Tom Kiely Bib 277 ; 303/ 5 hrs 36 mins 42/2.54/1.55
359 finishers
13 DNF
Winner, a Professional in a time of 3 hrs 47 mins 23.28/2.11/1.09
12 athletes < 4 hrs
56 athletes < 4.30 hrs
188 athletes < 5 hrs
284 athletes < 5.30 hrs
In the first 10 home there was 1 non professional.
In the first 20 home there were 7 non professionals
i had a most enjoyable event. Typical Paddy, I was staying in the host hotel so despite the fact that transition was open from 5.30 to 7.30 I reckoned that I could leave it to the last minute as it was literally across the road behind a few buildings. alarm call for 6.30. Get down, have some breakfast. Will leave hotel between 6.50 and 7. Should be time a plenty. Kit sorted the night before so i get out of the hotel at 7. All good. I arrive to transition at 10 past to find everyone in the race had the same idea. Queue is moving so no panic. Security is tight. I see as I get close they are checking for swim caps and timing chips and there is no entry to transition without these. No bother, until I discover I have no chip. Back in hotel room, I will set up and then pop back. No chance. No way in without the chip. I dump my bike and gear on the ground at 7.25 and run back thinking this is not a good start to the day. A lad tells me later he puts his chip on night before and sometimes as soon as he gets it. Will consider this for the future. I make it back in jig time at 7.35 by my watch. Swim practice will have started by now. 7.30 to 7.50 for the 8 o clock start. No worries. Not a big fan of the swimming so I will save myself. Remember now that my tyres are very low. Noticed that yesterday when I went for a short spin. Can't remember why I didn't try to sort it out then. I run like a headless chicken around transition looking for a pump. Officials don't have one. Three quarters of the competitors have left transition by now. See a chap i had met in the hotel in the queue to get out of T area. He points me to an lad he got a pump from, who is propably in the water by now. Thankfully adds that it is an Italian type (which means nothing to me) and that you need to push down hard. This all works out and I get sorted. I am the 3rd last person to leave transition and it is about 7.55. I make the start in plenty of time after another run. This time only a 100 metres across the small cobbles. 7.57.
The hooter goes and we're off. 2 laps of a rectangular circuit around a building. Steady as she goes. Quite happy. Water is not cold. Remember something about a pipe and fish. Theres the pipe. No sign of the fish. I thought the place was to be teeming with them. Heading back from farthest point of the swim and there are still a lot of people around me in the water. This is unusual. I am hoping not to be lapped. Did get lapped in 1500 in Coosan point. Good to set goals. I am complimenting myself on the line I am swimming. Going well. Next thing a commotion in the water. The people I am following (and me obviously) have gone off course. Wrong bouy. Oh no. Back over that way. Still a full lap to go. Get through the second lap. Compliment myself a few more times on my new lines. And there are still people around. Thats alway good. Exit water and look behind. Still a few people in water. 42 mins. Happy enough. T1 goes well. Out on the bike.
4 laps. Out onto road. A 3 lane motorway closed to traffic. This is nice, I can get going now. I remember Mark saying there is a 500 metre uphill at the far out point. Get to far out point and the hill. Nothing in the legs. Oh no. Need to change race plan to survival plan. Have a banana, ride shots and a ride bar with me. Had planned to treat myself along the way. Banana lap 2 and bar lap 3. Finish lap 1 first and see how I am. Circuit more downhill on the way back. Can manage that. I start taking food and drink on and I feel better. First lap seemed slow. There is no drafting but on the other side of the road I see a group of about 30 riders together. I am on my own. Those lads are going well though.
Start of second lap I hear this whirring sound. Wrrrrrr. Next about 15 pros pass me with their solid back wheels. Sounds brilliant. They are flying. Keep it going Tom. Feeling better. Should start catching people from the swim soon. Expect they should be 10 minutes ahead of me. I see quite a lot of people as I come up towards the turnaround 2nd time. But I am not making progress on them. I keep taking my food on. The banana worked a treat. Definitely helped. Looking forward to ride bar next time and these shots are nice although I am not sure they are as powerful as I need. The sweep back through downtown is good fun. This is where all the spectators are. There is also an aid station. Gatorade, water, bananas. I am roaring "aqua, aqua" and the kind young lady passes me one as I go by not so fast. Get one mouthful, small incline and I drop it. Will be more careful next time around in 20 more km. Next time around I put it inside my trisuit and wait unil I am more composed.
Have a strong 4th circuit and do in fact start to pass people. Start ridng close to a group and am comfortable. Happy with T2. Gel in hand and off I go. 4 laps of a 5 km circuit. Several different terrains through circuit - cobbles, dirt track, boardwalk and path. Pace seems quite quick. I have an unmerciful pain across my back coming off the bike and am slow into running. Course takes you around the swim circuit. I remember that. There is an aid station every 2.5 km or so. Coke, water, gels, bananas. I take full advantage of this. I have a mini party every time. Struggled with 1st lap but lap 3 ok (passed a lad I knew). lap 2 a blur although I did hear "keep it going Athlone". I returned a "well done". He looked a lot fresher
I was well deserving of my few beers after and I recommend the Bario Alto. Lisbons Temple Bar as far as I could see.
Obrigado Lisboa
1.9km 90km 21.1km
