First Ironman Distance triathlon in Ireland

locteau

Hi Guys,

The international Connemarathon is planning to organise a full Ironman Triathlon next year. 3.8km swim, 180km cycling and 42.195km run

The website is not live yet but it will be connemaraman.com so keep checking and let me know if anybody would be interested in.

tunney

Sorry Seb, not the first one An IM distance race held a good few years ago

Is this going to be a WTC IM event or an IM Distance event?

hunnymonster

I'll be interested, depending on when it's on. Please tell me you're not going to make me swim in Connemara in April (when the ultra is on!)????

interested

locteau wrote:

Hi Guys,

The international Connemarathon is planning to organise a full Ironman Triathlon next year. 3.8km swim, 180km cycling and 42.195km run

The website is not live yet but it will be connemaraman.com so keep checking and let me know if anybody would be interested in.

Very interested in this. Wondering about any ideas of timing for it though. Is there a half ironman early in the season in Ireland ? From googling blogs it appears most IM entrants have to head to portugal to get a feel for fitness and readiness for the main event.
For what its worth I think its a cracking idea.

Abhainn

For consideration completing an IM in Ireland in early April could be difficult to finish it inside daylight hours.
You can expect 13 hours of daylight around then while many competitors could take up to 15 hours to complete the course.
And the water will be freezing! If you could somehow use a dry suite.. as in scubadiving

hunnymonster

There was a new event last year, Ireman
http://www.ireman.org/
It was 8th July 2007 so should be similar next year. It was a great race with superb organisation but a little bit too late for the Switzerland/Austria/Germany triad of popular european IM races. I would recommend this race to anyone.

The other hald ironman in Ireland is Kenmare. I don't like Kenmare. Yes the bike course is amazing but (IMO) the organisers tend to treat competitors as an inconvenience. Loads of people love this race though so I don't want to put people off just because of my bad opinion.

ozchick

Interesting info. We have recently moved to Dublin and have been involved in the tri scene for many years in Oz. Hubby has done a half IM and we have been volunteers at IM Australia before-I reckon I just about ran a marathon passing water bottles to cyclists as they rode thru our aid station . Also heavily involved in the one off 226 IM event at Ballarat in Victoria. Hubby is a Level 1 tri coach and was a TO at many events. Due to work hasn't had much time but hopefully back into some of it soon.

Dumb question but where is Connemara?

hunnymonster

It's in the west of Ireland, Galway.

Clum

It wouldn't make any sense to have a 'connemaraman' at the same time as the connemarathon. That could just take from the marathon entrants. Plus that'd be two major events to organise on the same day.

I'd be interested in doing it if it was in the summer but I don't think I'd be ready for 2008...maybe 2009.

damianmckeever

Hey I think it's a great idea and the very best of luck to whoever is involved in orgainising it. For the first year of such a big event you don't want a huge amount of competitors anyway but I think you'd get enough people doing it. Look at the amount of Irish that are traveling to Austria (over 100 signed up). If there was anything I could do to help let me know.

Damian.

Phil01

This would be awesome...! I would love to see it happen, i'd say there would be alot of interest in it!!!

locteau

Hi Guys,

the idea is coming together, just looking getting a quote for insurance.

Hi dave, you said there was one in Ireland before, I would love to know where and when, if you refer to Sligo in the 80's where you could qualify for Hawaii, like Anne Kearney did, then it was not one. the other one I heard was from the north, but was not also a full one teh bike was 130 0r 120. There is off course the 3 days Ironman that peter Jack do in the north.

But let me know it is interesting to learn this......

Anyway the website will be build soon and online entry will be open in teh next few month, place might be limited to 250 but not sure yet, as it is very expensive to run. An half Ironman would be available too.

Can't be WTC event, as we need to show a good race for a year or two, then we will see.

Clum

locteau wrote: »

Hi Guys,
the idea is coming together, just looking getting a quote for insurance.

Can you tell us when the ironman will take place? Or when you hope to have it?

For training purposes of course...

locteau

I should know soon, just need the confirmation from authorities, insurance etc.... the main concern is parking at the moment so can't tell you when, but will keep you update. details will be on connemaraman.com or runireland.com n the next two/three weeks.

