Getting to know.....RJM85

rodneyr1981

Thank-you all for questions. It is now time for me to handover to RJM85.

A few to get him started:

Max push -ups in a min?
Goals for 2015?
Money no object ideal hols?
Priority. new car vs new bike?
Your getting some good hours training in. How's the whole family/work/training balance working for you?

Enjoy

tunney

Was that you on Tuesday with the earphones in and white top?

joey100

What was your route into tri??

Current bike set up?? Dream bike set up??

Any races that you would love to do??

RJM85

Max push -ups in a min?
Long time since I did any push ups. Very very few!

Goals for 2015?
Sub 4:30 in Budapest 70.3

Money no object ideal hols?
1. I'd love to do a training camp holiday.
2. I'd do my honeymoon in Gran Canaria again in a heartbeat.

Priority. new car vs new bike?
Bike. hands down.

Your getting some good hours training in. How's the whole family/work/training balance working for you?
We're not doing too bad! I try as much as possible to train at times I won't be missed - that means 5am starts midweek, lunch time running and late night turbos. To a certain extent, having a commute to work kind of helps. Also, routine helps I suppose. I try my best to be 100% there when I am home too.

RJM85

tunney wrote: »

Was that you on Tuesday with the earphones in and white top?

That's me.

tunney

RJM85 wrote: »

That's me.

You were moving alright.

Do you have kids? If so what ages?

Married? If so how long married? And does your BH train/race?

RJM85

What was your route into tri??
Overweight since I can remember, was approaching morbidly obese age 25. Decided to start walking to lose some weight; started running; started cycling...

Current bike set up?? Dream bike set up??
TT: Vitus Chrono TT with Flo 90 Front and Disc (pic). I'm looking at maybe getting myself a Canyon Speedmax next year if I can afford / justify / get away with it.

Road: Canyon Ultimate AL. I'd love a Bianchi Oltre.

Truth be told I really like looking at really nice bikes.

Any races that you would love to do??
Not specifically. Some day when I have the time to do it right I'd love to go long. I'd love to do Kona.

joey100

How are you finding the flo wheels?? Remember how much you paid in taxes to get them into the country? They are on my list of wheels that I'd like but haven't seen many in Ireland.

Seems we have a similar taste in bikes too, love that Bianchi!

RJM85

Do you have kids? If so what ages?
1 boy, coming up on 10 months.

Married? If so how long married? And does your BH train/race?
Yes - 4 years in May. She does a bit of running with a friend. More the 'keeping active and getting out and about for your mental health' kind of thing than my chronic competitiveness. She has less inferiority complexes than me.

RJM85

joey100 wrote: »

How are you finding the flo wheels?? Remember how much you paid in taxes to get them into the country? They are on my list of wheels that I'd like but haven't seen many in Ireland.

Seems we have a similar taste in bikes too, love that Bianchi!

Total cost for the set was roughly €1,100. I love them, though I've not had much experience with top end wheels they roll really well, feel good, look good, and make a lovely whooshing noise - exactly what I was looking for from a set of wheels!

EC1000

RJM85 wrote: »

Overweight since I can remember, was approaching morbidly obese age 25.

If you don't mind me asking, what was your max weight and what do you weigh now? Height?

RJM85

EC1000 wrote: »

If you don't mind me asking, what was your max weight and what do you weigh now? Height?

I was a little over 17.5 stone. Currently 11ish. 5ft 11

shotgunmcos

/\/\/\/\/\/\
Wow well done


How long can you hold a plank for to fail?
Something you have done with reckless abandon?
How did you meet your wife?
What made you last laugh out loud?
What made you last cry?
Which discipline have you developed most and how?
Why Tri?

catweazle

That's some weight loss - well done!

Now let me copy and paste my stock questions from last year!

Favourite movie?
Favourite scene from a movie?
Favourite Movie character and why?
Favourite book?
Why Budapest 70.3?
Favourite Tri distance?
Favourite Triathlete?
Does the wife prefer the more laidback fat you or the driven slim you?
What time are you getting to bed at, I do the early morning sessions as well but not quite 5am starts, still struggling to shut down before 11 and it catches up on me towards the end of the week

RJM85

How long can you hold a plank for to fail?
Not sure - I'll have to check!

