Upcoming Events and Training News
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- Galway Bay Swim 2010
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A big thank you to all of you who supported me in my recent 13KM swim across Galway Bay, I finished on Saturday and here is my story.....
From Munster all the way home to Connacht….
The 24 July was a date that I had set aside since January this year, like many other Saturdays during the summer months I was giving up that weekend for sport but this event was special. Since watching the 2009 Frances Thornton Memorial Galway Bay swimmers finishing in Salthill one afternoon last summer, I had pretty much decided that I could possibly attempt the 13KM feat. The more I thought about it, the more I really wanted to do it and I got my name down on the start list in early 2010. Figured I better start swim training…Although I’m a triathlete, I could never call myself a swimmer. Proper swimmers are those who went training at 6am while in school and competed in galas, swim competitions etc from a young age. These are athletes who have a beautiful gliding technique, an amazing core and a fantastic fluidity in the water that I could only ever imagine possessing. Me? I only started swimming properly in 2008 when suffering with a running injury! I’ve loved the water ever since but no matter how much training I ever do; I will never match those real swimmers!
Last Saturday morning I arrived on a very lonely wild stony beach in Auginish, Co. Clare, here our 13KM swim would commence. It was a very misty, wet, grey morning which wasn’t too encouraging but I was concentrating on the positive, it wasn’t too cold! I had decided a long time ago that if I was to do the swim that it would be without a wetsuit, and I never doubted my ability to opt for my swimsuit and brave the cold Atlantic waters. As I watched about half the swimmers put their comfy wetsuits on, I did look on in envy but only for a moment, and I returned my attention to my tub of Vaseline!
After a brief (very un-glamorous) photo shoot we headed to the water, I was eager to get moving at this stage, and it was a very relaxed start. I certainly was not going to panic, I’d hours of swimming ahead of me, I figured I’d get into a nice pace and hopefully stick with it! Visibility was poor, Deer Island is about 1KM off shore, and our boats were going to pick us up there but I couldn’t see it at all so I just kept swimming. Instructions were for us to keep moving and let the boats find us; I was picked up after about 30 minutes and was quite happy to see the Mayo flag flying high on my rib. I passed through the 1 hour mark with no problems. It got a little rough the further in to bay I headed and although I was swimming strong for the next hour and 30 minutes, I think my hard work may have backfired a little!
At 2 hours 30 minutes, I could see the wide backdrop of Salthill and my boat figured that I was about 1 hour out. I was delighted at such progress but then I began to hurt a considerable amount with the more effort I put in earlier, my left shoulder had taken the stress of the waves hitting me out in the bay and began to cause trouble. My poor hips were aching from kicking hard and began to cease up when I stopped for any length of time so I had to keep swimming. Salthill was not getting any closer; I began to despair a little. Swimming towards the boat to get drinks was effort, and keeping myself upright to drink was even harder, I was sinking quickly. Put it this way, I was perfectly able to fire the water bottle right back to my boat lads at the 1 hour mark but at that stage I could hardly lift my hands up to attempt to throw it up to them.
The funny thing was that when I was swimming, I was ok, not perfect but I was much better than when I was stopped. So I figured that I had got to put my head down and somehow keep my arms moving, somehow! I eventually got word from the boat that I was 1KM out, for motivation one of the lads said, you’ve already done 12KM! That thought stuck with me as the blurry yellow image of Blackrock became clearer and with every stroke, more realistic. There were people, lots of people waiting for me and at this stage I began to smile because I knew that I would make it, with just a little more effort, I would make it. I don’t think I stopped for that last 1KM and I felt like I was powering it home. A life guard paddled out to meet me for the last 200m, I could hear those people, and I could see the steps ahead and a big Galway flag to direct me in. I thanked the lifeguard, waved to my boat crew and climbed the steps with confidence and one massive smile on my face. I glanced at my watch, 4 hours, 11 minutes, from Munster all the way home to Connacht.
The first of the many amazing swimmers made it across in 3 hours, 3 minutes with the rest of us coming across in less than 6 hours. One of the swimmers, told me that he had a heart transplant 10 years ago, what a hero? His story is certainly more impressive than mine; that is an unbelievable achievement. The 23 fantastic swimmers of 2010 were Ronan Collins, Kevin Thornton, Aimee Walsh, Alan Quaid, Alice Flood, Barry O’Neill, Cathal Codyre, Cathal Hanley, Ernesto Antonio, Fergal O’Dowd, Grainne Read, Jillian Coll, Laoise MacNamara, Matthew O’Flaherty, Martin Kenirons, Martin McCarthy, Micheal Hanley, Sarah Early, Sorcha Barry, Simon Flately, Stephen Early, and Susanna Murphy.
