As the triathlon season swings into peak season two more athletes from the club are preparing to join the Sligo Tri Club Ironman wall of fame. This year sees David Downes and Sean Flannery attempt the Klagenfurt event (2.4ml swim, 112ml bike followed by a full marathon for dessert!). Alexander Carey (Honorary club member since 09) just completed the savage Ironman Lanzarote and last year saw Niall Melvin and Stewart McKenna complete the equally challenging Neice course; David and Sean will be taking on similar heat to finish the event, which kicks off in just over three weeks.With Stewart already set to completed a second Ironman in Germany, Paul Burns travelling to the Paris triathlon and Lynsey Dunne attempting to swim the English Channel; there is no shortage of Sligo Tri members mixing it up on the international scene. David was unable for comment on the pre race build up (not wanting to jinx the race -he will be posting a race report once the thing is finished), but Sean has given a bit of an insight into what motivates someone to do this type of endurance event/ adventure:
STC: What made you think of entering Klagenfurt 2011?
SF:.I just thought there was no time like the present to give it a shot.
STC: How did you get into multisport racing and how many years did it take to build the fitness needed for this event?
SF:.Got involved in multisport racing after i finished up playing football in mid 2008 and was looking for something competitive and to keep fit. Took up on 2 years i guess to build endurance levels.
STC: Stewart McKenna (Sligo Tri & first Irish finisher, Niece 2010) called Ironman training a lifestyle, would you agree with this?
SF:.Absolutely, the training involved is a lifestyle and once you get into the routine any day does'nt seem complete without doing some session .
STC: What has been the most difficult part of the build up?
SF:.Waking up is the hardest part ot the lot!!
STC: Just over three weeks to go to the event, have ye got the training done, feeling confident?
SF:.Have been steady enough with the prep. Apprehensive i suppose that everything runs smoothly but what will be will be.
-the lads make their Ironman attempt on 3rd July...
