Kilkee Hell of the West 2016 25/06/2016

Kurt_Godel

Entries open now, https://registration.mylaps.com/HOTW2016/

Great race and route, no better feeling than reaching that run turnaround point!

mossym

entered at 10 this morning. couldn't miss Hotw, neck and neck with lost sheep for best race in the country every year

RacoonQueen

Still entries left, bizarrely. Not sure if I'm going to go for it this year. Long oul trip.

mossym

Relay only entries only left according to sportstiming. More individual in February.

RacoonQueen

Couple of us had actually talked about doing a relay team. Might revisit that...long oul trip for a swim though. Swim is the only part of that race I've ever enjoyed.

Edit: other than the finish line. Finish line is fun.

Shedite27

Seems I've missed this yeah? Do they open more entries throughout the year?

It's on the same weekend as Challenge Galway, I wonder how they will impact each other's entry numbers

cart man

Shedite27 wrote: »

Seems I've missed this yeah? Do they open more entries throughout the year?

I believe half have been sold and that there are more on sale in a few weeks.

I have not done HOTW before yet but have signed up on the basis of what people here have said about it. Hopefully it lives up to the hype, but if I am honest the registration has already let them down - "whats your expected pace?" at what????

Wackoy2k

cart man wrote: »

I believe half have been sold and that there are more on sale in a few weeks.

I have not done HOTW before yet but have signed up on the basis of what people here have said about it. Hopefully it lives up to the hype, but if I am honest the registration has already let them down - "whats your expected pace?" at what????

It is a fantastic race and you will enjoy it whether the sun is splitting the rocks or the rain is belting down.

The registration was a bit of a mess this year. Not sure why they ended up asking for pace on the site as last years format for the race was Super Series and then waved age categories.

The registration site is different this year from previous years.

sconhome

'Pace' usually applies to the swim so they can group swimmers in appropriate pens in triathlon. Interesting to see if they are going back to this format from age group waves.

Wackoy2k

sconhome wrote: »

'Pace' usually applies to the swim so they can group swimmers in appropriate pens in triathlon. Interesting to see if they are going back to this format from age group waves.

That is what I thought but they never stated that the pace was for the swim.

I assumed it was for your running ability as opposed to swimming.

I guess I will be down the back so with the pace per mile that I put down for the run. :-)

Shedite27

Registration opened again this morning

mossym

half the 400 remaining slots gone in the first 10 minutes according to twitter

RacoonQueen

€70. Ouch.
Might head down as part of a relay team, wonder how quickly round 2 will sell out with the Challenge Olympic on the same weekend.

RacoonQueen

€70. Ouch.
Might head down as part of a relay team, wonder how quickly round 2 will sell out with the Challenge Olympic on the same weekend.

mossym

RacoonQueen wrote: »

€70. Ouch.
Might head down as part of a relay team, wonder how quickly round 2 will sell out with the Challenge Olympic on the same weekend.

pretty sure there will be relay places available even if the individuals sell out.

one of the few races in the country worth that level of entry fee i think. nice jackets again this year if it helps..:)

Doeshedare

I've been trying to register since 8am and no joy, payment keeps failing though no problem on the bank side according to the bank. I've emailed Limerick

RacoonQueen

mossym wrote: »

pretty sure there will be relay places available even if the individuals sell out.

one of the few races in the country worth that level of entry fee i think. nice jackets again this year if it helps..:)

One year there was a red jacket. Had to give it away. I don't wear red.
Getting accommodation would be a nightmare now though.

Shedite27

Now with added possibility of Trump on the bike leg

He is expected to come on Ireland on either the 24 or 25 June, before returning to the US.

viperlogic

Swimming ban in place at Kilkee

http://www.newstalk.com/reader/47.301/74567//

Neady83

viperlogic wrote: »

Swimming ban in place at Kilkee

http://www.newstalk.com/reader/47.301/74567//

Hopefully it won't be in place for long:

BATHING WATER ADVISORY NOTICE ISSUED AT KILKEE BEACH

Clare County Council says a public bathing advisory notice introduced at Kilkee this morning could be lifted as early as tomorrow.

