Joey Hannon 2013
2013 was going to be about doing races I had never done before. Ironic then, how I said I’d do Joey Hannon again to see if winter training had made a difference this time round. It is a pool triathlon with the swim in the 50m pool in UL, with Try-A-Tri, Sprint and Olympic distance options. Raised in a landlocked region, swimming was never going to be my forte. Hell no, despite all you may try Colin Bolger & Darren Hughes, I am no Michael Phelps!
Limerick Tri club put on a great show as always, plenty of marshals, big transition and a pretty cool goody bag to boot. Pool triathlons are early starts, bike racked by 8.45am and then loads of time to kill. Great to see so many Pulsers in Limerick and the banter beforehand was very amusing. Pre race favourites among popular topics, isn’t that right Jarlath Keaney!
I was always more of a duathlon girl myself, preferring to keep my feet close to the ground. My initial introduction to triathlon was the Try-A-Tri Athy, 2011. I was lured to that by the promise of a float downstream – never believe fellow Pulsers! Didn’t put my face in the water once, combine that with a borrowed wetsuit that was too small, I lucky I didn’t choke before getting to the pontoon exit!
So, my main target for Joey was to beat last year’s swim time, Id have settled for 10s improvement but secretly hoping for sub 29min. People say you learn from your mistakes. Boy oh boy I did! The previous week I had a disaster in the pool at the North Tipp sprint. Marshall rules went out the window and feet tapping was irrelevant. I reckon I almost punched the guy in front of me in the liathroidi and practically headbutted him in the ass to let me pass. Futile! No way Jose was this going to happen in Limerick. I was ready for battle. A much more pleasant swim this time round, only the lead guys in my lane decided before the start ‘Lets swim in this order for the first 500m so we can settle into a rhythm. Sur it takes that long to get going’ ….as I thought, ya right Ted! Let’s just say, things didn’t go according to their plan! Swim over and the worst part is trying to haul yourself out of the water. I am not graceful, belly first onto pool deck, ass in the air, all the time hoping, please Jebus do not let the trisuit split or let me fall back in! Near mortification replaced with a smile when checked swim time: well under 29 J All set to lock and load!
Transition is a tricky place. Thank you Miriam Staunton for giving me a landmark to locate my bike. Pity you didn’t run through helmet orientation……..
I kid you not!! And no, I didn’t see the pointy part. And yes, the helmet does fit the wrong way round. And no, it is not very aerodynamic! Thank you kindly Joey marshals for setting me straight.
The bike leg was tough. Difficult to gauge whether wind assisted on way out or not. Seemed to change at every bend. The headwind on the return leg was soul destroying in places. Ever feel like your legs are spinning 90miles an hour and going nowhere? Just as testing as the year before and was glad to see the gates to UL again. T2 uneventful as I don’t think one can put runners on the wrong way round. The run is two 5k loops around the UL campus. Undulating in places and plenty of support along the way. The run is teasing – you pass close to the finish line after the first loop and then head off for the final 5k. Oh the temptation not to do the second part!
All in all a good day out! Made better by the fact that Pulse picked up several age group prizes, congrats to all involved & well done to all who participated.
Written by: Kim Hickey