Thursday, January 31

A week in Engerland

So far so good!

Have had a good week of relaxing with some training..well yeah some... done too. Got over sat night after the Tri coaching day and pretty much went straight to bed. Sunday was a dedicated rest day. Got up about 11am and started to eat. About 2 ish decided probably should stop eating food and head into town to get some more food! Walked down to the local village, bout half hour away, did some shopping and walked back. Pauline had a load of friends over so i help cook for her. BIG amounts of food later and we all sat down and watched Top Gear for two hours. One of the lads remarked that it was like christmas dinner cause he was so full. unfortunately my baked Alaska didn't quite turn out like i had hoped.

Monday was a mixed day, had some work to do, and some faffing to do too. Did some work for my FYP and a bit for the varsities. Was going to go to Decathlon with Odile but much faffing on her part, and coffee on my part meant that we didn't go. Went to see Sweeney Todd that evening. Class pure class. Very good film, very entertaining.

Tuesday morning was training. 8am wake up call. Urgh way too early. Food. Packed, 15km cycle too the velodrome. BBRRRR cold. Planned on doing a nice easy session with the Vets and B's. Session turned out to be a little easier than i thought it would be. Long warm-up, then a few dedicated sessions, most of them fairly steady state with one or two sessions aimed at sprints. Most of the sprints were pretty feeble to say the least but thats what happens! Fun session though. Was still wrecked afterwards! Then the ever fun 15km cycle back. Tired after, and cold, its much much colder over here! Went into town after lunch for something too do and to look for a copy of 22o tri magazine. Ended up wandering around doing very little, got a coffee in the Arndale Centre (huge shopping centre), couldn't find 220, but did find a little gaming shop.

One of my other things that i like other than sport, is gaming. Either computer, board or ocasionally card games. I've been gaming since i was a kid. I like it, its something to distract myself when im not training and that alows me to recover a good bit at the same time. Picked up some new games and plan to play them with some mates at the weekend! Got a random game called Killer Bunnies that Pauline saw, i was a little dubious about a bright game that involved bunnies, but its one of the best and simplist games i've played.

Anyway, my anlke is still sore so i've not been running. Missed a swim session this morning cause i was being a lazy git and stayed in bed. I have no excuse, but the bed was warm, and its cold outside! Heading out for dinner tonight, then tomorrow is a last random day no idea what i'm going to get up too. Session on tonight at the velodrom, but i doubt i'll be back from dinner in time. Might go for a session in the 50m pool tomorrow, see what happen's. Flying home at 10 ish tomorrow, perhaps with Mikes new TT bike if the airport allow me!

Monday, January 28

It's been a while..... never confused

So yeah haven't posted in a while.

What have i been up too. Well i've finished my exams last Thursday. No more exams in DCU ever, bar repeats, which shouldn't happen. Happy to be finished, only hit me a few days after the exam that im finished. Just the big projects left to go!


Took the Monday and Tuesday to rest up after the exam. Didn't get sore legs after the race, which is a first for me! Got some study in during the week and a few sessions in, mostly i was studying. I figured i could get a first in nutrition if i put the work in. Just did some short cycle sessions and made sure i was watching what i was eating all week. Studying all week helped that! Weather all week was unreal, loads of rain, loads of heavy wind. Not the best for training.

Friday after the relaxing of an exam night i decided to go for a spin with Jeff. Windy was an understatement for the day. Jeff was tired from study and an exam that morning. So went out and did 40km in the wind, great when the wind was behind us, hell when it was into our face. Stopped of for a coffee in Howth, partially to rest, partially cause Jeff was dying :) Chilled out that evening and did shag all. played with my computer and rested. Was nice to actually have nothing to worry about for a change.

Saturday was a different story. I had got a ring from a lady in Triathlon Ireland during the week asking me would i do some cycle coaching at a beginners day. No worries, bit of coaching with some other coaches would do me good, get me back in the grove. Then the Tri coach they had arranged pulled out at the last minute. So i ended up being promoted to head coach! Not a major issue , just meant getting sessions together at very short notice. But sure that worked out in the end. We had over 60 people and 10 or so helpers too. Each of the Dublin clubs sent people out to help, they acted as coaches for me too. Split up into 3 abilities the day went well, more or less all were beginners but some had a little more experience than others.

