Basically it was fine, definitely not as bad as I was expecting it to be. Swim was alright, 31 minutes or thereabouts.
1hr 14m on the bike (I could have gone quicker I reckon, time to invest in some aerobars I think) followed by what can only be described as a woeful run, very disappointed with it. 2h 45m flat overall, I think that shows how monumentally bad my run was!!
On foot of that I learned a valuable lesson, you can never do enough bricks, basically every bit of biking I'll be doing from now on will be accompanied by a run afterwards, I thought one every so often would have been enough, I was wrong!!
And also, dont have anything chocolate covered in your pockets over the course of the bike, I had an interesting incident with a melted power bar!!
Learned a lot though, a lot of scope for improvement and hopefully accompanying every cycle with a run will sort out the heavy... No... Wait... Completely knackered... Legs off the bike the last day.
Or I'll ease off on the bike a little bit... Nah, its the one bit I was happy out with so I'll just work with it rather than against it!!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
June 1, 2010
!2.5km run, please god its enough!!
I have just finished reading the book 'Triathlon Ruined my Life'. A great read, a bit worrying too though because I recognise myself on basically every page!!
Especially this bit about the 'Fear' pre-race. No matter how much training I have done for the weekend I still can't shake the worry that it just won't be enough. If I'm like this for my first Olympic distance I can only imagine how bad I'm going to be for the IM in May.
Oh yeah, forgot that, I entered the Lanzarote IM the other day, every time I think about it I get unaccountably excited. I honestly don't know why, the thought of putting myself through hell in training for it isn't exactly something I should be looking forward to, let alone exercising for 12+ hours in one day surely?!!
I have just finished reading the book 'Triathlon Ruined my Life'. A great read, a bit worrying too though because I recognise myself on basically every page!!
Especially this bit about the 'Fear' pre-race. No matter how much training I have done for the weekend I still can't shake the worry that it just won't be enough. If I'm like this for my first Olympic distance I can only imagine how bad I'm going to be for the IM in May.
Oh yeah, forgot that, I entered the Lanzarote IM the other day, every time I think about it I get unaccountably excited. I honestly don't know why, the thought of putting myself through hell in training for it isn't exactly something I should be looking forward to, let alone exercising for 12+ hours in one day surely?!!
May 31, 2010
Okay, now I am convinced that if I make it through the swim on Saturday I'll easily make it through the rest of it, had a lovely cycle today, pretty quick too.
Only 8 minutes outside of what I expect to do it in on Saturday and that's including stops at traffic lights and the like.
48km, not a huge distance by any means but I easily have that kind of distance in my legs so next week I'll work on improving the distance again up to about 70km or so.
Only 8 minutes outside of what I expect to do it in on Saturday and that's including stops at traffic lights and the like.
48km, not a huge distance by any means but I easily have that kind of distance in my legs so next week I'll work on improving the distance again up to about 70km or so.
May 30, 2010
Last swim before the big day today and I got my 2km in, pretty happy with it to be honest, I think I'm in good shape for the water next weekend. It won't be quick but hopefully it won't take too much out of me for the areas I think I'll be able to make good time in, especially on the cycle.
But we'll see, that could all change, being honest, having never done an Olympic distance before I could be completely wrong!!
But we'll see, that could all change, being honest, having never done an Olympic distance before I could be completely wrong!!
The Heat
Okay, sorry about this, another quick note today, just a quick 12km run today, not all that good or bad to be honest, only one more to go before Tri Athy next weekend... Looking forward to it in a nervous excitement kind of way.
Last cycle beforehand tomorrow, going to try and make it a long one.
Last cycle beforehand tomorrow, going to try and make it a long one.
May 27, 2010
Long cycle today, finally tackled the north side and Howth head and the South side.
Credit must go to Sarah for covering the majority of the distance with me. Bloody tired now though, and yet to have dinner so you'll excuse the shortness of this post, I'm sure Ill get a longer one in tomorrow.
Though considering its my rest day I don't think there'd be much point in me just posting about my day!
Credit must go to Sarah for covering the majority of the distance with me. Bloody tired now though, and yet to have dinner so you'll excuse the shortness of this post, I'm sure Ill get a longer one in tomorrow.
Though considering its my rest day I don't think there'd be much point in me just posting about my day!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
May 26, 2010
God damn that was a very rushed swim. Where usually I get in to pool at about ten to six for a finish time of twenty to seven today I got in to the pool at six on the button.
Just that bit too little time so instead of getting my 2km session in as planned, I only managed to get in 1750m. Not great but not bad all the same, at least it was well over the distance of next weekend. So long as I get a 2km swim in between now and next week I will be more than happy.
