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Its about time - IMAT12

124678

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,377 Mod ✭✭✭✭pgibbo


    catweazle wrote: »
    I find its almost an eternal problem for me, I am keen to do a race but then I start thinking with the rest days before and after I would be better off doing the long training sessions over the weekend instead.

    The two I try to do each year before the Humbert are on the weeks when I am supposed to be hitting my peak mileage hence hesitancy. I am not too worried about the Galway Cope Triathlon on the 8th as that is only down the road and will be a bit of a blowout but Kilkee I would like to get a decent time but worried that will take too much downtime, with Mrs C and the young lad off to Portugal the week of Kilkee its set up perfectly for a big week training that I will not get again during the lead up :mad:

    I hear you but if Kilkee is a low priority race, why not train through it as normal and suck up the performance as best you can. That way you would only miss out on the Saturday for training! ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭RedB


    pgibbo wrote: »
    I hear you but if Kilkee is a low priority race, why not train through it as normal and suck up the performance as best you can. That way you would only miss out on the Saturday for training! ;)

    Its a conflict alright when you're factoring in races en route to your A race and then you're thinking of giving them a lash when it gets closer to the time. Stick with the big picture CW as pgibbo suggests and keep your eyes on the Swinford prize. Tweak the schedule to accomodate HOTW a bit but try to get as much out of your big week as possible all things considered :rolleyes:.
    So, that's my excuse prepared now for when Oryx 'chicks' me at Joey :D;) (better go do a decent training week now to validate it!).

    Wed 25/4/12 - am 2100m Swim and 8km lunchtime run
    I had an 'ambitious' :rolleyes: provisional time on the entry form for my Joey swim as 31mins but I had to sheepishly change that with the organisers last week to 35mins as a result of not a lot of swimming or swim progress :(. Only myself to blame as I haven't put the effort in :o. I went down this morning intending to do 1500m straight which I managed and then tacked on another 500m of miscellaneous 50s + 100s. I miscounted the first set and had to let people through 2-3 times so got some sneaky micro-brakes but my 1500m swim time was 34:43 (2:19/100) which is where I thought it'd be. I was losing form and endurance at the end of that so much more work needed :o.
    300m - 6:50 (2:17/100, 27-28spl)
    1100m - 25:47 (2:21/100, 28-29spl)
    100m - 2:23 (28-32spl)
    100m - 2:13 (28-29spl)
    1600m - 36:53

    500m easy

    8km easy run, 41:53, 5:14/km
    My legs have been dead all week and I tried stretching last night but my quads were still stiff and tight today. Did some stretching afterwards.
    Sitting down all day after yesterdays AM long run is NOT the way to go :(


  • Subscribers Posts: 19,425 ✭✭✭✭Oryx


    So, that's my excuse prepared now for when Oryx 'chicks' me at Joey (better go do a decent training week now to validate it!).
    Hey, thats MY excuse for when my (female) nemesis in the club beats me. :)

    I did a 1500 tt last night. 33.52. And I was trying, hard, with no micro breaks. I just thought youd want to know. ;) I'm down for 34 minutes, so whats the betting we end up in the same lane?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭RedB


    Oryx wrote: »
    Hey, thats MY excuse for when my (female) nemesis in the club beats me. :)

    I did a 1500 tt last night. 33.52. And I was trying, hard, with no micro breaks. I just thought youd want to know. ;) I'm down for 34 minutes, so whats the betting we end up in the same lane?

    Hey its a good excuse reason so don't be afraid to use it :D

    I presume you're in a 25m pool? I wonder what effect the 50m lengths will have :rolleyes: (HINT- micro breaks are the way to go ;))
    My time is AFTER I took out the breaks so 35mins is about right from the GO to the end :rolleyes:.

    If we're in the same lane then I hope you don't mind me drafting :). I'll offer to return the complement in Austria once I get my wetsuit on :rolleyes:
    The weather is looking a bit inclement


  • Subscribers Posts: 19,425 ✭✭✭✭Oryx


    RedB wrote: »
    Hey its a good excuse reason so don't be afraid to use it :D

    I presume you're in a 25m pool? I wonder what effect the 50m lengths will have :rolleyes: (HINT- micro breaks are the way to go ;))
    My time is AFTER I took out the breaks so 35mins is about right from the GO to the end :rolleyes:.

    If we're in the same lane then I hope you don't mind me drafting :). I'll offer to return the complement in Austria once I get my wetsuit on :rolleyes:
    The weather is looking a bit inclement
    All I know is that the 50m will have me going 'where is the feckin wall?'

    I hope you can sight better than me in ow. If so Ill tag your heels all the way!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭RedB


    Oryx wrote: »
    All I know is that the 50m will have me going 'where is the feckin wall?'

