Race Report

The race day arrived. Up early and down for breakfast. We had brought porridge with us, but in the end decided to go for the hotel brekkie and coffee.
We got all suited up and put on sunscreen. Then over to the transition area to put on bottles and food and pump up the tyres. With all the gear laid out it was now time to go to the toilet (again and again!)

20 minutes to go and no sign of Greg. Went to put on the wetsuit and hop into the water. Heart rate was at 140bpm! Stopped the watch and restarted it, HR down to 110bpm. That's more like it!

Treading water for the few minutes before the start, more people start to arrive. Then the bang and we're off. Not as frenzied as I thought it would be, but once the course narrowed it became kill city! It only lasted for a couple of minutes before the field started to string out. Up to the first turn buoy there were people cutting across and slowing and going past. After the second turn buoy, I found a set of feet and settled in for the last bit. After a few hundred metres, someone else fancied getting in, but a bit of elbow barging and they dropped back. I looked up at one stage and there were at least three people in the snake I was part of! I spotted some faster feet after a while and dropped onto them. This is easy! 200m to go. Everyone is going the long way around the corner, not me, I look up and cut to the inside buoy. Last little bit and then being dragged out. Up the steps, down with the wetsuit and jog to the bike. 35 minutes. Going good so far.

T1 was a blur. Off with the suit, on with the helmet, shoes and glasses. A handful of jellies and I was off. Taking it easy, picking up water at every feed station. Some people going past. Then, 10km in, "Witches Hill". I charged up the first part, adrenaline getting the better of me. Then I settled in to the harder second half. Grab a half a banana at the top and relax down the narrow road. Onto the flat and push a bit, still drinking lots. The next 10km was almost all uphill. "The Beast", and boy was it ever. Cow bells, samba dummers and supporters all the way up. Then the top of the hill. Wow, 65km/h downhill without pedalling. Before I knew it I was back in the town. The girls had written "Éire abú" on the ground and our names. I had to chuckle! Second lap, passing some of the women on the course and then some of the other age groups. The hills went by quickly and before I knew it, it was 80 minutes later and I was taking my feet from my shoes. Into transition and remember where to rack my bike.

Rack the bike, off with the helmet and glasses, on with the socks, shoes, hat and glasses again. Grab a handful of jellies, but why do I always get the cherry ones?! 2km in, this is feeling hard, need to pee, decide to struggle through it. Get to the first food stop, grab what I think is water, but no, Buillion! Gah! Try again, wrong again, coke this time! Grab some sponges and keep going. Into the town, our numbers had our names on them, so people cheering for you by name, it made it all easier. Up the "Stairway to Heaven" (or as we christened it "Gestapo mountain", because it was evil) two at a time, recover on the downhill. Around by the lake and on to the soccer pitch. Got passed by Sergio, held on to him until the running track around the pitch, then lost him. It turned out I got ahead of him. He passed me again after a couple of km, and this time I stuck to him like glue. 1km or so from the turnaround I lost him again, but he had woken my legs up to running. At the turn around, a quick look at the watch, 4:06. A light goes off in my head, I can get under 5 hours! Finally, a goal. Back through the town, once more up the steps, catching more people, feeling good. Get to the running track, only a few km to go. Started to lengthen my stride, 20 minutes for 4km, this should be possible. Picked up some lemon and lime slices at a feed station, they woke me up good. Last feed station in sight, push harder. Up into the turn around point once more, go straight past it and into the finishing chute. The crowd were great, hands up in the air as I cross the line, 4:58:04. Get my medal, chocolate drinks and red bull. Sit down and relax! Waited until the other two crossed the line, then out to relax and get our finishers shirts.

Got out of the athletes area and was handed an Erdinger! How good was that?! Sat down and chilled for a while. Went to get a shower and massage and then for some food. I had to force it down, I was sooooo tired. 3 people at our table went up to collect prizes. We left to get our bikes from transition. The rest of the evening is a blur. We went back to the hotel and at some stage I fell asleep.

The first thing that went through my head after finishing? Never again! Five minutes later after watching people come over the line? Maybe next year. Five minutes later? When's the next one?

This is going to be addictive!