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.