Can't enter IM Lanzarote today again, don't know what the problem is. One more try tomorrow before I call in the technical help to see can they solve the issue.
National Fish and Chips day in Ireland today so guess what's for dinner?! Plenty of salt and vinegar please...
Just that bit too little time so instead of getting my 2km session in as planned, I only managed to get in 1750m. Not great but not bad all the same, at least it was well over the distance of next weekend. So long as I get a 2km swim in between now and next week I will be more than happy.
Can't enter IM Lanzarote today again, don't know what the problem is. One more try tomorrow before I call in the technical help to see can they solve the issue.
National Fish and Chips day in Ireland today so guess what's for dinner?! Plenty of salt and vinegar please...
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
May 25, 2010
What a very strange run that was. If anyone can explain to me why I seem to find it hard to do the first couple of kilometres and then can move far more quickly and less tiringly I would be delighted to know!
Have to say though, running by the see is lovely, there's a lot to recommend it especially on a beautiful summer's evening such as this one.
I can't, however, say the same of the lush and verdant Clonliffe Road. While it's being being tree lined is lovely, the midges that it attracts is blinding. I have definitely swallowed my year's worth of flies and insects on the way home while my eyes have also consumed a couple!! Thankfully its all over now and I can move on to tomorrow, the second last swim session before Tri Athy, hope to get way over 2km... Ah to hell with it, I will go over 2km. Yeah now that's a better attitude.
And in other news, I hope to enter Ironman Lanzarote tomorrow. Tried today but the money didn't transfer to my credit card yet. I'm only going to do this once so I'm going to do the one I want to do. So by this time tomorrow I will have taken a major step towards being an ironman... I will have entered!
Have to say though, running by the see is lovely, there's a lot to recommend it especially on a beautiful summer's evening such as this one.
I can't, however, say the same of the lush and verdant Clonliffe Road. While it's being being tree lined is lovely, the midges that it attracts is blinding. I have definitely swallowed my year's worth of flies and insects on the way home while my eyes have also consumed a couple!! Thankfully its all over now and I can move on to tomorrow, the second last swim session before Tri Athy, hope to get way over 2km... Ah to hell with it, I will go over 2km. Yeah now that's a better attitude.
And in other news, I hope to enter Ironman Lanzarote tomorrow. Tried today but the money didn't transfer to my credit card yet. I'm only going to do this once so I'm going to do the one I want to do. So by this time tomorrow I will have taken a major step towards being an ironman... I will have entered!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Finally...
Okay, its taken a while, a year of swimming to be exact, but if I were 55 years older than I am I would now be the fastest 50m swimmer in my age group in Ireland. I know, I know, unbelievable achievement!
1750m overall, I am thankfully a far faster swimmer than I was this time last year and more importantly, I feel much more efficient too which means I'm not as tired leaving the pool. All in all, quite happy with tonight's session!
1750m overall, I am thankfully a far faster swimmer than I was this time last year and more importantly, I feel much more efficient too which means I'm not as tired leaving the pool. All in all, quite happy with tonight's session!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
The Break
Sorry folks, been ridiculously busy in the last while with various things so I haven't been giving the ol' blog the attention it deserves!!
But now I'm back and focused on keeping this updated as much as possible!
I suppose a quick run down of the last couple of weeks training is in order so here goes...
In the last couple of weeks I have...
ºCompleted a full length brick for the Olympic I have coming up next week
ºCompleted my first 1,500m continuous swim of the year (last season's efforts seemed so long ago!!)
ºShredded a tyre while out cycling, its a long walk home with a bike on your back!
ºBought some new tri gear and realised that I look bloody ridiculous in a trisuit, the years of rugby haven't exactly helped my triathlon shape
ºBonked twice in a week while out doing my longer cycles
ºRealised that snickers prevent bonking
ºGot a tan
So that's really the rundown of the last couple of weeks, stay tuned, this season is only just getting started!
But now I'm back and focused on keeping this updated as much as possible!
I suppose a quick run down of the last couple of weeks training is in order so here goes...
In the last couple of weeks I have...
ºCompleted a full length brick for the Olympic I have coming up next week
ºCompleted my first 1,500m continuous swim of the year (last season's efforts seemed so long ago!!)
ºShredded a tyre while out cycling, its a long walk home with a bike on your back!
ºBought some new tri gear and realised that I look bloody ridiculous in a trisuit, the years of rugby haven't exactly helped my triathlon shape
ºBonked twice in a week while out doing my longer cycles
ºRealised that snickers prevent bonking
ºGot a tan
So that's really the rundown of the last couple of weeks, stay tuned, this season is only just getting started!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Day Twenty Four – May 4, 2010
I was right, the good night’s sleep sorted me out no end.