Something you have done with reckless abandon?
Eat

How did you meet your wife?
Met in secondary school through a guy in my class who was goin out with her sister.

What made you last laugh out loud?
Just now; having fun with the little fella giving him a bath.

What made you last cry?
Not sure. I welled up seeing my son born is probably the last time.

Which discipline have you developed most and how?
I suppose there'd have to be a caveat of 'since when' on this answer. When I started running I tried to do a C25K programme but couldn't actually run for a minute to start. I could swim as a kid, but it would have been by far my weakest discipline last year. I seem to have made good gains over the winter.

Why Tri?
God knows! I'm not very good at bike racing cause I like to just go balls out from the start. I enjoy running, but not enough to only run and same for swimming.

Because it's an honest sport I guess. You get out what you put in to a large extent.

RJM85

Favourite movie?
Not a great one for films. Probably Back To The Future I suppose.

Favourite scene from a movie?
No idea.

Favourite Movie character and why?


Favourite book?
100 Years of Solitude

Why Budapest 70.3?
I wanted to do a half and my wife had fairly recently said she'd like to go to Hungary!

Favourite Tri distance?
I've only done sprint and oly so far. Enjoyed oly more.

Favourite Triathlete?
There's something about a guy who can kill a bike leg. Like Keinle. Otherwise I've a huge amount of respect for some of the top level AGers like Owen Martin, Liam Dolan, Alan Ryan etc.

Does the wife prefer the more laidback fat you or the driven slim you?
I'm not sure it'd be correct to say I used to be more laid back. I was just fatter. Either way I think she'd prefer me with a bit more meat on.

What time are you getting to bed at, I do the early morning sessions as well but not quite 5am starts, still struggling to shut down before 11 and it catches up on me towards the end of the week

I /try/ to get to bed at 10 most week nights. That usually means I'm there by 11.

BennyMul

+1 on weight loss,

ideal place to go for a swim, bike, run
whats playing on your playlist at the moment
Favorite concert
how many bikes do you own
how many burpees in a minute

RJM85

ideal place to go for a swim, bike, run
Swim: I always think those pictures of outdoor lane pools in the sun look awesome.
Bike: for my birthday most years I usually spend a couple of hours cycling the Cooley mountains. So there, on a sunny day.
Run: I really enjoy trail running but rarely get te time to do any.

whats playing on your playlist at the moment
Most recently listened to albums in no particular order:
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
Dutch Uncles - O Shudder
The Wonder Years - The Greatest Generation
Jape - This Chemical Sea
Dan Deacon - Bromst

Favorite concert
Much prefer smaller gigs than big concerts. Can I pick three??! Jape is amazing live - I saw him in the spirit store in Dundalk a few years ago and loved it. For slightly different reasons, seeing F*ck Buttons at the Button Factory was one of the best gigs I've been at. Both times I've seen Deerhunter were great too.

how many bikes do you own
3. Or 2 1/2 I guess. TT, road, and another old road bike that I've used for spare parts so isn't really a whole bike any more.

how many burpees in a minute
Zero!

pgibbo

Nice going on the weight loss.

4 dinner guests - who & why?
What would you put on the menu?
Have you ever or do you work with a coach?
What's a typical training week like for you?
Are you in a Tri Club?
Done many road races? What are your 5k, 8k, 10k & HM PBs?
Any plans to go long?

RJM85

4 dinner guests - who & why?
Do they have to be famous people? Cause four mates is the easy answer here!

What would you put on the menu?
Fillet steak and chips - my standard favourite dinner.

Have you ever or do you work with a coach?
Yes. Got myself a coach last year after my son was born to help focus my training and make the best of limited time available.

What's a typical training week like for you?
At the moment, we're doing 3 weeks hard followed by 1 recovery week. This week is the first in a new block and would be fairly standard.
- 5 x 3k swims done weekday mornings, - 2 x 1hr turbos done weekday evenings after the baby is put to bed,
- 1 long cycle on Sunday (3hrs +)
- 4 lunch time run sessions
- 1 long run (1hr 45)
- 1 s&c / stretching / foam rolling session

Are you in a Tri Club?
Yes, Setanta Tri Club

Done many road races? What are your 5k, 8k, 10k & HM PBs?
It's a while since I've done any road racing so my PBs are all a bit slower than I'd expect these days. Something I want to do this year is to take advantage of a few races to get new PBs!
5k 17:46
10k 38:10
HM 1:25:24
M 3:20:05

Any plans to go long?
Some day. When I have the time to do training right - probably when the wee fella is in his teens and does want me around as much!

pgibbo

Your dinner party. Have who you like.