We do have a good bit of interest from europe and US at the moment.

But really tough organisation !!

Seb

secman

There was an ironman held in the Malahide area in the late eighties or early nineties for definite. Swim was in Malhide estuary and started at 6:30 ish am. Remeber it well as I was in the tri scene back then. 2 of my friends ,Martin McGann and DAve Hudson competed in it. 12 and 1/2 hours and 13 hrs. Think it was won by a guy from the north in about 8 hours, his name escapes !

Don;t think the late great Ann Kearney did it, was more than likely in France at the time. Eamonn Convey from the north might have been in it too.



Best of Luck

Secman

locteau

thanks for the info, dave was right then, apologies..... Anne use to do Sligo in which it was possible to qualify at the time.

She raced in France in Nice at with Isabelle Mouthon which was one of my tutor in the south..... Never thought I would be living in Ireland at the time. She was a lady and without her I would not have been involve in Triathlon in Ireland.

Anyway, I need to build this website soon, and get some sponsors etc.... Talk to you in a few weeks, hopefully with more news.

If you have any ideas of what you would like to see on the website let me know.

harrier

locteau wrote: »

If you have any ideas of what you would like to see on the website let me know.

Maybe a list of suitably qualified lobotomists who could make me think an Ironman was a good idea.

Odysseus

harrier wrote: »

Maybe a list of suitably qualified lobotomists who could make me think an Ironman was a good idea.

My training was more psychoanalytic the neurology, but we did cover the procedure, it is simple enough, so give me a shout if your stuck, I always wanted a go at it:D

tenandtracer

which reminds me of the quote "I rather a full bottle in front of me than a full frontal lobotomy!";)

Mel Casserly

This thread seems to have died a death. Not sure why, I reckon that there would be at least 300 Irish alone interested in this. Just did switzerland, the course for the cycle was two laps of 90k and the run was four laps of 10.5k, which made the organisation area a lot more compact. I realise that there would be a lot more in organisation and insurance as already mentioned, but the entry fee in Switz was €340, which multiplied out by each competitor would go a long way towards the insurance premium. Run this way, one of the half ironman races could be doubled up to provide the full distance. The old sligo race was a half - but again could be doubled. Maybe in 2009 or 2010. Every race in europe is booked out for next year except Nice - which is a bitch. Why not Ireland?

tunney

One of the attractions of the races on the continent is the weather. Look at IM UK - that never sells out and its bottom of everybody's list - why? Who actually wants 10 hours in the cold and rain on bad bad irish roads?

hunnymonster

tunney wrote: »

why?

you forget how much the organisation of IMUK is lacking! That would be my reason for not doing it. Besides, read Mark Risely's race report from Roth 08. WE don't have the monopoly on bad weather. Lanza never sold out before last year so the weather is not the only factor.

Mel Casserly

I think I would agree with hunnymonster, anyone who I have spoken to about uk has said that the course, undulating bike, run out along a dual carriageway and across a foot bridge was pretty crap. Nice this year was run in 37 degrees of heat, not great for anyone, least of all the pasties from ireland!
I reckon for an endurance event the ideal temp (for me anyway) is somewhere between 15 and 20 degrees. Most of the continental ironmen are would expect weather closer to 30, which would not suit me anyway.
Ironman Ireland - sometime around august 2010 would be about right! Maybe the longford marathon route could be used (i think its pretty flat) - theres bound to be a lake for a swim, and I'm sure you could find a 45k cycle to multiply by four around there (or a 90k x2).
I'm from sligo, just in case you might think I'm trying to favour a home town event!

Mel Casserly

Just had a quick look on the Ironman website, Austria, Frankfurt, already booked out for 2009. Switz already with over 2000 entries, Ironman uk booked out (for september 08), hard to tell with lanzarote. There are a lot of people looking to do these events.
maybe in conjunction with Triathlon Ireland and a group of tri clubs together it might be possible!

