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Kenmare 2007 – 1st Draft Race Report:
The Day Before:
The day started as most Fridays do with a sense of anticipation, no only because the weekend was soon, not only that Friday was actually a day off, but today was the day to start the trip to Kenmare.
The Pulse contingent (to be introduced as they enter the tale proper) moved in three groups, bikes and gear stowed in, on or dangling off cars. (I think this was decided for insurance reasons, the sport of triathlon in Ireland would be a long time recovering from the loss of such a group).
The main concern on the way was where to stop for food and for some with reading maps, badly.
The first two to arrive were Mark and Ed, delighted to find that the house had four bedrooms and everyone would have a room to themselves, allowing for uninterrupted sleep. The bikes were brought in and onwards to do the shopping (remarkably chocolate free), reconnoiter the course and register (a remarkably smooth process, no queues and a most relaxed attitude from all).
Mark showed his culinary skills and a dinner of bacon, pasta and peppery sauce was served, washed down with water.
After dinner back to the registration to see what was going on and to meet the next contingent arriving Rodney (a.k.a. Irene), John Woods (John 1), Derek (a.k.a. Flipper) and Leila (in a vital support capacity).
Registration for them presented no hurdles and we agreed to regroup at the race briefing later.
Rodney and John were shown to the house and now with a critical mass of 4 triathletes in the kitchen the serious race preparation activity commenced, tyres being pumped, wetsuits being repaired and visors being dismantled, and the conversation also took on a much more technical tone, aero or non-aero helmets, the best feeding policies on the bike, the dangers of confusing tubes of baby oil and rubber cement, the relationship of Kate Middleton and the royals, and free passes. It was at this point that it was decided a glass of red to relax would not make too much difference to race performance (or possibly the decision could have been taken earlier at the supermarket when the bottle was purchased).
All had retired to sleep by 11, ready for the early start next morning.
Race Day:
Up at 4:40, a breakfast of oats, muesli, bread, jam, honey, sultanas, rice pudding and bananas were all consumed in differing combinations, all being washed down by large mugs of coffee. Water bottles filled, last mental checks made and the four in the house cycled the 2 k to transition (downhill our bike warm-up), it was a little eerie still in darkness to see similar figures emerging from the houses around.
Transition was illuminated by a car’s headlights, although there was no numbering on the racking we were one of the first there, when it opened at 6, this was beneficial as the transition rapidly filled and those last in had a bit more to do to locate and retrieve their bikes. The Pulsers stuck in a bunch, to be joined by Derek, this was primarily to allow us to protect our space but had an added social utility benefit, apparently some people get lonely in T1.
Justin McKeever and John Mercer (John 2)were somewhere in the gloom, but not bumped into until after the race end.
Everyone was too bleary eyed to talk at this point and no mention was made of run warm-up.
Then a 1k walk in flip flops across the bridge to the harbor were the swim would start. People were starting to wake up and conversations were springing up.
The Race:
The rest went fairly quickly, wetsuits on, cross the mat and we were standing in the water, then off we went. In the grey morning mist the first buoy looked far away from the shore down the bay, in the water it was difficult to see at all, but everyone had confidence in the leaders and on we went. Then we realized the buoy not only looked, but was in fact far down the bay.
At this point the first of Rodney’s gear problems occurred, the zip went on his wetsuit and every attempt to pull it up (by Rodney himself, helpful contestants and canoists) were unsuccessful, Rodney had to resort to breaststroke and plowed on undaunted.
Around the time that this was befalling Rodney, John 1 was emerging into T1, running to his bike, removing his wetsuit and turning his thoughts to his bike strategy, to meet Mark and Derek having a chat (pipes and flat caps would have been appropriate T1 equipment) about god knows what. John did not allow himself to lose focus and was about to unhook his bike, when blocked by Mark handing him two bananas, turning around and asking him to insert these, in his back pocket. John obliged and fled the madness that was Mark’s T1 area, but in the process both Derek (who had taken the opportunity to escape when Mark had turned his attention to John) and himself suffered serious psychological damage, and later reports recounted them barking (“woof”, and “woof-woofs”) when passing each other out on the climbs.
