By Ciaran O’Donnell
The Race was something that always appealed to Fin Begley since it was first staged in February, 2014.
For a combination of reasons, however, the timing just wasn’t right. Taking on the challenge of 250km over the hills, roads and waters of Donegal might seem a bit on the mad side to most – the 15km of kayaking, 166km of cycling, 5km of mountain running and 64km of road and trail running have all to be completed in 24 hours – it was merely the next step for the Fanad native. Having completed the Iron Man in Wales in 2017 (it starts with a 2.4 mile swim, continues with a 112 mile bike and finishes with a marathon), she was keen to give the local event which starts and finishes at the Gartan Outdoor Centre a right go.
The Race is rightly regarded as the ultimate in adventure racing. In short, it’s no place for those with a chink of any kind in the armour. For the competitors, it’s a time when they discover a bit more about who they are. And what they’re really about.
“The Race is a thing I always wanted to do,” enthuses Finn who’ll be among the 100 or so hardy souls who will take the starter’s hooter at sunrise on Saturday.
“I just love long endurance stuff. I’m not fast and don’t have a fast pace, but I’m better at endurance events. Every year The Race was on, it just wasn’t the right year for me. My father was sick for a few years and it wasn’t working out because I wasn’t able to spend the time getting ready.”
Fin’s father, Jimmy, the well-known community activist with huge political knowledge, sadly died in January 2018.
“The year before he passed away I did the Iron Man. He was so interested in it and all the distances I had done. He was in hospital at the time and was telling the doctors the distances I was doing – he never stopped talking about it,” she recalls.
“I know if my father was around today he’d be so proud because he can relate to all the places along the course. He knows the mountains I’ll be climbing, he knows the roads I’ll be cycling and yet he’ll think I’m off my head. But I know he’d be proud at the same time.”
Fin is doing The Race for herself and because she wants a challenge.
“I like to look at something and think to myself ‘my God would I be able to do that?’. I love to just say ‘yes, I can do this’.”
Two years ago, she put in a serious amount of training in preparation for The Iron Man. She’s devoted as much time, if not more, to give herself the best chance possible to perform to her optimum this weekend. 17 hours a week was the norm in the months leading up to the Iron Man.
“I didn’t come from a sporting background. I grew up on a farm in Fanad and it was all about working on the farm. There was no time to be out training. It was hard work and I think that’s maybe what stood to us as a family. We don’t give up easily.”
Initially, Fin started out running 5ks, 10ks and half marathons. Back in 2012, she signed up for her first triathlon which was a Half Iron Man in Groomsport in Co Down.
“I had no idea of paces or anything like that,” explains the experienced fitness instructor who works at Letterkenny University Hospital’s breast care unit as a multi disciplinary team meeting co-ordinator.
“I’d done a few Gael Forces and a few adventure races, so the next thing I did was a Half Iron Man.”
She joined Letterkenny 24/7 Triathlon Club and competed in a number of triathlons over the sprint and Olympic distances.
Fin is coached by fellow Letterkenny 24/7 Triathlon Club member and former national champion, Aidan Callaghan.
“Aidan got me through the Iron Man and he’s keeping me right again this year. I felt so strong the whole way through and never once felt like giving up. I had a blow out on the bike, but that didn’t stop me. The weather conditions were bad. We had wind, rain and storms but that didn’t stop me.”
She competed in the national series in 2018 and secured a top seven finish in her category. Competing in The Race was on her radar at the early part of last year and after she signed up, there was no going back. She wasn’t sure of the exact date of The Race and the group she trains with booked at training camp for Lanzarote, departing on Saturday, March 23rd.
“As things turned out, that’s the same day as The Race. So all my training buddies will be away to Lanzarote. Cathal Roarty reckons he’ll be sitting by the pool tracking my progress,” she says with a laugh.
“But I’ll be joining them after as I fly out to Spain on Monday.”
Fin has been in The Race mode since November and over the first two months gradually built up her load to give herself a solid base to kick on from.
“I trained all winter with Barry Foley and Martin Donnelly and towards the end we had Terence Diver with us as well. We enjoyed the training, made it sociable, stopped off for a few coffees along the way and still got the distances done. It wasn’t easy training. We were out in all weather conditions when everyone else would look out the window and get back under the quilt again. There were days when I did look out and thought I hadn’t the motivation to do it. But there were other days I didn’t care what the weather was like, I was getting out, regardless.”
One day in particular during the gruelling training block stands out above all others.
“About two months ago I was going out on my own and I had a four hour cycle to do followed by a niney minute run. It was a day when everyone else was putting up photos of themselves doing turbo sessions inside, and here was me out in the lashing wind and rain with floods across the roads. But it was a good mental challenge for me because I had to befriend the rain.
“I came back soaked and had to change again and head out on my run. I wanted to stop and get into the car. But the determination doesn’t let you stop. So I ran over to the castle and back to Gartan again. That was the toughest challenge I’d come up against. I was so happy I did it on my own and didn’t give up. It made me feel ‘right, ok, I can do this now’.”
The training has been hard and relentless. A slog at times. But she goes to the line safe in the knowledge that she’s followed her training schedule to the letter.
Her sister, Evelyn O’Kane, like her coach, has been a constant source of support over the winter, too.
“She checks in with me regularly to see how things are going. She’s also told me to keep my eyes peeled when I hit Fanad on Saturday. So I don’t know what she has planned for me,” Finn says.
“I’ve had a lot of help along the way with my training. Ray Kenna has provided regular massage treatment, while Hugh Hunter from Echo Adventures and Danny McLaughlin have helped with the kayak sessions. I’ve also been fortunate to have a good group to train with which is headed by Cathal Roarty, while Wholegreen in Letterkenny are providing my food for the weekend. Ronda at the Mount Errigal Leisure Centre has been a great help with my strength and conditioning,” she points out.
So has she a time in mind?
“I have a few times in my mind,” she replies.
“There’s a time that I want and a time I think I’ll do it in. I just want to do well and want to enjoy it. I want to come over the finish line saying I put everything into that and didn’t leave anything behind. I don’t want to be looking at the times afterwards and thinking I could have done better there. I suppose I’ll have to try and enjoy it, although I’m not sure that’s possible.”
Fin is a steady cyclist and that’s the discipline she feels she’ll be strongest in. That she’s biked the course countless times in the past will also stand to her.
“I’ve kayaked about once every two weeks and I’m hoping that will do me on the day.”
The forecast for Saturday gives rain with a gentle breeze.
“I don’t know how gentle it’s going to be,” she ponders.
Of the 80 entrants for The Race 2019, twelve are women.
“I’ve been checking out their profiles and the competition is tough. There are some strong women there, including the winner from two years ago. I want to be up there with them. We’ll see. I’m mentally strong and I’m physically ready for it. If all of that goes right and there are no other issues that bring me out of it, I’ll be on my hands and knees to get across that finish line.”
Wouldn’t doubt it for a second.