New Year, New start. new goals

Living out in the country on the main road isn't an ideal place to run but take that plus all the snow and ice we had sure made me stay inside. Too cold..

So during the bad weather i decided to go to the gym whenever i could get my car out of the driveway. So maybe 2-3 times a week. I knew i wasn't really prepared for the Athenry 10k run which was being held on St. Stephens Day (26th December) but sure I had signed up for it, I'm doing it.  Like many other activities being planned for that time, got cancelled and was changed to the 3rd January.   I am firm man in enjoying Christmas and i ain't going to do that without having some good drinking sessions and big feeds. Christmas time was my time off from exercising and no way was I going to the race.

So its the new year, already got off to a bad start. Three days ago, I was getting ready to do a light run when i got off the chair and hurt my back. I think i pulled a muscle but god I hate it when you cant move freely and I'm also think i have a chest infection.  That's really annoying for someone who needs a puff of an inhaler before exercising.

i visit the doctor two weeks before Christmas to test my lungs.  he inputted data such as height and age and got me to puff into some machine. My lung capacity came back great. Age 20 was the result. He sent me on a hard 15min run and we performed the test again. My new age is 74.   My new best friend is the inhaler. :)

Things are now on the up.  Finally got back into things yesterday and a 45min run today. I will be staying in the gym until this weather clears up. I purchased a turbo trainer two days ago and was hoping it would arrive today.  hopefully it willl come before this nasty weather returns. 

I hope to build up my strength this year. I need to make sure this is a serious year and work even harder to achieve my goals. Hopefully I wont come across to many obstacles such as injuries.  Hope all 2011 goes as planned for ye as well.. Have a great one :)

Topsy turvy

It took me awhile to recover from my last race. I took a week off and started back into light training. Then last week I put in five sessions. (3 running, 1 cycle and 1 swim)

So i was looking forward to this week. I signed myself up for the The Fields of Athenry 10k which takes place on the 26th December. Basically I will take it easy on christmas day. Just have the big dinner and let it settle through to the next day.  This race brings over a thousand people out and everyone is so merry being it Christmas and all.  Last year they postponed it due to the ice on the route but all I can hope is that we will get lucky.  However current studies of the sun still see not much flare in the sun therefore not much heat being sent our way. But we live in hope.

One of the best things about having the race on the 26th is that its St. Stephens Day.  I would say this day is next biggest day to Paddy's Day. But not if Paddy's day is on a weekday. People don't go out for the night because they don't have the following day off.  St. Stephens day is the top drinking session of the year and i am going to run my heart out that morning and then run my mouth off that evening.

this week, got off to a terrible start, I was messing out the back and went to kick a ball but somehow there was this big stone covered in the high grass and I was not evening wearing shoes. I managed to give that stone a wallop and I came off the worst. I have a big enough gash on my foot and I'm currently resting it up.  I feel like an idiot, should have known to be more careful. maybe in the future.

Well hopefully the pain will subsude and I will get out. Its amazing when you cant get out, you really want to get out there but when your fit and all ready, you get that hump thats says don't go out. well I get that anyway.

Anyways i hope all of ye are staying injury free.. All the best <3

Duathlon Race Report

I went down to Kerry on Friday night. Stayed in a Ashfield B&B in Kenmare where I got a good nights sleep.  the journey down was one of a kind with the road passing through Killarney national park.  I couldn't not take in the amazing views since it was so dark at that time. I had to come to abrupt stop in the car with sheep and fighting goats giving it hell for leather at each other. 

I knew 10k of the starting course was on my way into Kenmare. I drove that road and got an awful shock. It was 10k of straight uphill and i was wondering what did i get myself into. My first duathlon, i should have started on a smaller scale and not at the other end.  Well we enjoyed our hosts in the B&B and woke up on race morning and looked straight out the window.  The rain was still crashing off the ground. Out of no where came a blue sky but it didn't stay out for long.