Back in T1 Leila continued to do a great job of cheering the Pulsers out of the water, an area fraught with hidden perils for the innocent onlooker, as we will later learn, waiting for us all before jumping in the car to go above and beyond the call of support duties.
The bike course was thankfully dry and mist/cloud free, the climbs tough and the spectacular sheep spotted scenery soothed the senses somewhat (on the way up), the way down was just scary and all that could be admired was the surface of the road 20 m ahead. The first climb up Healy pass was tough going, the descent equally tough with hairpin bends. The second climb was not as steep as Healy but longer, at this point in the race energy was low and all food consumed, but the way down was fun, wide sweeping road, plenty of speed to be gained. Then a last flat 15k back into Kenmare and T2.
All Pulsers succeeded in getting through the bike course unscathed, again all with good times. The organisers did an amazing job of keeping people supplied with bottles of water and sports drink (although it took Ed a while to figure out why it is called a “water drop” as opposed to a “water hand your bottle across and then reach across to get a replacement one”). Leila reappeared at the mid-point water stop passing out not only encouragement but also tangible support in the form of drinks to the Pulsers.
T2 was a welcome sight to all, off the bikes and into the run, the course was a long lolling loop course, with some sharp nasty hills, the killer being once the loop was commenced it was another 5 k to get back to the finish. After a season of olympics and sprints, the 11-21k slog was mental and physical agony.
Again the rain stayed off and the sky stayed overcast, perfect weather for running.
The run took on a social note, meeting people going and coming, giving encouragement to all, water was plentiful and provided by cheerful volunteers who wished all encouragement.
Leila was predictably again at the finish to shout (and literally shout she did, even after 5 hours of support activity) us all in.
All Pulsers finished sub-6 hours and were provided with well-deserved sustinance at the finish, once again kudos to the volunteers and sponsors.
At this point the rain started, not heavy but enough to chill all out and making getting jackets and home a priority.
We decided to get home as efficiently as possible, we went to transition (still 1 k away) John was going to cycle and collect the car and bring our gear home. At this point there was a loud pop and hiss, the valve on John’s Zipp had decided it had enough and gave up, he got very little sympathy, instead comments such as “you lucky….” and “what god to you pray to..” emerged from the surrounding triathletes. At this point this was a minor inconvenience, (excepting for the shop that sold John the Zipps who can expect a call at some time this week), and we all made it home (apart from Rodney who took the opportunity to catch up with the relatives and was regally chauffeured away from transition, ok we all were thanks to John).
At home various people snoozed in bed, on the sofa or just watched TV and rehydrated by sipping water, washed down with red wine.
The Afters:
That evening a well deserved drink was had, with a fine meal and over to the results and prize giving, where the main surprise of the evening occurred. Although none of us were expecting prizes, none of us were expecting penalties, let alone to pay the ultimate price for a well rehearsed turn in T1 and T2, yes following his zip malfunction it was not just the wetsuit that fell off Rodney, some sharp eyed official noted this and in spite of the objections that this was not a case of wanton public nudity, rather a unique artistic expression of the art of transition in trying circumstances, disqualification ensued.
Given that we all had our official times this was a technical point (although Rodney has not satisfactorily explained how it seems the penalty was levied by the official in both T1 and again in T2, though thankfully we do have confirmation (from a water drop volunteer) all riders were fully clothed on the 90k cycle).
This obviously became the focus of conversation for a short period amongst the assembled company (in a kind, tasteful and sympathetic manner).
The night was rounded off with good company and chips on the way home, all retired looking forward to a good lie-in.
The Morning After the Afters:
7 am Sunday morning, the house was awake, that’s the problem with getting up at 4:40 the morning before.
So it was a sore, tired and sleep deprived group that hit the road back to Dublin, fair play to the drivers for making it back (with the aid of some coffee and a McDonald’s stop).
Next year the Ironman Germany beckons for some, but for all there Kenmare is a definite, although it was tough the satisfaction of finishing was as great a feeling as you can get.
Once again kudos to the organizers, a great race, run like a military operation and an amazingly enjoyable experience (once finished).
Till 2008. Plus one last shout to our mobile support team, a.k.a. Leila.