A/R/TIST IN THE SPOTLIGHT - shotgunmcos

Very interesting so far. You're obviously a very talented sportsman and cook too by the sounds of it!

Favourite boat?
Favourite seat in above boat?
Nicest place you ever rowed - raced/training camp etc?
Erg tests/sessions - love or loathe?
Have you any thoughts on what sport(s) you'd like to see your kids doing?
What would be on the menu if you were cooking to impress?
Favourite snack food for the 3o'c slump (which in my case tends to be a 10am slump )?
Maybe asked already but if you could represent Ireland in the Olympics at any sport/event what would you choose?

ariana` wrote: »

Very interesting so far. You're obviously a very talented sportsman and cook too by the sounds of it!

Hi ariana`

Favourite boat?
Ok to explain to non rowing folk, the options are (in rowing)
1x - a single sculler - 1 person 2 oars, super skinny giddy boat
2- - a pair - 2 people with an 1 oar each either side of the boat
2x - a double scull - 2 people 2 oars each
4-/4+ - like a pair but with 4 people, with or without a coxwain
4x - a quad - 4 people 2 oars each
8= - an eight! - eight oarsmen, 1 oar each, big boat and a coxwain

My favourite to train - a single scull.


I enjoyed the process of taking it off the rack, carrying on my shoulders and placed on trestles I had set up already. Check the rigging to ensure everything is tight and seat rails are smooth. Carefully walk down the ramp and place it on the water. Step in one leg and a time, sit down gently, push off gently and go. On a flat calm crisp spring morning when the water is like glass and the swans are still asleep among the reeds taking a clean stroke (not dragging the oar off the water) and releasing them together send the scull gliding through the water like a knife. It takes skill and balance to accomplish clean strokes but when you do the perfect wake behind your stern indicates a perfect connection. Its serene and satisfying to leverage the boat powerfully past the point of connection and feel that glide afterwards. If you have the focus you can achieve a rhythm and a metronomic flow. You do need to look around every few strokes to ensure you are rowing straight and there are no big ships approaching I was not good enough to race one though, although If I had owned one I might have practiced more.

My favourite to race - An eight!

Rowers tend to be big and powerful. To have all eight of them connect with the water and drive every muscle from there legs to their core, back and shoulders, simultaneously, produces this booming sound and lifts the boat out of the water. An eight moves fast though so you don't get to enjoy the break as you creep up together to take the next stroke. An eight is fast an furious. Your body and lungs burn and burn but you cannot stop. Every man is burning for that boat. Every man is burning for that team. Every man takes the same stroke, tries to achieve it perfectly, in sync with his team. You are at the whim of the coxwain too. He/she is watching the whole race, reacting to it, influencing it. Even when you are in pain, when the cox calls for "20" you need to find another gear. Everyone has to. You get counted into it over 3 strokes and all eight pour everything at 20 strokes as if their life depended on it. Its 6 minutes of controlled agony, but whne a crew is on song, a boat sings

Favourite seat in above boat?
I rowed "stroke" so I had the other 7 guys behind me and I set the rate and the rhythm. I was the link between the cox and the crew. She communicates on the mic and the crew know what is coming but I'd generally know by her eyes what was about to happen and I'd be ready to go. Its a position of no escape. If you are out of time the crew is out. If you don't set the rhythm , the boat falls to either side off balance and slows down. Every other person in the boat can see your puddles at the end of your oar and know how hard you are working.

Nicest place you ever rowed - raced/training camp etc?
For racing: Probably Boston and the Head of the Charles Regatta. I went for a few runs down the riverbank too with its beautiful autumn colours.

For training - I've been to quite a few stunning lakes and rivers but an unusual springs to mind. My first visit to Japan was a summer in College. I was 21 and went out on my own to stay with a family in a town called Gifu up in the mountains on the central Island of Honshu. It was a brilliant experience but one day they surprised me. After learning that I was a rower for my Uni back home, they arranged for me to visit the local private corporate owned rowing club. I got to pick a beautiful hand crafted shiny wooden scull off a rack and row on the still lake, surrounded by mountains on a sunny day, alone. It was amazing! Unfortunately I got so distracted by my surroundings that I fell out of the boat and was utterly mortified to call for help!

