‘Harbourman’ triathlon to be ultimate summer challenge
‘The terrain was also very tough. I loved it but it meant we only attracted a certain amount of people.
‘Once the completed motorway opened, we had the old N11 between the Beehive and Jack Whites to work with. Anyone who has participated before will tell you that the best road surface they ran on all year was the Harbourman.’
The 40km cycle is an out-and-back route and will start up the Port Road in Wicklow away from the harbour and out onto the road to Rathnew. It will then take a left up a short but sharp hill and onto a road that will steadily bring riders up to The Beehive, continuing along the old N11 road south.
The 10km run will see competitors run out the Port Road for over 2km before turning the way they came, going past the Leitrim pub and over the bridge onto the South Quay. The route continues all the way down to the lighthouse at the end, up towards Black Castle. Participants will then run down Quarantine Hill and back onto the South Quays as far as the junction with Bridge Street.
The swim will consist of two-750m laps around Wicklow Harbour.
Interest in triathlon events has grown steadily in recent years, with Wicklow Triathlon Club expanding its membership year-by-year.
‘We have 250 members at the moment but we are growing all the time. I ran my first race in 2005 and have been running races ever since.
‘Once it gets in your blood, you can’t shake it off. Plus Wicklow has everything you need to train in, with the sea, forests and mountains on our doorstep,’ said Paul.