RACE 40 - LETTERKENNY TRIATHLON - 20 August

Well it all started by feeling old. Went for a meal with friends in Belfast (Catherine, Tom, Peter and Rosie) and saw their Monopoly game. Amazed that Brixton Hill is on the board I mean I live there! But where are the water works (now airports) and all the other favourites like Mayfair and Old Kent Road? Also you no longer build houses but apartment blocks and no paper money - it's all electronic credit! Also you no longer collect £200 when 'pass go' but £2,000,000! Oh well it's all progress of sorts I suppose?

Again got to the area the day before, that's the beauty of being on holiday, one of  beauties at any rate. Others obviously being not working, sleeping in, visiting new places, seeing old friends .... So acting both the tourist (Donegal is stunningly beautiful) and the seasoned athlete by having a look at the swim and bike courses, both of which unsurprisingly considering the location, were stunningly beautiful. 


The weather was grey low cloud, squally showers and strong winds. It was a fairly bleak landscape and there were some considerable hills (put it this way I had to change down even in the car - so a bit ominous for the bike) including one hill on the course called Church Hill which was the name of the village as well. It seemed to consist of a few scattered houses and three good looking traditional looking Irish pubs. 

Also near the start of the cycle route was a quarry, so you can imagine the state of the road - pretty potholed and a rough surface even in the car. When I got out to take a couple of photos the wind nearly lifted me off my feet. On the hills opposite (away from the national park) there was a large wind farm so the area must have reliable wind.


I began to have second thoughts about bringing the tri-bike because of the climbing needed and the effect of the cross winds on my deep profile rims. The course is probably one I thought best suited for a road bike.

There are some disadvantages in seeing the course before you do it, though normally the advantages out weight these. However this time it made me more nervous than I think I've ever been before this year. It's funny how the potential of road climbs made me worry considering how mountain biking didn't have the same effect. Possibly its because I've not really done them before though both Strathclyde (Race 23) and Blenheim (Race 26) were certainly "undulating". Or maybe it was reading Lance Armstrong's autobiography describing his experiences in the Alps and Pyrenees (which let's face it, this was no comparison). By the way if you haven't read his two books - they are an amazing - incredibly inspirational and personal. You don't need to be interested in cycling or the Tour d'France to be moved by his battle against cancer.


Well having now scared myself with the course it was back to Letterkenny for a bit of an explore and a pre-race meal. This consisted of liver and bacon - comfort food, possibly not the best but it did the trick (or maybe it was the pint - breaking my own rule of not drinking the night before).
An early (ish) night though lying in bed watching the TV did have a certain appeal. Then it was just a case of lying in the hotel bed hearing the wind howl and squally showers.


Up early but couldn't face breakfast - nerves again! Never mind had some bananas and sports drink so wouldn't swim/bike / run on empty. So those of you who have asked whether I still get butterflies? The answer is a definite yes.

Anyway enough of this introspection. I got to the event not ridiculously early by my standards at any rate. Parked up then had to help rescue a lady who'd managed to get her 4x4 stuck on a grassy field! It was then register and rack the bike. At this point I realised that it was local event as everyone knew each other (or that's the impression given) or that they were just so friendly. It became clear it was just a combination of both - both local and just amazingly friendly. I've never been at an event anywhere in which quite so many people just come over for a chat. I got talking to one guy about my worries about the hills and he soon put my fears at ease. If you can imagine a broad Irish accent (well it is to me at any rate) basically saying not to worry as it was only the first kilometre was uphill, everything else was down. I love the optimism - especially as its an out-and-back course. I also looked around the transition - I think it is the first race I've been in where I didn't see any MTB's, hybrids, sit-up-and-begs .... in fact they were all racers or tri-bikes! Daunting!

However the whole relaxed feel to the event soon banished the nerves. There were no bike numbers or helmet numbers, no security on transition, during the briefing the supporters were all invited to have something to eat (the spread they put on was impressive!) The warning signs on the cycle (coming up to a junction, steep bend, gravel surface or some other potential hazard) was a skull symbol - now where have I seen that before? That's right last week on some of the single tracks at Cymmer.  The carpet for the run from swim exit to transition was exactly that - carpet off-cuts. For all the relaxed atmosphere the whole event was very professionally organised.  All in all it was as they'd say 'good criac'.

So it was down the slipway at the boathouse into the mirror smooth lake to the starting buoys. It was a simple course - out to a big yellow buoy then turn left to another big yellow buoy which marked the exit ramp. As I said the lake was mirror smooth or it was until 100+ triathletes started thrashing around. It was an interesting brown colour and so murky that I couldn't see my hands in the water.  And the temperature? Freezing! Again starting from the back soon settled into my rhythm. On nearing the turn buoy, soon realised that we'd started in a bay which was why the water was so calm. We began to hit quite choppy water as the wind blew the length of the lake raising waves of about 8 inches. Fortunately breast stroking I managed to bob up over the waves (mostly) but I noticed that quite a few of the other swimmers were having problems so I actually managed to overtake people in the swim!


Finishing I then ran over the carpet remnants - to load cheers of the supporters. They really entered into it cheering everyone and seemed to have a great time - both the lovely weather and being fed obviously put everyone in a really good mood.


Then off on the bike. The first hill about 1km in length I didn't find too bad, just chose a low gear and spun at a high cadence (not unlike mountain biking). Overtook quite a number who were struggling in high gears. One thing I have on the tr-bike is two front rings (ratio's 53/39) and a 23/11 ten-speed rear cassette (Sram if you're interested) which does help considerably with climbing. Whereas most tri-bikes only have a single front ring to save weight. 

