Ironman 70.3 Dun Laoghaire
2019
Dundalk athletes Paul Savage and John Kane were among the competitors who took on the challenge of Ironman 70.3 Dun Laoghaire, an event that brought more than a thousand triathletes to the Dublin coastline for one of Ireland’s most scenic middle distance races.
Race morning began with a delay to the swim start due to fog over Dublin Bay, with organisers waiting for conditions to clear before allowing athletes into the water. Once the race eventually got underway, the swim in Scotsman’s Bay proved to be very enjoyable. The water was calm and surprisingly warm, allowing competitors to settle into a comfortable rhythm over the 1.9 kilometre swim.
Following the swim, athletes transitioned onto a demanding 90 kilometre bike course that headed south into the Wicklow Mountains and across Sally Gap with scenic views of Lough Tay.
The route included rolling terrain and challenging climbs before returning towards the coast for the final stage of the race. Conditions on the bike were made even more difficult by lingering fog in parts of the course, which reduced visibility and required riders to stay particularly cautious on the descents and technical sections through the mountains.
The challenging conditions contributed to a number of serious accidents on the bike course, highlighting just how demanding the route was for competitors on the day.
The race concluded with a half marathon run along the Dublin Bay waterfront, passing through Dún Laoghaire, Monkstown and Seapoint before finishing beside the harbour in front of strong local support.
Despite the challenging conditions earlier in the day, both men completed the course, successfully navigating the varied terrain and demanding conditions across all three disciplines.
To the disappointment of many Triathletes, the 2019 race would ultimately prove to be the final edition of Ironman 70.3 Dún Laoghaire, with organisers later confirming that the event would not return after that year.
Read more race reports from Cairlinn Traithlon Club