We took to the road after a great breakfast and went to register. unfortunately there was no T-shirts to commemorate the day but it looks like the last duathlon of the year so I compromised.  I would rather have a t-shirt then to get food at the end.

Before the race was about to start, I just had a quick look at my front tyre and noticed there was alot of air had left the tube. I quickly went to pump it but seemed to loose the remainder of air left.  Panic stations went to high alert and the race is off.  My mate Paul said 'will I stay with you?' but last thing I wanted to do was ruin the race for both of us so I told him to get on your bike and head off.

I thought I had another 10mins before the off time so that kind of annoyed me as well. My clock must have being running slow or something.  I quickkly asked two stewards for help and they new the fellow who was over the race and to my appreciation we got a new tube in very fast. I would be still there another 10 minutes if not for them.

Off I went,  about 6 to 7 minutes behind and was dehydrated with stress but a few gulps of energy drink and I set my eyes on climbing that mountain. I am not used to cycling much never mind up a mountain so when it was 5k in, i could see my eyes rolling to heaven. I said three hail Marys and put my head down and dug deep.  I overtook my first cyclist and began to set my sights on each one after that. I knew i wasn't going to catch many but one more is one less from the bottom.

I seen Paul way up in the mountain. He had a distinctive blue t-shirt on and I realised i was closing in on him. When we finally got to the top at Molls Gap and Paul was about a minute ahead. We were now in top gear heading downwards and  I thought my bike would catch his hybrid but he was flying and took to the sky like a rocket. I had to look around and wonder did i take a wrong road as he was well gone.  By that point I knew i wasn't going to catch him on the bike .

It wasn't raining much but did have a few drops. I had only runners on and they kept slipping of the pedals. there were not so easy to slot back in and I had to do this about 20 times.  I will surely invest in cycling shoes and clip on pedals after that. I think i would have lost about 3-4minutes with all that carry on.

I came across another fellow who had his bike upside down. Another tube replacement was taking place. I shouted out to him  'I know the feeling'.  Sure anyone i was passing of even the people watching on. Id give them a comment or two.  Well into an hour of the cycle. My man hood fellows were getting sore.  Also need to invest into cycling shorts with good cushioning protection.   But I motored on, still had energy to give but was dying to get of the bike and start running. On entrance to Kenmare I drank the remaining energy drink and then the cycle was completed. As I was entering, Paul was just exiting. I think i was only about 25 seconds in the transition. I passed two girls in there who were just doing some stretches.  Paul also stopped in the transition area and had an energy gel. He said he couldn't take it out during the cycle with it being up his compression top and was also wearing gloves.  I would have loved a picture of him trying to get that

There was a smile on Paul's face seeing me coming since he knew about the trouble I had starting off with. I caught up to him on the run and was going to stay at his pace for awhile but he told me to continue on. I then looked at my jelly legs and told them to move. not much of a response but was still catching a few runners out there.   The two girls that i overtook in the transition came by and passed my.  At the 3k marker, I took a bottle from the drink station. I asked a girl whats the remainder of the course like.  She said its mostly downhill so with my legs recovered from the cycle, I was putting in some good strides and set my eyes catching up to them two girls again.  

I usually have a little bit of a sprint at the end but i couldn't see the finish line so I pushed hard in the final half of kilometer. I overtook the girls again and just kept running and running feeling the line was coming soon. The turn off was at the entrance to the school and i came across in a time of 2:16

The feeling of achievement was rolling all over my body. I couldn't remove this big grin over my face.  My target for the race was 2:20 and i bet it. Paul passed the line shortly afterwards with a time of 2:26. We went into the school canteen area where food was provided to replenish our system. We grabbed a meal and a cup of tea and talked about the race.  Basically reliving every moment again.  the winner was well gone by that stage but for our first race, our only objective was to complete it and we did that.

