ETU European Cup Constanta-Mamaia Race Report – Neil Bolger
When I got the start for Constanta-Mamaia the Dad jumped at the chance to tick Romania off his list of countries. I went about my training and usual race prep as he planned for his holiday to Romania. As we were going through Dublin airport I still wasn’t sure if he knew I was racing or tagging along on his travels!
I’d booked transfers for myself and dad through the race organisers but when we arrived in Romania I gambled to see if I could get a Car on my Debit card. Budget rental coughed up, result!! With the transfer we were due a 3 hour wait in airport then 3.30 on the bus. With the car it was 3hrs all in. Thankfully we got the car as the bus due at 4pm, only left at 6(we were in hotel by 5.30) with guys getting to hotels at 10pm and there bikes arriving after midnight!!
A short jog with my usual running drill, dinner and early to bed. That was Friday done and dusted.
Early start Saturday for swim and bike course rec. I’d noticed on my jog the sea was crazy rough so I wasn’t surprised to hear the swim had been moved into the lake conveniently the exact same distance from Transition as the sea. A quick swim and a few laps off the bike course and it was back to the hotel to chill and eat. Dad went off on the tourist trail but wasn’t impressed with what was on offer. I don’t think hell be writing for LonelyPlanet any time soon. Race Briefing that evening was a few km from race venue, so i was glad off the car. Gotta give it to the LOC, free pizza at the briefing was awesome!!
A 12.30 start gave us plenty off time to eat breakfast at my own pace and chill before before heading down to check in. Uniform check, numbers check, transition setup, jog and drills, gel, swim w/up and then go time!
Due to the last min move to the lake there was no pontoon. We started from standing in waist deep water with our right hand on the wall. not conventional but done the job! I’d a decent start, straight onto feet and into the middle off a group. Got a punch in the face early on which moved my goggles so swam pretty much blind for the 1500m. I knew i was in a decent size group so just focused on holding position and trying to move closer to the front as the meters clocked down.
A solid T1 and out onto the bike course. I jumped on near the front off the group so was able to get into the shoes relatively hassle free. The group was smashing it for the 1st 4 laps (20km) and wed brought the main bunch to within 15sec. I was happy to take my turns at the front as starting the run with 50 guys is better then with 25 over a min down. The “team” effort slowly disintegrated and the gap went back out to the 1min mark over the last few laps. Massively frustrating and made the hard work early on pointless. Nobody seemed to bothered been at the front going into T2 so I moved up the group and dismounted 1st from the group.
Another smooth Transition and out onto the now HOT(and getting hotter) run course. A simple 4 lap out and back. Thankfully there was 2 aid stations a lap as the sun decided to show itself after 5km and I was left running from aid station to aid to cool off!! I held it together on the run and caught a few guys from the pack ahead. After 9km it was all about getting to the line. The heat and hard effort on the bike had us zonked! I crossed the line 30th, happy with my performance and my 1st ITU finish.
I can look back and say if wed join the main bunch that would have been a top 25, but that’s racing. I gave it all I had and the result is a good reflection where I am at the moment.
A Big thanks to Pulse Tri, Cycleways, Runways, Spin11 and Westpark Fitness for the continual support.
Neil