Ryan smashes national Ironman record
Thursday July 24 2008
Veteran triathlete Alan Ryan is the new holder of the Irish Ironman triathlon record after clocking a time of 9 hrs 17 mins 12 seconds in the Quelle Challenge Roth, in Germany. It was a fifth sub-10 hour Ironman for Ryan.
Also in action were the previous record holder Trevor Woods of Cork, who set the old record of 9:18.40 in Austria last year, Mark Riseley of the 3D Tri club and Ryan's brother Fergus.
After a 3.8km swim which took 1 hr 5 mins in the wet, freezing conditions, Ryan first caught Riseley and then Woods on the second leg of the 180km cycle.
Knowing he wasn't as strong a runner as this pair, Ryan pushed on, emerging first from transition after taking five hours for the bike stage. With 10km to go of the marathon run, he sensed that Risely was catching him and was about 100m behind.
He kicked hard and recorded a marathon split time of three hours, six minutes -- 18 minutes faster that he had ever run before.
personal best
Riseley came home eight minutes later in nine hours, 25 minutes and 10 seconds -- also a personal best.
Fergus Ryan, who started his swim later, finished in 10 hrs 11 mins 26 secs. Woods was forced to drop out.
Ryan, an artist and geologist from Skerries, ran his first race at the age of 35. In 2005, he finished Ironman Austria in 9:51.43 and returned for the next two years. In 2007, he travelled to Hawaii to complete the Ironman there.
At home, Fernando Fuentes of Team Wheelworx held out to win the inaugural Beast of the East held around Lough Dan in Co Wicklow despite a superb run by Michael Lyons from Co Cork. Fuentes finished in 2 hrs, 19 mins and 5 seconds.
Best of the women was mountain biker and hill runner Jackie O'Hagan in 2:41.28.
In Carna, Co Galway, Art Mac Manusa picked up valuable national Series points when he comfortably won the Galway Triathlon in 2:05 19. About six minutes behind was the veteran Brian O'Connell.
First woman was Elena Maslova in 2:25.24.
