Rolling out of bed at 5.30am on a Sunday morning is a disorientating experience especially when the norm involves crashing onto a couch at some stranger’s house at the same time after a night of drunken antics. When the realisation dawns as to why your alarm clock has roused you from your slumber so early a panic begins to take hold. ‘Why on earth did you put yourself forward for the daunting challenge of tackling the notorious 53 Degrees North Beast of the East, by far the toughest triathlon on the Irish calendar? At least you can drown your painful screams in the watery depths of Lough Dan, but the precipitous climbs of the cycle and run offer no such solace.’

We approached the event from a downwind direction so as not to alert the Beast tothe scent of our fear. Keeping a low profile also gave us an exit strategy inthe very likely scenario that we should wither and falter in the shadow of the hulking mountains. Descending from the Sally gap into the belly of the monster we sighted the black waters of Lough Dan. The lake sat in an amphitheatre-like bowl, a fitting stage to commence the battle with the Beast. With an early 9am start the competitors had a ‘right aul head’ on them, hair still matted totheir scalps from just lifting it from a delightfully comfortable and feathery pillow. As usual the body language of all conveyed a mixed bag of emotions –some individuals smiled wryly at the black waters of the lake lapping at their feet as if to say “Do your worst”, while others bowed their heads slightly, inpartial submission to the ominous looking clouds shrouding over the mountaintops. 

We presented ourselves to the Beast by means of a 3 course meal consisting of 3waves of athletes. Being in wave 3 was a nervous experience as I witnessed thewave 1 and 2 competitors disappearing into the distance to round the twodistant buoys. We were warned by organisers to prepare ourselves for the blackness of the water but it still came as a shock. However, as the swimprogressed, the eerie silence and blackness was strangely attractive, much like a cold crisp pint of the ‘Black Stuff’. The massive spherical buoys helpedgreatly in negotiating the course and all other triathlons should follow suit with such buoys. Truly it was a unique swim. The two shining knights to strikethe first fatal blow to the beast were Bjorn Ludick and Deirdre Kearny ofLimerick tri who thrashed out the fastest swims of the day.

Having surmounted the swim which is essentially the only flat part of the event, thevaliant athletes or gladiators in many respects, mounted their bikes andcommenced the cycle beginning with a steep 2km climb that could have been aided by a rope! From there it was a rather ferocious undulating route that had the field well strung out but battling onwards and upwards. A great help on the cycle was the kilometre markings every 2km which helped monitor ones progress and the great work by stewards ensured athletes did not stray. Elena Maslova as usual showed her strength and resolve when recording the fastest female bike split, a gesture of defiance towards the beast while many stared in awe as Bjorn Ludick careered by them a look of steel in his eyes. The final climb of the cycle should conjure images of lofty peaks in reader’ minds as it certainly felt like one. On reaching the bottom of it the bike gave a lurch of agony as you struggled to find the lightest gear in your arsenal. Of course, no gear was easy enough to alleviate the lactic acid burning your legs. It was just agrimace and bear it job. The only relief from this self inflicted agony came inthe last 3k which were delightfully downhill, just sit up and be primed on the breaks. Unfortunately the Beast claimed a victim on the cycle with an agonising screech of brakes and grating of metal but thankfully this soldier will live to fight another day.

The final throws of the Beast came in the form of an equally mountainous run. It involved ascending the aforementioned 2km climb at the beginning of the cycle and by kilometre 5 legs were already beginning to cramp. A quick stretch did little to subdue the cramp but all athletes persevered and drove on helped by a drinks station at halfway. By now the ominous clouds of earlier had broken and the sunshone brightly as if to illuminate the fact that the Beast had almost been defeated. It was to be Bjorn Ludick who would cross the line first but alas, he was knocked down to second place by Colm Turner (myself) of limerick tri who recorded the fastest overall time of the day. Colm had been placed in wave 3 so took the race from behind. Had Colm been breathing down Bjorn’s neck in the wave 1 race the outcome may have been different as Bjorn might have tried to hold him off. Joseph Lynch of Pulse Tri completed the podium with a strong 3^rdplacing. On the women’s side of affairs, Elena Maslova who recorded the fastest bike and run splits dominated matters and crossed the finish line fresh as a daisy in 1^st place. She was congratulated by a delighted looking dog that smothered her with a furry embrace. Brianne Mulvihill of Carrick-on-Suir Tri was 2nd, and Barbara O’ Hanrahan of Belpark Tri clinched 3rd place with an admirable performance. Overall there was a great representation of clubs from across the country and the drained faces crossing the finish line became animated with colourful smiles as they realised they had finally tamed the Beast. A great leap and whooping roar from the last competitor to cross the line pretty much surmised the feelings ofthe rest of us, a truly memorable and enthralling experience.

The post-race barbecue capped off what was a brilliantly organised and marshaled triathlon set in what must be one of the most scenic corners of Ireland. I can say with almost certainty that I will be back next year to tackle the beast andI throw down the gauntlet to anybody looking for a challenge to experience one of the best triathlons in the country.