Thomas Kelly's Race Reports

Kenmare Lost Sheep Half Ironman - September 1st 2007 - 9th place

This was the last race of the season and due to my late start this year was the one I had targeted. I hadn’t really thought about it that way recently until one of the younger guys in the club wished me luck at training the Monday before saying: “I know this is the one you have been targeting this year”. He was right and I had said that to a few people so now a little bit of pressure was on!

We travelled down on Thursday night after work to allow us the full day to relax, clean the bike and get my pre race session in. This was a great plan and spent the day chilling out. My Heart Rate was a little high out on the bike spin which ordinarily would be a little worrying but I knew I felt good and well rested so I just put it down to being ready. I thought I might have actually got this whole “peaking” thing right for once. The previous year when I finished 4th I had used 80% HR on the bike but it was my first time at the distance and I knew I should be pushing a little harder so I decided I would aim for 83% - 85%.

It was a 04:50 wake up the morning of the race! We had skipped the 22:00 race brief the previous night and I’m sure there were only a few there. Had some breakfast and headed down to the transition. As it was a 07:00 start 1 km away and with the Tx only opening at 06:00 it was all a little rushed. But I got to the swim start with my ritual warm up done so I was happy enough.

The swim itself I felt went really well. It was definitely the full 1900m this year and I felt very strong throughout. A long swim like this suits me better as it means I’m getting time into some of the stronger bikers but at the same time this gives the same advantage to the guys who are stronger than me. I think the Zoot went really well as Brian Campbell, who has the fastest swim split, only managed to put 2 min 54 secs into me …. He has done more then this in an Olympic Distance before! I was 9th fastest individual out of the water in a time of 25:57.

Off on the bike then with the heart rate well up! It settled after a while. I passed one of the female entrants pretty quickly before being passed myself by the Swiss guy who had won last year. On the first climb I caught Fernando Fuentes who I hoped to beat that day and although he remained close on the descent he went out of sight up Healy Pass. This was a good thing as Fernando had been running better than me all year so I needed to put some time into him on the bike. Felt strong on the bike and nutrition plan, similar to last year, of a gel every 20 mins after the fist half hour was going well. On the way up the Caha Pass as I was taking my 2nd last gel on the bike I dropped it! I’m not sure if this was a blessing in disguise or not as I had missed 3 water bottles in the aid station at Glengarrif (Please don’t put this half way down a steep hill where you’re going 50kmph next year guys!!!!) and therefore had hardly any fluid left to wash it down. At the top of the Caha Pass I got passed by Liam Dolan. Went by him again on the descent but he pulled away on the flat. I was 10th fastest individual in 2hrs24min14secs. And about 7 minutes faster than last year!

In T2 I had decided to put socks on. This takes valuable seconds and again the potential benefit can’t really be appreciated but I think it’s probably a wise move over 21km. Initially on the run I just couldn’t get going. I felt like I was shuffling along. I was wondering if I really missed that Gel I was supposed to have taken? I had 4 more in my pockets and was dying for one but the first water station wasn’t until over 5km along the run course so I was starting to go flat! When I did finally get there I’m not sure if I took enough water on board so it wasn’t until about 9km after the second station when I finally felt like I was beginning to move. It was also no doubt in part due to the fact that I saw a German guy closely followed by Fernando very close behind me at the turn around!!! The German guy went by at around 11km running very well and Fernando finally caught up at 16km. He didn’t pull away too convincingly and kept looking over his shoulder but I didn’t have it in the legs to keep up so he managed to put a couple of minutes into me by the finish. I was 16th fastest individual 1hr 30min 11 secs – about 2 minutes slower than last year!

Overall this race went really well for me. I was about 5 minutes faster this year but finished 5 places back in 9th. It definitely shows that the standard is improving and that there is a lot of interest from overseas in some of our races which can only be good for the sport.

I’d like to say thanks to the Cycle Superstore for giving me the best of equipment to race on this year and especially manager John Donnelly who although he knew I was having some serious injury issues still gave me sponsorship this year without which I probably wouldn’t have been inspired to keep going and get myself back into good racing condition.

