Congratulations to our own Alan Ryan who took third position in his age category at the Ironman World Championships in Kona Hawaii on Saturday 13th October 2012.
The Race – Ironman World Championship (13 October 2012)
The early morning weather forecast suggested relatively cool conditions and low wind. Instead they got a swelteringly hot and humid day with winds topping 35mph on exposed sections of the Hawaii lava fields.
Wexford Tri Club’s Alan Ryan was prepared for the conditions having simulated the heat and humidity by training in the sauna of a local hotel and in the heat of his attic. The countless hours of training paid off as he claimed an impressive 3rd place in the 45-49 years age group.
The swimming conditions were challenging with a considerable current making the return leg of the 3.8km swim tough going. Ryan exited the swim, his weakest discipline in 1hr 13mins and 121st place in his division. Alan soon went to work over the 180km bike and steadily made his way through the field as he averaged close to 36kph for a shade over 5 hours. At this distance, pacing and energy management is vital and Ryan had this spot on. He left enough in the tank to finish with a 3 hour 10 minute marathon, completing the course in 9:33:34.
Well Done Alan, everyone in Wexford Tri Club are very very proud of you.
Best of Luck to Alan Ryan in the Ironman World Championships
On Saturday October 13th, 1,800 of the worlds best long distance triathletes will line up in Kona, Hawaii for the Ironman World Championships. With the exception of a few celebrities and human interest stories each of the starting athletes, professional and amateur alike, will have earned their spot on the start line by qualifying at one of the twenty events held around the world. This year Ireland has eight athletes on the start line and our own Alan Ryan is one of those eight. Alan, whom has previously raced in 2008 and 2009 in Hawaii, stamped his ticket at Germany’s Ironman Regensburg in June of this year, where he finished 3rd in his age group. Back in 2009, when Alan last raced in Kona, he took 5th in his age group, thereby earning him a podium spot. This time Alan is back to see if he can do better, and if all goes well on the day, who knows, maybe he will take an even higher podium spot.
On behalf of all the club members, I would like to wish Alan all the best in the Ironman World Championships next weekend. I for one have seen the dedication, effort and unusual training techniques (see below) Alan has used this year in preparation. So Alan, best of luck and fly the flag for Ireland and just know, no matter how the race goes, everyone in Wexford Tri Club is cheering and willing you on back home.
Alan’s road to the Ironman World Championships 2012
Wexford Triathlon Club member Alan Ryan is training hard and is tipped to win his age group (M45) at the Ironman World Championships in Kona Hawaii on Oct 13th. An Ironman consists of a 3.8km swim, 180km cycle followed by a full marathon and Alan will be aiming to finish this epic endurance event in around the 9 – 10 hour mark. Alan has been doing Ironman now for seven years and in that time has completed eleven full Iron distance races, qualifying for the Ironman World Championships 5 times in 5 attempts and achieved a podium finish in 2009. Now Alan wants to be the M45 Age Group Ironman World Champion and is hoping to achieve his goal on Oct 13th.
If you can’t stand the heat …
Just how do you prepare to race flat-out for ten hours in temperatures that could well exceed 35°C and it might also be humid – very humid.
That’s the problem facing local Ironman Alan Ryan who is gearing up to compete in the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii this October. After a very pleasant swim of just under 4 km, Alan, along with 2,000 of the Worlds top Ironman triathletes will head off on a 180 km bike ride followed by a full 42.25 km marathon run in the blistering tropical heat on the famous Ironman Hawaii course.
“With the summer we have just had,” says Alan “I haven’t been able to train in anything close to the temperatures I am going to experience at the race. A lot of Europeans would head to the Canaries to train where conditions are similar to Hawaii but I have had to content myself with putting my bike up on a roller in my attic to simulate warm weather training. It’s not quite the same thing and not nearly hot enough.”
James Dooley of the Aqua Club at Kelly’s Resort Hotel & Spa in Rosslare, who also coaches swimming for Wexford Triathlon Club, of which Alan is a member, half jokingly suggested to Alan that he put his bike in their sauna and do a few sessions there. “At first I laughed, I thought the idea was crazy but then we began to think it through – it really did make sense and was worth a try. Remarkably, Bill Kelly of Kelly’s Hotel was happy to facilitate me”.
I didn’t really know what to expect so I stocked up on water and thought I might stick it out for an hour. In the end I managed an hour and a half though I did need to stop for a quick cold shower or two along the way to avoid overheating. I think James was feeling guilty for proposing the sauna and having organised things with Kelly’s Hotel, he kept popping in to check if I was still alive. I really must thank him and all at the Aqua Club in Kelly’s for letting me do this. I know the owner Bill Kelly has recently completed the infamous Gale Force West adventure race and James has representedIrelandin swimming so they know what I am trying to do.
Its daft, it’s tough but it is just what is needed. Obviously cycling in a sauna is not something I would recommend to anyone as a sensible form of exercise. But for my specific goal it is a great help. It did raise a few eyebrows from the guests but when they find out why I am doing it they see my logic. But they are still a little amused to be sharing a sauna with a nutter on a bike”.
Alan is hoping for a top finish at the Ironman World Championships, he reckons he has a chance at taking the World title in his division and if he does it will have been worth all the curious looks, slagging and sweat.