West Wicklow Roar
West Wicklow Roar
Finbar McGurren / 10.06.2010
The weather forecast was good for the Saturday of the West Wicklow Roar so proper hydration was going to be very important for this race. I’d been drinking water all week and “taking it handy�. I’d pretty much flogged myself to death cycling the weeks leading up to this race. I haven’t really been doing any running since I injured myself at the start of the year training for the Ultra so I had a few doubts about the run going into this event. It was also going to be my first race involving proper running section (as appose to hiking/running in TEAR).Karen dropped me at the start before taking up her position as marshal at the top of the first running section. I entered the start area and spotted a few familiar faces and a lot of unfamiliar ones too! It seems a lot more Tri Athletes are starting to spill over into these types of events. Everywhere you looked you could see shinny bikes, tri suits and compression socks. Its easy to get intimidated by all this stuff but I’d seen it all before in last years Achill Roar. The hills in these events tend to knock some of the shine off the fancy bikes and it doesn’t take long for the zips on the one piece tri suits to be lowered on the hills.
The elite wave we first off with the ladies first and then the men. It was a mad dash to the kayaks for the first stage, a 2km paddle. I buddied up with Richard and we hit the water fast. We’ve been kayaking a good bit and I expected us to be well up on this leg. Unfortunately our training did not seem to transfer well to the sit on tops we found ourselves in on the day. We weren’t making any progress on the kayaks in front and we were passed by a few toward the end. No worries, we’ll make it up on the hills We made it to the bikes and out of transition in 40th place.
I was looking forward to doing some damage on the bike and quickly picked off a few in the first few km. I passed Eamonn Hodge about 2km into the cycle and as ever he was smiling and full of encouragement. I pushed hard all the way to the transition for the first run and the first hill of the day. I managed to work myself up to 19th on the hill and eventually 15th after the beach run. I didn’t feel I was running particularly fast but I was still picking up positions and feeling strong. The ankle felt a bit week and I couldn’t get into a proper rhythm but it was ok.
The weather was starting to take its toll on a number of competitors but I was well hydrated and my Bruce Springstein Buff was working nicely.
Back on the bike for the second bike leg and I knew this was going to be the most important part of the race for me. As I set my feet in the Power Grips I spotted Noel Brady just ahead and I knew it would be a proper test of my cycling if I could stick with him on this stage. I pulled in behind him and we pushed hard to the start of the climb at Old Court. He pulled away about 50 metres up the hill and missed a turn before quickly correcting himself. He caught up and passed me on the climb up the Gap road. We exchanged positions a few times on the hill and pushed each other all the way to the top. We made it to the transitions for the Black Hill run together and were shoulder to shoulder as we started the run.
It started with a downhill section across some very rough terrain with ferns. My ankle wasn’t enjoying it and I was watching my every step in fear of going over on it again. I passed Noel at the bottom and started the climb up Black Hill. Well into the race at this stage I was sitting in 12th position and still feeling really strong. I caught Geoff Ludemann at the top who was having trouble with cramp. My descent off Black Hill was slow again due to my ankle.
Geoff and I left the final transition together on the bikes. It was now time for the scary descent off the “Hill of Death�. Still feeling strong I was determined to empty the tank on the final bike section. The descent was scary but fun. We passed Niall O’Brian on the way down and at the turn in Lacken Geoff and I were still together. Down the hill from the shop i pulled in behind Geoff and made my mind up to make a move on the climb at the bottom of the hill. I kicked, pulled past and kept the head down pumping hard. No response from Geoff but I couldn’t take it easy. I knew Noel Brady wouldn’t be far behind so I pushed HAAAAARD all the way home.
In the end I finished 9th in a time of 3hrs 21mins 36secs. Less than 15 minutes behind John Cafferey the overall winner. I was over the moon to have completed the race feeling so strong right the way through. It was a real surprise to me especially with my ankle and the tough weather conditions. It made up for some of the pent up injury frustration over the last few months.
Unfortunately Richard had to retire from the race after the first running section. His groin injury came back to haunt him. Chin up lad, you can still cycle. You’d be surprised what cycling can do for your fitness on its own
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