run Zico10 run is who we are getting to know

peter kern

Previous threads of this series are:

Kurt Godel
littlemsfickle
BTH
Green&Red
Catzweazle
Dory
Oryx
RQ
Fazz
Bambaata
pgibbo
AKW
shotgunmcos
peter kern


My 15 seconds of fame are thankfully over!!!
Lets see if we get the words out of Zico10 ( also not a man of many words usually )
and since he said huff and puff is busy... it had to be him
Enjoy the man who in December runs more than anybody.

So here is my question how can a triathlete not do any bike training
or are you a swimmer that just runs a lot ;-)
why the handle Zico10 ?
and what was living in thailand like.

MD1983

are you the "White Pelé"? why Zico10?

joey100

Hey Zico, you do a serious amount of running and from what I can see (since you started the log anyway) don't really suffer many injuries. What do you put this down to? How do you recover after some of the longer harder runs?

pgibbo

Hey Zico,
Given the title of you log, is Kona a long term goal or where does it sit in your plans?
What do you think you'd need to do to get to Kona?
Have you a particular qualifying course in mind that may suit you better than others?
What's your sporting background?
How did you get in to triathlon?
You like to travel, what has been your favourite trip?
Any trips that you'd like to do and if so, what's top of the list and why?
What do you do for crust?

Cheers.

P.

RacoonQueen

What's your favourite flavour of crisps?
Goal time in Connemara?
Run and tri pbs?
Favourite run distance?
Favourite tri distance?
Favourite race?
Bucketlist race?
Best piece of advice you could give someone starting out running / tri?
If you could put on an Ironman anywhere in Ireland, where would you host it?
Did you like my dogs?

We'll be about three weeks waiting for these answers

interested

An awesome choice ....


- favourite thai beer ?
- strangest place you slept on bike tour of Europe and further afield ?
- who turbo's more ... you or kg

zico10

peter kern wrote: »

So here is my question how can a triathlete not do any bike training
or are you a swimmer that just runs a lot ;-)

I'm not doing any bike training as Connemarathon is my focus for the moment. I'm following a high mileage programme and don't want to be doing anything else that taxes the legs. It's seven days a week running, so there isn't any room or need for cross training.
I decided last November that running would be my focus and that was that. I doubt there's too many serious runners doing much in the way of cycling, so I have to adopt that mindset.
I'll pick a tri later in the season as another target, but right now my A-goal is Connemara. If the lack of bike training right now leads to a good time in Connemara, but a mediocre tri season, then it's just the price I have to pay.
To be honest though, I'm not overly concerned about all this running having any long term effect on my biking. I'll still have the necessary aerobic fitness, and I won't be doing anything longer than Olympic distance tris up until Autumn at the very earliest. 40km or just over an hour on the bike is not something I find particularly daunting. Despite extended breaks here and there, I've still cycled a lot over the last couple of years, and in terms of endurance or speed I hope it won't take too long to build back up to 40km.
Perhaps you'd disagree, but my mind is made up.

peter kern wrote: »

why the handle Zico10 ?

In an indirect way it's after the Brazilian soccer player. In a previous life I was more fanatical about soccer than I am now. All my brothers were, and once upon a time we got a dog. We all wanted to name it after a soccer player, but our mother didn't want to own a dog named Maradona. She was agreeable to Zico though, so that's what we called it.
Then when the Internet Age came, whenever necessary I'd use the dog's name as my username. When I went first registered for boards, I found to my dismay that 'zico' was taken, so I just I put the number 10 after the moniker and used that.

peter kern wrote: »

and what was living in thailand like.

Living in Thailand was great. I absolutely loved it. Don't think there'd be much of a market for tri coaches, but I'd highly recommend it. The people are so relaxed and laid back it makes for a great lifestyle. I never felt any stress or pressure in the job over there.
There's no real security in it though and he money I made was fine for living in Thailand, but you'd be a long time saving to have any substantial sum built up. If I could find a more secure and better paid job, I'd go back, but as it is I'd either be foolish or very brave to walk away from the job I have here.
I'd only planned on staying one year, but liked it so much I stayed on for an extra year. That became a year and a half as I wasn't going to be in a position to make money in Ireland until September 2013, so there was no point coming back any earlier. I didn't have enough funds to travel, so I sort of got stuck in Thailand.

zico10

MD1983 wrote: »

are you the "White Pelé"? why Zico10?

No, I'm not even particularly good at soccer. As to why zico10, see above.

zico10

joey100 wrote: »

Hey Zico, you do a serious amount of running and from what I can see (since you started the log anyway) don't really suffer many injuries. What do you put this down to? How do you recover after some of the longer harder runs?