So with the blustery conditions in Dublin today I decided that to cycle out by the sea would have been a fruitless exercise. Instead I headed inland, towards the rolling countryside of Meath. Yeah, I didn’t know it was rolling either but I was uphill and down dale quite regularly during my stint in the saddle. Not knowing quite what direction I was going or whether I could loop back in towards Dublin meant that my cycling was somewhat cagey, affecting my time a bit. Happily though I now have a nice 50km route mapped out on relatively quiet roads. One I will most certainly be taking advantage of in the coming weeks. But back to the present, going to brave the wilds of Belvedere College again for swimming tomorrow, fingers crossed I have slightly less hassle this time!
So with the blustery conditions in Dublin today I decided that to cycle out by the sea would have been a fruitless exercise. Instead I headed inland, towards the rolling countryside of Meath. Yeah, I didn’t know it was rolling either but I was uphill and down dale quite regularly during my stint in the saddle. Not knowing quite what direction I was going or whether I could loop back in towards Dublin meant that my cycling was somewhat cagey, affecting my time a bit. Happily though I now have a nice 50km route mapped out on relatively quiet roads. One I will most certainly be taking advantage of in the coming weeks. But back to the present, going to brave the wilds of Belvedere College again for swimming tomorrow, fingers crossed I have slightly less hassle this time!
Day Twenty Three – May 3, 2010
This is going to be a short one, I write this as I sit on the train back to Dublin. Pretty stiff today, suppose it’s a combination of the run yesterday and the celebratory few (many) drinks afterwards!! Still a good sleep tonight should do me the world of good, aided and abetted by a stretch when I get home and I will hopefully be ready for my cycle tomorrow.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Day Twenty Two – Sunday, May 2, 2010
Well that was some race. It started in the driving rain and finished in the brilliant sunshine which basically sums up my own performance too, good and bad.
I managed to cover the distance in 1hr 43m 17s and placed in 245th. A personal best… which I suppose isnt all that hard considering Ive never done it before!! Something to build on for the next time though, and there will most certainly be quite a few next times.
Two gels on the way round was more than enough energy and cups of water wherever I could lay my hands on them did a world of good too. Learned a lot about the whole long distance stuff today I have to say. Going to put it in to use for the rest of the season and beyond, hopefully.
I have to say though, I think I had the adrenaline rush about finishing just a tad early, about 2km from the finish I was floating. Then about 500m from the finish the adrenaline stopped pumping and I hit a slump. I was actually in a pretty atrocious mood when I finished because of it!!
Nice course too, took in all of Limerick’s major sights and challenging enough but not overly taxing. So fair play to the organisers for that, already looking forward to next year’s event. Might even try the marathon.
I managed to cover the distance in 1hr 43m 17s and placed in 245th. A personal best… which I suppose isnt all that hard considering Ive never done it before!! Something to build on for the next time though, and there will most certainly be quite a few next times.
Two gels on the way round was more than enough energy and cups of water wherever I could lay my hands on them did a world of good too. Learned a lot about the whole long distance stuff today I have to say. Going to put it in to use for the rest of the season and beyond, hopefully.
I have to say though, I think I had the adrenaline rush about finishing just a tad early, about 2km from the finish I was floating. Then about 500m from the finish the adrenaline stopped pumping and I hit a slump. I was actually in a pretty atrocious mood when I finished because of it!!
Nice course too, took in all of Limerick’s major sights and challenging enough but not overly taxing. So fair play to the organisers for that, already looking forward to next year’s event. Might even try the marathon.
Day Twenty One – Saturday, May 1, 2010
Okay so a short session today just to stay loose for tomorrow. A quick 2.5km run followed by quite a bit of stretching and contemplating race strategy for tomorrow.
I really don’t like that term, it seems to imply that I actually may win the thing and I will be battling it out with a competitor in a battle of wits to the finish line.
But race strategy is precisely what I was thinking of. And I have decided that I will be doing my damnedest to find a rhythm early and stick with it, regardless of how fast or slow it is. Attack up the hills and let myself coast down the other side, all of this seems eminently sensible but until its put in to practice I cant be sure whether it is or not! Either way bring it on… One last thing, anything under two hours and I will be bloody delighted!
I really don’t like that term, it seems to imply that I actually may win the thing and I will be battling it out with a competitor in a battle of wits to the finish line.