Celebration time,  well it was a Bank holiday weekend so we went on the strong stuff for two nights.  Plenty of beer was drink, plenty of stories told and lots of songs being sung.   We don't believe in rest and the day after the race,  a friend asked us to help him knock down a wall.  Well we didn't hit the wall in Kenmare, but we hit it Ballylongford. 

Brilliant race, brilliant weekend. now back in Galway thinking of whats next and need to get back into some form of rhythm's. I wish there was pictures but nothing has being uploaded to the site. Ah there will be plenty of more races with plenty of more pictures.

Under 24 hours to go

i am just waiting on my friend to join me so we can begin our long journey down to Kerry. The weather was holding up but now the rain has come streaming down and its like theres no stopping to it.

I never repaired or replaced a tube on a bike so I decided to give it ago yesterday. It all sounds like common sense in taking off the tire and so on but I want to know how to do it quick and easy. I looked up a video on YouTube and i gave it ago. I was far beyond quick but i succeeded non the less. My back tire is bolted on and i don't have the tools to get it off so if a tire goes, let it be the front.

I am trying to figure out what i need to bring and just hoping I don't leave anything behind. Of course the right thing to do would be to write a checklist.. but that's not my style.  You never know what weather condition be throwing at me tomorrow so i will pack all sorts of stuff into the car.  It be really annoying if it is raining, poor guy lie me wearing glasses, so hard to see out of.

I purchased a bike helmet as well the last day. Got to look the part. Well its required that everyone wears one. I tested it out and its very comfortable and even has a sweat band to stop the sweat dripping into my eyes.

I know i am not ready for a duathlon like this but I'm a persistent man and my goal is to finish it tomorrow. It can take as long as it wants as long as i cross the line. I haven't completed a 40k cycle yet but did do a few 33km so I don't see it as a major problem. But if there is a strong wind against me with an uphill climb, now theres a problem. Ill keep fighting on I hope

Well i doubt i be writing about the event tomorrow, i should be exhausted. But will post up someday after the race.

Get back on that beaten Track

Being a tough time the last week and a half. I fell of the wagon a bit. Didn't do any running for a week just some swimming. Anyways the main thing is that I'm back into the swing of things and in the last two days I got a 5k run, 21k cycle and one hour of swimming lessons in.

Another area I have to focus is my food, last night after swimming, I stopped off at the shop and picked up a pack of chocolate biscuits, chocolate bars and fizzy drink. They were all gone by the end of night. HELP..

I don't mind having a tasty calorie packed snack once in a while but last night really took the biscuit.

Positive thing I can take from last week is my improvement in swimming, i managed to do a length of the pool (25meters). A goal of mine is to do 100m by Christmas.

Well I am going to get back on track. I really need to if i got a duathlon on in under 10days.. now that be fun. its ok to say I'm not fully prepared for it, I'm going doing it to get experience and its down the other end of the country so Road trip :). I need to get myself a bicycle rack for the car. Even need a helmet, that's how much unprepared I am. I will be more focused on duathlons next year.

My goals for the end of the year is to swim 100m and to complete a 10k in 52minutes. That's 5 minutes off my personal best so that be a tough task but with some more pounds lost and more time off out on the road and getting some intervals in, its possible.

Well i will keep on motoring, hope all ye are doing well in your own goals.

Im lovin it

Since my race two weekends ago, i haven't being out doing any hard running. Had a few little pains in my legs and was just basically afraid of making it worse. I did do a 4k and an interval session.

My main focus is getting on the saddle and getting up my endurance for the upcoming 40K challenge.  Since it is a duathlon im going to do,  i just tested my legs once I got of the bike. I went on a short run straight after and my legs were like jelly. I was running like i had 10 pints inside me. My head was in a little spin and i was trying to get my focus. But after a few short strides, you can feel everything returning. I was going to do a 2k run. Once I was into the run and a few hundred yards down the line, my leg got really sore and i began to hop. That was Saturday and haven't done a run since. Bit of rest and I think im back to normal. Hopefully nothing serious.

