Monday, 26th August, D-day. After months of preparation on the most demanding ascents Dublin has to offer, L'equippe du Pulse made their way to Dublin Airport, bike boxes in tow. After a quick one, two, it was Allez, Allez, Allez as we boarded the flight. Destination. Lyon, France. The atmosphere in the airport was electric and the air, crisp with anticipation. It's safe to say, not one of us could have predicted the week that lay ahead. So put your feet up, get yourself a pain au chocolat and a grande cafe latte (a bikkie and a mug of scald), cool your jets and read on.
So I have a confession right, I had no idea what Beast of the East was when I signed up. Seriously, not a clue. I thought it was just another in a long line of stupid macho names on races designed to make the organisers and athletes feel great about themselves. Beast, smeast, whatever.
This time 2 years ago i wrote a similar race report for Ironman Germany & little did i know that 2 years later
i would be sitting here writing about the same MADNESS again.. What can i say about Ironman..!!!
In triathlon terms it has to be the hardest day you will probably ever do & most enjoyable.......!!!!!!
The journey to Frankfurt began for me last September when I convinced
my wife Alison and 2 year old daughter Anna to sign up for the race.
Ironman is such a big commitment that everyone has to be on board and
I was blessed to have their support all the way till the finish line.
Race morning 6.21A.M Panic! Ciat was picking me up at 6.30 and I was only waking after hitting the snooze button 1 or 2 to many times. Anyway sleeping out was the least of my worries as today was the first race against Ciat since the start of the season but with a little experience behind me now I was feeling fairly confident.
It all started as a joke Scott made after the Sligo Triathlon last year - my first ever race.
I never really believed I would do an Ironman but a year later; there I was at the starting line for Ironman Nice, commonly thought to be the hardest Ironman course in the world.
Most of ye probably don't know me, as i'm a bit of a part-timer at the pulse training sessions scene, long-time-listener, first-time-caller, that sort of thing... but about a month ago I did this event and I'd thought it'd be a good event to share as there's very little like it here in Ireland.
Xterra is an off-road triathlon franchise, similar in the way ironman is except not quiet the world dominating scene that that is just yet. The races vary in their distances due to their off-road nature, but they aim to be around the same duration, time-wise Olympic distance events, maybe perhaps around 5-10% longer.
To read the full report from Geoff, just click here
Alas tis time for another page in my brief but fulfilling Pulse history. Not one...not two (hi)...but fifty three hardcore athletes made the journey for east to west for a course like no other. Kilkeee has a special place in so many hearts and is without doubt, an honest course. If you're one of these athletes looking to read some deep and meaningful and insightful tripe...in all honesty, look away now...;)
Disclaimer: the following race report should be read in the context of a relative newbie to the sport. So any reference to "going well" or a "decent time" bears no resemblance to the phrase as used by the hardcore enthusiasts.
A lean bunch of the Pulse crew descended into the city of the tribes for what was going to be the second annual Galway Cope Triathlon held in Salthill. The event was a special one for all the Galwegians in home territory.
The sun was shining down in the Sunny South East for this the 5th Hook or by Crook Triathlon, in Dunmore East.
Pulse members on the day , included Derek McCabe, Mark & Caroline, Colm, Liam McFadden, Jonathan, Brid, Liam O Hagan , Liz Ward and myself. There were also two new members who had only joined Pulse last week , Keith Coleman & Edward Ormonde. Welcome to the Club lads.
A small Pulse splinter group where out in the red and black in Camlough for the annual Crooked Lake Triathlon. One of the best loved events on the TI calendar didn't disappoint and provided a welcome diversion for those seeking an alternative to the masses at Triathy.
My first Olympic ever came and went this Sat!! And what a day it was.
Alarm went off at 5:30am Sat and I peeled myself out of the bed a 5:50 after a number of snoozes.
Just a short trip down to Athy and already I was sussing out the competition in the other cars that were obviously heading to the same destination as myself. Only Triathletes travel with such enthusiasm at that ungodly hour on a Sat morning.
