There’s something magic about watching Alan Bingham race. He possesses a focus and intensity that leaves you convinced you can see him think, plan, strategise as he zooms past on the bicycle. It’s beautiful to see. Even when he’s relaxed, that intensity is there under the surface.
The Dundalk man started cycling around 1992. In the five years he pursued the sport, Alan was a competitor to be reckoned with. “There are four groups in cycling: beginner, intermediate, advanced, and then elite. I moved up the ladder from one to the next.” Natural talent, hard work and that remarkable focus took him to the top. In 1993, he placed tenth in one stage of the Ras. This is Ireland’s biggest and most prestigious cycling race, which draws international competition.
Alan hung up his cycling shoes as life’s demands changed. After a few years away from the pedals, he returned to cycling in 2002. His priorities now included his wife, Sabrina, and his children. Good friend Karl Dolan’s participation in triathlons caught his attention. “Due to the nature of cycling, it’s not a very family-friendly sport. The bikes move so fast, you only see them for a moment, then they’re gone.” Triathlons, with grassy transition areas and athletes passing spectators more often, seemed more suitable now.
Not being a man to waste time, Alan tried Masters swimming at Felda, then tackled Setanta’s Sportsman’s duathlon series early in 2010. He tried a 750m open water swim, and was very unimpressed with his 20 minute time. Instead of giving up or accepting what he thought was mediocre, Alan tried again and again. He cut his swim time down to 16 minutes. With no swimming lessons behind him, and with the Dundalk Half Marathon & 10k Fun Run being his first ten kilometre run, he lined up for his first ever triathlon at Camlough on Saturday, 5 June 2010. His mind was set on the goal of placing in the top 20.
Alan did the swim in 12:30, and finished 17th. He went on to do three more triathlons in 2010 – totalling two sprint distance and two Olympic distance races – adding a tenth, eleventh, and finally a fourth place finish to his first year’s achievements. This is remarkable for a beginner triathlete.
There’s no doubt natural ability plays a big role, but Alan feels there’s more to his success than just that. “A lot of people don’t set goals. They’d do a lot better if they did.” I bring up a subject that’s been bothering me, the perception many people seem to have that an iron distance triathlon is the real achievement which everyone should aim for. Alan agrees that we should choose triathlons which suit us, our physiology and mentality. Both his family commitments and his approach lend to top performances in short, fast, high intensity racing.
“I’m very competetive. I’d go into a race thinking, I’m not here to give it my all, this is just for fun. And the next thing I know, I’ll be in the heat of things, pushing as hard as I can.” I’m not surprised to hear that at all.
Keep an eye out for Alan Bingham. You’ll find him in the front of the pack.
