James Lawless has revealed he went from over 100 kilos to just over 70 in the space of 15 months so he could be fit enough to do the An Post Rás this year. The South Dublin Eurocycles man was an A4 rider last year - and some sneered at him in the Rás, but it didn't stop him getting his finisher's medal in Skerries.
By Brian Canty
Irish rider James Lawless has revealed how he lost almost 30 kilos over 15 months in order to be able to do the An Post Rás this year.
The son of the legendary Mick Lawless recalled how he’d lost his job last year and had “gone off the rails a bit” but to get things back on track he put his mind to losing weight, running marathons, half-Ironmans and doing the country’s only UCI-ranked race.
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“Like everyone affected by the financial crisis, I went off the rails a bit after I lost my job and just ballooned,” he recalled.
“Back in February last year I was weighing over 100 kilos so in the words of my Dad it was time to ‘shit or get off the pot’.
“I spoke to Mick about the Rás as he’d have always looked after me growing up.
“He was a man who would always help me regarding coaching but a friend here in Dublin, Mark Kiely, also provided me with a structured plan to get me to the start-line,” he added.
Lawless said 2014 was all about losing weight and his first big goal was running the Dublin marathon, which he completed in October last year.
He’d also taken out an A4 licence and rode a few races, including the Suir Valley 3-Day (after being upgraded to an A3 licence).
Still, it was a long way from where he needed to be this year.
“Drink was a big part of the cutting back,” he continued.
“I cut that out and my initial training was all running; that was a great motivation because I was losing weight and it goes hand-in-hand with the bike.”
Lawless raced from U12 all the way up to junior and grew up around the Rás.
Interestingly, he’s managed teams there, done mechanic, was helping the commissaire and more recently, even drove the lead car.
“It took me a while to get into the racing,” he recalled of those initial forays in the A4 ranks.
“I picked the races wisely, in no way would I have been doing a race like the Des Hanlon, that’s how far away I was from it.
“Still, I put down a good winter last year but I didn’t train the house down either.
“When some guys were doing 5 and 6-hour spins I was selling logs at a Christmas market to pay to take my kids to Disneyland!
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“That was the one thing about losing my job, it gave me more time with the kids.”
As the weeks and months to May ticked down, Lawless began to worry he was in over his head and would be out of his depth.
“Never did I think I could actually compete in the race but coming up to the last couple of weeks I was worried. I didn’t think I could do it - but Mark drove me,” he reflected.
He rocked up to the start-line in Dunboyne weighing just 73 kilos.
“That was a proud moment but on the first stage I had a nightmare; I punctured in the neutralised but it was very emotional.
“I’d have liked to have done better for my dad as he was always in my thoughts.
“I lost a lot of time the first stage so I needed a meeting with myself that evening.
“Still, I battled away and raced sensibly; I dropped the anchor when I knew I'd be dropped and tried to conserve as much energy for the next day. I think that is the key to surviving the Rás.
“My dad’s words, ‘shit or get off the pot’ were always in my head.”
He’d battle through the week, day after day, making it inside the time limit and dare we say it, actually enjoyed the experience.
“I was having fun, I had a great buzz but I think I annoyed a lot of people.
“I overheard a guy saying I was disrespecting the race by being an A4 the year before but that drove me one.
“From day three I’d problems with my shoulder and I couldn’t really hold the bars so it was a real struggle but one I’m proud I’ve done.
“It was just sheer relief. It was a perfect achievement for me but not one I’ll be not going back to do again!”
Since then he's taken back up the running and recently, completed an Ironman in Dublin.
The 70.3 mile edition of the now world renowned race involved a 1.2 mile swim in Dún Laoghaire bay, a 56-mile bike ride through the city and out into Maynooth and then a half-marathon culminating in the Phoenix Park.
“There's no looking back now,” said Lawless.
“I have the bug now for it.”
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