    I hope you can sight better than me in ow. If so Ill tag your heels all the way!

    I think they've got a special gizzmo in UL that lenghtens the lane by 1m for every length you do :D

    When in OW I generally just follow the crowd :o:)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭RedB


    Thurs 26/4/12 am 1:00 VO2 Turbo and pm 1:00 2000m endurance Swim

    Turbo session complements of BennyMul :) based on an FTP of 250W but haven't tested that in months
    10min WU incl cal to 0 and setting to +1
    5min at 110% FTP (275W)
    5min recovery
    3 x 3min at 120% FTP (300W) with 3 min recovery
    10 m in recovery
    4 x 2min at >120% FTP (325W) with 2 min recovery
    Avg 229W

    BM's original session finished with 8x1mins but there was a mention of a 4x2min version which I went for. I might have been a bit soft on my current FTP :rolleyes: as I still had enough power on the last rep to take it to the max and held 400W :eek:. I'll have to crank that FTP up a notch for future session. I did find the earlier reps a challange but I haven't done VO2 turbo sessions in a few weeks so I was probably a bit rusty before I got to the last set :). It sorted out my tight quads though :p.

    Travelled to Wexford with work but back earlyish so fed and rested a bit before heading down to the pool late in the evening.

    2 x 400m (9:10, 9:02, 25-30spl)
    4 x 200m (4:23-4:28, 26-31spl)
    4 x 100m (watch froze so no data. approx 2:13/100?)
    Took decent recovery between reps,sets and concentrated on holding form and breathing. Usually I'm racing though the place but I took 10-15mins in the Steam Room afterwards to chill out and start acclimatising to the heat :).
    I'm usually pretty bushed by Thursday evenings but I felt surprisingly fresh. Not sure if its because of eating slightly better (more veg) or just general fitness but I also seem to be surviving better on less sleep with earlier AM starts being a regular enough routine now. Austria accommodation and car hire are finally booked so that's the last of the main logistics sorted (assuming the club transport plans for the bike remain on track). I do need to get aero bars onto my bike and get a bike fit. I got new cycle shoes the other day and my cleat position is random so I must factor that in too.

    Fri 27/4/12 am 1:00 Run with 5 x 1min easy pick ups on 10min
    12.0km, 1:00:00, 5:00/km. On the money, honey ;)
    Nice cool morning for a run before mini-taper for Joey :rolleyes:. Heading to The Mustard Seed tonight with MrsB . Looking forward to it :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,208 ✭✭✭shotgunmcos


    Good work on the turbo.

    RE swim: Were your strokes per length starting out at 25 and ending up with 30? Over 200 too?

    Let me know how the Mustard Seed is as I might take Caz out there, thanks


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭RedB


    RE swim: Were your strokes per length starting out at 25 and ending up with 30? Over 200 too?

    Kind of. Started fresh obviously but then settled into slower pace

    1st 400m - 25,27,30,29,29,29,29,28
    2nd 400m - 28,29,30,29,28,28,29,28
    1st 200m - 26,28,30,30
    2nd 200m - 27,28,31,29
    3rd 200m - 28,29,30,29

    Well done on your own Turbo / Brick too. V. Nice

    Reports from others on Mustard Seed are all good and they've a €99pps offer for B+B+Dinner which is good considering the normal price of dinner there.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭RedB


    Sat 28/4 Rest - Got my first ever bike fit in Tribikes in Raheen but this then also involved getting new aerobars which then had to be cut shorter as the guy thought they shouldn't extend beyond the drops :confused:. Showed him some photos from the hydration thread here but he said they were TT bike setups whereas he was trying to accomodate the bars onto my road bike. He felt that if they were 'longer' then I'd be stretching. They felt a bit shorter than I was expecting but he spent 1.5hrs with me including the cleats so I figured he knew what he was doing. No real measurements taken for the setup, all done by eye but it was only costing €30 for the fit so I reckoned it had to a positive step. The bars costing €120 (which he then cut :eek:) took the wind out of me a bit but seeing as I've been using borrowed gear for years I hoped it would be a fair price to pay. I 'pimped my ride' :p a bit more when I setup a new aero bottle later at home along with a new Bento box with spare tube and gels and put my Garmin on a bike mount. I took out my own bottles for the day and even took the reflectors off the wheels :). Finally starting to look the part if nothing else ;).
    Met Kevin7 at Registration around 8pm and got our nice red tshirt and chip, no's, etc. Then took a step backwards later that evening after I'd gotton all my gear sorted by going into town to buy my brother a birthday drink. Great to see the young people enjoying themselves :rolleyes:.