Bambaata

I'm hoping to tackle an IM in a few yrs but 2010 might be a bit close! That said i'd love to see one in Ireland. I'd definitely head along and check it out

Mel Casserly

Go for it Bambaata! Very time consuming training, particularly on the bike, but a great sense of satisfaction to finish. If you are fairly fit already, you would easily be ready in 6 months. I was just looking to finish, but was very happy to come in just over 12 hours.

Bambaata

I'm doing the marathon this year for the first time because it is the run i would be most concerned about. I've covered the distance cycle wise a few times and i know i can build up the swim but the run would be the death of me.

I also have a lot to learn about diet and what i need to eating as opposed to what i think i should be eating! I don't eat overly bad and train 3 to 4 times a week so im not n bad shape but i know i have a lot to learn as this is the first year ive done a number of duathlons and sprint tri's. Ive my first full length tri this month (Dublin City) so that will tell me how i'm getting on. Im quite confident about it though and hope to finish well. Time wise i don't know what i shuld be aiming for and i know i need to get myself kitted out with proper trial bike if i want to be pushing for better times but that will be next years purchase unless some 2nd hand one comes about that is well priced.

But IM distances are something else! I originally was aiming to compete in one in 4 years. This year was about getting fit, doing a few duathlons, sprint tris and 1 or 2 full tri's. Next year I plan on joining a tri club to get some proper routine to training and gaining some advice and experience (yet undecided as to who would have me and who i might go with, live in Glasnevin). I also want to do 8 - 10 duathlons but more focusing on full tri's (hopefully get 5 or 6 in) but unfortunately i work a lot of weekends (work at Croke Park) so it depends how work pans out.

So maybe end of next year i'll see how i'm going I certainly wont be putting the cart before the horse! I want to get at least 4 to 5 marathons in before i tackle an IM.

Mel Casserly

Just to put you in the picture Bambaata, I did my first triathlon of any distance last year, about 18 months ago was struggling to swim 100m. Did the dublin city tri last year, and was very slow. I have a stronger running background, have done 8 marathons, including an ultra (Connemara), but required a lot of training in the bike and swim. Am still farily weak in those areas, but my brother was doing the IM this year, so that spurred me on.
With regard to the bike, I bought a carbon frame road bike having originally bought a bog standard trek 1000, I think I will get more use out of it than a time trial bike, but thats just personal choice. Will keep the trek for winter training, if i am allowed out!
With regard to the club, I would join one asap, there is great camaraderie between the club members, you get tips on stuff thats fairly basic, but would never think of yourself, as well as a group to train with, generally they are not that competitive, with training groups to suit all levels, and generally are always welcoming of new members.
Best of luck with the training!:)

Mel Casserly

Just in relation to the nutrition, I ate whatever was in front of me for the last while, as I was burning off a lot. Trained using powerbar drinks and gels, as they were what was going to be on offer in the aid stations in switzerland. To be honest, I had about 5 gels during the cycle, as well as the drinks and water, could not stomach any more during the run, drank water ate bananas and bouillon (swiss soup) during the run, had red bull and coke, which were also on the aid stations towards the 25k mark in the run and after. Felt pretty good at the end everything considered. :eek:

Bambaata

that's well impressive. i might join a club if they'll have me a little sooner than originally planned then! might be an idea to keep me motivated through the winter. i was thinking belpark if they would have me as i found out recently that an old friend is with them. that said i don't know what criteria i would need to meet so one of these days i must fire off an email to them. i don't have any background in any of the disciplines so im really just starting from scratch but that said i played many sports and was very fit through my teenage yrs. that lagged when i went to college but im out of that now 2 yrs and ive got back into shape!

ive signed up for the marathon cos i know that is where ill struggle most. what does one require to enter an IM criteria wise>? are they open to anyone or are they generally only for those who can post certain times over triathlons etc?

