J. Route was great with a selection of roads – country lanes, main road, by passes etc. Mainly flat but a few drags along the way. Some nice villages around – we whizzed through Lismore past the castle and it was some sight. We were mainly together for the first half. After Lismore a few of us broke off for a while. I tried for a while to keep up with Niall and Ian who were strong as usual. Heading back over the mountains towards Youghal, the sky opened up for about 30 minutes which was hell. I got dropped for a while which added to it. The winds picked up, the roads turned shit and it was a pain for a while. It stopped and cleared and myself, Matt N, Niall and Ian had arrived in first so we had a look round the town for a suitable lunch venue. In the end we go for a café attached to a Tesco. This turns out to be fine – to be honest I was so wet and hunger I wouldn’t have minded what was put in front of us. We all got a bit cold after a while so we headed back. It was tough in places going back as we had some wind on the n25 but we got there eventually. We lost Rory on the way – he had two punctures so after a knacked tyre he stopped in one of towns to see could he get it sorted. He manages to get it sorted with the help of the local cop shop. He also sneaks in a pint in the local which I say was good as most of us were a bit cold and wet at this stage. A warm pub sounded nice.
We arrive back to Shanagary – we cover about 122km approx. I go for a quick 15 min brick. Hugh does likewise but goes for 30mins. Some of the others head down to the beach for a swim. They freeze!
After refuelling, showers, cold baths, naps, food shopping, food prep and cooking we all have a great dinner that night in one of the houses. The girls do up a smashing meal and we end up watching dvds for a while.
A storm is forecast to come in that night and it does. At one stage I get up at 5am to check the bikes havn’t blown down the road. We have planned to leave at 9am but as expected the weather is so bad, raining and gales. We have breakfast and think and decide over the different options we have. I manage to get slightly wound up as there is an internal battle going on inside of me weather I should actually ‘race’ the race. The weather improves and we decide to head out for a 2hr spin, get changed at the house and run over to ballycotton. Ballycotton is closed off for the event and there is a park and ride system in place. Cycle goes Ok . I take it handy, feel a bit heavy. Myself and Mary in the end decide to stick to the original brick plan and cycle over to Ballycotton. Not everyone races due to various reasons. A few of the gang run over which is a good warm up. The race once it starts is special. Everyone comes out and supports. They play music in the streets and it is a real original atmosphere.
Pacing, pacing and more pacing – its what I have to work on this year. I had no idea how I was going to run given the past two days training. I initially was going to start at the back and use it as a training run, which a few of the guys did. I weave my way up to the start. The start at ballycotton can be a bit mad as it’s a narrow country road with over 2000 people crammed in. I decided instead to set off and see how I was after 3 miles. Whatever I did though I was to try to work on the pacing for each of the miles – this worked with the exception of the 2nd and last mile. I hooked up with Matt Coughlan and Eimhin in the first mile and we ran together for a while. I was expecting to be dropped which I was. Matt C broke ahead. Eimhin stayed behind. I was tired in the first few miles and thought I had blown the race when the second mile was done in a crazy fast split. I kinda pulled back and just tried to settle into a steady pace and worked on each mile marker. It went well and I rejoined Matt at mile 8 which is the start of the hill back into the village. I was comfortable and broke away. Im expecting Eimhin to pass me shortly. The last mile is tough. You have great support out but it seems such a drag to the end. I over shot the finish and I’m beat when I pass the finsh line. My time is decent and Im happy as the pacing went well.
The sun actually comes out for the race. It is obviously blessed in some way as it rains later. Back to the community centre for tea and biscuits. We collect out stuff and spin the bikes back to the houses. This turned out great and there is usually a wait to get out of the village.
At the house, I recover in a cold bath, shower and pack up all my stuff. I have to go back to Dublin tonight. I don’t mind as I had a good weekend of training and happy with my race and most of all I had fun. The others get a cycle in the morning in terrible weather and drive up on Monday.
Thanks to everyone for a great weekend – Mary, Ian, Mark, Aoife & Hugh, Sinead & Matt, Emily, Noelle, Niall, Matt, Eimhin, Rory, the cork crew and anyone I might have missed.
More Photos here taken by Matt.
Results here
Next stop – Tour Tailteann
Before I got stuck into training properly for IM in January, I was certain that I was going to try and enjoy the training [well some of it] and the actually journey you take when you sign up for Ironman a year in advance, right up to the day itself. Organising training weekends came up as an idea where you could do some training, have some fun and maybe even do a race if you were lucky. Essentially, getting some training in a different location and having a weekend away. When the cork branch of piranha opened a few months back, aka Mary, another reason was given to organise a trip. Having raced in Ballycotton last year, the suggestion was made last December when the entries were going in that we use it as a training weekend...
Ballycotton took place on the 03/04 March. Most people travelled down on Friday night after work. I started the day is a bad way. I was early to cycle to WW as normal – 5km. Along the way I had a crash on the bike. The first time that I had a serious fall. Not my fault so pissed off. Basically I was cycling down the road – out of nowhere a bike comes straight out of a left turn without looking or never mind stopping or slowing. Came straight out in front of me. It was perfect timing also – I wasnt going to mistime it, it was going to be a perfect smash. No time to break just a split second to realise that I am going straight into them – such a horrible feeling. Was going steady so I didn’t go over the front but instead went out sideways. Landing on my elbow I was convinced for a second it was broken and it was over. I quickly coped on it wasn’t but I was a bit in shock, had a car behind us and my hr was through the roof. Was so pissed and annoyed more so because it was a fellow cyclist. I jumped on the bike [ its wasn’t too bad] and decide to continue on to swimming as I felt the water should prevent it from blowing up. It was sore in the pool but this turns out to be a good plan as there is no major swelling later in the day. I do a shortened weights session and do some stretches after. I manage to cycle out to Dun laoghaire for work which is 15 km, but it is still at me a bit. I hoping it wont be worse in the morning and ruin the training for the weekend.