To begin answering your question, I think you should know that I didn't just suddenly decide to start off on an 18 week marathon training plan from scratch. Even for regular tri races, I think I run more than most. My body is used to high mileage. After The Lost Sheep, I didn't really take much time off and come October was pretty much running everyday. Even though a lot of it was steady paced stuff, I think it all served to galvanise my body for the hard work that the P & D plan serves up. I'd ran four three hour runs in the two weeks before beginning the plan, so it was sort of an easing back when I started the plan proper.
I never got them checked out, but I've had what felt like stress fractures before. I don't know why, but I seemed to recover from them quickly. It's not been for a few years though, so maybe my body has become more resilient.
It would take a lot to make me skip a run, but if I thought something was seriously wrong, I would. Other than that I'm willing to run with slight niggles. Whether that's an ability or stupidity, I generally just get on with it.
When I get home after a long run, I'll have a Yazzoo or some such thing. If I feel stiff, I'll put on compression tights, but I don't always. That's honestly about it. I seldom stretch and even though my flatmate has a foam roller, I never use it.

hf4z6sqo7vjngi

zico10 wrote: »

I'll have a Yazzoo or some such thing.

Favourite flavour?:)

zico10

pgibbo wrote: »

Hey Zico,
Given the title of you log, is Kona a long term goal or where does it sit in your plans?

I won't be trying this year anyway. It'll take a lot of work, but I'd like to be able to turn out a good enough performance to qualify in 2015. I know it's far from certain, but whether I'd actually travel that October or not, I'm not sure. I think I'd be better travelling to Kona with more experience racing iron distance than I'll have in October 2015.

pgibbo wrote: »

What do you think you'd need to do to get to Kona?

I guess just go on the Internet, google flights, and pay the fare.:)

I think as close to sub 1 on the swim, as close to sub 5 on the bike, and as close to sub 3 on the run as possible. I haven't really looked at qualifying times, but I don't think I would be too far away if I could manage those three combined.

pgibbo wrote: »

Have you a particular qualifying course in mind that may suit you better than others?

Because of my job it'd probably have to be a race in July or August. Unless I got very lucky and a Ironman conveniently coincided with the Easter holidays. As regards type of course, I haven't given it any thought.

pgibbo wrote: »

What's your sporting background?

I don't really have any. There wasn't much options for me outside of team sports growing up and I was never good enough at any of them to persist with them.

pgibbo wrote: »

How did you get in to triathlon?

I remember hearing about it way back and thinking it would be a interesting sport to do, but never did anything further about it. I wasn't aware there was a tri scene in Ireland until a random punter moved into a room my brother and I were renting out in Dublin in 2005. He happened to do triathlon, and through him I found out a bit about the sport. The following year I bought a road bike, joined TI, and here I am

pgibbo wrote: »

You like to travel, what has been your favourite trip?

There's been a lot. I guess if you count three months backpacking around South America as one single trip it'd be that.
If you don't, then apart from having the biggest piece of sh!t of a bike in all of Asia, it'd be a motorbike trip I did in Vietnam.

pgibbo wrote: »

Any trips that you'd like to do and if so, what's top of the list and why?

I'd like to cycle round the world some day. 'Why?' To see the world I guess.

pgibbo wrote: »

What do you do for crust?

I'm a primary school teacher.

RacoonQueen

zico10 wrote: »

I'm a primary school teacher.

The 'July/August Ironman' gave that away. Does Kona slot nicely into October holidays?

Kurt Godel

Howdy Zico,

Why did you pick Conn?
What sort of hill specific work (if any) will you do?
Would you like to run any more IMRA races?
Training: is volume+morevolume better than intensity+littlevolume? (talking across the disciplines here)
How far can you swim in an hour?
What attributes of your character would you hope to impart to your young primary charges?

zico10

RacoonQueen wrote: »

What's your favourite flavour of crisps?

Salt & Vinegar

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Goal time in Connemara?

Sub 2.50

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Run and tri pbs?

Run; 5km - 16.52, 10km - 36.06, HM 1.19.56 Marathon 1.51.??
Tri; Sprint - 1.01.59 Athy '09, Olympic - 2.13.35 Athy ' 08, HIM - Way too many ifs and buts IM - 9.47.58

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Favourite run distance?

Marathon. It's an iconic distance and has the feeling of being a proper event. That being said I haven't done many races of other distances.

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Favourite tri distance?

Probably ironman. I've only ever done one, but I'd say it's the distance I'm best suited to, and like a marathon it's a distance I don't mind devoting months and months of training to.

