30th Sept 2010 - Norma conquers Alpe D’Huez

A few weeks ago, Norma Goggin, who had been talked into entering one of the toughest triathlons on the European circuit, conquered the Alpe d’Huez Triathlon in France.  She travelled over with a friend from a Dublin Triathlon club who was there with some of her own clubmates.  The race was unique in that the competitors had to make their way to the swim start which was about 30k from where the transitions and race finish was.  As Norma and her friends were staying in Alpe d’Huez, they had to cycle to the swim start.  They didn’t waste too much energy doing this though as it was all downhill!  (Not a good sign for things ahead).

The weather was not great with a few showers on and off throughout the day and with the air temp. at the top being 5degress colder than the bottom.  The 1200m swim took place in the crystal clear, but chilly waters of Lake Verney, also a reservoir, which only allows swimmer access for the Triathlon.  The cycle section was 30k with the 1st 15k being totally flat but then the final 15k involved cycling up Alpe d’Huez.  This starts at altitude of 720m and ascends to 1860m above sea level with 21 hairpin bends on it, made famous by the Tour de France cyclists whose various stage winners’ names are on each bend.  The cycle finished at the top of Alpe d’Huez where the competitors left their bikes in transition and progressed onto the 7k run which was out and back course and was a mixture of off-road and trail running.  It started straight into a hill so there was no time for the legs to recover after the gruelling cycle and running at almost 2000m altitude is not easy.

Norma found the swim tough as it was her 1st time to swim in a lake which lacks the buoyancy of the salty sea waters.  She soon found her legs once she got onto the bike though as she has been training hard for this tough cycle for months.  All those cycles up Mahon Falls and Seskin hill were worth it!  She overtook loads of cyclists especially on the steep Alpe d’Huez section and did not suffer too much on the run with tired legs or from the altitude.  She finished the race in 3hrs 17mins, delighted with her performance.

Shane Scadding, who had just completed Ironman Switzerland 4 days previous, had stopped off on a post-race holiday to watch the race and got persuaded to do the bike section as part of a team.  He only had his time-trialling bike with him which is not ideal for climbing such steep altitude but was happy to still have strength in his legs to overtake many on the climb and enjoyed the challenge and the experience. 

 

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