But race strategy is precisely what I was thinking of. And I have decided that I will be doing my damnedest to find a rhythm early and stick with it, regardless of how fast or slow it is. Attack up the hills and let myself coast down the other side, all of this seems eminently sensible but until its put in to practice I cant be sure whether it is or not! Either way bring it on… One last thing, anything under two hours and I will be bloody delighted!
Day Twenty – Friday, April 30, 2010
Some rest day that turned out to be. The resting part was easy, however as of yesterday the focus of my training has changed a tad. A friend and I have decided to enter the Race Around Ireland. A 2,500km cycling ultra-marathon that takes place in September. Lovely stuff. 152 hours to complete it, or five and a half days depending on how you want to look at it. Eight hour shifts on the bike, saddle sores and Irish weather, looking forward to it already… Really I am!
Not sure what I’ll do about the HIM really. Must see is there one available in August.
Not sure what I’ll do about the HIM really. Must see is there one available in August.
Day Nineteen – Thursday, April 29, 2010
Today it was time for a longer, slightly more leisurely paced cycle. And that’s precisely what happened. 50km is an alright distance to be covering in the middle of the week I reckon. Quite happy with it. Managed to avoid being robbed too, no Dick Turpin style bandits telling me stand and deliver so all in all quite a positive session. Going to up the cycling distances considerably now I reckon, make 40km look easy when confronted with it.
Strangely another week of training has absolutely flown by. Facing in to another rest day tomorrow and it seems to have come too soon in a way! But I suppose with the run coming up on Sunday it probably is wise to have a rest day tomorrow and a light session on Saturday to prepare.
Strangely another week of training has absolutely flown by. Facing in to another rest day tomorrow and it seems to have come too soon in a way! But I suppose with the run coming up on Sunday it probably is wise to have a rest day tomorrow and a light session on Saturday to prepare.
Day Eighteen – Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Well this was just a disaster. Plain and simple. Off I went for a swim in my local pool and I managed to get robbed while I was in the pool. My phone, wallet and, maybe worst of all, a 1/20th full bottle of aftershave are now residing with someone else. The joys of triathlon training eh?! Its not so much the robbery that gets to me, it’s the inconvenience of it all… Cards to be reissued, phone to be bought, numbers to be retrieved. Ugh. A right pain.
I suppose at least the session went well… Some small consolation!
I suppose at least the session went well… Some small consolation!
Day Seventeen – Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Phew… I’m wrecked, my legs are like jelly and have taken on a mind of their own and I am in dire need of a stretch!! But now I know that I can do 40km in 75 minutes which, to be honest, is far quicker than I thought I would be able to manage it so that really is good to know. And that included Howth head which is an even bigger plus to it all. Hopefully the nice flat bike course in my first tri of the year will mean that the time comes down, however false an economy that may be.
Day Sixteen – Monday, April 26, 2010
Well now that wasn’t so bad at all, slight bit of discomfort in the should to start off with but that was overcome by a good stretch after my first 150m. Manged to get over the 1500m hurdle too, got out to 1650m before I just ran out of time in the pool, I don’t think work would take too kindly to me being late back after lunch with the excuse that training just had to come first!!
Think I’m going to try a time trial ride tomorrow on the bike. It calls for a 40km bike so what better excuse to just go flat out for as long as my legs will allow and see how quickly I could do the distance in if I really put my mind to it and didn’t have any distractions, like a 10k run to follow!
Think I’m going to try a time trial ride tomorrow on the bike. It calls for a 40km bike so what better excuse to just go flat out for as long as my legs will allow and see how quickly I could do the distance in if I really put my mind to it and didn’t have any distractions, like a 10k run to follow!
Day Fifteen – Sunday, April 25, 2010
Okay this was more like it. 16.5km done so I’m not as worried as I was yesterday. Once I hit a bit a rhythm and a steady pace (usually I am all over the place with this bit!) I was alright. Took me an hour and a half so taking that in to conisderation anything under two hours next weekend I will be more than happy with. I reckon running under five minute kilometres should be very do-able… That right there is a big should!
Time to get my mind off the run tomorrow though and back on to swimming. I’ve given my shoulder a week, it feels fine so tomorrow will be a fitness test of sorts for it. I think its about time that I went a bit further in my sessions too. I’m just over a month out from my first Olympic tri so this glass ceiling of 1500m needs to be removed!
Time to get my mind off the run tomorrow though and back on to swimming. I’ve given my shoulder a week, it feels fine so tomorrow will be a fitness test of sorts for it. I think its about time that I went a bit further in my sessions too. I’m just over a month out from my first Olympic tri so this glass ceiling of 1500m needs to be removed!
