We are still buzzing from our fabulous experience in the Lough Cutra Olympic distance triathlon on Sunday. What a fantastic weekend of sport in an amazing location on the grounds of Lough Cutra Castle and gardens.
Our nerves were only slightly abated by the distraction of having to do our time trial for the Frances Thornton Galway Bay swim on Saturday afternoon in quite windy conditions, but we got through it, and by Sunday morning, we were ready to go!
Swim – I’m glad we had some sea swimming under our belts to prepare for the open water after a winter in the pool. The advice of others was fresh in mind to be prepared for the dark; the water was exactly that, dark and fresh. The buoys were clearly marked and easy to follow. With 150 eager triathletes in this event alone, hanging at the back out of the traffic was our main aim. It was a mass start, so I still got pushed and bumped a few times, but it was well organised & the exit route was clearly visible.
Cycle – after a quick transition change (where we should have applied more sunscreen!) we headed off with the bike up a hill to the mount area. The start of the bike route was great, as you’re in the castle grounds and under no pressure to head off at speed, giving ample time to settle in for the 40km. The scenery was stunning at times, with lovely lakes, and the views of the Burren kept you distracted. The roads were manageable and clearly marked out, the terrain undulating, with no massive hills.
Run – At this stage, it was about 24 degrees & the legs were getting tired. Internal self-talking motivation was definitely required at this stage! With no music blaring to distract from any negative thoughts, it was the Marshalls along the route who continuously offered words of encouragement. Thankfully we both made a few new friends en route & our fresh GTC tops got us a few ‘go on Galway girl’ shout outs. On the first lap of the two 5k loops Michael B appeared on his second lap which was another great distraction! The run was hot and a few areas were quite exposed to the sun. The terrain was mixed but doable in normal trainers. Considering the heat, a few more water stations would have been good, but overall not a bad 10km trail run!
A very well run event overall with great pre-race information and options for all levels of triathlete. See you there next year!
