Club News

 I met Chris Kitchen – CEO Triathlon Ireland

And so the fateful day arrived, June 27th 2015, my first ever standard distance Triathlon, my first HoTW and still only 47 years young.

Looking out at Kilkee Bay, my thoughts drift back to Christmas Dinner, where my younger sister and I came up with the plan to tackle Hell of the West, after copious amounts of red wine and beer. At that time it hadn’t occurred to either of us that she couldn’t really cycle, I couldn’t swim and with 2 knobbly knees the run just might be a struggle as well.

And so the training began in January. Not sure was it the shock and realization of what I had committed to, or the early morning starts, but the sales of Heineken dropped dramatically in Limerick for the next 6 months.

The journey for me really started in the summer of 2013. Weighing in at close to 18 ½ Stone I took up cycling with some good friends, John and Oorla Cusack and Sarah Deegan. Having been roped into helping out at HoTW 2013, I was totally inspired by the atmosphere, the event and the people running it and the athletes. Despite the inspiration, I had a way to go!!

Naturally I was very apprehensive about the swim. For me the whole event would hinge on the water, I couldn’t sink on the bike or run!! I had done a mile in the pool, but there were very few walls in the Atlantic Ocean.

So off we took in the last wave, c400 Orange Hatted 45+ athletes of all shapes and sizes. A few bodies went underneath me, and a few over me, but I managed to get into a nice rhythm and passed the 2nd buoy comfortably. Then, like a gunshot, a short sharp pain went down my left leg, the dreaded cramp. Survival mode kicked in. I ended up swimming 30-40 strokes, stretching, swim again, and so on and so forth. The water marshals were so helpful, encouraging and organised and they shepherded me in safely. I refused to give in, and even though I was last out of the water I felt I had won the race myself.

As I exited the water and trundled up the beach, Chris Kitchen, ran with me and assisted me (only slightly) with my wetsuit. All I can remember is Sarah Deegan bellowing on the mic, how ‘Triathlon was for everyone.’ It certainly was true in my case with the CEO encouraging an old newbie as much as an Elite Athlete.

Thankfully the cycle, though a bit lonesome at first, went well, and I managed to pick off a few stragglers. The run was a bit more difficult, but once I made to the top of the Dunlicky, I knew I’d make it home. Have to say the last Kilometre was very emotional for me, but I held it together and finished my first HoTW.

I’d like to sincerely thank all at LTC, and in particular all the volunteers whom make this event so special, and of course Chris Kitchen.  I am already planning for HoTW 2016, where I hope to improve greatly!!

Yours in Sport

Enda Moynihan

Dare to Believe

Nothing is Impossible