Gaelforce West 21/8/10

this time tomorrow we will be either on the last leg, in hell with pain on or last legs or EVEN finished

Well that’s another GF over. Better prepared event this year so hats off to the organisers. A few more physios could have done the job but outside of that it was proper done this time.
Personally, like toomuchdetail, the cramps were once again the bane of my GF.
Went into the event with the plan to go sub 6hrs, last year was 7hrs 1 min but I felt better prepared!
4.30am out of the cot was tough but once the feet are on the ground the breakfast (porridge and bagel) and the checklist is checked, checked, checked and checked then into the car and back for the bus.
Good crowd gathered, met a few mates there and over heard one 6.30am wave man asking if he could go out early.... that man needs more sleep

Bus journey was Moroccan, driver seems to think we were in a Sauna, add to the that the lad in the seat ahead eating boiled eats and I was on the verge of a puke, too early for that.
Off the bus then, we had to wait at the junction for the Elites to pass, they got a great round of applause from us (well done us hee hee), the leading runs were like fellas who were late for a bus the sprint on them. Machines!!!

So down we went, the usual panic, have I enough, have I took much, had over 1.5 litres of powder and water in the new bladder, so I was happy with that. Buzz on the beach, excitement and nerves either knowing what was ahead or for the newbies the unknown, read so much on boards, forums papers but still not “knowing”. Sometimes you wonder is better to know what’s coming up or not!
So off we go, out like rabbits, up the big hill, pass the next wave, great clapping again, then into the hills, everyone still when on these hills have doubts about their ability, don’t think that ever changes!

So up and down the hills, past last year’s turn right up the hill, “Good riddance to you I say”, and then we take a new turn. It’s fairly similar to the route last year, wet and slippery in places, nothing too here. Did this leg in 100 mins last year, knocked this new route down to 86 mins, happy with that. Waiting for me brother to arrive into transition for the kayak leg and waved off a few friends first.

Kayak was spot on, we worked well, got that down in 8 mins but the dib was further away so took me to 10mins.

Next section was nothing but gutter! Awful to run it so plodded it until the next tarmac and that was spot on, disappointing time of 29 mins here. Bikes here we come, was looking forward to this as I have done a lot on the bike, changed into the bike shoes, took on some water and ½ banana and off I tore. Passed about 10 people in the first 2km, then disaster “Mr Cramp”, I couldn’t believe it, not again! Fell over onto the side of the road before I could get out of the pedals, legs in the air, at one stage I thought it was over, but 10 mins later and after plenty of offers of assistance (Thanks Mr Snipe ) I was off again, gentle at first and low gears, took on ½ litre of NUUN and water and said a wee prayer, up Sheffrey no problem and took the full bike route without coming off again. Did get cramps but dealt with them on the bike, time 1.54, expected 1.5 hrs, so not happy.

The Reek – first steep off the road onto the bog section and the legs go again, I think the 2 girls there thought I was a loon which the groans out of me  , got rid of cramps. Dibbed then so that didn’t add time to my CP leg, legs were in big big trouble going up, doubts again about finishing, looking for familiar faces to get some hope from but it was the GF people who drove me on with offers of drink/bars/gels, spot on bunch of people.

Plodded away, stopped 3 times, one time the lad beside me puked his guts, “F-ing gels was his response”, 57 mins to the top, happy enough with that considering, meet a few mates on the way down, doing brilliant, then I dibbed and flaked it as fast as I could. Stuck out to the very outside and surfed the stones, passed a good few, then just as I approached Mayo Mountain Rescue.... I slipped and feel in on top!! Niiiiiice
Up I got, spotted a few had taken a direct line and against my better judgement but in sheer desperation to get sub 6hrs I went after them, it took .4km off my route, and I was down in 29 (thought it was 25!) but the dib is the correct time.

Meet with a cycling mate who was also suffering with cramps, we took on some gels and water, put back on the shoes and tore into the last leg. He got 2km into it and punctured, offered to wait but he didn’t want me to, so I keep going, another .5km I got a cramp again, this time in the inside of my thigh! Never happened there before but now I believe the use me as a tester for cramps lol.

Got rid of it and back on the bike, carried it for about .5km but then back on, caught up and past the lads on the MTB’s, adrenalin, stubbornness whatever it it’s just erupts when you know that home is near. Made great time on it, pass the finish line as I thought, “keep going” was the shout, looking for the dibber, knew there was a dash somewhere, into the field, guy in there said you have to run to the finish. Jumped off the bike, bang legs gone again. 500m took me 10 mins, terrible, I had to stop and start, rub the cramps, curse GF for doing this , eventually I saw the tent, as I approached the gap in the wall my legs went again, speed wobble, a “whooooo” went up from a few close buy expecting a crash but alas I stumbled on.

Happy days, got me sheet, 6hrs 45!!! God no that’s cat, ah wrong time, 6.08. Not sub 6hrs but last year it was 7hrs 1 min on a shorter course so I was pleased with that.
A big cup (3!) of soup, met the lads who did A1 in fairness. So it’s over, the questions re “Gear”, “Gels”, “tubes”, etc etc put on the shelf, will I be back, I don’t plan to BUT when it all starts again, we will see!!

Hats off to GF, a 1000% improvement, staff and volunteers were very friendly.
Also to the boardies, thanks for your chat on here and your help on the road today.

Time for a bath and snooooze

Until we meet again, Slán go foil