Just caught up on your log, hadn't read it in a while. Damn solid training - especially the simulation day. Fair play. :cool:

RJM85

pgibbo wrote: »

Your dinner party. Have who you like.

Just caught up on your log, hadn't read it in a while. Damn solid training - especially the simulation day. Fair play. :cool:

I'm consistent at least! The simulation day was great, in that it's something I don't think I would ever have done myself, but it gave me a great idea of what I'm letting myself in for. I'm expecting to have to do a couple more of them over the next few months.

Chartsengrafs

RJM85 wrote: »

Can I pick three??! Jape is amazing live - I saw him in the spirit store in Dundalk a few years ago and loved it. For slightly different reasons, seeing F*ck Buttons at the Button Factory was one of the best gigs I've been at. Both times I've seen Deerhunter were great too

Deerhunter, F*ck Buttons, nice change to the generally brutal responses to the music questions around here

What do you typically have for dinner?
What has been your most satisfying race result to date?

RJM85

What do you typically have for dinner?
An omelette

What has been your most satisfying race result to date?
Probably Carlingford Tri last year. Our club race I came fourth after running BMC down and closing a decent gap off the bike. I know he's not a triathlete really any more, but that doesn't have to come into it when I tell people I beat him!

Podge83

Do you prefer going uphill on the bike or downhill?

How soon in the year do you take out the TT bite for training?

How soon in the year do you venture to open water?

What do you think of HIM Dublin?

Do or did you practice transitions?

RJM85

Do you prefer going uphill on the bike or downhill?
Uphill probably. I enjoy descending, but broke my collarbone a couple of years ago coming down a mountain and have been a little more cautious since!

How soon in the year do you take out the TT bite for training?
I don't not take it out at any stage. Depends on the session I'm doing and whether I'm on my own moreso than anything else. These days most of my outdoor bike is the club spin, so I use the road bike, but I had the TT out two weeks ago.


How soon in the year do you venture to open water?
With time constraints the only open water swimming I managed last year was in races. Hopefully I'll get a little more this year, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's the same again this year.

What do you think of HIM Dublin?
It's likely good for the sport in Ireland as it increases awareness and attracts new people to tri. At the same time, the route felt like a little bit of a let down when it was announced.

Do or did you practice transitions?
Not really. I do a little of getting used to putting shoes on on the bike, taking them off before getting off at the end of spins by that's about it.

hf4z6sqo7vjngi

Cycling or running, what's your favourite and what do you think you are best at?

Any bucket list events like RAAM or MDS or some other mid life crisis.

Who would win a doughnut eating contest, me you or Dolan:)

RJM85

Cycling or running, what's your favourite and what do you think you are best at?
Favourite is a very hard question! I love both, and it'd probably depend on when you asked me what answer I'd give. Up until fairly recently I'd have said the bike was my strongest, but I think my run has come on a lot over the last 12 months. I'm not /great/ at either, but I'm fairly consistent across all three disciplines I suppose.

Any bucket list events like RAAM or MDS or some other mid life crisis.
Not really, although at 29 I've a little time to properly go full midlife crisis!

Who would win a doughnut eating contest, me you or Dolan:)
I've always thought I'd have a natural aptitude for competitive eating.

Dory Dory

Hello there, RJM!

Most embarrassing moment in a race?
Any superstitions or rituals prior to a race?
What is the secret weapon you keep in your back pocket that you know you can rely on during a race?
Any tattoos? If so, of what and where?
Which would you choose for dessert: deep dark chocolate cake covered in a sinful chocolate ganache, warmed fruit pie with a healthy serving of vanilla ice cream, or a nice selection of cheeses?
What's the most you've ever eaten in one sitting?
Pet peeves?
Life of the party, or wall flower?
Serious or silly?
Intense or laid back?
Can you keep a secret?
When in the car alone listening to Jape, do you ever pretend you are the guest artist and sing at the top of your lungs and admire how your ability to harmonize elevates the entire quality and musical experience?