Spun out to Hugh's after the coaching day, sat around and ate some breaky and drank some tea. Genreally we ended up just talking cycling for an hour or so. Was nice to rest up then cycled home after. All in all got a 60km session in for theday. Most of it was at recovery pace or just about aerobic pace. Still nice to get some millage in and get rid of more of this christmas fat! Ankle is still sore :( going to get Odile to have a look at it later, hope she weill have an idea!

Over in Manchester for a week now. Going to get some training in, and some resting. Just need to chill out for a week before i get back into the long hard grove that is going to be my fourth year project. On top of that i'm going to finalise my training programme for the next few months before the HIM.

Getting psyched over this race now! Great to be chatting to other tri heads at the coaching day, got me going again.

Monday, January 21

First real race of the season, and a week of exams before.

Well I've had an interesting week. We had two exams last week, day after day. Didn't think i'd studied enough for the second exam but it turned out i was ok. Got a little confused with the second section of the exam, questions sucked a bit, not much we can do about that though.

Got a decent amount of training even though i was studying. Most of it was just to keep the aul body ticking over to be honest. Training can move up a notch again next week cause then ill be out of exams. Still have one to do this week on Thursday, should be ok, nutrition exam, easy enough. Went for a swim session after the exam on wed, was quite tired but still cracked out a few 100's to work on my technique, hope to get a few decent sessions in over the next week, but i'll see how study go's.

Went for a n hour on the cyclocross bike on Saturday morning after work, needed to get the legs used to effort again before the race on Sunday. Only did about 18km but was nice to be out. Literally as i got home it started to rain, rained until late into the night. It seams to be the trend at the moment, dry in the morning, pisses all afternoon and evening. Went over to Andy's for the rest of the day, few of us met up an played Risk for a few hours, nice to just crash out with my mates and have a laugh. Good relaxing day before a race!

Then i woke up on sunday, i had hurt my shoulder (not the one i dislocated) on Sat evening. Dunno how, but it was tweeky on Sun morning. Said i would race so asked Mike to meet me rather than cycle to his. Drove out to the race, got there nice and early to see that most people had chickened out due to the weather. It looked like it was going to lash for the race but it stayed off until i got home after the race! Race was good. 3.2km run around Punchestown race course, nice rolling course, followed by a 20km ride, then the run again.

The bike section i had remembered from last year was tough, Quick 1km decent, followed by a 7.5km constant climb, quick decent then back. I decided to ride the road bike, mainly cause i want arsed building the TT bike for it to get dirty, and cause i wanted to work with power to see a few ideas ive been toying with. Decided that power would have to stay above 250W min on all the climbs, let it drop on the decents to get my rest. This is the plan i want to use for the Ironman, get my places on the climb, recover and eat on the descents. Pushed a little on the last decent cause i knew i could catch Sean after the turn around.

Power, cadence, and Speed for the cycle leg.

Both the run's went well, felt good on the first one but i had decided to take it easy. Felt good on the way out to the second run, couldn't push any speed but i was able to keep pushing the whole way. Workin on my Ironman shuffle! w00t! Did a 1:12:12 overall, much faster than last year, but hopefully i can get faster on the other two races in the set.

HR and Altitude for the whole race (smoothed too 1min)

5km road race, run, on in Raheny at the weekend. Might do it as its only down the road, see what happens and if my ankle ain't still sore.

Tuesday, January 15

Exams are sucky

2 down 2 to go

God i can't wait till these are over and i can get a life again.

Went for spin into and home from college. Nice to be on the bike. Stretched the still sore legs out from Sunday.

10km out , 13km back, took the scenic route :)

It was raining, but nicer than sitting infront of Mr. Lappy looking at statistics.

Gah they will be over soon!

Sunday, January 13

Mountain running. Hello old friend.

9 years since i last did any hill running. Last time involved hypothermia. That was not the most fun moment of my childhood.

Large turn out at the first race of the year in Howth. Louis, Waggers and Mike came out too. First time trail run for any of them. Main reason for going was that it was close, an excuse not to study, and i was having a fat week. However i forgot just how much fun it was to run down a mud covered trail at full speed balancing on the edge of staying vertical. Now i remember why i used to do this sport.

