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After the longest week of waiting ever, we finally got on the road for Wesport on Friday morning. Fair old spin down there but got there with thanks to Mr sat nav. Straight down to registration which i thought was quite well organised. I was in and out in a pretty short amount of time really. Got my tshirt and timing dibber? Dipper? Still dunno what its called.
Then down to drop off the bike. This took a bit of time but im not sure if you can blame the event organisers for this. Its always going to be tough logistically getting all those people in and out of a field in the middle of nowhere. And it didnt help that despite all the warnings I saw people pumping up tyres etc in the field. How hard is it to have your bike ready to go and just drop off?
Anyway I was happy with the positioning of my bike. It was up in a corner in one of the first rows so I knew it would be easy to find the next day. With this done, we drove back along a good bit of the cycle route. very suprised that noone had made any mention of that big hill after a few k. Looked like a nasty enough descent on the other side due to the surface but cycling is my strong point really so i wasnt too worried.
Back to Westport to find the BnB and drop off bags etc. Then into Westport for dinner. Great to see all the other competitors around. But I have to say I was dissapointed i didnt have a wrist band to show off i was racing. I had one of the chips that went around your neck. Hey, its the little things, ive done all this training, i wanted to show off a little!! Had a lovely dinner. Didnt bother with carb loading or even attempting it. Ive never done it before so i thought whats the point doing something new the night before the race. That said, it seemed like everyone in the restaurant was having pasta! Interesting to hear people talking about it all. Plenty of eaves dropping done!!
So then it was back to the BnB early enough. Back in my room about ten. What to do...what to do. Laid out my gear for the race and made the decision that I would bring the bag, i was still undecided until then but i said I might as well, even for the peace of mind that i could bring those few extras that i wouldnt be able to just using jersey pockets. Finally drifted off to sleep about 12 id say. Mind racing!! I ran Gaelforce about twenty times in my sleep that night. But, that said i slept all the way through so I was happy enough.
6.30 start for me. Got up and had some breakfast - brown bread and a yoghurt with a nutrigrain bar. In hindsight this wasnt enough really but you live and learn. The lady in my BnB had said she would leave stuff out and i thought there'd be more. Really I should have brought my usual breakfast for long runs of Weetabix. Still, no biggie.
Got down to the bus where it seemed like everyone was in groups and had a buddy with them. I just hopped onto the bus and took a seat. Ended up beside a nice guy who went out of his way to talk to me. I found this all the way through the race. People were so friendly and willing to have a laugh and joke wherever possible. The bus journey isnt really that long but all the waiting around was wrecking my head!! Just wanted to get going...
Off the bus and half an hour plus to wait around. More waiting!! Got talking to a few more people there and that made the time pass a little faster. We had our pre race speech, of which i could hear very little, and then it was time to walk down to that start.
The heart started thumping at this point, but in a great way. All the training was over, it was finally here and I felt ready to go.
And they're off!!!
Ok here's the thing about my race. It went nothing like I expected. I had read as much as humanly possible on Boards etc. i could quote previous years threads to you as this stage but I was still surprised by lots of things on the route.
The first run - 14km, cant be that bad. But yeah, where were all you guys to tell me that its hill after hill!! And with muck up to your ankles and worse!! Ok, I admit it I loved it!! The first few puddles, mucky areas everyone was tip toeing around but after a few minutes you just give up. Splashing and jumping into puddles, its like being a kid all over again. And the views - its a pity theres not more photos of the route on the website because I really dont think they do it justice. Such a scenic area.
I didnt really know how to pace the run but i definitely didnt think it would be as tough as it was. They describe the second run as a bog run but the first run is just as bad in places. It didnt help that I was in a later wave i suppose. Thats definitely something I would change next time - a much earlier wave.