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Favourite race?

Kilkee or Kenmare(except for last year)

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Bucketlist race?

Ironman Hawaii

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Best piece of advice you could give someone starting out running / tri?

Know what you want to do each week and do it.

RacoonQueen wrote: »

If you could put on an Ironman anywhere in Ireland, where would you host it?

I'll leave this to Leo Varadkar to decide. I wouldn't have the expertise to answer such a question. Wherever it was held, with Ironman behind it and with it being on my doorstep, I'd be tempted by it.

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Did you like my dogs?

I didn't dislike your dogs.:)

RacoonQueen wrote: »

We'll be about three weeks waiting for these answers

Just under 10 hours.:)

zico10

interested wrote: »

- favourite thai beer ?

Leo

It's the power of advertising

interested wrote: »

- strangest place you slept on bike tour of Europe and further afield ?

There were a few, but the strangest was probably a police station in the north of Thailand. It was a bizarre series of events that led to me ending up there. Then all the police on duty took off for the night and as far as I could tell I was left there all alone.

interested wrote: »

- who turbo's more ... you or kg

At the moment I'm not doing any cycling, so it'd be him. When I get back on the bike though I reckon it'll be me. I don't know how he's going to deal with me wanting to turbo at 6 in the morning, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

zico10

Luke Dead Fortune-teller wrote: »

Favourite flavour?:)

Chocolate, banana, strawberry in that order.

Dory Dory

Hi Zico!

You mention the possibility of Kona being your 2015 target, but then you also imply that you might not go if you qualify due lack of IM experience. I can't help but think of this in terms of your statement regarding walking away from your current job to go back to Thailand - it'd either be foolish or very brave. So, if you qualified for Kona and boldly turned it down, would you have any regrets if you never qualified again, or would you be content for the rest of your days that you made the right decision?

How many marathons have you completed? And what year and race was your first marathon?

Since your target race this year is Connemara marathon, do you tend to seek out hilly events? And if so, why?

Whether it be in triathlon or marathon, what is your secret weapon or strength in a race?

Have you any pre-race/race rituals or superstitions?

What is your 400 freestyle time? You can give that to me in either meters or yards - I know how to do the conversion.

How many tattoos have you got, and what and where are they?

zico10

RacoonQueen wrote: »

The 'July/August Ironman' gave that away. Does Kona slot nicely into October holidays?

I never recall it falling so nicely before. It's on October 11th this year, which would two weeks too early for me. And I think it's usually around this date every year.

Subject to board of management approval there's the possibility of taking unpaid leave for up to 10 days. This is most likely what I'd have to do.



But.....

This is from the Dept. of Education;

Representing Ireland at International Sporting Event – Paid leave, documentary evidence of the participation in the international sporting event and the number of days required must be submitted to the Department of Education and Science with the Board of Management approval

http://www.into.ie/ROI/InfoforTeachers/LeaveofAbsence/BriefAbsences/TableofAbsences/

So there is some hope I could go there and still get paid.

If I was representing Ireland in the Olympics, I'd certainly be able to avail of this. And I know of one case where a GAA player, and teacher, selected to play on the Irish Compromise Rules panel got to travel to Australia to take part in a test series.

I'm sure TI would supply the documentary evidence, but whether me flying off to race in Kona would be similarly approved, I don't know.

Chartsengrafs

Used to wonder when reading the log, did it take time to adjust to warm weather training in Thailand? Particularly considering the run miles involved.

What's your typical lunch & dinner?

Any idea who is covering swimming tomorrow evening?!

interested

Basster wrote: »

Any idea who is covering swimming tomorrow evening?!

The postman SF

zico10

Kurt Godel wrote: »

Why did you pick Conn?

I wanted a marathon that fell nicely before the tri season got into full swing. I was too late to register for London. I'd done Connemara before and I liked it. I suffered on the second half though, and feel I lost a bit of time here. I'd like to go back and put that right.

Kurt Godel wrote: »

What sort of hill specific work (if any) will you do?

I've been trying to run the hillier parts of the Phoenix Park on my medium and long runs. It's not perfect, but I'm making the best of it. I do hope to meet up with some boardsies to run hills in South Dublin a few times between now and April 6th, but it just hasn't happened yet.
I'm toying with the idea of doing my intervals up the Khyber in the Park. It's not exactly what I understand my training is meant to be, but it could be useful.
Same with strides, instead of doing them on flat ground, like I have been, I might run a few uphill as well.

Kurt Godel wrote: »

Would you like to run any more IMRA races?

