities of that, it was a great idea!!!). Crossed the line in 13 hours 12 minutes feeling fantastic! Highlight of the day included meeting Ireland’s Ironman record holder Alan Ryan before and after the event, he had lots of encouragement. He finished 15th in a time of 9:45:47. Well done Alan!!

Cheers for the good wishes and stats over on the IMRA forum. No ill effects the next day so there’s still lots of room for improvement the next time… ;-) Special thanks to “coach bloke” Peter Kern and “bike bloke” Rob Wheelworx!

Race results here.

-Aisling-

Big thanks to “coach bloke” Peter Kern and “bike bloke” Rob Cummins for getting me this far! And best of luck to all those taking part!

-Aisling-

I’ve also started keeping a blog about my Ironman experience over at Wheelworx. Image is from the Beast flickr set.

Alan’s race report appears in full over on Triathlon Ireland:

I knew my swim did not go well. It hasn’t been good of late and consequently I did not expect to catch Trevor Woods or Mark Riseley (the other two Irish who started in my wave on the bike). I know Mark won’t mind me saying this, but when I came upon him going up the Solarer Berg on the second lap, it gave me a great boost. And then to pass Trevor a little later – well I knew for me anyway - the race was now on. The lads are both very strong runners and I knew I had very little chance of holding them off in the marathon. Still, I decided to put the hammer down in an effort to get a few minutes head start on the run –you never know.

Just to scare you completely Alan’s splits read like this: 1 hour 5 for the swim, 5 hour bike and 3 hour 6 minute marathon. And the story also appears in today’s Evening Herald. If you ever manage to get your hands on a copy of the Stone Mad DVD then you’ll realise the effort put in by Fergus and Alan Ryan on their journey to their first ironman in Austria in 2005. This was a documentary showing their training and build up to it. It’s brilliant viewing, you’re guaranteed to watch it and enter for one………at least that’s what happened me………… ;-)

-Aisling-

Image from Triathlon Ireland.

This was to be my first sea swim race on my road to ironman in September. The day before the race I had met with my coach Peter Kern of PB-Coaching out in Seapoint, Co. Dublin, for my first ever training session in the sea. Firstly it wasn’t that cold and the water was shallow, so a good start to the training session. The bouyancy was great in my new Blue Twenty Wetsuit from Wheelworx (the only extra small one Rob from Wheelworx has ever sold!) so I didn’t feel in danger of drowning. But once I started swimming I would get a panicky sensation after a few metres and have to stop and stand up. I would reach almost a point of hyperventilating with fear (Neal and Nige might remember how I was breathing when I was abseiling - same thing!) I couldn’t explain what was happening but I knew I had to relax. It didn’t really happen though and every few metres I would feel the same. Eventually Peter got me to just roll over and float on my back instead of standing up and then try and resume swimming.

I was disappointed that I was letting myself down because of fear. Peter tried to get me to focus on the positive aspects; he said I swam in a straight line, I could look up and point myself in the right direction, my technique wasn’t bad etc. etc but disappointment is hard to get over! Why I kept stopping I just can’t explain. Peter reckoned if I relaxed I had a 100% chance of completing the Aquathon the next night, and a 95% chance if I didn’t.

Well let’s just say it turned out to be the latter. I didn’t relax but I got through it. Peter had swam out with me to the start line, trying to reassure me but I was petrified and it was all I could do not to cry!! (I’m welling up now thinking about it!) With lots of encouragement from him the horn blew and off we went. Within a few metres I could hear him screaming at me that I was going too far left!! Checking my direction I headed for the big orange bouy that would mark about the 500m mark in this 750m swim. Within a few metres though I had to roll over on my back and try to breath normally. It never really righted itself though so I did this 5 or 6 times and eventually I got to the orange bouy and then pushed for home. Quickly out of the water (not caring that I was possibly last!) and out of the wetsuit and I was never so glad to be running my whole life!! Woohoo! Along the Bull Wall and onto the sand. I couldn’t have cared less if it was quick sand I was flying and happy!

When I reached the tunaround point on the beach with a couple of kilometres to go I made it my goal to not get caught by Peter who was winning the men’s race as they had started 15 minutes after us. Worthy winner of the women’s race was Katharina Baldinger with Elena Maslova in second.

Sorry I have no photos, too bloody nervous to be all trigger happy with the camera like I usually am at races!!

-Aisling-

As for the other triathlon disciplines well I’ve been following a programme from Peter and so far all is good. I’ve still not gotten used to the pedal/clip things on the road bike so a few of my spins have involved keeling over when I couldn’t get my feet out of the pedals!

I’ll keep you posted about how it’s going……I think the reason I’m not saying too much is nerves (and fear of failure)!!

-Aisling-

According to Alan:

Initially, you’re going to do one for the experience just to chalk it up and say I’ve done an Ironman and that’s that. But it becomes a way of life, an addiction, but a good addiction

The article covers Mark Pollock, extreme marathon runner and all round superstar. Is there any multi day event that Mark has yet to conquer? You can also read about Antarctic Explorer Mary Casey whose next event is kayak down the Danube or husky-racing in Siberia.

Article by Olivia Smyth.

-Aisling-

For the last 6 months:
I rise every weekday morning at 4am, at weekends it’s normally 3.30am. I am asleep by 8.00pm.
I ride to training, it’s 10-15km away across to the other side of the city.
I complete a 3 hour session before I walk through the doors of my work place.
I refuel within 20mins of finishing every session I complete.
After my ‘paying job’ day is over I have a 1 ½ hour evening session to complete
I go home, eat & shower and I go to bed.

Seriously an incredible read about the drive and ambition and sheer determination that it took for her to get where she is. Inspirational stuff!

-Aisling-

(There are 5 or so toilet stops mixed in there somewhere. I should have got a portaloo – especially since the toilet was up two flights of staires!!)

Ouch! But it was all in aid of the People In Need Telethon Day on October 26th. His CV boasts heaps of charity cycles, numerous Dublin marathons and Ironman Austria! Big kudos there…..So what does someone like Eoin do next?
From his blog:

That’s a wrap on what has been a hell of an experience. Everyone keeps asking me ‘what next?’ I have an idea that I’m looking at. Just like this one I won’t be revealing it until I’ve got some level of certainty that it will be a runner….Till then.
Adios amigos

-Aisling-