WEEK 20 IRONMAN TRAINING IN LANZAROTE

Well finally the week away training was here. I’ve been looking forward to this week for a few months now. Going to the sun was one thing but getting to train flat out for a week appealed to me big time. Anyway with all the bags packed it was time to get to the airport & get the bike booked onto the flight. Met Mark early in the airport & bikes booked on with no trouble whatsoever. All the lads had arrived at this stage & we all headed for the plane. A lot of sitting around & talking to the Wicklow lads before we could get settled finally on the plane.

Fours hours later we were finally in Lanzarote. Bikes arrived safely & off we headed to the Apartments which were 10mins from the airport. Booked in & bikes & bags into room with Myself, Mark & Rodders. Runners on & we were off running to get the cobwebs shaken away & a nice run up the coast. It was amazing to see so many athletes in town as IRONMAN lanzarote was on the Saturday & there i was thinking i was looking good……. Nah not when i saw the real boys in Lanza..

Bikes were put together that night as we were off early cycling the next morning. Wednesday was an early 7a.m. start as we wanted to get our swim in on the Ironman course & it was full of people doing the same & the water was beautiful to swim in & i wish Ireland was the same. Swim went well & back to the apartments for breakfast. Finally we met to get out on our first of many bike spins. All i can say about our first spin is that it when we headed out & hit the wind we all knew we were i for a hard week’s training. We ended up doing a 4 hour spin mainly finding our feet. 

The winds in Lanzarote have to be experienced first hand as you seem to be fighting to control the bike most of the time & cycling against the wind. We had a few great days in the saddle & hit some amazing hills & the views of the lava fields was something to behold. I had a few big days the first 3 days with doing running, cycling & swimming but being away & getting some rest in after the bike your feel full of energy soon after & i could easy become a full time athlete..

Saturday was IRONMAN lanza & we all got out of bed a 6a.m. to see the swim start & wish all the Wicklow lads the best. It was an amazing day watching the swim & bike start & then when they finally arrived back for the marathon it gave us a real insight as to what’s ahead on 5 weeks time. We gave out support to all the Irish racing & especially the Wicklow lads & we stayed out until Jamie came home with an hour to spare & this was to me the most memorable even if it nearly killed him.. You have to see an IRONMAN race to appreciate it. It’s truly an amazing day….

The next few days were big days for me & the boys even if our group had broken up a little. Most days Mark was left at his now renamed MARK’S ROUNDABOUT. The winds & hills were not for Mark but he still battled on. I managed to get some good brick session in on the last few days. It was a great weeks training & i would do it again tomorrow if i could & it felt great coming home feeling a little like a athlete.

As for the rest of the boys all i will say it was a pleasure being away with everyone training but i think a few more days together & we would all be in prison for MURDER…… Remember boys i’m watching you & DON’T speak to me in Germany… he he he

Anyway i could write a lot more but i’ll be here for a long time & i need to keep it all for my Autobiography………….!!!!!!!

So overall this weeks training was Bike 550k 20hr’s 15mins, Running 55k 5hr’s 30mins (Inc Brick sessions) Swimming 10000m 3hr’s.

 

WEEK 19 IRONMAN TRAINING

This week was the build up to our week away training so a little running about & training was this week. Managed to get my long run in the park on Tuesday as i wanted to watch the Duathlon. Did 26k & then headed of to support Eddie & the rest of the Pulse crew in the Duathlon. Long swim again on Wednesday & had a great session even if i was a little tired. This week was a little different as Thursday was a rest day also & it was more with us going away next week as it would be a big weeks training.

Friday was a long swim session again & was a little sluggish starting off but managed to get a good session in again. Saturday was the first of one of my brick sessions & left Westpark gym early & did a good 4hr bike session with John & Mark & we even threw in the Hollywood hill twice for good measure, back to Westpark & transition in the car & bike into boot runners on & did a comfortable 12.5k in just under an hour.. 

Sunday i decided to rest up & pack my bike away & taking it apart was more stressful than preparing for Ironman as hoping i’d be able to put it back together was more on my mind than July the 6th..

So this weeks training was Running 38.5k Swimming 8600m Bike 110k & total hours 9hr’s 50min.

WEEK 18 IRONMAN TRAINING

Ahhh the Sun has finally come out. Thank God it’s been a great week weather wise & training wise. As per usual Monday was my rest day & after such a long rest last week i was wondering if i’d lost all my fitness. It’s funny how you think you’ve lost it all after a few days rest. Anyway with the weather so good i was on for a hot long run on Tuesday & i think i ran all over Dublin ended up doing 25k in 2hr’s 15mins so really happy & it’s safe to say i lost none of my fitness on rest week……!!!!!

Wednesday is my usual long swim & got a good 5000m session in. Thursday was a new brick session for me & a session i’ll be doing quite a bit over the next few weeks. Weather was still brilliant & did 65k on the bike & then into transition which i may add is in my bedroom bike gear off & running gear on & all done in 8 minutes.. Pretty impressive seeing i had to bring my bike up to the spare room also. So if ever there is a transition in a bedroom i’m at an advantage… I started off on the run fairly easy & after a few minutes i was in my running stride & managed 12k just over an hour & also on this run i did practice taking my gels on board.. Ohh do i still have a long way to go in the REAL day… 

I felt good on Friday & decided to cycle to work & get my swim in after work as Mark was feeling tired so our morning swim was put on hold for a week or so. Another 5000m swim set done after work.. Saturday & Sunday were both long days in the saddle. On Saturday it was just myself & Mark & we decided to stay away form the N81 as it’s 4 months now of that bloody road. We headed for Enniskerry & just as we got there it stared to rain & when i say rain i mean rain.. We took shelter for about 20 mins & finally it slacked off & onto the bikes again only for 10 minutes later the heavens to open again. We did get soaked & decided to head home. But after another 10 minutes the weather improved & we decided to carry on & after all the rain we had a great day cycling in the hills & covered approx 135k in 5hr’s 40mins.

Sunday was the same but Rodders was with us & as he’s king of the hills it was going to be a good one to watch him go.. We had another great day in the saddle but we lost Mark half way around as his leg was giving him a little grief so it was wise to head home & get some ice on it. So this weeks training was Running 38k 3hr’s 30 mins, Swimming 10,000 3hr’s, Cycling 335k 12.5hr’s overall 19hr’s this week..

WEEK 17 IRONMAN TRAINING (REST WEEK)

Well i took advantage of my rest week as i was feeling pretty tired at the start of the week. So rested up on Monday & Tuesday. It was weird not training as i’ve become so used to training everyday so resting was weird & the more i rested it felt as if i’d never trained before… Wednesday was back at it & did a short 11.5k run at a fairly fast pace in 59mins so happy enough with that & did it the CHI running way & felt it the next day on my cavles.

Again i was tired on Thursday so just did a 2400m swim set & home to the sofa. I cancelled our early swim session with Mark as i need more rest so just cycled to work on Friday just so could keep my legs ticking over & after work i had my normal siesta & slept for 2 hours so i must be tired. Saturday was very weird as i had a few extra hours in bed in the morning as i was not meeting the boys for our normal long cycle. So after watching some football i went for a 2 hr cycle in the late afternoon & had a bloody strong head wind all the way…. Rested up for the rest of the weekend. Back at it hard next week & i’m feeling good again after my deserved rest.. 2 weeks to Lanzarote & some sun & hard training……………!!!!!!!!!!!! So this weeks training was 45min Swim (2400m) Cycle 2 hours (70k) Run 11.5k 59mins…