Kilkee Hell of the West 2015 – Mervyn McDowell

After hearing all the stories about how great Kilkee is I decided to bite the bullet and go for it to find out for myself….

On Friday I picked up Dee and Chris, packed the car until it was jammed to the ceiling with tri gear and headed south west. To say the car journey was warm and sweaty would be an understatement but the excitement was definitely building as my passengers filled me in on why Kilkee is that one very special weekend and not just another race.

We arrived at Kilkee nice and early, registered and picked up our goodie bags inclusive of our 3D (coloured) gillets, then headed off for some grub in town. Everyone we met was buzzing with thoughts of what the following day might bring with the REAL big race of the day between our very own Pulsers: Adams and Lopes. This battle could only be known as double or quits.

After a fairly restless night’s sleep we headed for the breakfast buffet and then shortly after that made the long journey to transition. This certainly was a race full of Pulsers. Looking up and down the bike rack I could only see the terribly trendy black and red gear.

In no time at all, after setting up and checking entrances and exits to transitions it was time for the races to begin. We headed down the beach in our various coloured caps. I was definitely a little nervous doing my first ever beach start but once the pushing and shoving began I felt right at home with memories of my old rugby days.

The hooter sounded and we were off! The first 200m was like a mosh pit with everyone battling for position. Then we got out to the decent swell and I settled after the first turn and headed across the bay maiking sure to breathe towards the beach and away from the oncoming swell. At the turn for home I lengthened out my stroke and tried to glide more with the waves to help save some energy and time.

T1 went as planned and taking my wetsuit off on the beach to made for a quick run up the beach, before I was onto my bike and away. My heart rate monitor decided it didn’t like the saltwater and refused to wake up until 30 km so I cycled on basing my my heart rate on feel. Unfortunately I met Laura walking back towards Kilkee after puncturing about 5km out. A minute later, after a bad gear change, I was off the bike aswell putting my chain back on and watching others whizzing past.

Back on the bike again and it was time for catch up while the wind was mainly in my favour. I began to catch up and pass a few people by the halfway mark and then it was time to face into the wind and make the journey home. I passed a few more on the long way back to Kilkee but also managed to incur a drafting penalty as I approached Kilkee. Just a bit of climbing to do to drain the legs before the run.

Coming back into transition was great with no shortage of club support to get everyone psyched up again for the run. I got a little lost in T2 over running my rack and had to come back again to hang up my bike before I was away.

The run was tough and after leaving the beachfront the long climb began. Quite a few people passed me on the uphill (still lots of work to be done!) and at the 5km mark I couldn’t have been happier to make my way back downhill after the long slog up.

On the way back down the support from club mmebers was great. I went for the thumbs up approach as my energy was running low. I was chuffed to get back to the beach front again and be greeted by the best club supporters in Kilkee.

Kilkee is without a doubt the best test and toughest olympic I’ve completed. We battled the elements, namely the wind, waves and hills and we all made it home for the after party.

And what a party it was….