I enjoyed all of the ones I have done, and they are by and large held in nice locations.
I think in isolation though they are not of much benefit to somebody in the middle of a training cycle, which is where I have been all winter. As an occasional blow out in the middle of a base build, I think the IMRA races are great, but I think in the middle of summer they interfere too much with a triathlete's training.
Depending where I find myself next January, I might do some more, but I'd be fairly certain it won't before the 2014 tri season is over.

Kurt Godel wrote: »

Training: is volume+morevolume better than intensity+littlevolume? (talking across the disciplines here)

I don't really know. I'm amazed Bambaata can do so well on what I think are so little hours. He's obviously got more ability than me, as I place huge store on volume. Intensity is very subjective I find, but to answer your question as best I can, I would consider my training to be volume, + more volume, + intensity.
I did a Total Immersion course before and one of my big issues with it was that you could teach yourself to swim fast by swimming slowly. I just don't see how that works, same with biking and running. If you want to race fast, you've got to train fast.

Kurt Godel wrote: »

How far can you swim in an hour?

Just a straight out TT? I'd probably be somewhere around 3,300m mark.
Most recent barometer for this would be a 20 minute TT two weeks ago, where I did 1,200m. Then last Monday I did a session consisting of an 800m warm-up, 10 x 200m off 3.50 & 150m cool down within an hour, so just shy of 3,000m.

Though I hope to be faster come summer time.

And I still haven't mastered the 400m TT yet.

Kurt Godel wrote: »

What attributes of your character would you hope to impart to your young primary charges?

I'm not going to turn everybody into an Einstein, but I hope I'm teaching them the value of hard work.

pgibbo

Will you be putting manners on BTH this season and knocking him off his perch? :pac:
What tri races are you targeting?
I think your post above proves that training adaptations are very different for different people. SOme people perform well off low volume and high intensity and others require volume. Determining that on an individual basis is key. Did it take you long to twig that?
Sounds like you swimming is improving since you returned from Thailand too. :cool:

pgibbo

Forgot to ask above

Favourite meal - all courses
5 dinner guests you'd have around and why
Favourite book
Favourite movie

Oryx

How many hours sleep do you get?
Spiciest food you ever ate?
If your house was on fire, and you could only save one item, what would it be? (pets and people are safe, okay?)
What physical attribute would you change about yourself and why?
What are your personal training/racing demons and how do they try and stop you?

zico10

Dory Dory wrote: »

You mention the possibility of Kona being your 2015 target, but then you also imply that you might not go if you qualify due lack of IM experience. I can't help but think of this in terms of your statement regarding walking away from your current job to go back to Thailand - it'd either be foolish or very brave. So, if you qualified for Kona and boldly turned it down, would you have any regrets if you never qualified again, or would you be content for the rest of your days that you made the right decision?

If I were to go to Kona, I'd want to go there and do well. I think it would be a big ask of someone with my experience to expect to qualify in July/August and then be back up to peak fitness just 2 or 3 months later. If i were to turn it down, that would be my reasoning behind it. It's all hypothetical and a long way off, so I might feel differently if I were to qualify. But spending an awful lot of money just to go to Hawaii and get round the course is not something that really appeals to me.
If I qualify next year and never qualified again, I'm sure I would regret turning it down, but I think if I were good enough to qualify in 2015, I should be good enough to qualify in 2016. Although I would have moved up an age group, so I'd have to look further into it.

Dory Dory wrote: »

How many marathons have you completed? And what year and race was your first marathon?

I've completed five, six if you include my ironman marathon. My first was in Dublin in the year of 2008.

Dory Dory wrote: »

Since your target race this year is Connemara marathon, do you tend to seek out hilly events? And if so, why?

I haven't so far. I tried to enter the Ballycotton 10, but it was sold out. If I can find conveniently located hilly events that fit nicely in with the plan I'm following I'll enter them, but I won't travel too far jut to do one. As to the why, Connemara is a hilly course, so I think it'd best to do races as similar
in profile to this as I can.

Dory Dory wrote: »

Whether it be in triathlon or marathon, what is your secret weapon or strength in a race?

I honestly don't know.

Dory Dory wrote: »

Have you any pre-race/race rituals or superstitions?

I'm not superstitious. I'm such a procrastinator that I'm usually frantically rushing about in the few minutes before the gun goes off. So I don't really have time for pre-race rituals. I try to visit the portaloo before any race no matter how I'm feeling, if you want to count that.
For tris I like to walk, jog, run then sprint through transitions before a race, rehearsing T1 and T2, but guess that's more practice than a ritual.

Dory Dory wrote: »

What is your 400 freestyle time? You can give that to me in either meters or yards - I know how to do the conversion.