Castlewellan Tri August 4th 2007

This race started with a really tough swim which despite being in a lake was pretty choppy and it goes someway towards explaining my slow time of 24:25 but with Brian Campbell, the eventual race winner posting a swim split over 4 minutes faster it definitely shows that I have a lot of work to do.

An uneventful transition saw me out on the bike course quickly and I settled into a nice rhythm. I continued to push hard throughout the undulating hills and could keep a good eye on the people ahead and behind. The steep hill on the course which I hadn’t forgotten since last year proved to be easily conquered this year. Was passed only by Liam Dolan at about 35km so bike definitely improving. 8th fastest split 1:06:42

Went out on the run course feeling pretty good. It’s a really nice circuit with a sneaky little uphill section that you have to repeat twice. First lap went fine but about 8km I felt a rumble in my stomach which required immediate evasive action! Well if Paula Radcliff can do it in the marathon…… I’m deliberately going to leave the details scant but race nutrition was given some serious thought on the way home! Obviously lost a bit of time but didn’t feel too bad following it so can’t complain too much 39:24 – 17th fastest

Finished 11th overall – loads of room for improvement.

Carlingford Adventure Tri July 28th 2007

"7 hours 32 minutes! That’s the longest I’ve ever been on the go for. I wasn’t expecting the race to be that long and I know for sure my two teammates Loraine and Neil definitely weren’t expecting it!

We left early for the 0830 registration in Carlingford on what was looking like a beautiful day. After registration, when I thought everyone would be warming up, the competitors started a tent setting up frenzy! I thought this was pretty funny, but not to be left out of this we picked up a prime bit of real-estate ourselves over looking the Lough! The other experienced competitors obviously knew something we didn’t because as it turned out later, by the time we finished the race it was lashing rain - so it was a good shout.

If I thought I had a good handle on the race route, the pre race briefing certainly changed that! It might have been better to have a Dictaphone to replay the very long instructions throughout the day. Anyhow we weren’t too worried, as we didn’t expect to be leading the charge from the front!

The pipe band piped us to the start line and off we went ... uphill. This continued for quite a while forcing ours and the majority of other teams to walk at times! I was chomping at the bit but luckily for me the pace was “steady” because considering the length of the day I might have run out of steam! The run route took us up and over Carlingford Mountain on varying terrain and just as we reached the top and thought we had all the hard stuff over the very steep and tricky descent started. Our run time was 1hr 48min but felt much faster than that because of the great course and beautiful sunny day. Couldn’t tell you how long but I’d guess around 13k or so?

Once we got back to the transition the adventure race phenomena of a nice slow relaxed transition was in full effect. People were heading back to their cars etc to change clothes and grab their bags so I’d say we passed some teams at this stage. We were like a La Pierre sponsored team as we left T1 with Loraine and myself on full suspension bikes and Neil on his hardtail. Once we hit the road one of our team (who will remain nameless) seemed to have a puncture but funnily enough once we pumped the wheel up it seemed to stay hard so maybe less time setting up HIS fancy North Face all weather alpine tent and more time on the race prep would have been in order!

The MTB course was fantastic and without a doubt my favourite part of the race. I actually couldn’t believe that a huge group of people were being let loose on a course with so many very fast descents, technical traverses and one absolutely horrendous climb up Black Mountain from sea level to 508 meters in one long twisting drag. I was wrecked when we reached the top but couldn’t move my team mates for at least 10 minutes despite the fact that I’d been working like a overloaded donkey carrying all the teams bags and swapping between the two of them providing pushes up the climb!!! The descent after this was excellent and one I’ll definitely be heading back to up to do again. Both Neil and myself managed to fall off the bike at different stages with Neil’s proving the most comic ending about 30 meters away from the track. Loraine opted to walk some of them which meant plenty of time for a power bar picnic.

When we finally got back to T2 we had 3 laps of the kayak course to complete. This was fairly handy if a little monotonous … and then the rain started…..!

Overall this was a really enjoyable race and it was a great change from the normal triathlons. Not sure if it would have been as much fun had we been flat out for the day but maybe we’ll find out next year as this will be a race I won’t miss.