    Sun 29/4/12 - Joey Hannon Olympic Tri.
    Relaxed home start for a change. Parked up in Milford NS at 8am, gave the wheels a squirt, put energy drink in the bottle and setup in Transition. Met a few friendly faces, got the briefing and then headed home for 9am! Got the show on the road there as another GAA Feile competition out the county was on the cards and they were going to swing by T1 en route. Back to Milford for 10am and did a few laps of the indoor track with some strides thrown in. Cut it fine to get to the pool and there were already 13 in my lane so I went to the opposite end where there were only 8 and jumped in there. Didn't sort ourselves out very well and there was a few seconds delay when the whistle went as we jumped around into order. I was aiming for 35mins as was another guy but the rest were going for either 30mins or 40mins. I led him out and promptly lost the draft ahead of me by 50m :o. The guy behind was touching toes from 50m-100m but didn't want to lead until 200m and then I lost him as well. I was also having my usual 'what the hell am I doing here!' anxiety attack and trying to relax and get my breathing under control. My shoulders felt tight and I lost count of the lengths and generally was not enjoying it as people went by me. Microbreaks helped as I let them through and even got to pass a few myself but I was wishing it over for ages. Can't wait to go over double that distance :o.
    The family were waiting outside the pool exit door which was a nice boost even though Mini-Me looked very confused with the whole scene. Welcome to the club I thought :D. T1 was relatively quiet as I came through but my helmet was not on my bike and after a mini-panic I spotted it on the ground on the opposite side of the bike rack. I didn't go for a jacket or arm warmers as even though it was windy, the sun was shining. Another shoutout from the clan and I was away.
    And boy, was I away! I started passing people immediately and got two before the gate. I was happier on the bike and got straight into a good tempo. I got down on the bars as quick as I could and immediately noticed the sensitivity required for steering at speed. Probably not the best time to be trying to figure that out! Spotted Oryx's race no just past the lights at the Cappamore turn and gave her a shout out but she didn't know me. And then some guy passed me which I took offence at! I'm doing the passing around here buddy! Kept him in my sights and reeled him back in a KM or two later and continued to pass plenty others. The wind was very stong, gusty and changeable and the aero bottle seemed to act like a sail in the crosswind making it very dangerous. I had to concentrate a lot to hold it together and actually drinking from the aero bottle was also a new challage! I only ended up drinking half it and I didn't take any gels but I felt good thoughout. I really felt like I was powering when down on the bars and it was a good buzz going fast(er than I usually go :rolleyes:). The return leg was as gusty as the outward and I really couldn't figure which was worse as there seemed to be head, cross and tail winds on both. Glutes started to feel it towards the end which is a new one for me :confused:. Coming back past Visticon I eased up a bit around the speed ramps and started trying unsuccessfully to get my Garmin off the bike mount and next thing that guy from earlier passes me :eek:! Disgusted I was.
    T2 went ok apart from struggling to get the Garmin off the bike and not having elastic laces in my runners. I had a Isogel to bring with me but also grapped a 250ml bottle of water from the pile at the finish line as I'd had very little to drink but still felt ok.
    The legs were grand on the run and I got into a nice steady pace of approx 5:00/km which I was happy with. Took the gel going down the lane and nursed the water over the two laps. Spotted Kevin7 coming against me on the 2nd lap of the lane but he was a good bit ahead and I was starting to feel my hamstrings tighten so I just cruised away in my happy place. I caught a few on the run but the last wave were there by then and I was getting passed by others too. Finished happy which was my target.
    I hadn't done Joey before so my race target was a bit loose. I did HOTW in 3hrs but I figured the Joey bike would be shorter and flater. The run would also be flater but I'm a faster swimmer in a wetsuit. Given my training I was hoping for a time around 2:45 and so I was satisfed with a 2:43:45 to finish 156th of 215 (still Chasing the Pack). The swim was a shocking 37:09 (202nd of 215 :eek: - 2:28/100m) but maybe they miscounted :rolleyes:. The bike was better at 1:11:27 (101st of 215 - Avg 31.4kph) and the run was ok at 50:53 (149th of 215 - Avg 5:05/km). Overall I'm happy with the day and I did enjoy it once I got out of the pool.
    Introduced myself to Oryx and BetterThanHoyte afterwards and heard tales of woe from both re punctures and tummy issues but thankfully I avoided those issues for a change plus I didn't crash so it was actually one of the few Tris I have done without incident and with appropriate training (swimming aside). Its the way to go :).
    Watched the Leinster HC game prior to the prize giving and started to get very stiff and tired so took it handy for the rest of the evening. Nice.


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  • Subscribers Posts: 19,425 ✭✭✭✭Oryx


    Lovely to meet you even briefly. :) Sorry I was too tired to even introduce my friend. You Woulda nailed me with that time, I really gotta work on my bike!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭RedB


    Oryx wrote: »
    Lovely to meet you even briefly. :) Sorry I was too tired to even introduce my friend. You Woulda nailed me with that time, I really gotta work on my bike!