RJM85

Most embarrassing moment in a race?
I’m not sure I’ve ever had a particularly embarrassing moment in a race. A couple of silly errors alright, but nothing to the extent that I’d have been embarrassed.

Any superstitions or rituals prior to a race?
Not really. Race morning is a bit of a routine, and I do like to do / eat / wear the same things generally, but not to the extent that I’d call it a ritual.

What it the secret weapon you keep in your back pocket that you know you can rely on during a race?
Training! I love training on really crappy days when you can be sure that some people won’t have gotten out. I can remind myself of those when the going gets tough.

Any tattoos? If so, of what and where?
None.

Which would you choose for dessert: deep dark chocolate cake covered in a sinful chocolate ganache, warmed fruit pie with a healthy serving of vanilla ice cream, or a nice selection of cheeses?
Would depend on my mood, but if I’m having the chocolate cake, I want ice cream with it as well. The cheese board is a whole other course to be had after dessert with an irish coffee!

What’s the most you’ve ever eaten in one sitting?
I’m not sure I ever want to actually know / remember that.

Pet peeves?
People stressing about things. Specifically, things they have no control over.

Life of the party, or wall flower?
Depends on the party and my mood, I have been both. Most likely, I’m somewhere in between.

Serious or silly?
Context is everything!

Intense or laid back?
As above!

Can you keep a secret?
Yes.

When in the car alone listening to Jape, do you ever pretend you are the guest artist and sing at the top of your lungs and admire how your ability to harmonize elevates the entire quality and musical experience?
I am unfortunately completely unable to harmonise at any level. I do play a mean air drum though.

pgibbo

How did you find transitioning form self coached to coached?
What sort of gains have you seen since going the coached route?
Do you train with power on the bike and HR for the run?
How's the ego and body after the spill at the weekend?

RJM85

How did you find transitioning from self coached to coached?

Great! In retrospect I don’t think I could ever have called myself ‘self-coached’. I exercised a lot alright, but I rarely trained. My coach has been great at taking the rough timetable I set out and putting a structure to it. Having someone reviewing my training files etc is great to keep me honest as well. Even just the fact of whether the little grey box on training peaks turns green amber or red is a great motivator.

What sort of gains have you seen since going the coached route?

It’s hard to quantify, as I had never actually done a triathlon when I started with the coach.
My swim has come on a lot – I’ve dropped at least 2 minutes off my 1,500 time while also being much fresher / stronger at the end of any swim. From training, I know this has come on again since December, but it’s hard to quantify.
Bike is hard to quantify as I don’t train with power, and it was my strongest discipline to start with; but I’ve definitely come on. I’m hoping to do a 10TT or two during the year just to set a PB.
Run – again it’s hard to give a quantifiable answer as almost all the running I’ve done since being coached can’t be directly compared, but for examples: - in October I ran a HM PB on a training run comfortably (my HM PB wasn't in any way what I'd consider soft at the time I set it 12 months earlier). I had never broken 38 minutes for a 10k, but I ran 37:something in the county senior XC (10,000m) on a relatively tough course in November.

Do you train with power on the bike and HR for the run?

No power – I intend to get a PM some day, but I’ll need to put the money together and I often get distracted by shiny things like wheels and new shoes etc. I have and wear a HRM, but I really don’t pay that much attention to it. I usually run more off pace and perceived effort (and mostly perceived effort on the bike) – I’d have a good idea where my HR should be for certain paces etc. so I’ll really only pay attention to it if it’s not where it should be if that makes sense?

How’s the ego and body after the spill at the weekend?

All fine more or less. My shoulder was at me a little in the pool yesterday, so I did an easier session than planned; but it seemed to be fine today. I’m eager to get out on Sunday (including doing those hill repeats that were supposed to get done last week) and get the confidence straight back as I know from experience that feeling nervous in any way on the bike isn’t a good way to be.

tunney

So its after Thursday...........

RJM85

tunney wrote: »

So its after Thursday...........

I've sent a PM this morning...