Cushen quartet ‘iron tough’ in Lanzarote
DON’T be surprised if you hear Davy Fitzgerald cajoling ‘Team Cushen’ in Ireland’s Fittest Family anytime soon, after dad Mark and his three children, Jocelyn (10), Isabelle (9) and Ethan (6) completed a unique family achievement at the Club La Santa Iron Man in Lanzarote at the end of May.
Mark (42) is no stranger to pushing his body to the limit having taken part in iron man competitions in Austria. But this is the first time the Ballyheigue-based Garda had the pleasure of seeing his kids take part in the ‘Iron Kids’ category which incorporates a run-swimrun for children aged 7-17. Ethan even managed to make his own piece of history by becoming the youngest ever competitor, qualifying by just a couple of days.
“That’s what made the week so special,” Mark said.
“They did a 400m run, 100m swim, and another 400m run to finish. They loved it and they got a great sense of achievement from it. They now have a medal that not a lot of people have. It was an emotional day, but a proud one,” he added.
The siblings are members of Tralee Junior Triathlon Club and regularly take part in the Tralee junior parkrun. They are pupils of Scoil Eoin, Balloonagh, and the school’s Facebook page recently posted its congratulations ‘to three of our pupils, a fantastic achievement for the family.’
Lanzarote is one of the toughest iron man events in the world with over 9,000 feet of stiff bike climbs. Mark took part in the 40to-44 age category in Matagorda, Puerto del Carmen, completing a 3.8km swim in on hour, 32 minutes; a 180.2km bike ride in seven hours, 51 minutes, and a 42.2km run in four hours, 42 minutes. In short: Mark was on the go for a gruelling 14 hours and 29 minutes.
“My times wouldn’t be great, but it was tough. The bike was just unreal. You have 50km/h winds against you, plus you have intense heat and hills. For the run you’re roasting hot in the first half and in the second half, as evening is coming, you’re freezing. Ambulances were everywhere picking people up who had just mentally and physically given up. It was very tough.”
Mark’s preparations aren’t easy given his job involves shift work. A member of Tralee Triathlon Club and Nisus Fitness, he still manages to clock around 40 hours a week in the hills around Dingle, Annascaul, Lios Póil and Slea Head.
“Even doing these routes would not prepare you for the bike ride in Lanzarote; it’s that hard. There is a lot of training and self-discipline involved. You’re on your own and it’s up to you to do it,” Mark added.
But when sport is in the family it tends to show as the kids’ mom, Siobhan, is a former Kerry Ladies footballer and has taken part in several marathons herself over the years. To cap off a memorable trip, the children’s grandparents, John Joe and Joan O’Connor from Castlegregory, were also at the finish line to cheer them home.
Mark also raises money for the Fenit Lifeboat and next up is a half -iron man in his native Dublin,ahead of another crack at Lanzarote in 2019.