Erg tests/sessions - love or loathe?
Loathe: The standard erg test was 2,000m. It was pure hell. If I can channel a bit of it for the TT this weekend I'll push through that pain.

I have a Concept 2 rower and enjoy doing my own training though

Have you any thoughts on what sport(s) you'd like to see your kids doing?
I'd love for them to have the lifelong value to look after their body and mind. To value health above all else in themselves and others. If they find a sport within that that they love, that is a bonus. My eldest plays rugby and I love to watch. My youngest is mad to join the rugby club and my little girl does swimming and gymnastics. They have their own Yoga mat too I intend to bring the 2 smallies down to the athletic club when they are old enough.


What would be on the menu if you were cooking to impress?
Hmmm, for a table of runners. Perhaps a creamy fresh mint prawn and pea risotto with some fresh warm home baked bruschetta or perhaps a beef wellington with roast root veg and a killer gravy (that, alone takes me 4 hours to make)

Favourite snack food for the 3o'c slump (which in my case tends to be a 10am slump )?
A bowl of greek yoghurt with chopped grapes, blueberries and banana, mixed seeds (pumpkin, sesame, chia etc), crushed roasted almonds and cashews (I always have these things ready in a jar - easy to roast a tray of nuts when you have a chicken or bread in the oven) a squeeze of honey and a sprinkle of granola.

Or peanut butter and jam on a bagel and a couple of squares of dark mint or hazlenut lindt chocolate.

Maybe asked already but if you could represent Ireland in the Olympics at any sport/event what would you choose?
It wasn't! I'd love the decathlon just because you get to experience so much of the track and field and every discipline is like a new event in itself.

Thanks again, lovely questions.

shotgunmcos wrote: »

Thanks again, lovely questions.

And really lovely answers, thank you.

shotgunmcos wrote: »

Hey Ceepo! How are you sir?

A) Did you continue to run xc with that club
No, Joe basically yanked me into it on one of teh track sessions. I showed up that weekend and that was that. Maybe I was too slow to be invited back :cool:

Have you any plans to run xc again (post covid)
No solid plans but now that I'm running again I definitely would love to get the lugs on and run around some fields in a fighting frenzy. I'll chat with one of the girls at the club or Joe about it this winter if XC is on.

Do you/ have you trained with Joe's group in UL.
His Tuesday track session? I did years ago pre kids. Started back there just before Covid this year. Were you talking about a different group?

What's your favourite run training session..
I think I answered that on MYBAD's questions. I am finding that I'm enjoying the short intervals lately though

TIA - Most welcome

Thanks for the answers M.

Yup that's the Joe sessions I was talking about.
Ran a few of his track sessions many years ago when I was working up that way. Unfortunately it was a bit late in the evening for me. I'd usually have my run done when his sessions were starting. Absolute gentleman and a great coach.
Great to see his sessions are still going.

Re XC, you might lead in the team this time around Dermot is surely passed his best by now

Swashbuckler wrote: »

He ran a 2.44 controlled virtual marathon last month. He hasn't hit his prime yet!

Wow did he. My comment was tongue in cheek, but still that's fair clipping for a controlled run.
He mustn't be to far of 50 now..

zico10 wrote: »

Interesting replies so far, fair play for taking it on.

It's had to think of a question that hasn't already been asked. But one harking back to your tri days. Would you swap your sub 3 marathon for a sub 10 ironman? Basically, which would you consider the bigger achievement?

Thats an interesting question Zico! I've also made peace with those 7 minutes.

The only thing I could have done better in Roth on the day was execute the run better. Of course 10mins slower bike might have saved 30mins on the run but I dissected it and it boils down to just being a better runner. I had 2 hours half way through the marathon to finish under 10hrs, I remember even saying it to Caz at the time :rolleyes:

IMO a sub 10 Ironman is a bigger achievement than a sub3. I'd make a guess that most sub10 Ironmen and Women could run a sub3 marathon with a focused marathon only plan.