Athlone Elite Race July 14th 2007 - 14th place

"Firstly I have to say well done to Hugh and all his organising team who put on a great day in Athlone. Having been involved in Dublin City Triathlon for the last number of years it was unbelievable to see how much the whole of Athlone town and local council embraced the race and turned out in their droves to support it. It rivalled the World Champs in Hawaii 2 years ago!

This was my first Draft Legal Race so I was looking forward to giving it a go. I couldn’t ride the TT set up Look bike but I knew my trusty La Pierre would be up to the task. I spent the whole afternoon preparing on site for the race and there was a great buzz around. During the warm up everybody was cheering us on thinking we were back markers despite the fact that we still had all our warm gear on but I wasn’t complaining as I was hoping for the same kind of support during the race to keep me going!

The swim looked pretty tough for the age groupers with loads of people getting pulled out of the water but I consoled myself with the fact that it was a sprint distance race so even with the strong current I would be swimming less than the standard 1500m. Ironically my swim – which is normally one of my stronger disciplines – was the only one that didn’t go too well. With the diving start and excitement my technique went out the window over the first few hundred meters and I lost a good bit of ground.

This left me out of the water behind the main bunch with only one other guy in sight who I passed out in the first 200m. The support on the bike was amazing with everyone cheering you on at the start/finish. Just before completing the 1st Lap I caught one of the Pulse lads. The plan was to go as fast as I could by him so I wouldn’t pick up any tyre huggers. I felt kind of bad, as we’d been chatting before the race!!! Pity it didn’t work for the next guy who I caught before the turnaround on the second lap. He was waiting for me as I overtook him and despite my efforts he managed to grab my wheel. The main bunch were working well together as a group but I knew my closure speed was too fast for this guy to be of any use. After a lap I “politely” asked him if he intended to do any work at all. His response was “Don’t worry I’m a cr@p runner”. I couldn’t believe this so I made another couple of attempts to shake him but I couldn’t get rid of him. Bike time wasn’t that fast mainly due to the amount of work I did 43:30 - 13th fastest overall.

Anyhow as it turned out I ran well off the bike and did manage to put over a minute into this guy which I was well pleased with cause I would have gone mad had he passed me with fresh legs in the run. Again the support on the run course was brilliant with everyone shouting your name, particularly on the short sharp uphill where I needed to dig deep. I was passed by Colm Turner on the last lap which was a bit disappointing but he flew by on what must have been one of the fastest run splits and I had no chance of hitching a lift there! 16:39 - 14th fastest split for the 5km which again was a mid table split but I was very happy with the time.

Finishes the race in 1:00:10 and 14th place overall – oh for 11 seconds somewhere along the way!"

Carrick TRI Army Category July 8th 2007 - 1st place

"This was the pressure race of the season! No seriously I was a little nervous about this race because it was the one where anything else but first place would have been a major disappointment for me, not to mention the grief I would have received in work come Monday!! Also the course in Carrick doesn’t suit me as the Swim is very short and down stream meaning the usual advantage that I get at this stage is cut down and then where I usually suffer the most – on the run – is closer to 6 than 5 km.

The swim went really well (besides the start where I was mid pack as the hooter sounded). I got to the front by about 200m and was first out of the water which was a great feeling.

After an ok T1 I got out on the bike course and started weaving my way through Carrick town. Being the third wave it was very motivating to see so many people on the bike course ahead and you could set targets for yourself all the way around. With about 5k to go the rain started to lash down which was a little disconcerting on the tight corners where you had to slow right down. I reckon I lost a bit of time on the main men’s wave here as the leaders would have been on the run before the rain hit. My front wheel actually skidded on one of the turns but the Continental Triathlon tyres held it together well.

