Write a commentMargaret McCann-Trainor says ‘she can’t wait’ to participate in the second Newry City Triathlon on Sunday, August 31.
Along with her husband Aidan, the 47-year-old mother of two (Brian and Aveen) is eagerly anticipating taking part in the sprint event – a 750-metre swim in the Albert Basin, a 20-kilometre bike ride on Warrenpoint Road and an around-the-city five-kilometre run.
The Dublin Road lady marshalled at last year’s race and said: “It was a fantastic event from a spectator’s point of view, especially at the transition area where you could see everything - the swimming, cycling and running. I imagine it will be even better from a competitor’s viewpoint”, said the lady known to all her friends as Maggie.
Margaret is a triathlon newcomer but already is in love with the sport. She said: “After doing a Try-A-Tri last year, my ambition this year was to complete Camlough’s Crooked Lake race. “I was so nervous in the week leading up to the event, especially about mixing it in the traditional ‘washing machine’ effect at the start of the swi, but I just waited a few seconds, let the others go and after that my nerves left me. Then I was fine, and really enjoyed the craic.”
Maggie is a new-age triathlete. Formerly triathletes could be distinguished by their contorted faces and laboured breathing as they fought for every precious second. But not Margaret. Along with her team of novice triathletes, The Rubber Duckies, that includes Judith Spence, Michaela McKeever, Ciara Phillips, Ciara Havern, Patricia McKevitt, Aine Fegan, Barry Clarke, Gerard English and Sean Quinn, it’s all about finishing – and the craic. In the fourth discipline the Duckies are virtually unbeatable. They party like it’s going out of fashion.
Even at training sessions, it’s all about the craic. After the hard yards in the lake, bike or run, it’s time to get out the coffee and goodies. The Duckies can be seen most week day evenings on the banks of Camlough Lake tucking into buns and cake - and they’ve even been known to polish off a bottle or two of wine!
Six years ago Maggie joined the Newry City Runners and since then she has completed eight marathons, Berlin (four times), London (three times) and Dublin. But with a foot injury that has just refused to clear up, she began looking for a new challenge. Triathlon was the answer but she could scarcely swim a length of Newry Pool.
However, after attending Newry Triathlon Club sessions each Thursday evening for the past couple of years, under the tutelage of David Burke and Milo McCourt, her stroke has improved no end and she now confidently plunges into both Camlough Lake and the sea at Warrenpoint.
Maggie has also taken a liking to the bike and she says: “I really enjoy cycling.”
So in the Newry City Triathlon on August 31, Maggie McCann-Trainor might not be the first to break the tape at the finish, but soon after she crosses that line she’ll be a smiling ring-leader at the post race celebrations.
