Race reports from a newbie

[Wolf]

THE BET
Well for me it all started with my good friend Micky nine months ago in Dungarvan County Waterford. You see i had heard that Micky had competed in the 2014 Dungarvan Triathlon. which was a major shocker because Micky was the town hell raiser in our day and he (in my mind) would have been the very last guy to do any sort of sporting activity let alone a Triathlon. Ok, possibly an Olympic contender for sitting on a bar stool with a fag in his hand but a sprint Tri no way. So when speaking to him I expressed my admiration for him but it kind of came out a little different than I had planned. When I said, well done mate I was very surprised and gladdened to hear of your great achievement. Micky heard me say, Jesus – if you did it anyone could. So that’s when the slagging began and the all important ten euro bet that I would compete in the 2015 Dungarvan sprint Triathlon and beat Micky.
THE ROCK
There was however one teeny weeny little problem I COULDNT SWIM. A small problem I hear you say but one that could cause the tinniest of problems.
There was also the problem of Colin, my older brother . He was quick to jump on the band wagon along with Micky. Colin is a 59 year old natural athlete who can still run a six minute mile and only has to do half the training I do and still beat the pants off me (Hate that) So there you have it. Micky and Colin and I cant swim to save my life. So in September I signed up at WW for a six week (once a week) swimming course.
(Yep I was going to show those two who their daddy was) When that was finished I then proudly presented myself to Piranha.
THE TEST
Let the drowning begin (first swimming session with the club)
Ok lets just go back a wee bit. When phoning a certain committee member who we will remain anonymous (and who has a very bright dress sense) I was informed that to join the club I would need to be able to swim 100 meters in 75 second. This was conveyed to me by text while I was changing in WW to go swimming. So off I went and no matter how I tried I simply could no achieve this goal. Rejected and saddened at my failed attempt I returned to the changing room only to find another text from the (brightly dressed) committee member saying “Whoops sorry I meant 50 meters in 75 second- sorry!” Words cannot express how I felt after this little mistake.

I kept a diary on my swimming and three times I wrote that I wanted to simply call it a day but persisted.
TRI ATHY
My first Triathlon was approaching and did I make a mess of it or what. Instead of entering Sprint I entered Try-a-Tri. Standing there and carrying my gear around I was majorly peed off at my mistake but endeavoured to make the best of it. So its into the cold water we go – heart pounding. At least I can touch the ground which is one small consolation .
Gun goes off and 50 competitors are away.
Instead of sighting to the front I decided simply to watch the shore to the left of me, knowing that if I keep a distance from it, I would simply work my way down river. But, then a little voice in my head said, “Its really going to hurt if I hit one of the bridge supports”. So up I go to take a peek and what did I see? Only two other swimmers ahead of me. I was in third place. Oh my god, how did that happen?! I can reveal to you now that its a very funny feeling knowing that there 47 people chasing you. It’s so easy to panic. So i’m out of the water running along the jetty and I hear that voice in my head again- says, “Turn around and take look”. I do that and I don’t think I will ever forget what I saw or the feeling I felt. Then the voice again simply said – Run!
On the bike now and its going well. I’m taking over cyclist after cyclist but three guys manage to get past me. Off the bike and its the 3.6 run which due to injury I haven’t done much of. Coming into the finish line and there’s the Piranha girls cheering us in. What a feeling. What a rush and to think I didn’t want to start in the first place. It was only when i got home I realised I came 16 out of 207- Happy days!! and that an awful lot of gramping. Being beaten by a Grandfather.

Hook or by Crook. There is a god ?I hope.