It'll be metres, of course. :)I don't do them a lot. The most recent was last Thursday, 7.0?, but I just wasn't on form that night. It's easy talk, but I know I could do better. Since coming back to Ireland I've swam 4 x 100 off 1.45 a few times, so 7.0? doesn't make sense. I guess I just need to keep at it.

By the way, do they have pools that are 50 yards long in America? Or why do you keep referring to swim distances in yards?:)

Dory Dory wrote: »

How many tattoos have you got, and what and where are they?

Three, you can almost see them all in the photos I posted along with my race report from Phuket. I remember you commenting on them.

I've a Celtic band on my left arm that I got when I was 18.
A snake which wraps around my upper right arm that I got when I was 21. I don't particularly like this one, and will probably get it covered up some day. When/If I get another tattoo, that's what I'll get done.
Lastly I've a Maori tribal tribal tattoo around my left thigh that I got when I was 29.

Dory Dory

^^^ Admirable Kona answer.

No. No 50 yard pools here in America - only the standard long course of 50 meter, and the standard short courses of 25 yard and 25 meter pools. I keep referring to swim distances in yards because I have a lap pool that is 20 yards long - that is what I train in if I'm not in the lake.

Re tattoos...I had one removed via laser. Left a scar, so not really an option for you and that snake, I suppose. I imagine whatever you get to cover up the snake will be quite a project!

zico10

pgibbo wrote: »

Will you be putting manners on BTH this season and knocking him off his perch? :pac:

I never knew he was on a perch.:pac:
Ah no, to be fair to him he's done very well over the last few years. I haven't raced properly in Ireland for a few years. Even in the year before I left (2010) my focus was Challenge Copenhagen. I only raced in Ireland three times that year and didn't take much notice of who was finishing around me. If I do a few races this year, I expect I'll find out who my main adversaries are. It could be that it's BTH with a target on his back, or he could be so far ahead of me I'll have to aim lower.

pgibbo wrote: »

What tri races are you targeting?

I've pre-registered for Kilkee, so hopefully I'll be doing that. Other than that, I've no particular race in mind. I'm toying with the idea of going long in either September or October. I'll have to make up my mind for definite on that shortly after finishing Connemara. If I don't go long, then it'll be down to Kenmare for another crack at The Lost Sheep.

pgibbo wrote: »

I think your post above proves that training adaptations are very different for different people. SOme people perform well off low volume and high intensity and others require volume. Determining that on an individual basis is key. Did it take you long to twig that?

At the same time, I still think what's good for the goose is good for the gander. Their approaches might be different, but I doubt there's much difference between the hours the ITU guys train.

pgibbo wrote: »

Sounds like you swimming is improving since you returned from Thailand too. :cool:

I'm swimming at lot more, and it definitely pays off. I'm going to three coached sessions a week, whereas in Thailand I didn't have any. One of these is with interested, and like a lot of people on here I have to give some credit to him. Peter Kern is also coaching me for one of these sessions, he's helping a little bit as well.:)

Dory Dory

Who coaches your third swim session of the week?

How do these coaches' methods differ from each other?

And do you feel you are maximizing your swim potential by exposing yourself to and learning from three coaches?

zico10

pgibbo wrote: »

Forgot to ask above

Favourite meal - all courses
5 dinner guests you'd have around and why
Favourite book
Favourite movie

1) I'm not a connoisseur when it comes to food, whatever is on the menu for starters, something with prawns, wouldn't know the names of any exquisite dishes, steak and chips with veg for the main course, and something chocolatey & nutty for desert.

2) I wouldn't enjoy myself in the company of 5 strangers, so it would just be people I'd know. Sorry of that disappoints, but it's the truth.

3) The Butcher Boy by Patrick McCabe

4) The Big Lebowski - It's like the Michelangelo's David, it could not be more perfect.

zico10

Sorry I passed over this earlier.

Basster wrote: »

Used to wonder when reading the log, did it take time to adjust to warm weather training in Thailand? Particularly considering the run miles involved.

It took time at the start. But then when I first went there, I'd done practically nothing for over four months. I did struggle with the heat and humidity, but my lack of fitness didn't help.
I'd be absolutely soaked in sweat after my runs, but I did most of them after dark, when the heat wasn't that intense.
The moving air on the bike kept me cool and I didn't notice the heat as much then. Being out of the sunlight, with two fans going at full blast, and endless supply of bananas and fluids the turbo sessions no matter how long were also tolerable.
The worst was nearly swimming as I swam in an outdoor pool, usually around midday. On cloudless days, the sun would be blazing down on top of me, but it was only an hour or thereabouts, so I could cope.
I don't mean to make light of the climate though, some days were extremely tough. I weighed myself one day after a 5 hour bike, followed by a half hour run, and the scales measured 66kg. Sort of scary when my usual weight was 71-72kg.
Like the weather in Ireland though your body adjusts to the climate, and I wouldn't use it as an excuse not to train.