    Nice to meet you too. Hope you did ok against your nemesis/friend and feel better today :).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,830 ✭✭✭catweazle


    Nice time Red particularly the bike - nice to see the hard work paying off. The way that guy has set up your tri bike reminds me of the ITU guys who all seem to have the short bars, I would be the same if I saw some lad taking the saw to something that I just spent 120 lids on :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,208 ✭✭✭shotgunmcos


    Good race and report RedB. Bike split stands out and thats the one you want to have standing out too with IMAT on the horizon. Enjoyed the report and another peppering of smilies, this is a colourful log :D:):P:p:pac::cool::confused:


  • Subscribers Posts: 19,425 ✭✭✭✭Oryx


    RedB wrote: »
    Nice to meet you too. Hope you did ok against your nemesis/friend and feel better today :).
    Woulda had her but for the puncture. :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,173 ✭✭✭BennyMul


    Great result Red, now just a half marathon and half ironman in the next 2 weeks :D

    the IM will be no bother after this


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,144 ✭✭✭Bally8


    Great report and racing there Red. I would be interested in hearing how you get on over time with your bike fit. €30 is very cheap- Planet Tri is €70 but maybe Tribikes would push me to buy something expensive that I dont really need (dont think I'll ever be in the areo bar league of cyclists:D)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    Super report and super race! Well done. Keep working on you swim, you will reap huge rewards. :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭RedB


    Mon 30/4/12 - Rest. Muscles very tight and reasonably tired. Should've warmed down and stretched properly yesterday :(

    Tues 01/05/12 - 2100m am Swim, 1:00 pm Fartlek :confused:run and 0:30 stretching

    400m WU
    8 x 50m Drills (6 X 50m Superman arms at side, catchup, one arm side - all with flns, 2 x 50m pull buoy)
    13 x 100m off 2:45 approx (2:17,2:17,2:15,2:07,2:13,2:17,2:11,2:12,2:18,2:13,2:07,2:07,2:06) avg 28spl

    No satellite signal for Garmin during run so approx figures.
    Usual 12km Mountshannon Road, Herberts pub loop, 1:03, 5:15/km
    10min WU
    12-14 easy strides / pick ups of increasing duration and speeds (100-300m?) as legs loosened
    10min WD

    Good general stretching session after food but couldn't get to sore RHS of hamstring. Foam roller hit the spot though :eek:.

    Weds 02/05/12 - 1:00 am VO2 Turbo (same as last weeks a la BennyMul - must be good based on his Joey result :))
    Notched it up a bit using FTP of 260W instead of last weeks 250W
    10min WU, Calibrate to 0 and set to +1
    5min @ 110% FTP (286W)
    5min easy
    3 x 3min @ 120% FTP (312W) with 3min easy
    10min easy
    4 x 2 min @ > 120% FTP (325W+). Held 325W ok on first two, 345-350W on third, 370-375W on last. Another notch the next time :rolleyes:

    Traveled to Kerry with work and 2hr Cubs hike on beautiful evening. Jealous of all the cyclists out :o

    Thurs 03/05/12 - 2300m am swim
    400m WU
    8 x 50m Drills (6 X 50m Superman arms at side, catchup, one arm side - all with flns, 2 x 50m pull buoy)
    7 x 200m off 5min (4:35,4:40,4:38,4:37,4:35,4:26,4:32). Avg 28-30spl
    100m WD
    Noticed my kick style changed when I breathed to my left for a change instead of to the right (bilateral off limits for the moment :rolleyes:). I seemed to have a deeper and steadier beat kick rather than my typical 'flutter' :confused:. I also seemed to go naturally faster but couldn't sustain it :o


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,173 ✭✭✭BennyMul


    another good week been put in sir.
    on the intervals if your power is not dropping as the sets go on, you should continue to do more reps, the fact that your power was getting higher means you also had more in your legs and should have added a few reps and you need to redo your FTP test which is a great sign of improvement.

    I usually work off the 10% rule, once my power drops by 10% I stop as you are in to diminishing returns there.

    fair play very little signs of fatuige from the weeknd.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭RedB


    Thurs 04/05/12 (cont'd) pm Brick 0:45+0:30

    Tried holding 81% FTP as per MCOS's recent sweet spot session (although his was twice as long and a MUCH higher FTP :eek:)
    5min WU, Cal to 0, (forgot to put setting to +1 until 15min later :o)
    40min at 90+ cadance. Avg 217W (Approx 81% of estimated FTP of 270W = another notch higher than Weds' turbo).
    Quick change to runners, threw on a tshirt and out the door.
    6.15km, 30:03, 4:53/km
    Happy with that although running shorts were chaffing due to being a bit small and wet from the turbo. Ouch :(. Won't be wearing that pair again!

