A Tri for training

Athy

Last week’s long runs were supposed to be repeated this weekend, but as usual, life gets in the way. In this instance, though, it was a good distraction. For the last month or so, I knew I was stepping for S in the Athy triathlon. Even though it was her great idea to get two friends on board, her back just wasn’t playing ball, so I was her second.

I have done the Sprint and Olympic distances at Athy before, so I knew the layout and routes. But I had never done the Try-a-Tri, which is the shorter swim of 250m, followed by a 20k bike and 4k run. For Fiona and Sarah, this was their first, so they were a little nervous. No bother though; they got through it with good times, and enjoyed it.

Despite the shortness of the swim, I flapped about a bit. Just haven’t been doing any swimming at all of late, either in the pool or open water. The bike was a little better, and clocked up a good 30kmph average before hitting the road for the run. The legs were missing in action for a good half a k or more before I finally found them and crossed the line. The overall time was 1.07:56, which had me 8th overall, of 247, and first in the 50-54 age category. Happy with that.

Fair play to the organisers. Always a well-run show down at Athy.

That night we had a joint S and Tamsyn birthday party. 50 for S, and 21 for T. Needless to say, it was a late night. I managed a 7 mile run the next day, and a chance meeting in the afternoon led to a lovely bike ride this morning (Bank Holiday Monday). James, Mark and I hit the road around 8am and wound our way up the foothills of the Dublin Mountains, through Saggart and Lisheen, towards Manor Kilbride, and then left up Sally Gap, before turning down to Glencree Peace and Reconciliation Centre, and a pitstop for hot chocolate and pastries.

Then it was home via Tallaght and Grangecastle, and Lucan. Not the most scenic route back, but plenty of cycle lanes. 50 miles altogether, and a great way to spend the morning.