The Council, on the advice of the HSE, introduced the advisory after elevated levels of microbiological contamination were recorded in a routine bathing water sample in Kilkee.

The Local Authority says monitoring is ongoing and efforts are underway to identify the bacteria source.

In the meantime, bathers are advised not to swim in the sea at Kilkee due to the increase in the levels of bacteria found in the bathing waters.

Clare County Council will issue further updates where necessary.

WattsUp

Shedite27 wrote: »

Now with added possibility of Trump on the bike leg

Not sure which would cause more disruption to the bike route. Trump or the protesters he'll attract. Fingers crossed he's not around Doonbeg on the 25th and fingers crossed he's not in the Whitehouse, ever!

zico10

The Super Series race is no longer draft legal. Happy days.

mossym

update via the Clare Herald: http://clareherald.com/2016/06/bathing-water-restrictions-remain-in-place-at-kilkee/

Testing of the bathing waters has taken place again today. Preliminary test results indicate that the event may be over. Final confirmation of the end of the restriction will be considered following additional water testing on Friday morning.

A spokesperson from Clare County Council told The Clare Herald “It is hoped the restrictions will be lifted during the late morning but this is all dependant on the water sample results being favourable and the HSE signing off on same”.

Doeshedare

Donald Trump visit to Ireland cancelled, according to reports

That's one source of contamination potentially eliminated.

mossym

race brief is on the LTC website....

boysinblack

Similar age category waves as last year to be expected?

viperlogic

boysinblack wrote: »

Similar age category waves as last year to be expected?

I'm M30-34 and in wave 3 if that is of any help in working it out

griffin100

Are the waves online? Cant see them on the race site.

mossym

griffin100 wrote: »

Are the waves online? Cant see them on the race site.

should have gotten an email yesterday with your race number and wave. i'm in the 35 to 39 AG and wave 3

viperlogic

mossym wrote: »

should have gotten an email yesterday with your race number and wave. i'm in the 35 to 39 AG and wave 3

Going from your strava swim times, think I found my draft buddy!!

griffin100

Didn't get a mail, but I have a transfer entry so maybe that's it. I am listed as an entrant so won't worry. I'm in the 40-44 age category so I assume I go in the last wave.

boysinblack

Anyone know if wave 1 and wave 2 are super series waves?

Girls are in wave 5.

So looking like 300 men a wave for 3 and 4?

mossym

viperlogic wrote: »

Going from your strava swim times, think I found my draft buddy!!

you'll be disappointed if you do, my ow swims and pool swims bear no relation to each other.

zico10

Kurt, you would have loved the swim yesterday.

Anybody else think it was the roughest water they've ever had to swim in?

mossym

100% agree Kurt would have loved it. was a washing machine of a swim, but i loved every minute of it, which was several minutes longer than i hoped for but given the conditions won't complain. was really a swim to test your comfort, needed to time breathing to the swells which was tough given it was rough in general and no real pattern to them but it was just fun


also, apologies to whoever was running up dunlicky and shouted boards at me as i ran back down the hill, was gone past you before it really registered. not even sure who it was, anyone want to own up?

Kurt_Godel

Sounds like a blast! I didn't travel, a lingering cold, coupled with a glance at the forecast and potential for...eh... swim cancellation, kept me at home. Well done on enjoying the chop!

viperlogic

zico10 wrote: »

Kurt, you would have loved the swim yesterday.

Anybody else think it was the roughest water they've ever had to swim in?

I've only a few OW swims under my belt so a definite yes for me. But in talking to our club super series guys and well seasoned OW swimmers they all said the same, never raced in such conditions before thou suited some of them.

