Ironman Portugal 2021
Competing in Ironman Portugal, Dundalk athlete Paul Savage Cairlinn Triathlon Club completed the full Ironman distance in a finish time of 11 hours and 14 seconds.
Despite making the decision to enter the race relatively late, the preparation paid off with a strong performance throughout the day.
“The plan going into the race was to stay controlled through the swim, ride the bike conservatively and play the percentages, then see what was left for the run.
The race began well in the water, with a personal best swim time of 1 hour 13 minutes and 15 seconds. Conditions were calm allowing for a relaxed and controlled swim from the start and helping to settle into a steady rhythm early in the race.”
“Out on the bike, the course followed a very scenic route through the Sintra mountains before continuing along the coast towards Lisbon. The terrain offered a mixture of steady climbing and fast sections, with spectacular views along the way.
As the course turned back from Lisbon, riders were met with stiff headwinds that made the return leg particularly challenging. The focus during this stage was to stay disciplined, manage the effort carefully, and conserve as much energy as possible in preparation for the marathon run to follow.
The 180 kilometre bike leg was completed in 5 hours 59 minutes and 3 seconds.”
“The marathon run took place on a two lap course around the town of Cascais and out to the lighthouse at Farol da Guia, between Cascais and Guincho.
The atmosphere in and around the town was electric, with strong crowd support helping to lift the runners as they passed through the busy streets and along the waterfront.
The course then stretched out towards the lighthouse where the route became quieter and more exposed, with long gradual drags testing tired legs late in the race. Although this section was more sparsely populated, the views along the coastline were top class and made the effort worthwhile.
The run was completed in 3 hours 32 minutes and 29 seconds to round off a tough but satisfying race.”
Read more race reports from Cairlinn Traithlon Club