Basster wrote: »

What's your typical lunch & dinner?

Lunch is generally brown pasta with pesto sauce. As of late I've been trying to switch to low carb meals in the evening. Dinner could be omelettes or salad with salmon/tuna. I'm not very adventurous in the kitchen and I don't eat a lot of meat, so my diet is pretty repetitive.

Basster wrote: »

Any idea who is covering swimming tomorrow evening?!

I knew, but I see interested has answered this already.

zico10

Oryx wrote: »

How many hours sleep do you get?

I get up at 6 a.m. all week day mornings and find it hard to sleep much beyond that on the weekends. I'm doing well if I'm in bed before 11, sometimes it's after midnight. 6½ - 7 hours has probably been typical so far this week. But if I feel training is becoming a drag I'll make bigger efforts to get to bed earlier.

Oryx wrote: »

Spiciest food you ever ate?

Probably som tam (papaya salad) in Thailand. All the ingredients are just mixed and pounded in a mortar, so how spicy it is depends on how much chillies are put in. You could request no chillies if you wanted, but when in Rome...

Oryx wrote: »

If your house was on fire, and you could only save one item, what would it be? (pets and people are safe, okay?)

Well it depends which house you are talking about. If it's my apartment in Dublin, is my car in the underground car park safe? Assuming it is, it'd be my Dawes Galaxy. If it was my family home down in Roscrea it'd be my TT bike, (and we'll just assume the Zipp wheels are conveniently on it). If both bikes were in the same house, it'd be the TT bike.

Oryx wrote: »

What physical attribute would you change about yourself and why?

I'd like a heart the size of a coconut. I shouldn't think I have to explain why.

Oryx wrote: »

What are your personal training/racing demons and how do they try and stop you?

I know I'm not a super swimmer, but I think my ability in the water weighs on mind more than it should. I often make excuses for myself when it comes to swimming, and before a race even starts I'm expecting to be well down the field by the start of the bike. This probably doesn't help, but I find it very hard to convince myself I'm going to have a strong swim. During training I haven't learnt to suffer as much in the water as I do on the land. This probably doesn't help either. I'm not intimidated by swim starts, but I don't see the point in starting near the front, when I know I don't have the ability to stay there.

RacoonQueen

What sort of swim times do you do? Define 'poor' swimmer?

Abhainn

Good to see the secrets of zico10:)

You pretty much nailed your first marathon in 2008 running nice splits, and going well under sub 3 on the day. Was you plan sub 3 all along that day?
If you had managed to enter London 2014 what would have been you goal time?
If you took 1 year out and concentrated on peaking for a marathon how fast do you think you could lower your PB?
IM or Challenge?
A few beers as reward after a great weekend of training or nought?

zico10

Dory Dory wrote: »

Who coaches your third swim session of the week?

It's with my tri club on a Thursday night.

Dory Dory wrote: »

How do these coaches' methods differ from each other?

I'm aware two out of the three coaches here will see this post, so I just want to point out from the outset that I have huge respect for the coaches and the hard work they do. They take a personal interest in my improvements and I am very glad to work with them.
Out of the three, I work hardest at interested's sessions. He's a hard task master and there isn't any hanging about at his sessions. He has 5 lanes of differing abilities to manage and I realise he can't give a lot of individual feedback every week. But I do notice him regularly walking up and down the pool deck and he is quick to pick up on small things that slow swimmers down. He doesn't over burden me with information and probably just tells me the things he thinks are the most important.
I get more feedback at Peter's sessions, and it's all pretty much technique works and drills for the hour. This is exactly what I signed up for, and on a Tuesday morning it's a nice easy start to the day, after the hard work I do on Monday night. Peter's very enthusiastic and even though we are in the centre lanes in the NAC, and he has to walk up and down to get there, he is often at both ends of the 50m pool to give immediate feedback.
Thursday's session with the tri club is one I started going to back in 2006. The coaches have changed a few times since I started, but the work has been pretty constant. It' usually a mixture of technique, then speed work. I'm happy enough to keep going back, so that should tell you I am happy with the coaching.

Dory Dory wrote: »

And do you feel you are maximizing your swim potential by exposing yourself to and learning from three coaches?