Day Fourteen – Saturday, April 24, 2010
I have to say I am still pretty nervous about the idea of this half marathon. Coming in to a week out from the event there hasn’t really been much to ease the nerves! Try as I might today I just couldn’t shake lethargy from my legs and what I had planned to be a 15km run to give myself a bit of confidence just turned in to a struggled-through 10km. I honestly don’t know if I’ll be able for this.
I’m presuming two and a half weeks training wont be enough!
I’m presuming two and a half weeks training wont be enough!
Day Thirteen – Friday, April 23, 2010
What a great idea rest days are!! Don’t think there is much more to be said about it really!
Day Twelve – Thursday, April 22, 2010
My first brick session of the year and I’ll hold my hands up, it was tough going.
To get a feel for where I am conditioning wise I wanted to replicate the two distances in a Sprint Triathlon. A 20km cycle followed by a 5km run.
I feel the Sutton thing is getting a bit repetitive for cycling so thought it was time to change things up. Off I went to the Phoenix Park for myself and in spite of it being quite difficult to get to with early evening traffic and being squashed between a van and a bus on my way home from there it was most certainly a worthwhile journey. A beautiful place to cycle to say the least. Once I had the bike parked up again it was time to get on the road for a run. I had forgotten what the feeling is like of having to engage completely different muscles to run after even a short bike ride. I’m sure I looked ridiculous at times but sure these things happen. The 5km which is usually quite an easy loop when I do it turned out to be much harder than I thought it would be.
Oh well, at least its done now and I can focus on my rest day tomorrow and my preparations for the Great Limerick Run over the weekend.
To get a feel for where I am conditioning wise I wanted to replicate the two distances in a Sprint Triathlon. A 20km cycle followed by a 5km run.
I feel the Sutton thing is getting a bit repetitive for cycling so thought it was time to change things up. Off I went to the Phoenix Park for myself and in spite of it being quite difficult to get to with early evening traffic and being squashed between a van and a bus on my way home from there it was most certainly a worthwhile journey. A beautiful place to cycle to say the least. Once I had the bike parked up again it was time to get on the road for a run. I had forgotten what the feeling is like of having to engage completely different muscles to run after even a short bike ride. I’m sure I looked ridiculous at times but sure these things happen. The 5km which is usually quite an easy loop when I do it turned out to be much harder than I thought it would be.
Oh well, at least its done now and I can focus on my rest day tomorrow and my preparations for the Great Limerick Run over the weekend.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Day Eleven - Wednesday April 21st
Well first up, I forgot my sisters birthday until quite late in the day, apologies for that sis!!
Second thing, even more disastrously, my headphones broke while I was out running!
I’m not really sure which is worse!
On the up side though, a 7km felt very short and very easy. Very happy with that. Come the weekend I’ll try and get in two 15k+ runs in, just to convince myself I’ll definitely manage this half marathon. Still a bit concerned about it. More concerned about my shoulder, the rotation still isn’t right. Going to knock any idea of swimming on the head for the week and do plenty of recovery work with it. Then hopefully, very hopefully, on Monday I’ll be in a position to go back swimming, really need to get back in the pool!!
Think I may try a brick session tomorrow, just to see what kind of shape I am, or am not, in.
Second thing, even more disastrously, my headphones broke while I was out running!
I’m not really sure which is worse!
On the up side though, a 7km felt very short and very easy. Very happy with that. Come the weekend I’ll try and get in two 15k+ runs in, just to convince myself I’ll definitely manage this half marathon. Still a bit concerned about it. More concerned about my shoulder, the rotation still isn’t right. Going to knock any idea of swimming on the head for the week and do plenty of recovery work with it. Then hopefully, very hopefully, on Monday I’ll be in a position to go back swimming, really need to get back in the pool!!
Think I may try a brick session tomorrow, just to see what kind of shape I am, or am not, in.
Day Ten - Tuesday April 20th
Still flushed with yesterday’s success, on a beautiful April afternoon, I decided it was time to conquer Howth head again. The right way round this time though!! A 20km cycle past Dublin Airport to Sutton cross completed my journey to the head. The 5km steady climb, while difficult, was not as bad as I expected at all. The 3km downhill probably did my brakes no favours whatsoever though, I could nearly see the pads being worn out as I descended what felt like a cliff face!! 15km along the sunny seafront back in to Clontarf was quite an enjoyable way to finish off the loop. 44km again, not too shabby.
So, time to evaluate my last ten days training. Well I seem to have a half decent base to work from anyway. While tired after my sessions I am not exhausted to the point I could not possibly exercise any more. So I reckon it may not be a bad idea to extend the distances I aim to cover. Once I reach the end of this week's program I intend to do just that.