Anyway, back to it. Reached the kayak after about 1.25. Delighted to see the water point there. Filled up and had an energy gel and a nutrigrain bar. Met one of the guys I was talking to at the start again and ended up sharing a kayak with him. Great craic, we laughed all the way across. both of us hadnt really done it before but we got on fine. The kayaks are tough on your core though! And the top of legs/groin area. I wasnt far off cramping most of the time and did a lot of moving about to try loosen myself but its my fault for a lack or core fitness really.
Out of the kayak after about ten minutes and on to the next run. Not really much to say about this one. The bog wasnt as bad as i thought it would be. Again, stunning scenery at times.
Got to the bike, feeling pretty good but a bit hungry. Another gel and nutrigrain bar. (god i hate those bars now). Still with the guy i met at this point. Bit of banter was making it all a bit easier and we stayed together for a good bit on the bikes. This was a part where i felt great. Legs were strong and passed lots of people. No doubt in my mind that a racing bike is that way to go. But, and its a big but, you would have to have a good bit of experience on a racing bike. Ive done a good bit of cycling and would consider my bike handling skills to be quite good but i found there were times that all i could do was pick my line and hang on!!
The long climb that i had seen the day before was tough enough but doable. Felt great cycling past all the people who had to walk. I know thats a bit mean but every man for themself!! I had some power bar jelly things after the climb and they perked me up a lot. Over all the bike section was good. Some of the surfaces were interesting to say the least but it makes it all fun. You'd never be bored anyway! Saw a nasty crash along the way. Hopefully anyone who had a fall was ok and not hurt too badly.
I pulled away from the guy i was with at this stage but he came back and was in just after me at the bike drop so we went up Croagh Patrick together. Again, this really helped. We didnt go up the zig zag path, instead choosing the straighter option and this was a good decision for me. I felt strong all the way up which was a brilliant suprise. The training paid off! Saw some people struggling big time. Great bit of comradary on CP. If anyone slipped at all, there was always someone picking them up. Lots of banter and joking from people who looked like they were in real pain. And then we were at the top! And i felt amazing. All those times not drinking, those hours training, those nights of slagging from friends over going home early or not going out for a match or whatever. All worth it. Felt on top of the world.
Had another bag of energy sweets and then for the descent. This was something i felt i lost a lot of time on. I just didnt have technique good enough to run down it as fast as i wanted to. Fitness wise i could do it but technique was lacking. Still, i was happy when i got down to the bottom. Still with a smile on my face, and ready for more.
The last cycle. i was expecting this surface to be bad and it was!! Very hard to cycle on in places. In the end i got off and ran a few times. Very happy to see the road when i got a glimpse of it. Once i got onto the road again i put the pedal to the floor and passed lots of people. Really flying on the roads back into Westport. Cant explain how good i felt.
Into Westport and the cheers and people increased. Going through the tunnel of people at the end was brilliant. i just couldnt stop smiling.
Dropped the bike off and on to the last run.
Rounded the bend and saw the finish line in the distance. People cheering everywhere. You just cant describe that feeling. Over the line to check my time. 5 hours and 34 minutes. Delighted!
I could easily have knocked a lot of time off my finishing time. I still felt ok at the end. And thats something i was delighted about. All my training really helped. Pacing was probably my problem on the race. I was so worried about Croagh Patrick that i didnt give 100% in some of the earlier stages.
But I have no complaints. Im delighted with my time. And I had one of the best days ever. Enjoyed every minute of it from start to finish.
Would i do it next year?
Without a doubt.
Great Stuff mate.
Pretty much followed this from the start and I think I gave you some advice in the first few pages.
Great time for a first timer. I thought I meantioned about that hill a few Km's into the cycling?(edit, just checked no I didnt, must of been to someone else) Last year I saw a nasty crash at the bottom of the desecent, some guy crashed into a ditch at full speed right at the end.
Didnt do GAelforce this year myself as I was at a stags, am itching to do it again next year.
Anyway, just wanted to say congrats. Oh and you beat my first timer attempt by a good bit (I blame the bike
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