Two laps of the course, 8.5km altogether. How hard can it be...hahah oh i remember how much pain this sport can result in. Lap of the GAA pitches then into the trail itself. Straight away into the first climb after a slog through the waterlogged forest at the base of the hill. Walk/run a bit, then walk, then remember to breath! On the top of the hill and the first little decent. Get the legs turning, ignore the HRM beeping at you, 95% of your HRmax is fine...ignore it it'll go away. Few more ups and downs, then the first major down. Narrow quick mud covered slope with some serious gradient in sections. Pretend you are made of rubber, i'll be fine. Bottom of the trail and right back into the uphill, that evil climb! Another lap, back down the gauntlet, and run into the finish!


First lap hurt. i haven't been able to do much training recently cause of these exams, and with my ankle sore before New Years i haven't even had a run in the last month. Feels fine now, we will see later. Second lap was better, was able to keep my HR up on the climbs and keep it working on the descents, felt allot faster and was picking up places. Managed to faceplant a gorse bush on one of the corners, but quick recovery and got back on the heels of the guy i was chasing. Had him on the last decent, but a little slip saw him get me at the turn into the GAA pitches. Ahh well that's racing!

What i am happy is that my knees held up fine! I'll be sore tomorrow but that's understandable. Finished the race in an ok position, not sure where yet but don't mind to much.

However i do need to get my trail shoes back if i'm going to do the rest of the winter season.

Next race 3rd Feb!

139 days to go....

Saturday, January 12

Hard week...not in training

It's been a tough week. I've been studying all week with only one short spin on the bike for about half an hour. Had my first exam on Friday, happy enough with how it went, but cant wait until i get the next two out of the way.

Planning a session on the turbo tonight just to get the legs turning over and because im having a fat day, man period or whatever you want to call it. Bottom line i feel like crap. I know its cause im not exercising. But still it sucks.

With this in mind im planning on doing my local hill run tomorrow. Havent run off road propperly in a few (8) years so i reckon i will be in bits after it. Its only 8.5km but a steep enough trail. Looking forward to it actually. Going to try and get in the rest of the winter league races too if i can. Good training and a bit of fun.

Was working out in the National Boxing Stadium yesterday, great event, loads of people at it. Kept having to dodge the cameras, but worked out well.

Well back too study.

Thursday, January 10

Study sucks so much!

I know its my finals

I know i never have to do college exams again

But i just don't give a rats ass

I hate studying

Give me a lab and an athlete

Not this crap

Arrrhghgghghgg

Training is not happening at the moment fullstop. However doing a hill run on Sunday to get the evils out of my head!

Tuesday, January 8

Monday, January 7

Cyclocross = Hard

So in the spirit of all things cycling I decided to enter the cyclocross nationals.

I am a fool.

I figured it would be a fast bimble about a wood, on some tracks, some tarmac and maybe some muddy grass. Yeah I'm more than fit enough to do a 1 hour race over my lactate threshold or so! No worries ...yeah sure.


Mass start with a huge sprint for the first hill, carnage, ended up bike and riders all over the place, few crashes led to running the first half of the first single track section, then it began, took a few places on the first lap. Then I started to suffer. Quick singletrack interspaced with grass slogs and super fast tarmac sections. First 3 laps were fine, keeping place, head up and doing what I could! Then the guy who finished in first place lapped me. I felt so insulted, started to charge the course, dropped into a steep section a little to tight *BAM* slammed into a tree with my left shoulder and head, grounded, grabbed bike, realised number was gone ran back, nuts no pins. Random girl gave me a hair-band to hold it on. Thanks! Just couldn't get back into the groove, felt like shit so went out to put in as many laps as i could. One or two other squiffy moments but rest of the race was fine. Didn't get the 9 laps in, but only 5 riders did so i don't feel to bad! 7 laps later I realised this was a fun sport, one I'll never excel in but i will hope to do better in next year!


Enjoyed the race, will do it again, no i have the bike i have no excuses, except that i might put a small ring on it too.

Plan for the week, today is a rest day, might do an hour later on the turbo. Then study for Donals exam on Friday, oh yes finals! Pretty much just study and train. Going to work out what the week plan is later. Prolly post it tonight.

Thursday, January 3

Pfth, that was so last year!

Just got back from a weeks paddling and relaxing in Donegal with my mates. Great week, loads of fun, beers, and advetures!