So, time to evaluate my last ten days training. Well I seem to have a half decent base to work from anyway. While tired after my sessions I am not exhausted to the point I could not possibly exercise any more. So I reckon it may not be a bad idea to extend the distances I aim to cover. Once I reach the end of this week's program I intend to do just that.
Day Nine – Monday, April 19th, 2010
I decided to get to Dublin as early as possible today, in part to make up for yesterday’s inactivity. And it was a superb decision on my part. By the time I got to Dublin around 10, having booked the day off work, I felt entitled to go back to bed for an hour. Waking up around eleven feeling refreshed I decided it was time I got to work on updating my iPod with suitably uplifting music to get me through my training sessions. Classic 90s dance from Sash!, DJ Quicksilver and Darude were quickly acquired (legally might I add!) and transferred on to where I am now in the enviable position that I have four hours worth of classic dance tracks to accompany me.
Of course, the polite thing to do after my afternoon’s work was to ‘test-drive’ my new playlists. My training plan told me I would be running for half an hour today, I should have been swimming too but my injured arm just isn’t right. However, with the upcoming half marathon in the back of my mind, I decided to run for longer than the required distance. Quite a bit longer. 12km were covered in what feels now like the blink of an eye. In reality it was almost bang on an hour, a pace that I would happily carry in to the half marathon the weekend after next. I feel much less apprehensive about the whole thing now I have to say.
Of course, the polite thing to do after my afternoon’s work was to ‘test-drive’ my new playlists. My training plan told me I would be running for half an hour today, I should have been swimming too but my injured arm just isn’t right. However, with the upcoming half marathon in the back of my mind, I decided to run for longer than the required distance. Quite a bit longer. 12km were covered in what feels now like the blink of an eye. In reality it was almost bang on an hour, a pace that I would happily carry in to the half marathon the weekend after next. I feel much less apprehensive about the whole thing now I have to say.
Day Eight – Sunday, April 18th, 2010
And I was right, I woke up this morning with a headache that felt like it should register on the Richter Scale. Think training will be given a miss today again, I’ll pick it up in Dublin tomorrow. I’ll just go and watch some rugby instead. Yeah, that’s a much better idea.
Day Seven – Saturday, April 17th, 2010
The less said about that match the better. 21-0 down after 15 minutes and things didn’t really improve, in the end we got an absolute pasting. My feelings on the game were not helped in the slightest by my having to retire early having injured my shoulder in a tackle quite early on in the match. I’ve a feeling my elbow may be more injured than my shoulder, both are causing me a bit of trouble. Could put an end to my swimming plans for the week!
There is some consolation however, with six hours to travel home on the bus, there’s only one thing to do really, break out the beers and chill out after a long, hard, rugby season. Tomorrow may be painful!
There is some consolation however, with six hours to travel home on the bus, there’s only one thing to do really, break out the beers and chill out after a long, hard, rugby season. Tomorrow may be painful!
Day Six – Friday, April 16th, 2010
After a long weeks training and with the final rugby match of the season in mind tomorrow, I have decided to take a break from training today. Instead, I have a six hour bus journey to Donegal to negotiate. Not exactly ideal preparation for a match but however I'm sure I'll cope somehow. I've a couple of books to read at the very least!
Day Five – Thursday, April 15, 2010
Today it was time to run again. Not far mind you, but run nonetheless. To be brutally honest about things it was completely uneventful, not really much to be said. Finished the 8km in a half decent time so I suppose I’m getting somewhere on that front!
Friday, April 16, 2010
Day four – April 14, 2010
It seems the long winter of technique work in the pool has paid off, I finally seem to have a relatively efficient swimming stroke. Or at least it feels like I do, which I hope is half the battle. Though I can’t really tell for sure at the moment, the 15m pool I’m training in at the moment isn’t exactly the greatest gauge for things I reckon. But all that will change Friday. A few lengths in the 50m pool in UL should prove to me whether my improvement is just a figment of my imagination or something worthwhile.
But back to today, 100 lengths broken down in to 10, 20, 30 and 40 lengths at a time. Not a colossal distance by any means, manageable really but it’s a start. Hope to up it in the next couple of weeks. The time constraints of having a lunch hour-and-a-quarter to get a good swim session in are a bit a hindrance to that but I’ll have to find my way around them.
The only complaint I have about the pool I’m training in is it seems to be over filled. Any more than two people in the pool and Archimedes’ principle really gets a thorough proving! The water tends to slosh somewhat, not to mention there’s quite a bit of a current towards the shallow end!!