I'll begin by saying I'm not quiet sure what my true swim potential is. Whatever it is, I've never felt like I've gotten there. But I've definitively got faster since I've came back from Thailand, and I wouldn't have done this my own. I had been going to only two coached swim sessions up until Christmas. Then I saw a post here on boards advertising free spaces at Tuesday morning swim sessions with Peter Kern. The time suited me, and I'd been coached by Peter before. I thought he was good, so I was more than happy to sign up.
I'll have bike sessions to juggle in a few months, so I'll reassess things then. But right now I think I am benefiting from the three coached sessions a week.

zico10

RacoonQueen wrote: »

What sort of swim times do you do? Define 'poor' swimmer?

I don't want to offend anybody by answering this too bluntly. I'm definitely not a natural swimmer. And for the training I do, I don't see the same gains in the water, as I do on the bike and run. In races I'm well down the field coming out of the water, and my swim split is always way slower than the people who finish near me. Club mates a few years ago I might have been beating out of the water are now faster than me. I just feel I should be better than I am. That is all.

Re. Swim times

I'm not really sure what figures you are looking for. But I generally swim 100s off 1.50 in a 25m pool/1.55 in a 50m. I'd be comfortable enough swimming these, but take 5 seconds off and I start to struggle.
I don't do 400m TT's a lot. My most recent effort was 7.0?. On another day though, I'd hope to do better, but I've nothing more impressive than that.

Most recent Olympic distance race swim split was 30.56, which was non wetsuit. Then three weeks later I swam 33.47 at The Lost Sheep.

zico10

Abhainn wrote: »

You pretty much nailed your first marathon in 2008 running nice splits, and going well under sub 3 on the day. Was you plan sub 3 all along that day?

I was hopeful, more so than expectant of breaking three hours. I ran well in Kenmare that September, which gave me confidence I could do it. But with it being my first marathon, I wasn't sure how I would handle the distance. All the same I started with intention of going sub 3. I knew the pace I needed to hold and was heavily relying on my Garmin that day. I didn't set off all guns blazing and kept my pace where it needed to be. I've probably been a bit too gung-ho in the first half of other marathons I've done, and my debut marathon is the only one I've raced where I didn't suffer in the second half.

Abhainn wrote: »

If you had managed to enter London 2014 what would have been you goal time?

I only have a PB of 2.51, so it might be a bit ambitious/unrealistic to say sub 2.45. Seeing as it's not going to happen, I hadn't given it any thought, but that would have been my target.

Abhainn wrote: »

If you took 1 year out and concentrated on peaking for a marathon how fast do you think you could lower your PB?

Only one year solely concentrating on running, on a fast course, I'd be hopeful I could get a time in the low 2.40's. I think marathons are a hard thing for triathletes to fit in though. And I think with two years off I could go under 2.40. But then talk is cheap.

Abhainn wrote: »

IM or Challenge?

I'm not too bothered. I'd like to do Ironman Lanzarote someday. Apart from that though, the courses for the other European Ironman races hold no greater appeal to me than those of the Challenge events. If Ironman didn't have Hawaii qualification spots going, they wouldn't be so attractive. Ironman Colorada and Ironman New Zealand are two other events with the same appeal as Lanza, but are not exactly on my door step, so are less likely to happen.

Perhaps you're asking about IM or Challenge this Autumn, if I do decide to go long. Then it'll be one of Challenge Weymouth (a new event September 14th) or Challenge Barcelona (5th October).

Abhainn wrote: »

A few beers as reward after a great weekend of training or nought?

I drink about once a month. It'd be around a social event though. I've a box of 20 bottles of Heineken in the house left over from Christmas, that I haven't once been tempted to open. After Connemarathon I'll have a drink to celebrate, but I've never been tempted to celebrate a great weekend of training with beer. A family sized pizza to myself though is another thing.

pgibbo

Have you ever worked with a coach for triathlon? If so, how did you find it?
Would you consider working with a coach for your Kona assault? Reasons why or why not.

Been interesteing reading. Thanks for your week in the spotlight.

zico10

pgibbo wrote: »

Have you ever worked with a coach for triathlon? If so, how did you find it?

I got did two blocks of ten one-2-one sessions with Peter Kern for two years in a row, but I've never had a coach who drew up and gave me a training plan to follow.

pgibbo wrote: »

Would you consider working with a coach for your Kona assault? Reasons why or why not.