It was a soft Sunday morning.......... The honourable Mr Adams quite possibly could have ended my 'about to blossom' triathlon career there and then if only he knew, but ashamedly I only commenced getting my kit together at 10am the morning of (in my defence I had just returned from a work trip and the body was screaming no - note: this line of defence will possibly have to be re-used later regarding any questions on my performance!). The usual pre-race texts and facebook updates were circulating. The Men's Sprint was on in the morning, the Ladies the afternoon. It wasn't very Pulse of me, so next time I will make it down earlier to support my fellow competitors.
The bell rang on Friday last, and like the wind, I was out the gap. With the car packed, ready and pointing south west towards Valentia, Co. Kerry, we set off. A mammoth five hour trek lay ahead of what was to be the first official club outing of the year. To say this weekend was one that will live long in the memory is an understatement. It was SAVAGE!!!
Valentia 2009
This was never meant to be my first triathlon but I heard a lot of people saying it was a great race to do (especially the swim) so 2 weeks before I put the feelers out for anyone who had a spot that they weren't going to use. So a big thanks to Vincent who came through for me with a place.
Left for Valentia the day before and as everyone can attest it’s a bloody long drive down to there, 5 1/2 hrs in all from the big smoke! Combine this with all the fresh air ,green scenery , thoughts of the race ahead and horrendous weather, by the time I got down to the island it left this townie feeling quite out of his depth.
Portlaoise “Try-athlon” was run on Easter Saturday, April 11th. 5 pulse members competed in the event: Liam McFadden, Michael Waters, Shay Fox, Garret Garragher and myself, Con O’Donovan.
As it was a morning kick-off (scheduled start at 0900am I decided to spend Good Friday night in nearby Abbeyleix which was a mistake because even the hotel restaurant was closed and my dinner and breakfast were from the nearby Topaz (which, in a bit of good news for the economy, is hiring - though how a petrol station can claim to offer “career opportunities” is beyond me).
Apr 5th 10 Pulsers landed into Girona Airport and were ably escorted by Rich and Greg, our coaches for the week, to Amelie les Bains the picturesque Sancture-Sportif's training camp venue.The team quickly assumed roles and responsibilities!
I will be honest, I was dreading this triathlon ever since I signed up for it! I mean the swim in Lough Dan? I do mountain runs up those parts and the hills get pretty cold
It was a case of third time lucky for Triathlone. Those of us who experienced the cold and miserable weather of the two previous Triathlone events were happy to see near perfect conditions for 2008. In terms of organisation, some of the teething problems of previous years seem to have been ironed out, and this bodes well for future events, particularly 
Well all this madness started a year ago when the 7 of us signed up. Little did i know how quickly it would come around & trying to remember the long winter days training was very hard. And here we were 3 days away from IRONMAN.......
Welcome to the sunny south east; well blow me down with a feather (more like torrential rain storm) twice in the last month I have ventured to our Costa Del Sud East for a sun drenched triathlon only to find the set of the latest rain storm looming over transition
Here's a brief paragraph on an even briefer race (hope this won't take me longer to write than our new talent Sean Wall took for this duathlon - a stunning 39:53min). My "not friend anymore" Weathergod Thor had sent us the same miserable race weather as we experienced for the entire season 2007. Well, to be precise, it poured down with rain during the one hour sign in ritual, stopped on time for the race and then pissed again for the cycle home (ok Martin King can word this smarter for sure)The weather made all the difference ! At 8am, arriving at registration, the sun was already beaming down, putting everyone in great form and helping pre race nerves. Many of the Pulsers arrived at the same time and the car park was a flurry or bikes, wheels, new Pulse gear and excitement. Down in transition, it felt more like a holiday camp than a triathlon, with many people stressed because they had forgotten their suntan lotion and it was getting quite hot. The Ironmen were feeling confident of a good race, having spent the past week in hot windy Lanzarote, while others were wondering how the run would feel in the heat.
Congratulations to everyone from Pulse who took part in the Joey Hannon Triathlon at the weekend. Colin Bolger took third place with a race time of 2hrs and 2 minutes. Other Pulse racers on the day were Jo and Aoife Lynch, Eddie Lynch (no relation), Sonia Rowland and Maura Gaffney.
