Connemara Adventure Challenge
A Win at the First Connemara Adventure Challenge
Chris Caulfield / 14.05.2010
The nervous tension is palpable as 850 racers ready themselves for a run through the wilds of beautiful sunny Connemara, and for many it’s their first Adventure Race, for others it is the opportunity to renew old rivalries.As I look around and soak in the atmosphere my mind travels back to 13th May 2006, I’m on the start line of my first ever adventure race. Lots of doubts running through my head back then: will I finish?, what if I cramp?, what if I get lost?, should I start really slow?, did I bring enough food?….lots of questions, few answers … Four years later and I’m lined up at the start of the Connemara Adventure Challenge … a lot more experienced & thankfully relaxed.
A few words from Race Director Mona and we’re off! Just 5 metres in and it’s a leap of faith over a wide dike, everyone’s into the muck and it’s a scramble to climb over the high bog-bank, that’s going to look good on the website I think as I spot a cameraman filming proceedings.
Diarmuid Collins hits the front and sets a cracking pace. Given his recent very good hill running form his strategy is to hurt us on the hill run and give himself a cushion on the bike and paddle sections I guess. I follow suit and am passed by David Sands as we reach the 350m peak of one of the Maum Turks. A fast technical descent and we’re at the bike transition.
Mountain bike fitted with slick tyres and power clips it’s a quick changeover and myself and Brian Keogh hit the forest tracks in pursuit of Diarmuid and David. Just one kilometre down the road and Diarmuid has a puncture and he’s pumping furiously. It’s a chance to put some time into him I think as myself and my training buddy Brian whiz by hammering the trails. We continue through the bumpy forest tracks pushing that big ring as hard as we can, but some trouble with my gear shifter causes me to slip off the pace a little and as we hit the tarmac road for the gradual climb back to the Killary Centre I’m 500 metres off first and second. Time to knuckle down ...See All Event Posts