Drove up to Cavan on the 26th, stayed over in Mike and Paulines place in Enzo's (formerly Blacklion). Had some Christmas type dinner with a load of people then watched some films. Finally when we all got the thumbs out we wandered down to the local in the town. Great night with some holly related bleeding. Then when closing time rolled around went into the Bar-Disco-Bar next door! The whole of the town were in the place, including the bar staff from the pub we'd just been in! Long long time later we ended up in the house eating turkey sambos at 4am, helathy i know but shut the hell up.

Early up, coffee and a fry was inserted before we drove to Glencar in Leitrim to meet up with Junior and his nutty family. More coffee. Drove in the direction of Donegal town picking up some shopping on the way. Got to the houses we had rented in Kilcar bay about 4pm, coffee + coffee. Small sleep, then ate some food! Very chilled night watching films and having a few beers. Great to finally relax.

Next few days followed the general plan as below:
  • Wake up, coffee and breaky
  • Faff
  • Go paddling
  • Faff
  • Drive Home
  • Faff and drink coffee
  • eat
  • Films and beers
All in all pretty good routeen! Some days paddling was changed for hiking or mountain biking! Got quite a few run's in the boat in, but as teh water levels were low didnt get a huge amount of great rivers in. Did the Upper and lower Eanymore water twice each, once high and once low each. Upper is great in high water, quick and fun, but not to constant. The Owenwee was the highlight of the trip though. 4km spate river, top 1km is flat. Did the whole run, including the shuttle back to the top and the portage to the put on in 25 minutes ;) 30m/km gradient. Very consistent. the last 2km are just a run of drops, much better than the Mcnasty and much more fun.

New years eve was the best i have ever had. In a tiny tiny local in Kilcar, only locals and us playing darts and drinking Guinness in the corner. Great. Did some hiking on Sliebh Leiuge on New Years Day and had a great relaxing day all in all.

Great week, lots of relaxing and just chilling out playing board games and chatting. Just what i needed after last semester. Feeling much more relaxed and not to freaked about study or training. But exams are looming so better get back to it.

149 days to go.

Wednesday, January 2

Pfth, that was so last year!

Just got back from a weeks paddling and relaxing in Donegal with my mates. Great week, loads of fun, beers, and advetures!

Drove up to Cavan on the 26th, stayed over in Mike and Paulines place in Enzo's (formerly Blacklion). Had some Christmas type dinner with a load of people then watched some films. Finally when we all got the thumbs out we wandered down to the local in the town. Great night with some holly related bleeding. Then when closing time rolled around went into the Bar-Disco-Bar next door! The whole of the town were in the place, including the bar staff from the pub we'd just been in! Long long time later we ended up in the house eating turkey sambos at 4am, helathy i know but shut the hell up.

Early up, coffee and a fry was inserted before we drove to Glencar in Leitrim to meet up with Junior and his nutty family. More coffee. Drove in the direction of Donegal town picking up some shopping on the way. Got to the houses we had rented in Kilcar bay about 4pm, coffee + coffee. Small sleep, then ate some food! Very chilled night watching films and having a few beers. Great to finally relax.

Next few days followed the general plan as below:
  • Wake up, coffee and breaky
  • Faff
  • Go paddling
  • Faff
  • Drive Home
  • Faff and drink coffee
  • eat
  • Films and beers
All in all pretty good routeen! Some days paddling was changed for hiking or mountain biking! Got quite a few run's in the boat in, but as teh water levels were low didnt get a huge amount of great rivers in. Did the Upper and lower Eanymore water twice each, once high and once low each. Upper is great in high water, quick and fun, but not to constant. The Owenwee was the highlight of the trip though. 4km spate river, top 1km is flat. Did the whole run, including the shuttle back to the top and the portage to the put on in 25 minutes ;) 30m/km gradient. Very consistent. the last 2km are just a run of drops, much better than the Mcnasty and much more fun.

New years eve was the best i have ever had. In a tiny tiny local in Kilcar, only locals and us playing darts and drinking Guinness in the corner. Great. Did some hiking on Sliebh Leiuge on New Years Day and had a great relaxing day all in all.

Great week, lots of relaxing and just chilling out playing board games and chatting. Just what i needed after last semester. Feeling much more relaxed and not to freaked about study or training. But exams are looming so better get back to it.

149 days to go.