    Fri 05/05/12 am Endurance Swim
    My confidence needed a bit of a boost after struggling a bit through the Joey swim so I decided to 'go to the mattresses' and give a long swim a decent effort. I started slow and steady and just kept going like that the whole way. There was a small bit of traffic in the pool and I had to let people through a couple of times and even had to pass a few the odd time but I held my line generally and kept doing my own thing. Counting out the lenghts became my mantra and focusing on technique as the arms tired, sholders tightened, breathing deepened and legs began to drop or flay raggidly. Concentration was drifting and, as I was aiming for 3000m, I didn't want to come up short so I'd be conservative when unsure of the lap count. I finished up on 1:24:56 which I was a bit sad about but my watch was showing a longer distance so I thought I'd have to review it as it can miscount a length if interupted mid-length (e.g. sudden stop at slow swimmer) but its easy to see afterwards. But the watch was right and not only am I not a good swimmer, I'm also not a good counter :rolleyes: as I actually did 3500m :D which worked out at a 2:25/100m, 30spl average which I'm reasonably satisfied with and gives a nice confidence boost as I was genuinely doubting my ability to do the IMAT swim. Now, at least I just have to work on trimming back that time a bit :).
    BennyMul wrote: »
    another good week been put in sir.
    on the intervals if your power is not dropping as the sets go on, you should continue to do more reps, the fact that your power was getting higher means you also had more in your legs and should have added a few reps and you need to redo your FTP test which is a great sign of improvement.

    I usually work off the 10% rule, once my power drops by 10% I stop as you are in to diminishing returns there.

    fair play very little signs of fatuige from the weeknd.

    Thanks BM. Taking a rest day on Mon really did help with dropping the fatigue as I'm starting to learn better how to balance my efforts and knew that the stiffness would drop off after a few sessions. I know I didn't red line it enough on the VO2 session but I'll adjust the next time to add extra reps if I don't have my FTP value notched up enough. I didn't want to go into the pain cave too early but I only ended up dancing around outside it instead :rolleyes:.
    Hoping it'll be a decent weeks training as I'm adding a long bike to my long swim and 'racing' ;) the GLR HM. A 150km lap of Lough Derg is planned for early Sat but my HM race effort on Sun will probably be sub 1:50 rather than sub 1:40 as I try to get the legs recovered. Feeling good generally which upon reflection probably means I'm not doing enough or going hard enough :p.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,991 ✭✭✭griffin100


    RedB wrote: »
    Fri 05/05/12 am Endurance Swim
    My confidence needed a bit of a boost after struggling a bit through the Joey swim so I decided to 'go to the mattresses' and give a long swim a decent effort. I started slow and steady and just kept going like that the whole way. There was a small bit of traffic in the pool and I had to let people through a couple of times and even had to pass a few the odd time but I held my line generally and kept doing my own thing. Counting out the lenghts became my mantra and focusing on technique as the arms tired, sholders tightened, breathing deepened and legs began to drop or flay raggidly. Concentration was drifting and, as I was aiming for 3000m, I didn't want to come up short so I'd be conservative when unsure of the lap count. I finished up on 1:24:56 which I was a bit sad about but my watch was showing a longer distance so I thought I'd have to review it as it can miscount a length if interupted mid-length (e.g. sudden stop at slow swimmer) but its easy to see afterwards. But the watch was right and not only am I not a good swimmer, I'm also not a good counter :rolleyes: as I actually did 3500m :D which worked out at a 2:25/100m, 30spl average which I'm reasonably satisfied with and gives a nice confidence boost as I was genuinely doubting my ability to do the IMAT swim. Now, at least I just have to work on trimming back that time a bit :).

    Well done, that's a great confidence boost. The IM swim IMHO is more about the mind than the body in many respects. If you can swim 1,500m as you did last week then you can definitely do 3.8km, it's all about confidence. At the start of the IM journey (excuse the expression) most people are worried about the swim, by the time of the race you realise that the swim is actually the easiest part of the day. But ask a non triathlete or swimmer about which part of the IM they consider the hardest and almost all will say the swim ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭RedB


    Fri 05/05/12 (cont'd) pm Aero run
    8km 41:22 5:10/km
    Just a quick run to keep the legs turning over in advance of GLR. Quads a bit heavy.

