Irish Deaf Sports Association

Statement by Ken Taylor Acting Director
17th September

The 21st Deaflympics Taipei 2009 was a wonderful experience as the Acting Athletics Director. I had never met the two athletes I was responsible for so on the initial meeting we got to know each other and discussed training plans. They both had their own training routine from home but we had to compromise on the various aspects of their needs in Taipei and we managed to do this even though it was a difficult task.

Both athletes took an early run each morning and tried to climatise themselves and the weather conditions were vastly different that what they were used to. The heat and humidity was exhausting was well as draining and we had to try to avoid dehydration. John Fennell who has 28 years experience of running in club conditions found the heat and jetlag hard to contend with. We had to call on the Water polo physio for both athletes as they had minor tightness that needed loosening, so thanks to Sean, the water-polo director for providing the physio.

Wayne Reid and John Fennell were among 18 athletes who took part in the 10,000m final, Wayne kept up the pace up to the 7th lap but unfortunately the heat and humidity got to him and he withdrew in the 11th lap, John Fennell withdrew after 24 laps. Wayne also participated in the triathlon along with 17 other athletes, he came 5th and clocked his best personal time, so well done Wayne!

The final event, the marathon took place on the 14th September 2009 at 6.00am. We had an extremely early breakfast at 3.00am and made our way by coach to The Green Bay. Due to the heat only 14 men out of 26 finished the marathon and in the ladies marathon only 5 out of 11 finished. I was very proud that our two athletes completed the marathon and the times were;

Wayne Reid - 10th - 3 hrs 29 mins
John Fennel - 13th - 4 hrs 23 mins

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Day 15
September 14th

Marathon

The marathon began at 6am starting from Green Bay, running in a circuit along the northern pacific coast.

Due to the scorching conditions this morning, many runners could not finish the race as out of 26 men's marathon only fourteen finished the line and out of eleven in the women's event only 5 finished the marathon.

Reid ended at 10th place at a mark of 3:29:13 following Fennell less than an hour later at 13th place posting a time 4:23:05.

Kenyan, Daniel Kiptum capture the first place at 2:28:31, next the silver to Kenyan Njeru at 2:35:59 and the bronze went to Japanese Kaneko at 2:40:21 while the women's event was won by Ulrika Nelson of Sweden with a time of 3:30:36, in second place was Japan and 3rd place Great Britain.

Exhausted Reid said "at 10km I felt dizzy, had to stop for 10 minutes drinking water then I took off but at half way I had a upset tummy and had to stop again for 5 minutes then I ran all the way to the finishing line, I wasted nearly 20 minutes, the weather made it impossible to make it under 3 hours"

"I am happy I finished the line, but not happy with my time, I had it less than 3 hours in previous marathons…" said Fennell
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Day 14
September 13th

5000m

After a disappointing 10000m event, Reid improved his performance today at the 5000m, even though being out runned by Kenyan man, Kipkogei Kiptum who captured a gold mark with the result of 14:31:68, breaking the Games record of 14:36:57 set by Great Britain's Timothy Butler at the 1989 Christchurch Games.

The Silver went to Iran's Saeidi with a 14:51:81 mark, beating Yakubovskiy of Russia who finished in 14:57:15 for the bronze.

Reid excellent performance in the 5000m came 5th posting a time 15:41:45 shaving 22 seconds of his road Personal Best (PB)
"I have knocked PB time on track, which is something I have never done before so I am quite please"

Athlone man, Reid was struggling around the top bend at few stages but his performance was up to par given his inexperience of track events. Lifting his knees high and working hard on his arm movement, Reid made an impressive cruising speed carrying his momentum all the way through the finish line.

It took Reid some time to actually resume his poise as he knelt down in gasping for air, got back up and put his hands to his face with the realisation of his performance.