Mel Casserly

To the best of my knowledge, the only criteria is you bank balance! it was €350 to enter switzerland.
Started training for Dublin myself (marathon that is), still slow after IM (three weeks ago) but getting back a bit of leg speed.
The winter training is definately easier with a group, even if its just to draft off someone on the bike for a few minutes, it can make all the difference on an winters day. Also it can be hard to motivate yourself out of the bed on a winters morning, if you are meeting a group at a particular time, its a lot easier.
Good luck with the training!

blorg

@Bambaata- as you know I've only started doing this with a couple of sprints this week so am entirely unqualified but I would be the same as you, the swim and cycle distance in an Ironman would be no problem, the run is another story. May try for the marathon this year myself to try to get that one sorted out. Happy to not be stiff after tonight's race so there may be hope for me yet I have read suggestions that you are better off not killing yourself in the swim anyway over that sort of distance as it is very much the smallest part.

One thing I have found about these sprint races, if you are trying to visualise extending it up to an IM distance, is that I am trying to murder myself on the bike as it is such a short course. That definately does make things very different; over a first IM (if that ever happens) I reckon I would treat it more like the W200 and pace myself to finish. Very different approach; in many ways these two flat 20km cycles this week have been _more_ difficult than the W200 etc.

So if you are not _racing_ the thing it may actually be quite managable.

hunnymonster

Blorg, I would put money on you to be able to do an ironman in the morning!

Bambaata

im undecided on my tri suit at the moment. i find it a bit restrictive around the chest. my breathing at best is poor so it doesn't help. where should one go on breathing difficulties. is it a GP thing or are there specialists on that? I find i can never get that "full breath" and struggle through on 3/4 breaths with getting a "full breath" about one in every 10/15.

last night was enjoyable. i think i finished in 01:05:25 or so, or so my girlfriend tells me as i always forget to check my time as i finish! my run, like you blorg, isn't great but i was happy to do the 1st 5km in about 20 mins. i'd say i got to T1 in about 50th or 60th but i tore through the field on the bike and reached about 25th only to be passed by about 5 on the final run. those trial bikes are something!! the more i see them the more i want but unfortunately i wont be able tio afford one until next year!

Now in IM terms i'm way off!! But im staying hopeful for IM Ireland 2010

hunnymonster

bambaata, GP always a good idea if you are having breathing difficulties.

Bambaata

cool i'll get on that! here's hoping there's extra seconds i can take off my times without rigorous training

tunney

Bambaata wrote: »

im undecided on my tri suit at the moment. i find it a bit restrictive around the chest. my breathing at best is poor so it doesn't help. where should one go on breathing difficulties. is it a GP thing or are there specialists on that? I find i can never get that "full breath" and struggle through on 3/4 breaths with getting a "full breath" about one in every 10/15.

Now in IM terms i'm way off!! But im staying hopeful for IM Ireland 2010

I too dislike tri suits. I find that they constrict my chest in the vertical plane and I tend to not focus on core stability and form while running in one.

Hence I'm the one in either my euro-porn style two piece Team gear or more conventional club two piece.

Also a big incentive to keep the belly away.

Bambaata

I have a little more to lose on the belly front before i can get that two piece i feel :P

hunnymonster

I don't think I will ever get used to the guys in the tankini's.

blorg

@Bambaata- I started to get breathing difficulties this year if I was really pushing myself. Would find it very constricted after climbing a hill fast. Went to the doctor and he prescribed me an inhaler (Ventolin/salbutamol) - it has really helped, completely fixed the breathing. I only need to take it before vigorous excercise. Bear in mind it is a restricted substance- not sure if this matters for these sort of amateur events though?

hunnymonster

Anyone worried should look at

http://www.wada-ama.org/en/exemptions.ch2

Given the amount of steroids I had pumped into me earlier this year, and the IM corp zero tolerance on drugs combined with random testing throughout the pack, it is something I looked into.

Bambaata

blorg wrote: »

@Bambaata- I started to get breathing difficulties this year if I was really pushing myself. Would find it very constricted after climbing a hill fast. Went to the doctor and he prescribed me an inhaler (Ventolin/salbutamol) - it has really helped, completely fixed the breathing. I only need to take it before vigorous excercise. Bear in mind it is a restricted substance- not sure if this matters for these sort of amateur events though?

hey blorg, did you go to your normal GP? Did he/she do many tests. i'd be anxious he/she would just assumes it would be sport induced asthma and not look into it to the level i'd like him/her to

tunney

Bambaata wrote: »

hey blorg, did you go to your normal GP? Did he/she do many tests. i'd be anxious he/she would just assumes it would be sport induced asthma and not look into it to the level i'd like him/her to

As an EIA sufferer, trust me, no one is just going to assume its EIA.