    Sat 06/05/12 Long Cycle
    160.3km 5:51:15, 27.4kph
    On the road at 6:30am and home for 1pm but stopped for coffee enroute :D. Will be recommending a neutralised zone for IMAT organisers for same :rolleyes:.
    5 of us set off up the old N7 to Nenagh but 2 had other plans so they turned there and the Banker, Kevin7 and I did a lap of Lough Derg via Portumna, Scarriff and Killaloe before I tacked on another few KM at the end to hit the 160km mark. The lads wanted a break when we hit Portumna at 70km just after 9am and we ended up taking a leisurely coffee and scone. We had a bit of a minor mishap there that required a replacement helmet for Kevin7 and we ended up in Aldi where a kind stranger paid for it when they wouldn't take my credit card. Its a great country all the same when there are still people like that out there :). Anyhow, after a longer than expected stop we were suitably refreshed to spin home relatively easily despite some minor rain and hailstone :eek: showers on an otherwise nice day. Did a loop to Barringtons Bridge and UL as I had a pass until 1pm to allow for punctures, etc and wanted to squeeze the 160km out of it if possible. Happy with the spin as it was reasonably comfortable.

    Sun 06/05/05 Long Run - Great Limerick Run Half Marathon
    This was intended as a long-long-weekend ;) with the swim Fri, cycle Sat and run Sun to see if I was able for it. The legs were tired alright but not particularly stiff or sore. My brother-in-law was doing it as well for his first HM so we parked up in Arthurs Quay and jogged up to the start where we bumped into MCOS and shot the breeze for a bit before doing a bit of stretching and using the WC. I bumped into my buddy BB also with his neighbour who went to the Ballycotton 10 with us but BB was 'slightly' injured so was just out for a run. I was going to aim for sub 1:45 for a PB with sub 1:40 as a dream race time or 1:50 as a fallback if the legs were suffering. I took a gel just before the start but struggled to pick up a satellite signal for the Garmin until the very last second and then we were away! I positioned myself between the 1:40 and 1:50 pacers but the 1:40 guys started drifting away from me slowly but surely. MCOS had suggested keeping them in sight even in the distance and trying to reel them in from 10M so I was reluctant to let them get too far away. I clipped along at a decent HM pace for me of between 4:45-4:50/km for the first few miles and realised I was feeling pretty ok. The 1:40 pacers were about 600m ahead by then and I started to slowly try to work my way back up to them which I eventually did by the 12M mark :p! Not exactly speedy but successful. I was feeling the squeeze at that stage but pressed on past them and milked the crowd for the last section to come home with a very satisfactory 1:39:02 on the Garmin and a big smile on my face :D. Happy days. Bumped into MCOS again in the massage tent and he'd also clocked up up a big PB (1:23:eek:) so happy boardsies all round :cool:.

    A very nice weekend all round.:)

    EDIT - Chip time finally came in last night at 1:38:59. Sweeter :)


  • Subscribers Posts: 19,425 ✭✭✭✭Oryx


    Well done on a great weekend. You are certainly cranking it up. And youre flying :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    Congrats on the awesome pb!!! Woo hoo!! :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,991 ✭✭✭griffin100


    Well done on the PB, a good weekend overall. Are you doing the Tri An Mhi HIM next week?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,830 ✭✭✭catweazle


    Whats my nemesis "The Banker" doing down your way :D

    Well done on the pb, from being down in the dumps its amazing what a week or two can do in this sport, its even more impressive with a 160k cycle the day before


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,173 ✭✭✭BennyMul


    Great weekend there savage training, now just the 1/2 to do next weekend.
    no problems to you at all your flying.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭RedB


    Thanks for the posts folks.
    Oryx wrote: »
    Well done on a great weekend. You are certainly cranking it up. And youre flying :)
    Yeah, its going well at the moment. I feel like a train gathering momentum - just hope I can keep it on track and in the right direction :D
    Dory Dory wrote: »
    Congrats on the awesome pb!!! Woo hoo!! :D
    +1 :D. Cheers Dory. Feeling righteous for a change :rolleyes:
    griffin100 wrote: »
    Well done on the PB, a good weekend overall. Are you doing the Tri An Mhi HIM next week?
    Thanks. Yes, I'll be working in Dublin on Fri and heading on from there early Sat. Are you going too?
    catweazle wrote: »
    Whats my nemesis "The Banker" doing down your way :D

    Well done on the pb, from being down in the dumps its amazing what a week or two can do in this sport, its even more impressive with a 160k cycle the day before
    There seems to be a few of those Bankers around and they're on alot of people's nemesis lists! ;):D
    Defo on the rebound from the down in the dumps phase :). I really appreciate the 'lift' I got on here then bigtime too as I was struggling with the load but I'm focusing now on enjoying the next 8 weeks as I'm fitter than I've every been and it feels good :p. The family can see the light at the end of the tunnel too and the progress with the HM PB and the relative ease of the longer cycles as I'm not as wiped out as I had been. :cool:

    Mon 07/05/12
    - Open Water session :eek:
    Seeing as I'm getting into a Lake next weekend to 'race' I thought I'd better take the opportunity when Planet Tri in Killaloe announced their first OW session of this year. And boy was it COLD. 11 Deg now means a lot more to me than just a number. It means freezing hands and feet :rolleyes:. About a dozen of us braved the 'icy' water for a short session of sighting and 2 return laps to some buoys after flapping around the pier for a bit at the UL Activity Centre on Lough Derg. Only about 500m but I was shivering for a good while after. Most of them were going for a run after which was a good idea to warm up again but I didn't sign for that as I was on a Recovery Day :p.