I would like to thank IFI Galway who generously provided my boat and a highly professional service from start to finish. I owe a big thank you to all my boat crew for their constant encouragement and undying belief – Hugh Varley, Vincent Roche, Sean Francis, Mark Francis, Loman Forde.
Most importantly I wish to express a massive thank you to every single person who donated money to ‘Cancer Care West’ which is the chosen charity for the Frances Thornton Memorial Galway Bay Swim. The generosity I have witnessed over the past few weeks has been inspirational and every penny will be fully utilised to enhance the lives of those with cancer in the wider west of Ireland region. Further information available on http://www.mycharity.ie/event/sinad_roches_event/
Now I think I can finally call myself a swimmer, not a great swimmer but a swimmer none the less.
Sinéad Roche
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- Recover & prepare for next event
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Here is a link to a very good nutritional article by Andrea Cullen that helps you prepare for the next event. Might be especially useful for those recovering from the Swinford Challenge.
http://www.limericktriathlon.com/drupal/files/TRIATHLON_&_ENDURANCE_RACE_PREPARATION.pdf
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- Cycle roof rack
- Can anyone recommend what is the best roof rack to get for holding road bicycles? Any where to buy one? I don't have hatchback, so I can't use the system that hooks on the back. I have a roof rack, so thought about just getting the contraption that goes on the roof and hold the bike upright. Any advice would be much appreciated rees.qs@gmail.com Thanks.
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- James Geraghty's epic struggle
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Click below to read James remarkable story.
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- leginit.com
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This might be of interest so members.
What is Legginit?
The Social Fitness Website. Discover new walking, running and cycling routes, new friends and better health. Track and share your progress with others. Meet with groups of like minded people to share your routes with. It's easier to exercise with others. Get Out and Leggit!
Clich here to find out more
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- Powerade Salmon Run 2010
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Fears that this year’s Powerade Salmon Run Triathlon would not take place due to the low water levels in the River Moy were put firmly in the realms of history as the race took place on one of the wettest days ever seen in Ballina.
The Powerade Salmon Run Triathlon which is now in its fifth year took place on Saturday the 10th of July. In previous years the race has basked in glorious sunshine, akin to Hawaii or Lanzarote (two famous Triathlon locations) however the conditions that faced the competitors for this year’s race were as close to monsoon conditions as we can get in this country. As one local competitor summed it up “people were worried that there would not be enough water in the Moy for the swim, we could have swam down Belleek Road at one stage!”
The race was a closely contested affair which was won by Mark Hogan from Pulse Triathlon Club (Dublin) who took the lead on the bike and held on to win in the remarkable time of 1:03:53 closely followed by Shane Scully from Nenagh Triathlon Club just 30 seconds behind with David Richardson from Limerick in third just 1 minute and 13 seconds behind the leader. The first locals home were the close group of Tom O' Dowd, Stephen Donnelly, Paul Reape and James Brady who came in 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th respectively. First in the female category was local girl Sinead Roche who races for Midland Tri Club in the terrific time of 1:15:03.
There was more local success when Stephen Donnelly, Michele Reynolds, James Brady and Deirdre Lynn won their respective age categories. So in all it was a very successful day for the local club Liquid Motion. ‘The Spirit of Triathlon Award’ which is memory of Mick Lyons one of the founding members of the club and who pioneered the sport of triathlon in Ballina was won by the popular James Geraghty for his achievements in the Ironman race in Germany last year.
However for all the rain fell it did not damper the spirits of the competitors taken part. Some of whom take part in triathlons every weekend, some who just pull the bike out of the shed come July to take part in the race and some who were taking part in their first ever triathlon. Most of athletes who took part said after the race that they really enjoyed it, in spite of the rain. As one said “you just have to accept the rain and get over it, sure when your wet your wet. I was roaring laughing at one stage, it got that bad”. This year’s race had a different course due to the revised traffic management system in place on the towns Bridges. Transition where the competitors change over from one sport to the other was located at Ballina Athletic track. The bike section was out the Killala Road with the turnaround located at the old Asahi plant. The run brought the athletes down and back through Belleek woods,
Liquid Motion Triathlon Club would like to thank all the stewards who had to suffer the torrential rain and all the sponsors who were involved in race, special mention to Ballina Beverages and Molloys Lifestyle Pharmacy. The club would also like to thank Steven Doyle and legginit.com (a new social networking fitness site) for their photos.
