Firstly thanks to all of ye that got in touch through forum ,fb, text it's greatly appreciated.
So I qualified for this race by wining the tri an mhi 70.3 last June and I made this an A goal race for 2015.
Although hindered by a running injury for a few weeks training has gone well and relatively to plan, I flew out on Thursday happy and confident in my fitness.
The weather on arrival was unbelievable cold, windy and very wet, wtf? My mother in law had traveled over with me and was defiantly not happy with the lack of sun I had bribed her with.,at the race brief talk already started with plan b of a duathlon ! But as hoped the weather changed and all is good.
I slept well and had a good feed heading to transition a long 800m single line for 9am .contra to an earlier email it was not a mass start but a rolling wave start in A/G. Much happier.
The swim did not go as I'd hoped, the large swell and big chop made sighting impossible for me, a combination of being under prepared by not training in open water and being a bit freaked out . I was dropped early in the swim. I went totally off corse , I've included my garmin link to show how off course! I swam an extra 550 Meters, which was my 9 min I was down exiting the water. I had given myself a big task ahead. The only positive I can take is that my actual pace was good, I avg 1:30 per 100 so If I can correct my sighting technique I'm on my way to a sub 30 min.
Transition may look like I sat and had a nap, but was acutely ok, they had the bag/tent system which is used regular at challange events. Basically nothing is allowed at your bike, it makes for less carnage and these huge events. And although it takes time it's the same for everyone.
The bike was epic! We had over a 1000m of climbing in under 45km, a mountain storm, surface water , hair pin bends and a slightly long 94km. However I was extremely happy with my time. It was painfully tough and a cruel 11% in places but the bike is proving to be my best discipline and I made the most of it. My fear of descents is decreasing and I didn't even clip out going over 600 meters of wet slippery cobbles .
The run was a flat 3 loop course , I started in good shape but quickly realised the bike had zapped the legs , que a massive decrease in my mile splits, I was 1:10 per mile slower then at tri an mhi on a hilly tough course. But thankfully so was everyone else. Even the pros times down. So it didn't effect my position.
As always I entered this race with a clear goal, and that was a podium finish. I didn't quite make it, coming 5th In my A/G would have taking the correct course in the swim made the difference ? Who knows. However I'm very happy with my result.
You can win all the local races , smash PBS but personally proving yourself in these championships and representing ireland is like nothing else.
I had a brilliant weekend with an absolute smashing irish team and team manager paddy went beyond the call of duty. I now have at least 20 new fb friends
So roth Is 40 days away and then NS awaits, lots of work still to be done, and I can't wait....
Again thank u racing795 your always behind me, and it makes such a difference .
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activ ... egacy=true