Maurice McHale

Race Report for Galco Naas Sprint Duathlon Series, Race 2, February 26^th 2023

The second duathlon race in the 3-race series hosted by Naas Triathlon Club took place at Punchestown Racecourse on 26^th February. The facilities are excellent with racecourse parking, toilets and a tarmac 2 mile (or 3.2km for the under 50’s) loop around the course for the run. Then you hop on your bike and do 10k out to Blessington Roundabout and back, for a 20k loop.

I arrived there just after 11.00 for a 12.30 start and went into the registration office to pick up my race number. Then back to the car park to get set up and bumped into Barbara who was setting up also. We had a chat and exchanged the usual words of encouragement, such as “Sure treat it as a training run” advice to ourselves (which invariably goes out the window as soon as the start hooter sounds!). We got bikes set up and other equipment ready and made our way back down to the transition start area in front of the main stadium stand. We had a quick and efficient entry in to rack the bikes and arrange helmets and shoes for a quick change. I remembered a slow 2-minute transition in race 1 last month when I couldn’t clip on the helmet. I had meant to practice this so now a quick on with helmet, off with helmet 5 times – “that should do it,” I thought. I looked at Barbara’s lovely bike shoes with Velcro open/shut flap (as opposed to my ratchet and wheel system) and thought “that’s 30 seconds saved right there!”.

We made our way to the bag drop area and after shedding a couple of layers went for our warm-up around the run course. Barbara spotted an arch competitor ahead of her and indicated she’d be doing well to podium today as such-and-such is really fast and this professional looking athlete ahead beat her well a year or two ago. Then the Daniela Ryf look-alike turned and was running back toward us. We called out a friendly hello but this lady completely blanked us both! I glanced over at Barbara and the transition from friendly to race-face was complete – “She’s ready!” I thought!

A quick trot back to transition and the race briefing was underway. The main thing was the 2 tight right hand turns and not to cross the white line or it’s automatic DQ. Up to the start line we trudged and we were off! The first 100m is up hill and then a big downhill for the remainder of the first kilometre means it’s a very fast start to the race. There are a few places where the tarmac path crosses the racecourse and it’s covered in deep sand. For these you need Catriona’s Loose, Limp, Lower Legs, with an additional L (light) or else you lose any momentum you might have built up!  The second kilometre is uphill and this is where all the youngsters pass you out and the third km is a grim ‘hang-on in there’ for everyone! Into transition and a stately 1.40 transition (note to self – get the Velcro shoes!) and out of the stadium, hop on the bike, power up a long hill (while hyper-ventilating!) to the gate and turn right to head out the road. The wind was against us on the way out so a relatively slow 10k but following the turn at Blessington Roundabout it’s fast all the way back. The course is undulating with no big climbs so it's an enjoyable spin.

Back into transition and this time I couldn’t get the helmet off due to numb fingers as I couldn’t feel where the clip was – thoughts of “Why didn’t I practice this more!” and “Will I run the lap with the helmet on” were streaming through a very muddled brain. Then a sudden click and helmet was off, Alpha fly’s on and off round Punchestown course a second time! For the first km I spotted a few grey haired, ‘mature’ athletes and managed to pass them, thinking “he’s probably in my age group – I’m doing well”.  Just when I was beginning to feel smug a Gustaf Iden – looking athlete passed me. I thought, “No grey hair and he's skinny; definitely too young to be in my age group – you’re safe letting him go Maurice!”

I passed a few more strugglers and a couple of youngsters passed me before reaching a very welcome finish line. I looked at my time and was very happy to have improved on January’s race by almost 3 minutes – surely a podium place I thought.

Barbara finished a short while later and to our great delight the Daniela Ryf look-alike finished a good 1.5 minutes after that! We exchanged war stories and then the main prizes were announced but no AG prizes. I went up to the stand and they were handing them out when asked. I asked for my result; He took my number and following a few taps on the laptop smiled back with “You got fourth” and I could almost hear him thinking “serves you right ya glory-hunter”! Barbara got a brilliant 2^nd place medal (beating Daniela into 3^rd)!

Back home I was looking at the results and saw that I was 35 seconds away from third place in my AG. I thought ‘I wonder…..” and with that I googled the name of the 3^rd place finisher. Low and behold it was the Gustaf look-alike that passed me on the final run! Suddenly my target for race 3 became clear!!

I would recommend race 3 in the Naas duathlon series on 26^th March if you want a good workout and/or sharpen up for the season ahead. A nice course just down the road and friendly organisers and competitors (well most of them!!!). See you at the start line hopefully!