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- Galway Bay Swim 2010
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Hey Everyone!
It's Sinéad Roche here, most of you know me already…. But for anyone who doesn’t, I’m an athlete from Ballina but unfortunately I’m not living in Mayo at the moment so I’m not a member of Liquid Motion!!
Just popping a quick message up to let you guys know what I'm getting up to in less than a week....
I'm attempting a 13km/7 mile swim from Clare across to Galway on 24 July 2010... Without a wetsuit!!! That is at least 4 hours, and quite possibly 5 hours in the sea... It's not exactly the channel but still, it's not going to be pretty - to say the least!!However, I'm not doing this for fun, there are 20 of us hoping to do this for the very worthwhile charity "Cancer Care West". This is a fantastic organisation that supports people whose lives have been affected by cancer, and works tirelessly in the wider western region of Ireland.
I know and completely understand that there are a huge amount of great events and fantastic charity work happening in the club and throughout Ireland at the moment. So I mainly wanted to let you all know that I was doing this swim and if you wish to make any type of a donation, please click on the link below....
http://www.mycharity.ie/event/sinad_roches_event/Thanks a million!!!
Sinéad Roche
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- Calling Club Members - Marshalling this Sunday
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Club Members, I have received a request to see whether we can help out with some marshalling this coming Sunday for a charity run event here in Ballina. Let's show our support and thanks to some who helped out in the pouring rain at our Triathlon last Saturday. Send me a text at 087-6795897 and let me know how you are fixed. I will firm up on details by tomorrow but should only be a couple of hours.
Thanks
Bernard
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- Salmon Run Photos
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Some photos have been put up click on Photos and then Member Contributed to see all.
Orla.
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- Kids Triathlon
- Some photos have been added of the Childrens Triathlon held on Sunday 11th July 2010. See 'Photos' section.
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- Final Results for Salmon Run 2010
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Click here for the full breakdown with positions for each discipline.
Also a word of Thanks to all our sponsors :
Ballina Dental Practice,Ballina Sports and Leisure Centre,Ballina Swimming Pool,Brennans Lane Bar and Restaurant,Catered for You- John and Mary Barrett,Clubhouse Catering- Ballina Golf Club,Courthouse Hotel and Dock Bar,Crockets Restaurant,Davy's Lawnmower and Tool Hire,Exposure Castlebar,Michael Hopkins Bike Shop Ballina,Maithú IT Solutions,Hotel Ballina,Ice House Hotel,Gerry Kenny Sports,Molloy's Lifestyle Pharmacies,Murphy Bros Bar and Restaurant,North West Surf School,Tom O' Connor Hygeine Products,Powerade,Brian Tuffy's Gala Ballina.
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- Real training!
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Should we incorporate this into the Monday swimming training?!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3S0wu4Zbfk
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- Found in Transition
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Yesterday on clearing up transition we came across the following items;
- Red and black cyclists helmet with Cougar on side
- Small blue bag of sports clothes with bib number 234 inside
- Black gortex water proof coat - North face Summit Face Mens Medium
- blue and black BBB cycling helmet
If you are the owner of any of these items please can you phone 086-8582051 and we can arrange collection.
Bernard
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- Powerade SalmonRun 2010 Thankyou to all Volunteers
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Yesterday we held our 2010 Powerade Salmon Run Triathlon. The rain held off while we prepared for the event however just as we opened transition the heavens opened. Thankfully however it did not reduce the enthusiasm of everyone competing and we had tremendous support from many local groups, family members, and friends who provided marshalling on the day.
I write this brief note to thank all of our volunteers. They are too many to list individually.
We thank the members of Grainne Uaile Sub-Aqua Club, Moy Canoe Club, the Lifeguards from Ballina Swimming Pool, the many Marshalls and great support from Ballina Festival, An Garda Siochana, Order of Malta, Civil Defence, Moy Cycling Club, Ballina Athletic Club and the Fit for Life team, The Rotary Club, all at Ballina Sports Centre, our main Sponsor Powerade and Ballina Beverages, Club members, family members, and friends.
Our provisional results are posted and we will ensure to submit the finalised results to TI as part of the 2010 National Series. We will follow with a full race report and a collection of photos on our website.
Hopefully we will see you back in 2011 and surely we can count on somewhat better weather.
Bernard McGuinness
Race Director
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- Salmon Run 2010 Results
- Congratulations to everyone who completed the Salmon Run today, click here for results
