Patrick Barry (2nd from the right) with Rachel Eager at the recent relaunch of the Triathlon Department
A recent addition to our new look triathlon department has been Patrick Barry. Patrick is a member of Pulse Triathlon club and is a ‘Cat 1’ competitor in Triathlon Ireland’s Super Series. This series features “Ireland’s best triathletes and future Olympians. This series takes place over 5 rounds with the first round taking place in Lough Cutra Castle on the 26th May. We recently sat down with Patrick to discover what is required to be a ‘Cat 1’ competitor in Triathlon Ireland’s premier series
Patrick, what first drew you to the sport of Triathlons and how did you become involved in the sport?-
My dad entered me into a sprint triathlon just for a bit of a challenge. Before this race I didn’t know what a triathlon was. So if my dad didn’t enter me in this race , chances are I wouldn’t be racing triathlon as I am today.
What was the first triathlon you competed on and how did you get on, where did you finish?
My first triathlon was an indoor sprint triathlon in Westpark Gym. I managed to win my age group.
Looking back at your first event, is there anything you would have changed or done differently?
I don’t think so. Winning my age group gave me the confidence to sign up for another race, which then led to another and to where I am now.
As a cat 1 competitor in Triathlon Ireland’s premier race series, what would a typical training day consist of?
Most mornings during the week I’m up at 5:00am for swim training at 6:30am. In the evening I would either have a run session or bike session.
How do you unwind after training or after a competition?
I usually have a meal and then watch some Netflix.
What’s your most favorite piece of kit/ and what wetsuit do you use?
My favorite piece of kit would probably be my Garmin watch. It’s such an important tool to have for training. At the moment I’m using the Orca Alpha wetsuit. The flexibility it offers is incredible.
How strict are you with your diet? What’s your favorite cheat meal?
I’m not really on any diet. I stick to healthy foods and eat whenever I’m hungry, which tends to be all the time. I love dark chocolate as a treat.
What’s the best piece of training advice you’ve ever received?
When you’re not training, someone else is.
What’s the funniest incident you’ve ever seen at a triathlon?
Probably when I saw someone running In cycling bib shorts.
What’s your biggest claim to fame outside of triathlons?
I’ve a huge Coffee addiction.
For more information about Triathlon Ireland’s Super Series, click HERE
