Hello January
Welcome to 2022, as January rolls on, this is the club’s first article of the year. So how are all the New Year resolutions going? Did you make any this year? Did Covid give you the excuse not too? Or have you thought is it time to learn a new skill or upgrade an old one?
Thankfully restrictions are being lifted in regard to events. It is good to start looking forward to training sessions and going to race events again. If you are still thinking about a new challenge for 2022, here is your opportunity to join up and join in. We have now started back with weekly sessions for swimming, cycling and running. Triathlon is a great way to get fit, a way to meet new people and a way to justify eating that creamy cake, yummy. Take it from me, as former couch potato, you are never too unfit, you are never too old and you are never too unskilled to take on a new challenge. In our training sessions we try to cater for as many levels of ability as possible. It’s not always about being the fastest person; it’s about giving it a go and trying to the best of your ability. Winning is wonderful and is such accomplishment and not easily achieved. It takes hours, weeks, months of training, but equally finishing a race in your time is as big achievement.
WALK IN MEMORY OF ASHLING MURPHY
Blackwater Triathlon Club would like to offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Ashling Murphy. In light of the senseless murder of Ashling, like most of the country, as a club we wanted to show solidary with the family and friends of Ashling. The death of Ashling shook a lot of people, especially under the circumstances of her just being out for a run on a casual Wednesday afternoon.
Club member Mary O’Donnell who is also in her early 20s often heads out for a run, outside of club sessions. She organised a walk in St Colman’s pitch on Sunday, January 15 in memory of Ashling. The early evening gathering saw both women and men club members and non-club members come together to walk a lap of St Colman’s pitch. Keeping in mind that only a few weeks ago, a serious assault happened to a woman who was just out walking her dog. Mary started the evening walk by given a speech about how she feels about the untimely death of Ashling. Thank you to St Coleman’s College for permission to hold the walk at the pitch. Mary also set up a GoFundme page to raise awareness and money for Women’s Aid.
MARY O’DONNELL’S SPEECH
“Thanks to all who made it today for this walk to remember Ashling Murphy, who was tragically killed while out for a run this week. We walk for you, we walk for me, and we walk for all the women who have experienced fear, harassment and violence in their lives. We also remember the attack that happened in these ground a few months ago.
Every woman you know has experienced fear while going about their daily lives - it shouldn’t have to take a horrific incident like this to intervene. We should never have to fear for our lives as soon as we step out the door. It has to stop.
Don’t go out in the dark, walk in groups in well-lit areas, carry your keys in your hand, cross the road - where is the rule that says you simply shouldn’t attack women? Just this week as I ran, I was catcalled. I have to ignore this but why am I used to this? That is the worst of it for me, but that could have easily been an attack, my last run.
To the men that are here, please hear our pain and help us bring change. Educate your sons, call out the normalised harassment of women. And while there are the men who have malicious intent, it cannot be forgotten that we have allies and the ones that do make us feel safe. To me, that is all of you in the Triathlon Club. You encourage and inspire. On the roads, we all feel safer with you. And when Seanie asks us to put lights on our bikes, it’s because he genuinely cares for our safety.
We must be the drivers of change, stand together and make sure this never happens again. To Ashling. We remember you.”
BALLYHOURA WINTER MOONLIGHT CHALLENGE
For those of you who don’t like dancing in the dark, maybe running in the dark is a great alternative. Believed not to be greatest of dancers but certainly outstanding runners, Adrian Collins, Brian O’Hagan, Kieran Duggan, Mike Lyons and Peter O’Brien took to the dark hills of Ballyhoura for the event. The IMRA run event has grown from strength to strength over the last number of years. On Friday, January 14 with an evening start of 7.30pm, hundreds of runners took off to cover the 28km run. Registration took place at Scoil Pol in Kilfinane, Co Limerick from 5.30pm. With Covid restrictions adhered to, all entries were done previously online and were limited to 200.
The course took in much of the local woodlands and also covered a climb over Seefin Mountain. There was a timed cut-off point at 15km, anyone failing to reach the 15km mark by the allotted time were not allowed to continue on the mountain leg of the run. Marshals manned the route at sections along the way; checkpoints had water, food and apparently jellies and biscuits. The fab five completed the run with Mike Lyons leading the fab five home in a time off 2:21:25, Mike was 3rd overall and 1st in his age category. Adrian Collins finished at 3:07:14, seconds later Peter O’Brien finished at 3:07:35 followed closely by Kieran Duggan 3:10:20, Brian O’Hagan had a late transfer so his time was logged under another name. With plenty of time to be had for howling at the moon, at the finish line the lads - instead of dancing in the dark - were dancing in the moonlight. Well done to all involved on another superbly run event.
CORRIN HILL TRAIL RACE
On Sunday, January 23 on a bright but cold day, the Corrin Hill Trail Race was held in Corrin Forest, Fermoy. The race is part of IMRA calendar and is always a well-run marshalled event. Three different events were available on the day, a long course 8.4km with a climb of 300m, junior/short course 4.5km and kiddies race (with parent) 800m. A very popular race with our members, outside of the race being local, it’s also a great challenge. Not for anyone with weak knees as the run has a lot of ascents and where there are ascents there are descents. Descents may sound easy but put a lot of pressure on your legs and can be equally as tough as going up hills. The sensational six that lined up for the race were Adrian Collins, Ann Lyons, Brian O’Hagan, Ken Power, Mike Lyons and Peter O’Brien. Well done to Mike Lyons (0:42:17) 3rd in his age group with Brian O’Hagan (0:42:55) taking 4th with just seconds between the two runners. Ann Lyons (1:00:58) came in 3rd in her age group. Adrian Collins crossed the line at 0:47:08 with Peter O’Brien in hot pursuit at 0:52:00 and Ken Power with a time of 1:03:16.
Even though Blackwater Triathlon Club doesn’t have a junior section, some of our members’ children competed on the day. Under the category of the kiddies race, Adrian Collins and his son Dan (aged 5), Dave McCarthy and his son Dara (aged 7), Mike Lyons and his son Teddy (aged 4). Great to see the young blood following in their parents’ footsteps, they all enjoyed the race and the jellies afterwards were a well-earned treat. As usual the Corrin Hill Race had a friendly and supportive atmosphere. Well done to all involved and those who participated on the day.
NEW MEMBERS
We welcome new members at any time. You don’t have to be an elite athlete to take part in triathlons. While for some people it’s about the competition for others it’s just about taking part and having fun. It’s also a great way to meet people with similar interests and abilities. So if you’re feeling like a new challenge for 2022 contact us and before you know it you’ll be able to call yourself a triathlete.
More advice and information on triathlons is freely available from your local club. For further information see our club website www. blackwatertriclub.com, our social media pages, email us at btcfermoy@gmail.com or contact Ronan Fox at ronan.fox@spxflow.com.