Having reached the top of Church Hill with greater ease than I'd been fearing, I did find one slight problem manifesting itself. It was quite windy but in seemingly direct contravention of cycling lore, it wasn't a head wind but a cross wind. As it was predominantly and out-and-back course, it would mean I'd have a cross wind for most of the route. Not usually much of a problem but with deep profile rims (50mm front and 80mm rear) it did mean the bike was caught by the wind a bit more than I'm used to, which was a little unsettling. It did tend to go sideways a bit across the road which made dodging the potholes a bit more 'interesting' especially at the quarry entrance. Also it meant I didn't spend quite so much time down on the tri-bars - however the benefit of this was I saw more of the beautiful scenery.


As it was an out-and-back course it meant that as I was on my outward leg, I saw the leaders coming back the other way. Really impressive, down on their bars - one guy even had a disc wheel so they didn't find the cross winds such a problem. The marshalling with the garda (Irish police) at the turn point was exemplary and even though it wasn't closed roads and just before mid-day the locals were out in force and all the traffic was really considerate (not that there was much).


After the turn it  back mainly uphill but seemed to go really well, made up quite a few places on this section but needless to say loosing some of them on the run. All in all it was a great cycle - fantastic scenery, a technical course, a 'variety' of road surfaces, hills, and great support. Even when dismounting the marshals were teasing that I could have cycled another six feet and maybe have beaten the girl in front to transition.

So quick change into running shoes and a couple of hundred metres along the lake shore.  At this point I have  a confession to make. Before the swim I needed the loo and I'm just unable to 'wee' in the wetsuit (which hardened triathletes swear by). I'd hydrated pretty well on the bike as well, so the thought of running 5km with a full bladder was inconceivable. Luckily by the boat house where we'd started the swim were a couple of portaloos. Unluckily they were in full view of quite a number of the supporters, a number or marshals and all those manning the water station. I got a pretty big cheer as I emerged from the loo pretty shame faced - after a rather public "pit-stop!" It was then out onto the run proper. The first 3/4 kilometre followed the bike course so was uphill, the next 3/4 was downhill, the next 3/4 was along the lakeside so was blissfully flat. Then repeated. During the first lap a number of those doing their second passed me at some speed as did some of those I'd passed on the bike. However again the scenery was such that the run bordered on the enjoyable.

At the finish they had kit-kats, bananas, water - while back at the boathouse they had a magnificent spread! It was so good that I stayed long enough to see the presentations as did a lot of the other competitors and supporters - it was that kind of event.


RESULT: 34th out of 110 (2nd in age group) in 1:16:27

Widely considered the birthplace of St. Columba, the area around Gartan Lough encompasses some of the most beautiful mountain country in Ireland. Just south of Glenveagh National Park, it is technically within the park but also connected to Church Hill village.

A large cross alongside the footpath that leads to Glenveagh National Park commemorates St. Columba’s birth in 521 A.D. Other powerful relics of the Saint include the Stone of Loneliness, where St.Columba is believed to have slept, and the Natal Stone, where he supposedly first opened his eyes and gazed upon the world. Some believed in the protective powers of these relics so much so that soil from the Gartan Lough shores was sent off to the trenches with area soldiers in World War I.

The Village nearby also hosts the Columcille Heritage Center, where interpretive exhibits featuring stained glass, manuscripts from the Middle Ages, and other items chronicling the Celtic and Irish Christian religious history take visitors on a journey through St Columba’s life and beyond. 


(From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columba) Saint Columba (7 December 521 – 9 June 597 AD) - also known as Colum Cille (Old Irish, meaning "dove of the church"), was a Gaelic Irish missionary monk who propagated Christianity among the Picts (his major shrine is Iona). Columba was born to Fedlimid and Eithne of the Cenel Conaill in Gartan, near Lough Gartan.On his father's side he was great-great-grandson of Niall of the Nine Hostages, an Irish high king of the 5th century. He was baptised in Temple-Douglas, in the County Donegal parish of Conwal (mid-way between Gartan and Letterkenny), by his teacher and foster-uncle Saint Crunathan.

The remains of St. Columba's church, Gartan, Co. Donegal.

Columba became a pupil at the monastic school at Clonard Abbey, situated on the River Boyne in modern County Meath. During the sixth century, some of the most significant names in the history of Irish Christianity studied at the Clonard monastery. It is said that the average number of scholars under instruction at Clonard was 3,000. Twelve students who studied under St. Finian became known as the Twelve Apostles of Ireland; Columba was one. He became a monk and eventually ordained a priest. During this time he is said to have founded a number of monasteries, including ones at Kells, Derry, and Swords.

Tradition asserts that, sometime around 560, he became involved in a quarrel with Saint Finian of Movilla Abbey over a psalter. Columba copied the manuscript at the scriptorium under Saint Finian, intending to keep the copy. Saint Finian disputed his right to keep the copy. The dispute eventually led to the pitched Battle of Cúl Dreimhne in 561, during which many men were killed. A synod of clerics and scholars threatened to excommunicate him for these deaths, but St. Brendan of Birr spoke on his behalf with the result that he was allowed to go into exile instead. Columba suggested that he would work as a missionary in Scotland to help convert as many people as had been killed in the battle. He exiled himself from Ireland, to return only once, many years later.

Also nearby, Glebe House and Gallery sits on the shore of Gartan Lough, along with its 25 acres of beautifully tended grounds and gardens. Formerly the residence of artist Derek Hill, it contains a notable art collection, including pieces by Picasso, as well as paintings by Jack B. Yeats, such as Whippet Racing and The Ferry, Early Morning. The gallery also features the distinctive Irish folk art creations of Tory Island inhabitants of the Donegal area. The house is also furnished with some exquisite pieces. The entire Glebe House property, including collections, was given to the nation by Derek Hill in 1981.