It didnt look too bad from the shore but once we got past the pier it was nuts, both chop and swell. Saw a few lads beached up on the reef/rocks on the way back in! Was glad to get ashore as was race on for me then, gained 366 places

mossym

Kurt_Godel wrote: »

Sounds like a blast! I didn't travel, a lingering cold, coupled with a glance at the forecast and potential for...eh... swim cancellation, kept me at home. Well done on enjoying the chop!

it would take something for the swim at HoTW to be cancelled. 3 years ago(2013) year gavin noble won i'd wager was worse than yesterday, swell was pushing people back into shore by more than they were swimming out between the swells, and it went ahead.

some interesting results on saturday. don't think many would have seen Carolyn Hayes been beaten home. know she entered late but would still have been strong favorite. was running up dunlicky and saw a lady coming down against me, thought i must have missed hayes running down and was shocked to meet her quite a bit back further up the hill.

mens winner less of a surprise, but could still have gone to one of a few, would have been interesting to see what would have happened if there hadn't been withdrawals after the bike.

fair to say after two calm years it was a nice reminder where the race got it's name

68 lost souls

mossym wrote: »

some interesting results on saturday. don't think many would have seen Carolyn Hayes been beaten home. know she entered late but would still have been strong favorite. was running up dunlicky and saw a lady coming down against me, thought i must have missed hayes running down and was shocked to meet her quite a bit back further up the hill.

I was fairly surprised when I saw the results alright too. Although it is nice to see some one else at the top for once. Hayes is a fantastic athlete and give us all hope that the best can be beaten

Shedite27

Very good race, real test of ability. Certainly they toughest Olympic I've ever done. Swim was very choppy alright, I'd suspect quite a few people panicked in the swell. The way back in, the swell seemed to be pushing people towards the rocks.

The cycle had a bit of everything. Some challenging climbs, and some long straight bits to really get the power on. I didn't have the cycling training done so struggled here, lost about 100 places on this bit.

Run was nice, lovely little course, tough first 2k uphill, then some gorgeous scenery along the coast, nice little descent to finish.

Well run race, nice jacket, good food. Just wish I'd had more cycling done!

Doeshedare

The swim was fun alright. The wind was from the NW so was blowing straight down the bay. With the prevailing SW wind the bay remains fairly calm even if all hell is breaking loose outside it. This was my 4th HOTW and it was the most challenging swim.

I got caught in a boat rope at the beginning which was disconcerting. Then after the pier the change in sea conditions was very abrupt, I can imagine it freaked some out. Though it was a busy swim from start to finish it was really hard to draft given everyone was bouncing every which way. I also caught up with the back of the wave ahead which complicated it further. Lots of reports of people hitting the reef at the west end, I could hear the kayak'ers shouting.

Initially I was disappointed since I was slower than last year but I've been checking people on page 1 of the results this year that did it last year and the swim seems to be about 2 and a half minutes longer this year for these, which is 10-15% (Carolyn Hayes was +3.46). I was less than 2 mins slower (7%) and don't appear until page 6 of the results so I am pretty happy now.

I didn't enjoy the bike much, it just felt like a slog the whole way but the run was lovely and a great atmosphere. Well done to LTC again.

griffin100

My first tri in almost two years and I had a blast. Swim conditions were rough but nothing anyone with ow experience should be scared of. The waves made sighting hard as every time I looked up all I could see was water. I went way of course for a bit and on the return in I swam over the reef along with a lot of other swimmers and got pretty beat up - hands and feet are in bits. My own fault though, should have sighted better. Ended up taking 5 minutes longer than I did for the same distance in Dunmore East a couple of week ago. Bike was not as bad as I was expecting. I did it on the road bike and was glad to hold an average of just over 30kph. Run was tough but enjoyable. Overall a very good and well run race.

The only downside for me on the day was the level of blatant drafting that was going on. At the start of the bike there was a lot of congestion and I understand that it was difficult not to get caught up in it, but as the race went on I was repeatedly passed by groups that were working together. I know that in the middle of the pack where I was drafting is not going to make a difference to the winners, but it's frustrating for riders that are genuinely trying to test themselves to see people cheating so blatantly.

viperlogic

Re drafting, I did see some trains, but I was passing them, not the other way round . Overall didn't see much drafting as compared to other races.

EC1000

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zico10 wrote: »

Anybody else think it was the roughest water they've ever had to swim in?

Yes, loved it. A proper swim and a proper triathlon.

MojoMaker

^ Echo that - a proper triathlon. Well done LTC once again.

Swim was not smooth by any stretch but I seem to remember a 2014 or 2015 Howth aquathon being as rough.

Kurt you would have loved it.