Cavan man completes triathlon in honour of coach

From not being able to swim 10 years ago, John Reilly recently embarked on a triathlon he devised himself to help raise money and awareness for a condition called Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).

From the townland of Lisatoo near Stradone, John had “played a bit of football and quit that”, and even tried his hand at golf until 2014 when he first saw an advertisement for a triathlon that would light a fire under him.

He and his wife Maura had just climbed Cuilcagh in aid of Cystic Fibrosis and there were pictures taken on top, which were then used to help promote a triathlon event.

“I could ride a bike, I could run a bit. All I had to do was learn how to swim.”

The now 63 year old started out with lessons at the Cavan Leisure Complex and the following year completed his first swim/run/cycle race.

“As they say, I got on with it anyway. I started with the small ones first and worked my way up.”

Asked how many triathlons he’s completed to date, John takes a breath. “Oh, there’s a good few. I don’t know. I’ve lost count at this stage.”

The journey to this point has seen John compete in the likes of the Iron Man in Barcelona in 2017. It took him 13 hours and 55 minutes to get around the course. But John’s not counting. “It’s only numbers.”

John wanted to do the Iron Man in Lanzarote and turned to Derry-native and Irish International triathlete James Walton for advice on training.

Together they completed the Hard Man in Kerry in 2021, and in 2022 they were heading for the Canaries but for a chest infection to put a stop to John’s prospects of competing.

John eventually completed the Iron Man in Lanzarote, considered by many to be a grail. It was after that event when he learned that his coach James’ promising sports career had been cut short after he was diagnosed with ME, or chronic fatigue syndrome.

The 27-year-old former chair of the Triangle Triathlon Club, James was the recent beneficiary of a team relay fundraiser near his home.

Though suffering from the effects since 2020, it wasn’t until October 2023 that the diagnosis of ME was confirmed for James.

Post-exertional malaise (PEM) is the hallmark of the condition in which even trivial amounts of activity result in a prolonged exacerbation of symptoms and a further reduction in function. There is no effective treatment or cure.

John missed the Roe Valley Sprint Triathlon but, such is his unwavering respect and gratitude to James for all the help he gave, the Cavan man set about devising his own way to contribute.

He called it the ‘Cavan 2-2-2’ and consisted of a two kilometre swim, 200 kilometre cycle, and 20 kilometre run.

The swim was in Annagh Lake, the cycle to the roundabout at Derrylin and back to the Silver Tankard in Navan, with the run then taking John to the Peace Statue in Cavan Town.

John was accompanied on the run by his son Cormac, as well as Colin Monaghan and his new triathlon trainer Darren Dunne. Ciaran Broderick joined John on the swim and the cycle.

“It was more about raising awareness,” says John of ME, a condition he’d never heard of before this.

“I hadn’t a clue. Before this, anyone mentioned chronic fatigue syndrome, I’d think to myself maybe a few hours in bed would set them right. It’s not that at all. Unfortunately it doesn’t work like that.”

John describes James as a “gentleman”, one who’d reassure you “everything would be alright on the day”.

Money was raised for Hope 4 M.E. and Fibro, a UK based charity campaigning for specialist M.E. services in Northern Ireland by the Roe Valley Triathlon and John contributed a further £1,700 to the cause.

Hope 4 M.E. also provides certified education courses on the condition for healthcare providers, as well as support, and information for patients and their families.

“What they’re doing is so important, bringing education to the whole thing. James is the same age as my own son Cormac.

“So it’s tough to see someone so fit and full of life struggling that way.”