With the weather so good I’m half tempted to go for a run as I write this... But half a temptation just won’t be enough to convince me this evening.
But back to today, 100 lengths broken down in to 10, 20, 30 and 40 lengths at a time. Not a colossal distance by any means, manageable really but it’s a start. Hope to up it in the next couple of weeks. The time constraints of having a lunch hour-and-a-quarter to get a good swim session in are a bit a hindrance to that but I’ll have to find my way around them.
The only complaint I have about the pool I’m training in is it seems to be over filled. Any more than two people in the pool and Archimedes’ principle really gets a thorough proving! The water tends to slosh somewhat, not to mention there’s quite a bit of a current towards the shallow end!!
With the weather so good I’m half tempted to go for a run as I write this... But half a temptation just won’t be enough to convince me this evening.
Day three – Tuesday April 13, 2010
Having struggled through yesterday, there was a degree of trepidation about today’s effort, a 30k plus cycle. That unease was misplaced however. After a couple of kilometres any heaviness in my legs disappeared and, in spite of the wind in my face, the cycling became a breeze (if you’ll pardon the pun!). Even as I got to the end of my loop I was beginning to think about going further but, based on yesterday’s tiredness I decided to just stick to the program.
As someone said to me last weekend, if Ireland was a sunny country, the entire country would be as fit as the proverbial butcher’s dog. I lost count of the amount of people, of all ages, shapes and sizes who were out doing some form of exercise along the coast in Clontarf. It was just plain extraordinary. It was, I can say without fear of contradicting myself, the first day that I have been out there that there was a real danger of overcrowding on the cycle path that runs along by the sea. Long may this weather continue!
Swimimng tomorrow, first session of the week, already looking forward to it.
As someone said to me last weekend, if Ireland was a sunny country, the entire country would be as fit as the proverbial butcher’s dog. I lost count of the amount of people, of all ages, shapes and sizes who were out doing some form of exercise along the coast in Clontarf. It was just plain extraordinary. It was, I can say without fear of contradicting myself, the first day that I have been out there that there was a real danger of overcrowding on the cycle path that runs along by the sea. Long may this weather continue!
Swimimng tomorrow, first session of the week, already looking forward to it.
Day two – Monday April 12, 2010
Two days in and its already tough going! I don’t really know what happened today but I was completely wiped out by the time I got home from work.
I spent the best part of two hours on the couch when I got home hugging a pillow hoping I would nod off for a power nap. No such luck. The thought that at some point in the evening I would have to go for a run was enough to keep me wide awake. So as the clock ticked past eight o clock it was apparent that it was now or never, and this early in a training program I decided never wasn’t really an option.
So on a beautiful summery evening I embarked on my usual run route. In spite of the eminently favourable conditions, the going was, to say the least, tough. If ever there was a case of mind over body then this was it. My legs just would not respond to the demands I was making of them. Thankfully, my body eventually relented, clearly realising that there was only going to be one winner in the battle. The ease in covering the last few kilometres of the route really did make a mockery of the amount of work I had to put in the the first few!
However, after my stunning victory in the Battle of Not Bothering to go For a Run at All, it seems my esteemed foe may have won the war. Its now half nine and I’m exhausted and off to bed, hopefully now that guilty conscience that was keeping me awake earlier will let me get some shut-eye now!
I spent the best part of two hours on the couch when I got home hugging a pillow hoping I would nod off for a power nap. No such luck. The thought that at some point in the evening I would have to go for a run was enough to keep me wide awake. So as the clock ticked past eight o clock it was apparent that it was now or never, and this early in a training program I decided never wasn’t really an option.
So on a beautiful summery evening I embarked on my usual run route. In spite of the eminently favourable conditions, the going was, to say the least, tough. If ever there was a case of mind over body then this was it. My legs just would not respond to the demands I was making of them. Thankfully, my body eventually relented, clearly realising that there was only going to be one winner in the battle. The ease in covering the last few kilometres of the route really did make a mockery of the amount of work I had to put in the the first few!
However, after my stunning victory in the Battle of Not Bothering to go For a Run at All, it seems my esteemed foe may have won the war. Its now half nine and I’m exhausted and off to bed, hopefully now that guilty conscience that was keeping me awake earlier will let me get some shut-eye now!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Day one – Sunday, April 11, 2010
So I got up early this morning. Well, ten o’clock, which, for a Sunday, is early. With the sun absolutely beating down outside, I felt that to stay longer in bed would appear ungrateful! Day one of the training program decreed that today I would be cycling. Influenced by both the weather and an unfortunate desire to see how hard it is to actually cycle up the famed ‘Howth Head’ as I set out I pointed my bike in the direction of the coast of north county Dublin. Having had a major crash smack in the middle of the village a while back I can’t say that I was looking forward to facing the stretch of road outside the Findlater again. But being emboldened by, well, actually nothing, I managed to steel myself through it. Of course, the road is now smoothly surfaced, bit late for that lads, though I like to think I influenced the decision of the council on this!!
