|
News
|
3D Tri Fingal Sprint 2008
O.k this is just a quick insight into my (Doug) take on the fingal
sprint held in the national aquatic centre in abbotstown and hosted by 3dtri.
(pics are this way)
The organization was very good ,and with 6 members of midland tri
racing(Sharon, Aidan, Killian, Dave, Yvonne, and myself) and three members
reffing (Brian Boyle, Deirdre Roach and Ann Colman) there was a good athmosphere
from the off, registration was pretty straight forward and we received tee
shirt and goody bag (which I might add was very impressive containing, large
toblerone, deodorant, PowerAde, water, mouthwash, meal voucher for Bagel
factory, large bar of milka chocolate, 25% off voucher for sports massage,
a jar of Kenco coffee and a deck of cards, I know sounds like the
generation game), we were there early and avoided any que’s that later
formed, and from what I heard after they did form.
Transition was very tight which didn’t make it to easy unless you took a
visual marker before the race which I did thanks to the advice of
Edith.
The swim was in three waves and Sharon was the only club member in first
wave.
Just before her swim started she asked me to put her runners out at her bike
as she doesn’t wear cycle shoes, so I toddled into the changing room to get
changed myself with the intention of bringing her runners out when I got
changed, it was only when she finished her swim in a time of 22.42 and went
to transition did she realize I forgot to leave her shoes out(she
actually thought I was taking the Mick and hid them), and it was only when
Brian boyle came in and asked where I left her shoes did I realize that I’d
forgot to leave her shoes out. But were still married and the doctor said
there won’t be much scaring when the wounds heal. So she headed of on the
bike eventually.
So wave 2 and this time it was myself Aidan and Yvonne, there was roughly 11
in each lane and it was up to athletes to decide what order to go in, I
managed to get to lead the lane I was in and got trough the swim in 12.54 and
as I got out of the pool there was a big cheer and every one was
clapping and at this stage I didn’t know why, so I ran for the exit and every
one was still clapping and all the marshal’s were egging me on and when I got
out side all the marshals were clapping and it was only when I asked
one of the marshals was there many out before me and he told me I was the
first that I realized all the clapping and cheering was for me, and I have to
say it felt really good.
So headed of on the bike, the bike was out and back with a lot of roundabouts
which were well marshaled with Garda assistance, I passed Sharon, she was
heading back as I was going out and she shouted how much she loved me
in that new fashion way that goes like this ‘I’m gonna kill ya’……
So the bike was very flat and some of the road was fairly rough but we were
well informed of this at the briefing. I was passed by Aidan at the half way
point but stayed with in reach of him all the way back.
At this stage Killian and Dave were doing their swim in wave 3 and both done
good times Killian 13.52 and Dave 14.21 (Aidan’s was 14.35 and Yvonne’s was
17.11).
So of the bike and into transition right behind Aidan but managed to
get out before him thanks to my new elasticated laces (highly recommended)
but he caught up in no time and when we turned at the half way I had in my
head to keep him in my sight’s until he turned a corner and stepped into a
teleporter machine and teleported to the end of the road, he was like a bat
out of hell and I hadn’t a chance of catching him.
So as I got to the finish coming into transition there were a few spectators
at the entrance but the finish line was a bit of an anti climax, no one
clapping no spectators no P.A system, just a banana and a bottle of water,
there was more cheer in a grave yard, this and the fact there was no water
station any where on the coarse were the only bad points.
But we all had a great day with half decent results and Sharon managed to
come over the line before any of us in her first triathlon even tough I hid
her runners……
All the results are on http://www.fingalsprint.3dtri.com/docs/Fingal_Sprint_Results.xls.
The funniest part of this triathlon was hearing about the joe'y hannon
memorial in limerick 3 weeks ago from Aidan.
Aidan swam in just the bottom part of his tri suit and when he ran into T1 he
put his helmet on and then tried to put his top on, and with his body been
wet the top rolled up around his chest and back,then eventually he took the
helmet off to try sort himself out,but while this was going on Nikki had come
into T1 and picked up his cycle shoes and stood at the back of his bike
effing and blinding and kicking the bike mumbling that he brought the wrong
flipping shoes,Aidan couldn't even console him cause he was still trying to
get his tri top on and as Nikki gave the bike another kick he realised it
wasn't even his bike he was kicking,while this was going on Seamus Bracken
had come into T1 and was running up and down before eventually stopping
and asking Aidan where in the name of god is me bike........
luckily Nikki got the right bike, Aidan got his top on,( and didn't make the
same mistake in fingal )and Seamus found his bike.
I'm sure there was more happened that we've yet to hear about.......
|