Would I swap? No. Even though I missed the result I wanted in Roth I still had a great time and really enjoyed it. The sub3 was special because it was a specific limiter I had put on myself. The 2 times I actually went for it I came up short.

AuldManKing wrote: »

(1) Leinster in their pomp vrs Munster in their Pomp - Neutral Venue : Who wins & why??

(2) Any interest in GAA?

(3) Do Kids play sports?

(4) Why do you think "you aren't built for a 2.48" - I reckon we're similar in stature and I still plan to run better than 2.48 and I'm old.

(5) Dogs: Loveable family pet that every home should have OR a nuisance to runners.

(6) Rubberbandits: Blindboy is George Michael to Mr Chromes Andrew Rigely????

PS
Any more jibes about me in a BB House fixing my hair and I'll defo beat you in that 100m

Good marathon question. M’s sub-3 (based on the report anyway) seemed relatively painlessly achieved. At the time I thought his deviations from ‘by the book’ Hanson training paces (minor enough, but still) might bite him in the ass but the result suggested the target was maybe a little further withIn the ‘circle of potential’ than originally surmised. A super performance of course but possibly a bit more to chip off yet.

Murph_D wrote: »

Good marathon question. M’s sub-3 (based on the report anyway) seemed relatively painlessly achieved. At the time I thought his deviations from ‘by the book’ Hanson training paces (minor enough, but still) might bite him in the ass but the result suggested the target was maybe a little further with In the ‘circle of potential’ than originally surmised. A super performance of course but possibly a bit more to chip off yet.

I guess having gone 3:00 in Connemara in 2011, it would suggest the potential is there alright, particularly since Connemara is a good 6 mins slower than say Dublin. I'm sure anyone who has run both can confirm?

I trained to 2:55 paces for workouts. I didn't want to train at 2:59 paces. Is that the deviation you refer to?

In terms of "circle of potential": first I'm curious what you think that is? Secondly unfortunately I've done nothing since the sub3 to suggest I had more in the tank.

I fully expect there is more to chip off I've gone 3:00 and 2:58 off plans but no real base. The next cycle will build on top of a better base so that will be interesting.

Edit: Just checked back. Originally workouts were at 2:55 training paces. However after missing the bones of 2 weeks with flu I rejigged after a week of heart rate training. Using HR to establish realistic pace targets.

career move wrote: »

Hi Mike
This is a great read as always. Don't have any questions as such. I'd like to ask you if you're up for itera 2021. Heading back to Caledonia Covid permitting. Sadly I think I know the answer

P. S You're memory is playing tricks on you. I'm pretty sure the infamous storming off episode happened in itera 2016

My memory is just fine. It was after the Ben's Itera 2016 2nd stage after that lovely run down the coast. Especially lovely since my ribs were not good after the initial paddle in those swells.

Maybe I should factor some orienteering into my run training just in case. Lol

shotgunmcos wrote: »

'Sup AMK

(1) Leinster in their pomp vrs Munster in their Pomp - Neutral Venue : Who wins & why??
Ok no matter what I'm a Munster Man true and true. Munster in their pomp beat the All Blacks... need I say more?

More recently, Chicago had a bunch of Lawnstor players but lets look at the scoring stats

Ireland: (25) 40
Try: Murphy (10'), Stander (17'), Murray (33'), Zebo (48'), Henshaw (76')
Conversion: Sexton (11', 35'), Carbery (77')
Penalty: Sexton (4', 24'), Murray (59')

Of the 40 points Ireland Scored
Munster 25
Lawnstor 15

Right lets stick to the usual red v blue
Contemponi rubbed it in O'Gara's face Christmas 2005. What was the score 6 months later in the Semi Final of the Heineken Cup.. in Lansdowne Road?

Alas, the 2009 Semi was a kick in the teeth if you wore red. I been to a lot of these derbys.

Ok, the Lawnstor got going, at last. A few Cups, fair play. Munster are no Begrudgers. Yes ye played amazing Rugby, had Rocky Elsom, bolstered the Green jersey too and Joe Smith got to practice.