Now, it being the first time I had really taken on the hill, I feel I may have done it backwards. I reached this conclusion as I careered headlong down the hill after summiting and passing roughly 27 times as many cyclists on the way down as I encountered on the way up. Think I’ll be doing it the ‘correct’ way round the next time. I crawled, sinews strained and calves burning, up what seemed like a sheer cliff. I know it cannot have been that bad but while I was going through it, I can assure you it was worse!
But when I reached the top, well, it was all worth it. I can safely say it was the view of the year so far, and it continued to be stunning all the way down my descent. This I feel may have been slightly dangerous however. So enraptured was I by the view at various times, I completely forgot that I was actually moving down a hill at speeds of over 40km an hour and on more than one occasion I nearly became closely acquainted with the tarmac.
Part two of the cycle was much less glamorous. As I came back in to Sutton Village, I hung a right and headed in the general direction of the airport. The picturesque countryside of Howth and its surroundings quickly gave way to the industrial landscape of the airport. I suppose you can’t have it all good, all the time!
Run tomorrow… Let the hard yards begin!!
Now, it being the first time I had really taken on the hill, I feel I may have done it backwards. I reached this conclusion as I careered headlong down the hill after summiting and passing roughly 27 times as many cyclists on the way down as I encountered on the way up. Think I’ll be doing it the ‘correct’ way round the next time. I crawled, sinews strained and calves burning, up what seemed like a sheer cliff. I know it cannot have been that bad but while I was going through it, I can assure you it was worse!
But when I reached the top, well, it was all worth it. I can safely say it was the view of the year so far, and it continued to be stunning all the way down my descent. This I feel may have been slightly dangerous however. So enraptured was I by the view at various times, I completely forgot that I was actually moving down a hill at speeds of over 40km an hour and on more than one occasion I nearly became closely acquainted with the tarmac.
Part two of the cycle was much less glamorous. As I came back in to Sutton Village, I hung a right and headed in the general direction of the airport. The picturesque countryside of Howth and its surroundings quickly gave way to the industrial landscape of the airport. I suppose you can’t have it all good, all the time!
Run tomorrow… Let the hard yards begin!!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
A New Departure For Jodytheblog
Here goes nothing. Last year I did 3 sprint distance triathlons (750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run for the uninitiated amongst you) just to see would I enjoy them. And guess what, I did, more than I thought I would. I was, to borrow a phrase, bitten by the bug.
So in the spirit of not resting on my laurels, I've decided to 'go long' and complete an Ironman. This endurance test consists of a 3.8km swim followed by a 180km cycle, all topped off with a marathon within a 17 hour time limit.
Now obviously turning myself from a rugby player in to a lean, rangy endurance athlete is not going to be an easy, or a short process. But I'm sure I'll eventually be able for it, or at least I hope I will be. It is 12 months away after all!
The plan is this... I am hoping, injury permitting, to complete a half Ironman this August or September then complete an Ironman proper in May 2011.
I started training for the various disciplines a while back, well as much as is possible in a wintry rainy Ireland. However only on Sunday did I begin the training program for the half Ironman. And right here sportsfans, is where I plan on blogging about my efforts and experiences, including any races or triathlons I do in between, in the hope of giving you a flavour of what being an Ironman is all about.
Enjoy, I'm sure I will!
So in the spirit of not resting on my laurels, I've decided to 'go long' and complete an Ironman. This endurance test consists of a 3.8km swim followed by a 180km cycle, all topped off with a marathon within a 17 hour time limit.
Now obviously turning myself from a rugby player in to a lean, rangy endurance athlete is not going to be an easy, or a short process. But I'm sure I'll eventually be able for it, or at least I hope I will be. It is 12 months away after all!
The plan is this... I am hoping, injury permitting, to complete a half Ironman this August or September then complete an Ironman proper in May 2011.
I started training for the various disciplines a while back, well as much as is possible in a wintry rainy Ireland. However only on Sunday did I begin the training program for the half Ironman. And right here sportsfans, is where I plan on blogging about my efforts and experiences, including any races or triathlons I do in between, in the hope of giving you a flavour of what being an Ironman is all about.
Enjoy, I'm sure I will!
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