"I am so happy I finished the 5000m, it's a learning process, and I kept focusing and pushing myself to stay on track and finishing it. Truly it's my first time to compete with other Deaf athletes on track, and these are world class athletics out there, I couldn't catch up with them"

" I hoped for Reid to come on top three but said if he come out the top five, I would be happy and I am delighted with his performance and outcome, he did well"- acting director Ken Taylor
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Day 9
September 8th

10,000m Track

As dusk came Wayne Reid took his place in the 10,000m at the Deaflympics, in Taipei Stadium this evening 7pm (local time) among 18 world best Deaf athletics.

At the white starting line, he was steady and in his position on his marks, as the flag went down, he sets off on a good note allocating in his lane.

As he sprints on in the 7th laps keeping in line with athletes from Malta and Germany, Reid started to falter, getting water to quench his thirst but as he progress to the 11th lap with only 14 laps to go the 27 year old was forced to walk-off deciding enough was enough.

Reid said he was "devastated letting his country down" after pulling out of running on the tracks

Explaining his decision he added: "the heat got to me, I thought I prepared myself for it with all the training I have done here adapting to the hot climate, but I've got to put myself first"

"When I do my triathlon back at home I keep going with good ones shoulder to shoulder, building positively but that didn't happen tonight"

Reid, who has won the a swimming sliver medal at the Deaflympics in Denmark 1997, and is a promising Tri-athlone in his local club, Athlone man had complete this 11th lap at 14:30 and feels confident for the 5000m this Sunday promising this event will be completed for himself and Ireland.

Ireland's acting director Ken Taylor "Reid is not only in a position to show what he can do in front of that home crowd, but he have a genuine opportunity to fight for decent position at 5,000m track on Sunday"
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Day 5
September 4th

The two athletes took an early run this morning and organising themselves with acting director Ken Taylor says " today's a better day as Fennell and Reid are compromising to a schedule and communicating better in drafting a training schedule suiting their needs"

After the jet lag blues and yesterday run around of the surrounding forest areas both realise it was not ideal for training with a lot of steps in the way and Reid says "the lack of knowledge of not knowing where to go for training causes frustration and to my shame I ended up running around the hotel twice!" Luckily enough, Fennell took a different route and found a suitable running spot- along the river.

Today both men took it to test along the river, adjusting to the dead heat and the lack of water available as it was an ideal spot but Reid felt a need of the acting director present important to carry such equipment such as water, sponge, to ease the thirst.

Fennell, 28years running with local Raheny Shamrocks Athletic club is finding the heat something to compete against within his trainings and the jet lag blues haven't shifted yet. However is coming on strong with the trainings and the support of each other makes a differences- he is "completing against time" in his track events early next week.

Both athletes required the hand of the water polo physio with minor muscles tightness that needs to be loosened up.
With a guidance called Lee, an Taipei lady athletes organiser, they will be making the 80minutes hike to Taipei Stadium, getting up at 7am for the 10am training! Both are disappointed to not being able to watch the Ireland V USA football match.

Lastly, Taylor is happy with the process on how both men are getting on and says "teamwork is crucial, given the weather conditions and training it is important to have the right food and training enduring all health and safety is carried out to them"

It must be mentioned, Taylor is deeply missing his "Ulster Fry's"!!!!!

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Day 3 September 2nd

A fresh new day for Reid and Fennel who are both settling in and regularly meeting up with their acting director, Ken Taylor to organise their training days for the coming events. The first event takes place on 8th September gives both athletes time to acclimatise.

Taylor says" both athletes who have never met before, had their own training routine back home and trying to compromise with their needs is a task but not a difficult one"

"My main concern is wearing the proper foot wear and how many meters apart the water stations on the tracks are" says Reid whereas Fennell is still adjusting the jetlag and the stiffness on his shoulders who will be receiving a good rub down with our pyhsio!

After a mini tour to Taipei's world tallest building, Tower 101 and to the national museum Reid and Fennell took a run and ended the evening with a good auld sweat out in the hotel gym.