Neutral Venue
2006 Munster, O'Connell, Axel, ROG & Co vs 2009 Leinster Drico, Darcy, Elsom (The Drico Darcy, Horgan vintage was better than Ringrose Henshaw, Larmour IMO)

key Battles
Malcolm O vs Paulie in the line out - Paulie
Heaslip vs Axel - Too close to call
Leamy vs Elsom - Elsom
Back 5 vs Back 5 - Leinster (neither blue or red wings would see much ball)

I think it would come down to the axis though
Strings/O'Gara vs Whitaker/Sexton

It a tight tense affair Leinster would be undone by their own processes. O'Gara would keep them pinned and Sexton would bring Drico into the game.

Ultimately it would come down to the tee, and my money would be on O'Gara and Munster for that reason.



(4) Why do you think "you aren't built for a 2.48" - I reckon we're similar in stature and I still plan to run better than 2.48 and I'm old.
I was trying to work that out. Are you much taller than me? I'm 161cm. With your running background (even after the football) I figured you'd be quite lean? So 13 stone doesn't compute

I'm a typical Mesomorph



PS
Any more jibes about me in a BB House fixing my hair and I'll defo beat you in that 100m
You did 100m in school too... how quick were you?

Thanks for the questions - very entertaining

That's some response on the Rugby - top notch analysis.
I reckon you're right - it would come down to the Tee - I reckon O'Gara is a better clutch kicker than Johnny and a master at dictating the space within the game.

Never timed myself in the 100m - I was the anchor leg in the 4x100 all the way through school and went undefeated in school (100m) upto 16-17 - never made a mark in Community Games on my own - but we made it to the Finals in the relay.
I'm 6ft 2 - not quite sure on the body type, but quite lean, despite lockdown doing its best to ruin that.

shotgunmcos wrote: »

'Sup AMK

(1) Leinster in their pomp vrs Munster in their Pomp - Neutral Venue : Who wins & why??
Ok no matter what I'm a Munster Man true and true. Munster in their pomp beat the All Blacks... need I say more?

More recently, Chicago had a bunch of Lawnstor players but lets look at the scoring stats

Ireland: (25) 40
Try: Murphy (10'), Stander (17'), Murray (33'), Zebo (48'), Henshaw (76')
Conversion: Sexton (11', 35'), Carbery (77')
Penalty: Sexton (4', 24'), Murray (59')

Of the 40 points Ireland Scored
Munster 25
Lawnstor 15

Right lets stick to the usual red v blue
Contemponi rubbed it in O'Gara's face Christmas 2005. What was the score 6 months later in the Semi Final of the Heineken Cup.. in Lansdowne Road?

Alas, the 2009 Semi was a kick in the teeth if you wore red. I been to a lot of these derbys.

Ok, the Lawnstor got going, at last. A few Cups, fair play. Munster are no Begrudgers. Yes ye played amazing Rugby, had Rocky Elsom, bolstered the Green jersey too and Joe Smith got to practice.

Neutral Venue
2006 Munster, O'Connell, Axel, ROG & Co vs 2009 Leinster Drico, Darcy, Elsom (The Drico Darcy, Horgan vintage was better than Ringrose Henshaw, Larmour IMO)

key Battles
Malcolm O vs Paulie in the line out - Paulie
Heaslip vs Axel - Too close to call
Leamy vs Elsom - Elsom
Back 5 vs Back 5 - Leinster (neither blue or red wings would see much ball)

I think it would come down to the axis though
Strings/O'Gara vs Whitaker/Sexton

It a tight tense affair Leinster would be undone by their own processes. O'Gara would keep them pinned and Sexton would bring Drico into the game.

Ultimately it would come down to the tee, and my money would be on O'Gara and Munster for that reason.

Enjoyed this analysis, but I must profer Leinster 2012 as "Leinster in their pomp." Reddan instead of Whitaker, a much better more mature Heaslip, Sexton and SOB, Thorn instead of Mal O'K, Mike Ross instead of Stan Wright. Yes losing Rocky from the 09 team isn't great but overall a stronger and more balanced team in 2012.

but I digress!