I came into T2 conscious that I was still leading the race so all that was required now was a solid run to stay at the front. The rain had been so heavy that water had actually pooled in my runners! Never the less I got them on quickly and settled into a good pace. I passed quite a few people until about 1.5k I caught a guy from wave 1 who just decided he wasn’t going to let me pass. This was the best thing that could have happened …. we both tried to drop each other to no avail. Having the advantage of knowing the course and knowing I had a little in reserve I decided that I’d drop him on the down hill section that leads down to the river. As we turned the corner I pushed hard and seemed to get a good few meters into him. But as we rolled out on the river bank on the grass I was a little wide and my right foot went into a hole and I went over on my ankle. It was very sore and I was starting to feel pretty sorry for myself but fair play to this guy he shouted at me to get up and keep going as he went by. This was exactly what I needed to hear and I started to follow him. The ankle seemed to ease out after a while but I also had a problem with my hamstring too! I managed to catch up with my running partner and stick with him for a while but with about 500m to go he pulled away and I eased into the line knowing that I still had not been passed by anyone.

I was very happy with the run which would have been 7 fastest in the main race including the fall so that was something very positive to take from the day considering I haven’t run or biked since in an effort to be ok for Athlone next weekend. I finished 1st in the All Army Champs over 7 minutes clear of the second place guy so was delighted.

Really looking forward to the Elite race next week. There will be a really high standard of athlete there and it’ll be a great experience. I’ve had to adapt training to focus on swimming this week as I want to make sure all swelling is gone from the ankle and I’ve had 2 massage sessions on the hamstring …. I’m sure they will be ok. Hopefully the swimming will now be stronger to allow me exit close to the front in this draft legal race!"

Bull Wall Acquathlon June 12th 2007 - 6th place

"These races are great. They are completely relaxed …. You just show up on the night and away you go. The swim start came as a complete surprise bur after a little confusion I got going. Not sure where I came out of the water but I did see former Olympian Swimmer Chantel Gibney get out beside me!!! I came 7th out of transition. I felt pretty good on the run (17.34). Just managed to pass out one person on the run so finished 6th again! Next race is Kilkee at the end of the month so looking forward to doing some serious training to do in the meantime."

Crooked Lake Triathlon, Camlough June 9th 2007 - 6th place

"This was my first full Tri of the year and following Wednesdays race I was feeling a little more confident. The weather was amazing and the atmosphere is always great in Camlough. There was a good bit of banter in the transition pre race and then it was down to business. The swim took off at a pretty hectic pace but I am usually able to get out to the front out of the main mill. There seemed to be quite a few people in front of me (16th fastest swim split) in the water but I passed most of them in transition and on the first hill which is a good test so early on in the bike leg.

Myself and Ian Lyle were fighting it out on the bike before he got the advantage but I could still see him on the straights. At about 15km Liam Dolan passed me on the bike (at a pretty fast pace!) I tried to stay with him but he quickly opened a gap. Brian Crinion caught up close to T2 and we caught Fernando just before transition so the 3 of us went in together (4th on the bike so Look working well!) T2 didn’t go too smoothly and I was last out of the 3 onto the run. I went to the front of the run – very briefly – but the first time on the hill saw me dropped by the 2 guys. I managed to pass Ian and Stephen Teeling Lynch during the rest of the run but Stephen got back on my shoulder and when he sprinted with about 20 meters to the line I couldn’t respond.

6th place - again pretty happy especially with the run off the bike (13th fastest split) and looking forward to the next race! "

Phoenix Park Duathlon June 6th 2007 - 7th place

"Having missed the Joey Hannon, as I was abroad, the Duathlon was to be my first exposure to the Triathlon scene in ‘07. I was ready to renew some old rivalries and having seen some of the great times posted in some of this years races so far, I was feeling a little apprehensive.

The run took off a pretty fast pace - I had decided to take both run legs at a steady pace - but I managed to keep the main bunch in sight until the transition. I wanted to change my shoes in transition to practice for the weekends race and unfortunately I lost sight of the leaders! I felt pretty strong on the new bike and passed a couple of people straight away. I never got up to the leaders but on the second run I wasn’t too far behind Colm Bolger and Mick McGloin who were having a great battle in front of me. I tried to get over to them but they were driving each other on so I had to settle for 7th 10 seconds behind.

Overall I was quite happy with the result. 40:40 definitely a sub 40 next time. Having missed out on a few months training due to injury early on in the year it was good to be able to get back into racing in the top 10. !"