WEEK 16 IRONMAN TRAINING

I’m very tired writing this as Manchester United put me through the mill last night in the Champions league semi final (No i was not playing but it did feel like it at times when i was kicking the sofa). But they made it & looks like i’ll be watching the final in some bar on our training week away in Lanzarote.. Last week was my fourth big week in a row as my training plan has changed a little with us going to Lanzarote & trying to fit that week into the plan. Normal rest on Monday & i now look forward to this as i get to do some normal domestic things about the house that i’ve neglected over the last few months. Tuesday went on a long run & managed 18k in 1hr 46in so times are the same & i’m relaxed more in my running these days.

The rest of the week was as normal Wednesday 4000m swim & on Thursday i took a rest as i was feeling tired. Met Mark again at 6a.m. on Friday morning for our normal swim set & we managed a great 4700m swim set. I had to meet early on Saturday morning as i had a Communion to go to in the afternoon. Myself Mark & John did a great fast cycle to Baltinglass & as per usual we got soaked & on the way home Mark lost his MANHOOD & also lost his tyre as it blew up close to home. So my quick brick session was put on hold & had to get Mark’s car & go back a pick him up. So after a WET 92k Cycle & a VERY LONG TRANSITION i managed a 5k run at an easy pace.

Sunday was another great day in the saddle & myself John & Rodney met & did 4hr’s 45min spin & we did some time trialing during the session & for the first day this year we had sunshine.. So another good weeks training & i’m going to take a step back next week & rest up a little. So this weeks training was Swimming 8700m Running 23k Cycling 223K & over all 13hr’s 15min’s training. 

WEEK 15 IRONMAN TRAINING

Ahhh two days rest….!!!! After yesterday’s rain (Sunday) i’ve had two good day rest. The last week was a good week overall & it quite scary how close Germany is creeping up on me. Last week was a big weeks training & on the Friday i did not run to well & felt very sluggish so on Tuesday i went on the same long run & at least this time i felt good all the way about & a nice 17k was covered in 1hr 30mins. So overall i was very happy as there are times i get worried when i’m sluggish but i suppose that comes with the territory..

After learning last weeks lesson of going to the pool early i went late this week & Thank God all the kids were gone home. I was looking forward to this session but when it came to it i started off as if i was sinking the whole time. Eventually after some drills i started to get some momento going in the pool & decided to go long & did 2200m in 38mins. This was the longest i’ve ever swam without a rest & had loads left in me & was not one bit tired.. Finished the session off with 1000m & then a 400m cool down..

Thursday is now a short 3 hour bike session for me & headed off to Blessington with a wind on my back & i was flying & thinking that i’ll have to hit that wind on the way back.. Well i did & my God i thought i’d never get home.. 70K done & i was shattered…. Met Mark on Friday for a 6am swim & got 4000m done before work. Wanted to get out early on Saturday on the bike as Domestic issues needed to be attended to to (Bloody Grass). Met at the gym again at 8 & headed to Baltinglass & beyond & we flew down as  the wind was behind us again. So we worked together on the way back & we covered great ground in a great time & a total distance of 127k.

Back to the gym bike’s into the cars & off we were on our 40min run. The run was so much easier than last week & felt great & covered 8k in 40mins. Mark covered 6k & he too felt good so it’s all going according to plan so far.. Sunday was our recovery cycle but as above it was lashing rain so i stayed in bed for a well deserved rest.. So this week training consisted off 25k Running, 197k Bike & 8200m swimming.. 12.5hr’s training…

WEEK 14 IRONMAN TRAINING

Well after my meeting last week with Scott i still await my new programme but at least i know what i have to do. I took my normal rest on Monday & deserved it after the previous weekend’s cycling. Tuesday i still felt very tired & after work headed home for what Leila calls my sneaky “SIESTA”. But it was not sneaky today as Leila has been in bed sick. Woke up very sluggish & was i two minds as to go out running or not & after some careful thought i decided i’d do a small run. Gear on & headed out & while on route i felt good so went a little further & did a nice comfortable 17k in 1hr 30mins & overall very happy. Wednesday is swim day & i learned a very important lesson today “DON’T GO SWIMMING AT 3p.m. AS THE KIDS ARE GETTING SWIMMING LESSONS” No joy as the pool as packed & in the fast lane was 2 doggy paddler’s. After a while Thank God they went home & i did a nice 2400m swim better than nothing i suppose, so next week i’ll be swimming later in the day.

Was very tired again on Thursday & again decided to catch a little “Siesta”. Woke up again feeling good & with the cold weather outside decided to go to the pool & get in a short swim. Ended up doing a 600m drills warm up & then did 2000m at a comfortable pace & was delighted to have felt good all the way so not at least i know the swim is not going to be as daunting as first thought. Friday was supposed to meet Mark in the pool at 6a.m. but got a text to say he did not sleep well so he stayed in bed…. (Ye big wimp i know your reading this). Friday evening i went for a long run & got in 23k in 2hr’s 15min so very happy with this as it was cold & miserable out & i got soaked in rain..

Seeing as i had my TT bike back from the bike shop we decided we’d head out on Saturday on our TT’s & it looks like from now on we’ll be spending more time on them in the lead up to Germany. We met at 8 a.m. & headed for Baltinglass & we went at a great pace in miserable conditions & overall we did 120k in 4hr’s 15mins & then ran off the bike for 20mins & after the initial shock of trying to run it became very easy after a few minutes & did i say we were soaked from the rain. We met up again on Sunday for a recovery cycle & did 120k in just under 5hr’s. So another good week’s training done & another week down. So this weeks overall training is 5000m Swimming, 40k Running, 240k Cycling & 14.5hr’s training

WEEK 13 IRONMAN TRAINING

Ahh it’s cranking up now.. I started the week with an easy 10k run & felt ok all the way even if i was battling with the wind. Was back in the pool on Tuesday & when i hit the water it felt like i was not supposed to be there. Anyway i grinded out the first 600m & then started to feel ok in the water again & did a set of 5000m so overall very happy with my time in the pool. Was meeting with Scott on Wednesday about the next stage of my training & we had a great chat about what i’d done so far & i’m happy to say it was a very positive meeting & the weeks ahead are going to be long & hard but i always knew that. I’d had a hint of a slight cold & decided to rest up that evening & watch some Champions League. Thursday i was back feeling good again & did a 16k run & with the good weather i really enjoyed it.

Mark texted me on Thursday night about an early swim session on Friday so i decided sure what the hell so up at 5.30a.m. & cycled over to the gym & in the pool for 6am & covered 4000m in the session. Cycled to work & ran home so a very positive day for me. Saturday was long cycle day & myself & Mark hit the hills & covered 120k in 5 hours so a very positive day in the saddle even if the wind nearly killed me.. Sunday i was going to go out alone late in the day as Leila was away in Spain. Woke up at 8 & looked out the window to see the ground covered in snow YES snow in April.. Back to bed & fell asleep again until i got a call from John to see if i was going out so at this stage the snow was gone so decided to meet up & we headed out for a flat road spin at  good pace until that bloody wind hit us again & did i mention that we also had SNOW & HAILSTONES to contend with. So another good (HARD) day in the saddle & 5 hours done. So this weeks training was 10hr’s (240k) Cycling, 9000m Swimming, 37k Running. 14.5hr’s in all Training…