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Going the full distance in unique Ironman event

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Date Published: 16-Jun-2011

IN September, one of the biggest global brands in sport – Ironman – will come to Galway, and indeed Ireland, for the first time ever. As the leading triathlon coach in this country, German native Peter Kern outlines that tri-athletes’ preparations for Ironman 70.3 Ireland are well underway.

 

Although there are numerous sprint, Olympic and half ‘ironman’ triathlons in Ireland, many of which are of a pretty high standard, these sporting events are run by individual clubs around the country and they do not carry the global brand of Ironman, which, Kern notes, is regarded as the “Mecca” of triathlon racing.

“Ironman is basically another level,” states Kern, in his best German lilt. “Whatever they do is extremely well-organised; they manage quite well to combine the sport and the show into one great spectacle. And people love it.”

Galway’s selection for the first corporate Ironman event in Ireland is something of a coup, but Kern, whose company PB3 Coaching has been designated the official training partner to the event, says the West of Ireland capital was an obvious choice.

“Galway has the structures to deal with lots of people. There are enough hotels, the landscape is quite famous and Dublin Airport is not too far away. It was almost the natural selection for an Ironman race,” continues the 36-year-old coach. “You could also have gone to Athlone or Killarney, but they, along with Galway, are maybe the only three locations which would be quite suitable for a race of this calibre.

 

“Galway, though, has always punched above its weight when attracting a high level of sports competitions, so there is obviously an expertise – how to do big races – there in Galway. Once you have success, then, you always get more success. That is what seems to have happened in Galway.”

Indeed, events such as the Galway Races and, indeed, the Volvo Ocean Race in June 2009 have served the West well and with over 2,000 participants expected to descend on the city – the race begins in Salthill and heads out towards Connemara and back again – it should bring with it a carnival atmosphere.

“If I remember correctly, there are 300 people coming from the UK, about 200 people from the United States, and 40 people from Germany. They have people from Switzerland and Austria; there are people from every continent who will be racing in Galway.”

Of course, there will also be a massive Irish entry in the gruelling event, which demands of the competitors to swim 1.9km, ride 90km on a bike and run for 22km, the latter of which equates to a half marathon. In preparation, Kern and PB Coaching are running a number of weekend training camps – beginning this weekend – in Galway and Dublin, along with numerous one-day orientation sessions to familiarise participants with the course.

“Basically, the plan is to run a camp in Galway every four weeks,” details Kern. “The camps are normally two days and apart from going through the course, we also try to educate people on running technique, cycling technique and swimming technique.

“So, for people who want to have the full package, they come to a two-day camp and for people who are more concerned about the course – how the course actually lines out – they will go more for the one-day camps. We would think there would be at least four one-day camps in Galway and I would really hope that we would have another three full weekend camps in Galway.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

Galway Bay FM News Archives

Galway has country’s largest population of young people

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Date Published: 07-May-2013

Galway has a population of young people which is more than twice the national average.

According to information gathered by the Central Statistics Office, Galway’s population of 20 to 24 year olds is more than twice the national average.

The number of 25-34 year olds in Galway is also more than the norm nationally, with the two main colleges thought to be the main reason.

However immigration in Galway is much higher than in other areas at 19.4 percent, compared to the national average of 12 percent.

 

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Galway Bay FM News Archives

Call for direct donations to city charity shops

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Date Published: 07-May-2013

A city councillor is encouraging people to donate goods directly to charity shops.

It follows allegations of thefts from clothes banks in Galway and across the country in recent months.

However, cameras are in place at some clothes banks and surveillance is carried out by local authorities.

Speaking on Galway Talks, Councillor Neil McNeilis said the problem of theft from clothes banks is widespread.

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Galway Bay FM News Archives

Galway ‘Park and Ride’ could become permanent

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Date Published: 07-May-2013

A park ‘n’ ride scheme from Carnmore into Galway city could become a permanent service if there is public demand.

That’s according to the Chief Executive of Galway Chamber of Commerce, Michael Coyle.

The pilot scheme will begin at 7.20 next Monday morning, May 13th.

Motorists will be able to park cars at the airport carpark in Carnmore and avail of a bus transfer to Forster Street in the city.

Buses will depart every 20 minutes at peak times and every 30 minutes at offpeak times throughout the day, at a cost of 2 euro per journey.

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