I do think it's a road I'd go down. I'm fully aware that in comparison to a lot of posters here, my knowledge of training is pretty limited. I think I've done alright so far, but I know I need to improve further to be in contention for a spot at Kona.
Most people at that level seem to be coached, and I think in many ways it would make my life easier if I had someone with more expertise than myself planing my training.
I'm not afraid of hard work, and I think any training plan I'd be given would be more or less in line with my expectations. I've strong feelings on what's worked for me before and I'd hope any potential coach would understand that. I'd hope to find a coach with pedigree and one who is flexible and confident enough that they could design a plan that fits in with the way I already train.

catweazle

Favorite movie character?
3 People you admire in Sport?
3 people you admire outside of Sport?
Whats your view on religion in schools?

RacoonQueen

What class do you teach?
Best model for schools, single sex or co-ed?
Would we want you to teach our kids?
Would you travel again like your Thai adventure? If so, where to?

Fazz

Zico, the writings on the wall.

You want to do Kona.

You are strongly considering going long this sept/oct.

Come to Mallorca 4 weeks after kenmare???

With your run in top shape you may as well get some tan on those legs too rather than a UK race... ;-)

zico10

catweazle wrote: »

Favorite movie character?

The stripper in Very Bad Things

catweazle wrote: »

3 People you admire in Sport?

It's very hard to pick just three. I respect anybody who gives 100% of themselves, and there are thousands of athletes like that in the world. But seeing as you're putting me on the spot; Seán Kelly, Roy Keane, Brian O' Driscoll.

catweazle wrote: »

3 people you admire outside of Sport?

Tom Crean, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela

catweazle wrote: »

Whats your view on religion in schools?

I teach in a school under the patronage of the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, and I feel I'd be better not answering this question. But if the patronage of my school was to pass to a non-religious body, I'd still happily go to work everyday.
If you're asking the question in light of Ruairí Quinn's recent comments, then I think they are opportunistic, populist, and poorly advised.

shotgunmcos

How long can you hold a plank for after reading this?
How many push ups to fail can you do after the plank?

zico10

RacoonQueen wrote: »

What class do you teach?

It's 3rd Class this year, but it changes year upon year. Except for 4th, I've taught all levels from 1st up to 6th at some point since graduating in 2002.

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Best model for schools, single sex or co-ed?

Co-ed would be my opinion. It's better preparation for life.

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Would we want you to teach our kids?

Depends who you ask. I'm sure opinion varies.

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Would you travel again like your Thai adventure? If so, where to?

Never say never, but I've no immediate plans. Cycling round the world is something I'd love to do before I die.
The world is a big place and there are some things I'm disappointed I didn't get to. The Galapagos Islands are one place I'm really sorry I didn't see.
As I say, I've no immediate plans, but I'm a rolling stone and you never know what sort of notion I could take in a few year's time.

zico10

Fazz wrote: »

Zico, the writings on the wall.

You want to do Kona.

You are strongly considering going long this sept/oct.

Come to Mallorca 4 weeks after kenmare???

With your run in top shape you may as well get some tan on those legs too rather than a UK race... ;-)

Hmmmm...

zico10

shotgunmcos wrote: »

How long can you hold a plank for after reading this?
How many push ups to fail can you do after the plank?

And I'd almost made it to the end of the week.:mad:
It's bed time now and I had an interested swim session earlier on. I'll reread this tomorrow night and answer you then.
How's that?

gilleek2

zico10 wrote: »

Leo

It's the power of advertising



There were a few, but the strangest was probably a police station in the north of Thailand. It was a bizarre series of events that led to me ending up there. Then all the police on duty took off for the night and as far as I could tell I was left there all alone.



At the moment I'm not doing any cycling, so it'd be him. When I get back on the bike though I reckon it'll be me. I don't know how he's going to deal with me wanting to turbo at 6 in the morning, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Like hell we'll cross that bridge unless you wanna turbo in the bog. As for who will turbo the most, current record is 3:52 and i plan on smashing that this year!

RacoonQueen

gilleek2 wrote: »

Like hell we'll cross that bridge unless you wanna turbo in the bog. As for who will turbo the most, current record is 3:52 and i plan on smashing that this year!

You spent nearly 4 hours on a turbo? Is there something wrong with you? :eek:

gilleek2

RacoonQueen wrote: »

You spent nearly 4 hours on a turbo? Is there something wrong with you? :eek:

Zico was in the sitting room clipping his toenails so turbo seemed appealing;o)

Ah no, it was poxy outside and i needed a long spin so i put on a stage of the Giro that i had recorded, lined up the sweat towels, water bottles, food and a fan and got stuck in!
The guts of 2 hours planned tonight while Zico busts out his new recipe book.

Green&Red

BTH

Green&Red wrote: »

How easy one is forgotten