Eanna Mc Grath's Race Reports

ITU World Championships - Holland - 17th

My longest race to date, 4km swim, 120km bike, 30km run. I lined up alongside some of the worlds best triathletes, thinking WOW THIS IS GREAT! and at the same time EEK I’M IN FOR SOME HURTING!

Being new territory I decided to take it as conservatively as possible and build in the later stages. I kept to this plan and pulled back quite a few places in the last third as others started to fatigue. It was a great race and really wet my appetite for Ironman racing. I think I have quite a bit more in me, both because I did this race after minimal hard training due to injury. Ironman is the next planned stop, I’m looking forward to a longer and hillier bike and run, tend to prefer this terrain. Im happy enough with 17th in my first Worlds.

Big Woody Half Ironman Race Report - 16th August - 2nd

Well, first race of the year and first half Ironman. A day of mixed fortunes, all things considered I'm happy enough.

The swim went very comfortably and i came out with the front group. There were a lot of problems with marshalling and i lost time missing two junctions and having to turn around on myself.. not the end of the world but frustrating. Forgetting the time i lost due to poor/no marshalling, i still lost huge time on the bike to Craig Twigg and Spencer Smith. It was a good eye-opener as to the importance of putting a solid bike in. Fortunately because i'd been slightly cautious on the bike, my Legs felt good going onto the run. I had the fastest split of the day, although i could have been quicker...

Commencing with a steep uphill trail, I felt good. BUT!!! as the downhills started my stomach tightened to the extreme and I started getting diarrhoea, squatting on the roadside. I started back into the run but knew my stomach was too cramped and I was going to have more roadside stops. Six bouts in all! athletes tried not to make a big deal of it and i just laughed to myself. Leave your pride at home. Controversy in the end result as many participants were directed incorrectly by the marshal and ran short.. including Scott Nedley (UK Ironman winner), who very honestly disqualified himself! Spencer Smith was, i'm told, being directed frustratingly all over the place and frustratingly ended up jogging home with Scott.

I was placed second overall to Craig Twigg. To be honest, the problems with people running short and poor marshalling detract from being awarded second position. On a positive note, the race organisers were very welcoming and the course exciting. Great to be back racing after a long period of injury.

July Report

Things, I think, are on the up!
After months of peppered training and numerous injections/rehab/crying, I'm back on my bike. I'm easing back into training. I have decided to focus on long course racing. I am going to be training in the Pyrenees for the remainder of June and start of July. Keen not to waste time and gain experience of long course racing, I plan to race my first half Ironman in July followed two weeks later with the World ITU Long Course Championships...and then 6 days later race the British Ironman. My plan then is to dig a hole in the ground and bury myself..with some MacDonalds takeaway.
Training on the Look 496 time-trial bike is fantastic... even on the hilly winding roads of the pyrenees. Its the first time-trial specific bike I've owned and I can't imagine going back to a road frame. I realise as a sponsored athlete I am obliged to say positive things about the bike, but with a clear consciounce I would recommend anyone buy this bike. Its rigid, fast, comfortable, I love it. The zoot gear is great, its the only time I look fashionable, though I'm not on my own. Zoot seems big with the long course athletes I've met. The zenith wetsuit got better ratings than even the Orca 3.8 in the Australian equivalent of 220, especially for "natural swimmers", ie mobile shoulders and a strong kick would be especially compatible with this suit.
Eanna