Today, I went to leisure land swimming pool with a friend who also is looking to improve his swimming. It was nice and quiet in there and i could learn at my own pace. I took what my swimming instructor in clarinbridge as well as other advice from videos on youtube and attempted to incorporate there advice into this swim.  There was major improvement with my technique and im getting further and further every time in the pool. Im still a mile off from even completing 50meters but the signs are there telling me im on the right track.

Well this week has got off to a good start and hopefully it will stay like that. Looking forward to going back to the pool and doing another long cycle.

My First Race: Loughrea 10k

Woke up this morning, first thing I checked was the weather.  It was clear outside, not even a drizzle. First good sign of the day.  I got myself prepared and drove to Loughrea to register for the race.  Got some music going to build to the adrenalin. Didn’t want to build it up to early so with a few hours to spare, I hit down to my friends who were also taking part in the race. Paul was not feeling to good, down with the flu but insisted on doing the 10k.



Paul, Brendan, Me



Half hour to the race and my last pit stop to the toilet.  The starting line had changed to further up the road due to the road being in a state.  You would think they would fix that by now, its being months but back to race. Did a short warm up and a few stretches and soon I heard the bang. Were off.  Forgot to start the stopwatch and didn’t notice till 30 to 40 seconds into the race.

Based on my training, I was expecting to come in around the hour to hour and five.  I started near the back. I was taking in all in the first kilometre, getting a feel for the race. The main thing I was watching was my pace, I didn’t want to get off the blocks to fast but didn’t want to be relaxed either. As from starting at the back, some people were in a slower pace and overtaking became hard as they were all in one line across the road.  Everything settled down after the first kilometre and I came to my first challenge, a tough hill but with fresh legs it was alright. I was in a group and going at a nice pace. A few more hills came but also came the descents.

Around the 4k, a stitch came on and I was like, it’s too early and the head began to drop.  A fellow called Philip Greally caught up along side me and even asked to tag along with me. So we were chatting along the way on random topics such as the hurling matches on that day.  He seems to be a popular man as nearly passing every spectator; they all seemed to know him. I was impressed with my time and had a habit of looking at my watch every few minutes. He told me not to focus on time and check the watch when you pass the long point (i.e. Loughrea lake entrance).

As we hit the 5k marker, water bottle station was on hand, I already had a stitch and a sup of water wasn’t going to make it worse. I threw some down the back of my neck and took the final sip 700meters down the road.

There was no serious hill left in the race and around the 8k, the stitch seemed to ease up. I was on the way to the finish, passed the long point and was delighted with my time.  I could hear people behind me but I never looked around, I always was focusing forward. I noticed a guy was slowing down in front of me and I set my eye on catching him. He was my first to overtake in nearly 6k. I had being overtaken so many times since then.

The final six hundred meters, a girl sprinted by me and she began to ease off 400meters from the finish. As we took the final corner, we noticed the finish line was pushed a hundred meters further since the start line was changed. I told Philip who was beside me for the last 6k that I was going to see if there was anything in the tank. I was only expecting a small increase but when I picked up and began to sprint to the line, I felt like a 200meter sprinter overtaking 3 before hitting the line.   I got my official time of 00:57:46. I was so delighted with that result.  My first race and I managed under the hour. I won’t set any targets just yet but will look to knock a few minutes off it in the next one.

Paul speeding to the finish

Brendan had already finished well ahead of me and came in on a personal best of 42mins. We were waiting for his brother Paul to come to the line.   He came around the corner side by side with another runner.  We began to cheer and the other and the other runner began to pull away but Paul dug deep and came across the line just ahead in a time of 1h8m.  

Race to the line

Well done to the lads and I would like to say thanks to the organisers for a brilliant race. I hope other races will live up to this standard and atmosphere.  If everything goes to plan, hopefully I will be back next year.

Also big thanks to Helen and Stephen who took photos for me on the day. Click here for more

Sprint to the line