    Tues 08/05/12 - am 1700m swim Session
    500m wu
    10x50m Drills
    5x100m off 2:30
    200m WD
    A bit tight for time and energy so took it easy with this :o.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭RedB


    BennyMul wrote: »
    Great weekend there savage training, now just the 1/2 to do next weekend.
    no problems to you at all your flying.

    Not exactly savage but building up nice and slowly. Could be a bit more intense at times and could be longer, better sessions too but it is progress and I'm enjoying it. I can't see myself ever dodging the bullet that will be the IMAT marathon 'hurtathon' especially with the heat but I'm not going to get stressed about that. Just trying to focus on taking one step at a time and banking what I can :rolleyes:. I seem to have a good 'flow' going at the moment so I'm smiling :).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,208 ✭✭✭shotgunmcos


    Good stuff again RedB its coming together nicely. You were one happy guy when I met you afterwards. Now remember to keep this week very low key ahead of the HIM!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,991 ✭✭✭griffin100


    RedB wrote: »

    Thanks. Yes, I'll be working in Dublin on Fri and heading on from there early Sat. Are you going too?

    Unsure as yet. Only got back on the bike after 8 months off two weeks ago and have only swum once since last March. If I do do it it'll be a long slow one based on run fitness alone.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭RedB


    griffin100 wrote: »
    Unsure as yet. Only got back on the bike after 8 months off two weeks ago and have only swum once since last March. If I do do it it'll be a long slow one based on run fitness alone.

    Sounds good. What's the rush? ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,173 ✭✭✭BennyMul


    Good luck this weekend Red.


  • Registered Users Posts: 251 ✭✭handangeo


    Good Luck, It will give you a good indication where you are for IMAT - Not long now!


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  • Subscribers Posts: 19,425 ✭✭✭✭Oryx


    Have a good one Red :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,830 ✭✭✭catweazle


    Surely the sub 6 will finally come to pass after years of punctures and shifting buoys, although from the sounds of everyone complaining about how hard the bike course is you have picked a tough one to do it at

    best of luck


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,991 ✭✭✭griffin100


    Good luck tomorrow Red. Don't worry about the bike, it's not that bad. It's lightly long has some uphills but only one big hill per lap.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭RedB


    Thanks folks. I'm not too fussed about it really as I'm taking it as a training day with a couple of objectives:
    1) Get used to taking on regular nutrition
    2) Pacing the bike a bit easier to try and keep a bit of life in the legs for the run
    3) Possibly try a run/walk strategy of 9min/1min (not sure about this as I haven't practiced it)

    The swim is going to be pretty cold based on Monday's dip and I haven't gone near hills in a while so I'm planning on taking it conservatively but still hopefully dipping below the 6hr mark.
    Now remember to keep this week very low key ahead of the HIM!
    TICK ;)

    Had a bit of a training slump after the tiring long weekend and a busy week at work and 'tapering':rolleyes: so its been an exceptionally low key training week to date. I'm actually looking forward to getting stuck back into proper volumes and intensities again next week :)

    Weds 09/05/12 - Rest. Travel to Carlow with work. On the road early and zonked later.

    Thurs 10/05/12 - am Run. Travel to Kerry with work. Went to UL with No1 in the evening but her training session was cancelled so I 'coached' her instead of doing my swim and had to sort my gear out later on.
    12.43km, 1:04:13, 5:10/km with 5x1min pick ups after 0:10min

    Fri 11/05/12 - am Swim. Travel to Dublin with work. Hope to get a short run in later.
    500m WU
    10X50m drills
    5x100m off 2:30

    Looking forward to tomorrow's HIM :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,075 Mod ✭✭✭✭BTH


    RedB wrote: »
    Looking forward to tomorrow's HIM :D

    See you bright an early tomorrow Red. You bringing your shopping bag again??


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭RedB


    See you bright an early tomorrow Red. You bringing your shopping bag again??

    Not unless there's a >1km T1 involved that I don't know about:D

    Quick route planning query for you BTH based on your trip there last week - Is it about an hour from the M50 and do you take the M3 all the way to Kells?

    Also I think I need to practice my finish line photo look for IMAT :) Get the arms up early and hold them all the way through the line :rolleyes:GLR HM Photo Link


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,075 Mod ✭✭✭✭BTH


    RedB wrote: »
    Not unless there's a >1km T1 involved that I don't know about:D

    Quick route planning query for you BTH based on your trip there last week - Is it about an hour from the M50 and do you take the M3 all the way to Kells?

