A year in Pulse – David O’Brien

Ah sure why not? A year in Pulse.

Early mid-morning October 5th 2016, what the hell have I just done, that’s the thought that pops in the head, or may have been screamed in the office a couple hours after signing up for Barcelona next year, how did I end up here??

Well…..

I recall when marshalling with Keith Murphy at the Pulse Hill climb TT in March asking him what was an ironman, yes I had no idea, he told me, lol he’s nuts, off his rocker, that’s my exact thought.

I guess this is a newbie season report instead of a race report. It all started 12 months ago while on a planned injury recovery break from my sport of 30 years, Archery, 6 months the physio said, im still not back fulltime at it, somehow I got side tracked the last year, so competing in that and the prepping for Barcelona and a family addition next year should make for a unique challenge, I think work will have to be understanding when I am sleeping on the job.

So there I am in westpark, November 2015, the best gym in Dublin in case anyone didn’t already know this, and im wondering why cant I log on to that Tuesday morning spin class on the Westpark app?? I ask Kevin whats it about and he said come along its for some crowd called Pulse, so ok I do, not so bad , once brain function after is optional, brain feels like a dried prune, after a couple of early Tuesday mornings, Kevin asks me what I thought and suggests Westpark indoor triathlon in March, ah sure why not so I signed up for the craic, something to pass the time while in the gym rebuilding.

Jump forward to March , westpark, struggled through the swim, I repeating theme, Spinning away on the bike during this indoor torture , Kevin strikes again, that’s a good bike effort, ever think of joining Pulse, 2 hours later ah sure why not, ive joined. No idea about any of this stuff, wondering what the hell is brick training, whys it called that and not transition training, still no idea! Get a wetsuit from Ciat Joyce, try putting it on zipper front, to his amusement, and probably everyone else in westpark changing rooms. So whats the first event, sure lets go with a sprint in athy, follow on from the indoor thing, see how that goes, all good, not run more than 5k in years. Pulse park runs on Sunday morning changed that, then the ah sure why not strikes again, this time Kevins off the hook , its another suspect, Phoenix park one morning, Joanne Reilly with her you know you can upgrade Athy to Olympic distance sure you’ve done 10k this morning, ah sure why not?

Athy, bricking it in the waiting to swim pen, hmm is this why its called brick training ? seeing waves start, heart pounding, then a voice , like a pulse guardian angel appearing , Fergus Walsh alright Bud, as laid back as you like and shares tips galore, helps with the nerves big time, really thanks Fergus!, still he could have told me about the reeds in the water, thought I was wrestling snakes at one point. ! swim over , like a drunk staggering about the exit, survived bike grand, by time the run came it was like torture the heat draining, road melting, but this was when the amazing pulse support surfaced, pats on the back as passed by 2 pulsers doing double Olympic , enough to keep legs going and not becoming a walk, that famous pulse race support experienced for first time.

Next harbourman, Wicklow town, Olympic again, feeling a bit more comfortable after duathlons in park that I will not be in a heap off the bike wondering whats happening to legs, meet a regular Ironman Barcelona pulser, Gary Moralee, great guy, he also has boxer dogs , chatting with Gary for while and I think the first seed planted , he tells me about it being later in year and training over summer, hmm. Harbourman was a great event, nice swim in harbour, pulse training tips kick in for first see swim, sighting on land and keeping on course, swim less hectic, transition a breeze or so I thought, until I see the times, don’t recall stopping for a cup of tea in there, almost 5 minutes wtf, !! hilly bike course, mad head wind but nice cycle, Pulse support on the cycle from Mark Kilpatrick at a random roundabout, they’re everywhere cheering you on !! Then the run around the town, brilliant, what support from the locals as they lined the streets, I tell a kid to throw the water at me at water station (you passed the same water station 4 times) , he missed ah well, but he was lying in wait with his mates on my last pass, soaked me the little gits, well played by them. Was actually a welcome cooling at that point. A great event and for sure and recommended.

So the plan now was Lough Rea Sprint then Caroline Kearney Olympic in August and a few sprints also, or so I thought,

The sprint in Lough Rea, mad yokes sprints, never got boxed in the head before in the swim, I reckon Conor McGregor was swimming beside me, was well battered, amazing swim though, crystal clear waters, no reeds or creatures to be wary of! Actually saw someone cycle into a shop here. This was just after Frankfurt and stories of it were being told, still thinking there all daft as brushes doing ironman.

July a post was put up about recce of cycle route for those doing Dublin 70.3, had never even heard of the event, sure ill tag along for for miles. They were great outings, think we actually didn’t the route correct once, More miles than was planned some weeks with the excursion to Summerhill a particular off route detour, who was in charge of directions!

So it was I think the 3rd outing and Chris pipes up , “why don’t you do Dublin eh”. I RESIST, no stick to plan, sure never run over 14k, 21k no way could do that.

Week 4 of the cycle, Chris strikes a decisive blow, sure I’ll meet you tomorrow and we do 20k, ah sure why not! Sunday 2 weeks before Dublin 70.3, 20k done, Chris see you can do it, less tthan an hour later I’ve just signed up , Chris you were right, was so worth it, an amazing experience. Creek in neck day before, spend cycle looking left as a result, battling with lions manes up close and pensonal, puncture in blackrock, chuffed to change it in about 4 mins, get to park, try a pre-planned gel, and wow what happened, stomach is shot, cant even take water ,then find myself beside Niall Connaughton, the company over the next 2 laps keeps me going ,that and the pulse support, it was amazing, everywhere, it really kept the legs moving, and not just on main straight, around the back , lurking behind trees, Go Pulse, no walking is the Goal, and the pulse energy boost makes it happen. Thank you guys.

Beer tastes great after it ! Hugh O’Malley strikes, anyone up for Sea to Summit at Westport, and Ah sure why not !!!! we did this last weekend, blimey, that’s some hill to run on, or even try and walk on! Getting of the bike I near collapsed when I saw what was in front of me, as much of a help the ticknock night runs were, this was no ticknock!! The speed of the leaders decending was unreal , serious skill there along with a big big pair, I think I rather hang out with the lions mane again than dare try decend like them. This was a fun race, as physically gruelling as Dublin half , but something to be recommended for a weekend, Im sure Hugh will be encouraging others next year !

I think the best thing of all has been Pulse, I’d never and I mean never, have done any of the above without the help with the swimming , (a serious long term work in progress that), the tips on running, the group training, and of course the supporters, I think that’s why on October 5th when someone asked if I was doing a full next year I said ah sure why not 😉 knowing pulse has your back.

Hope everyone has a great night at the Christmas party and awards and is looking forward to 2017, I’m bricking it.