“You must be joking” I told Ger. Swim off this beach and head towards the UK and end up over there on another beach. I’ve never swam that far. Would I make it? Would there be a Kayak near by if I got into trouble??
Standing on the beach, awaiting the fog horn to go off, I find myself making the sign of the cross. Now that’s something I haven’t done in a few years but you know what they say (Never an atheist in a fox hole) Anyway, two kicks in the face, a one smack in the back of the head – I am at the first buoy. There is a lot to be said about being in the front and even more about being surrounded by the enemy. I should mention that my Brother Colin is in this race also. So thinking what the guy said at the briefing. Left at the first buoy; then left again; then right; then left; then right again. Or was that a left. Sod this for a game of soldiers!! I think I will just follow the guys in front. Off the beach and up the zigzag pathway up the cliff. On the bike now and its away we go. Cycling going well, but on the turn for home who do I see? My big Brother and way to close for comfort.
Time to fly, I said and it’s all hands on deck for the return journey. I’m hitting speeds of 45 km but get stuck behind a small white van. Looking in the back window I see a ‘Father Christmas’ looking guy trying his level best to control a losing battle with a 99 ice-cream. I eventually manage to get beside him and when he
looks at me I make a gesture of licking my lips. The man seeing this began to laugh heartily.
Cycle over now and the run begins. Felt great, until I see Bernard standing at the finish line. He’s finished the run already (and he’s changed into a track suit)So – I’m thinking a few things here. What a guy; Holy God finished already. Am I really that slow. (Afterward I found out that Bernard had a miss hap with the bike and had to opted out of the race).
Anyway – back to the run, at the halfway point, I’m waiting to see my brother running toward me and sure enough – there he is. I know if I get to the down hill part of the race I stand a chance, but I must get there first. So latching on to a guy who is about to pass me I struggle to get to the hill. There’s the finish line ahead and for the first time ever I’m victorious, over my big brother, with only 22 seconds to spare. Happy days!! Plus winning 25 euro for coming second in my group (priceless).
DUNGARVAN. How the mighty has fallen.
So here we are again seven days later This time its the brother and Micky. 8 months in the making. Hundreds of miles of cycling and hundreds of lengths of the pool and not enough running. I knew looking at the boys out at sea this was not a 750 meter swim and at the end of the day folks were saying it was more like a 950 swim but I simply always say to myself (get on with it) Poor Micky nearly drowned the week before, while training on this course, so he was a little bit apprehensive about swimming here. But the sea was calm today so no panic attacks need apply- it was simply the distance.
Off we go and sure enough its a long swim with the boys never getting closer. Eventually i’m out of the water but so is Colin 30 seconds later. On the bike and at the half way point there he is way, way to close. I see Michael and he’s looking like he’s struggling. I’m back after 43 min and into T 2 but Colin takes 45.51 on the bike so i’m ahead by a good few mins. I pass the 5k mark of the run in the 5.6 race and look behind me and there’s no sign of Colin. Iv done it again i said to myself but no sooner I had said it whoosh there goes the brother with only 500m to go. Oh well, there’s always next time.
Micky showed up about 20 mins later and paid over the 10 euro which I promptly ran around the bike rack howling like a wolf. I was definitely going to make the most of this.
I should say i’m very proud of my friend Michael. He’s managed to turn his life around and inspired others to do the same. On the way to the start of this race I told him how proud i was of him. We shook hands and entered the sea wishing each other the very best of luck. I’ve always believed that in life if you have something nice or positive to say to someone say it. There’s no point in keeping it in.
As for my big brother. I will get that F***** next time.
Hope you enjoyed reading about my experiences.

Best wishes
John (Wolf)

[seustace]

Great report wolf

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ger.F]

Brilliant report. Not many people can say they got a 2nd place in there first ever Triathlon.👏🏻

[Bernard]

Three race reports on one!!! Well done John, A great read!

[darraghk]

Great read well done !

[Siobhan Forman]

Well Done John!

One all is a fair result… Good Luck with the rest of the fraternal battles!

Siobhan

[magswallnutt]

Great report/s John.
Keep up the winning streak.

[LorraineC]

Great reporting John. May the battle continue!!

[Phil Sykes]

Congratulations, John. That’s fantastic progress and very inspirational. A great mix of humour and grit – what triathlon is about, really. I just need to compare notes and make sure I’m not in any races that you have signed up for! An Age Group win can’t be far away! Keep it up.

Cheers,

Phil

[johnwallnutt]

Great Read John………..I am all in favour of Gramping !!!!

[SINEAD H]

love it John well done delighted for you , stick with it. going from drinking and smoking to athlete are my favourite stories. (i was there myself)
keep it up 🙂

[stevenmoody]

Well done Gramper

[Author]

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