Bambaata

thats good to hear. ive come across too many inadequate "specialists" in my time and wasted too much money to trust them all but i'd hope they'd take something like that seriously. one example is i spent 6 months with a physio once for back issues only to find out when she was gettign nowhere and putting me thoguh agony that a simple x-ray would have spotted that i have a curved spine at the very start! she was miles from the actual issue and though bouncing on my back to "loosen" it would do it wonders!

blorg

I went to my normal GP. To be honest I was more worried he was going to suggest to cut back on the cycling, I have had that sort of thing before. This one I have been going to the last few years (to be honest I don't need to go very much) and he is quite sympathetic.

He did a lung capacity test which was normal; as such he didn't reckon it was EIA but reckoned it was related to my chronic hayfever and definately brought on by excercise. He also listened to my breathing and reckoned that the problem was quite apparent (even without a stethoscope!) I am not sure if I recall the exact diagnosis. I believe they are all related in any case and I did have asthma as a child. Anyway the inhaler certainly seems to have sorted the problem.

He did specifically warn me that it was on the banned list so he seemed somewhat on the ball regarding sports issues.

Bambaata

good to hear it works anyway. maybe its one of those things you need to just declare with GP cert? im lucky i havent really suffered asthma as a child or ever had any hayfever reactions that i know of!

hunnymonster

naw you need a therapeutic use expemtion, your countries anti-doping officer can advise you. For triathlon Ireland it's a guy called Neil O'Brien. lovely guy, very helpful.

blorg

hunnymonster wrote: »

naw you need a therapeutic use expemtion, your countries anti-doping officer can advise you. For triathlon Ireland it's a guy called Neil O'Brien. lovely guy, very helpful.

Do you know at what level you need to get a TUE for salbutamol? I am presuming it is not necessary for stuff like the Focus Triathlon, the Dublin Duathlon series, etc? (I am open to correction.) Dublin Marathon? Is it only if you start winning things (no need to worry then.) I wouldn't want to get a two year ban this early in my career

hunnymonster

Blorg tbh I don't actually know. I would imagine in theory you need it now but in practise who knows. No harm to talk to Neil and see what he says
His details are:
http://www.runireland.com/node/1018
anti-doping@triathlonireland.com

tunney

blorg wrote: »

Do you know at what level you need to get a TUE for salbutamol? I am presuming it is not necessary for stuff like the Focus Triathlon, the Dublin Duathlon series, etc? (I am open to correction.) Dublin Marathon? Is it only if you start winning things (no need to worry then.) I wouldn't want to get a two year ban this early in my career

I've had TUE for a few years even before I starting placing and my one race win

They're free and they take little or no time and last two years.

locteau

Hi Guys,

Sorry was a wee bit away during august. Nice to see people still interesting in the IM.

The latest news : There was an Ironman test in Clifden this morning for 50 people I invited. Nothing official, just to test the equipement required, boats, safety etc....

There will be definetly one next year open to public, once I have another meeting with the local authorities, and checked with my insurance for more people.

I purchase 1/2 of the equipemnt this year, which was very expensive. This race will be a high budget thing, along with paying volunteers/clubs for a long long day.

This race will not be TI sanctioned, for the reasons given to me and discussed with some ironman friends :
- The ironman distance is not ITU reconised which TI is a member.
- The cost of one day license is too expensive, especially that lots of ironman athletes are only race IM not Olympics and that we can use this money for a tailored insurance for our volunteer, staff and athletes.
- we are a private company and not a TI club, so will probably not be sanctioned anyway.

we won't get the label IM because they want to much money for it and we need to show 2 years experience before applying.

Anyway, we will test our equipement over the 25.5 triathlon series.

keep looking at runireland.com in the next few month.

wish you good luck in your training.

Seb