Thanks to Damien McSharry (right, pic. courtesy of PhotoSligo) for this report on Sunday's Humbert Challenge half Ironman event held in Swinford; he managed a top ten finish on his first attempt at the distance. The club was well represented in the event, with Colm Casey posting a top twenty finish and one of the relay teams taking third spot in that category. The event is very well run and one to aim for next year if you are feeling ambitious -results are available here.
Everyone loves a Challenge!?
‘What am I doing here’ is all that ran through my head as I looked out over the swim section of the ‘Swinford Humbert Challenge’. I don’t really like swimming but you can’t do a triathlon without getting wet! I signed up for this ‘Challenge’ back in April allowing plenty of time to prepare mentally and physically. My last, and only, half-ironman was back in ’91, and I still remember the pain. But as someone once said "Pain is temporary, Pride is forever!" Anyway down to the race…
The lake swim was perfect; calm water and well marked. It was always going to be the ‘easiest’ part of the day so I just relaxed and let the dolphins belt ahead. Took me 39 minutes, but who’s counting!
After my usual slow transition it was time to play catch up (a benefit of poor swimming in that you spend the rest of the event chasing after and catching people). The cycle was a good course but a tough ‘Ladies Bray’ type climb after 20 miles saw it live up to the challenge title. I passed some people walking their bikes on it, but I’m told that Humbert never cycled up it either! After this point it was a lonely cycle to the finish as the field was well spread out. The cycle took me 2:42.
The run section was also a challenge. After drinking 1.5 litres of Hi 5 on the bike my first challenge was finding a pit stop. After about 1km there was a tough hill in the way (it’s supposed to be scenic but who ever notices during a race), and from there on the course was undulating. At some point pain kicks in but you just play a mental game, take it 1km at a time, or try to pick people off. The last 5km was very tough especially the last km which was uphill and longer than 1km! The run took me 1:32.
Overall this event was very well organized and ran, with plenty of fuel stops on the run section; and praise goes to the Swinford club for a good event. It would be worth considering as a club event/challenge for next year. There are no results up yet so I don’t know how the Sligo club relay teams did but mention must go to Colm Casey who, despite his recent bike fall, completed the race and finished well up the field.
I finish with a favourite quote and one that may motivate you for the next race/challenge:
It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer or deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat (Theodore Roosevelt).
http://www.redtagtiming.com/results/Humbert_Challenge_Results2010.xls