    T1 couldn't be further removed from T1 in Kenmare. Shorter than short.

    Before the M3 and M4, Collinstown was on our route back to Dublin on a Sunday evening, so I stick to the roads I know which is Trim->Athboy->Delvin. Some people will go via Kells, some via Mullingar. Last week I went the Trim way. Its shorter distance wise, but narrower twistier roads. Tomorrow I'll be travelling from my parents place which is only 30min the far side of Collinstown.

    So to answer your question, I don't know which is best!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    Best to you tomorrow!! And enjoy the icy cold water!! ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,991 ✭✭✭griffin100


    Last year Mloc gave these directions which worked well for me:

    N4 to Mullingar, take the Castlepollard exit... head for Castlepollard until you see signs for Collinstown... turn right for Collinstown. When you get to collinstown continue straight through the crossroads and its about 2km out that road on the left.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,075 Mod ✭✭✭✭BTH


    Just to add, Mullingar route has one toll, Kells has two.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭RedB


    Dory Dory wrote: »
    Best to you tomorrow!! And enjoy the icy cold water!! ;)

    Thanksssssssssssssss I think ;)
    The race briefing refers to the famous 'Gin Clear' waters so I'll be visualising that I'm immersed in a giant Gin and Tonic with extra ice.
    Mmmmmmmmmm refreshing :rolleyes:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭RedB


    Sat 12/05/12 - Tri an Mhi Half Iron Triathlon

    Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose
    6:04:58

    Well, the dust has settled on another HIM and I don't seem to be getting any faster :rolleyes: b
    ut it was better.........

    Stayed with the outlaws in Dublin the night before and woke around 5:45 and had a fine feed of porridge, toast, banana and coffee before hitting the road to Westmeath. It was a beautiful morning with plenty of blue sky but a little cool. A nice relaxed drive up had me onsite by 7:30am and quickly registered and got setup in Transition. Fluted around for a bit while waiting for the off and got chatting to a few Limerick heads around 8:30 as we waited for the briefing. This was delayed as there was some stuff happening out on the lake and there was idle talk about the swim being shortened. It turned out they were worried about the water/air temperatures so they were making it two laps of a shorter loop rather than one big loop for safety reasons. Same distance although it felt longer to me :p
    . There was a big speel about the water temp and safety and how it would be ok to get out if you were in trouble, etc. It was actually getting a bit cold standing around so I was glad when we finally headed down to the "warm-up" area of the lake which ironically involved an initial period of rapid cooling down :D.
    Took an Isogel and then got into the water in the first batch and got as acclimatised as I was ever going to with a few swim bursts and letting the water into the suit. Yep - It was definitely cold. It was a waist deep standing start and the crowd were spread out so I was only a few metres from the front when we were let go. Straight into the mayhem and hated it! My legs seemed heavy and lifeless (didn’t have any run previous day or proper warm-up / stretch). Struggled for a minute and thought about getting out! The guy had said it would be ok and I felt "unsafe" (i.e. not in a happy place) so I should just get out :(! But then I gave myself a mental slap in the face and told myself to cop myself on and get stuck in. Which I then did albeit in poor fashion. I was concentrating on getting my breathing under control so my stroke was cat. I couldn't get a draft as everyone was spread out or not at my pace. It seemed a long while to the first buoy and I was dreading having to do it a second time. The water temp, while cold, didn’t seem too bad once we got moving and I was a bit more bothered by the choppiness of the lake. Got around the second buoy and everyone seemed to have disappeared! The field was well spread out and I was probably sighting poorly. Headed for the final third buoy and thought “Yahoo, time to do it all again” as the leaders disappeared past the first buoy. My hands and feet were cold and my stroke seemed short and tight. Just get on with it I thought and get it over with. Seemed to be out there a long while by the time I finished the second lap and struggled into the shallows where I was a bit dizzy standing up but that cleared quickly. Checked that there were a few behind me still in the water but I was moving like a robot heading into T1 as the cold had seeped in and I was feeling it bigtime. And I find out after to my surprise………while I thought I swam poorly and I was a bit disappointed with the time, it turned out to be higher ranked than I imagined at 42:09 (117/187 = 63%) :).

    I struggled to get my wetsuit off in T1 with the cold and sat down to slowly pull it off and get on my socks and shoes but everything else was ok. I felt like I spent too long there and it was a bit sluggish but surprisingly again it turned out to be higher ranked than I imagined at 3:19 (48/187 = 26%).
    I was freezing for a long time on the bike as I just went straight out in my trisuit with no jacket, arm warmers, etc. Plenty (20+) went by me in the first hour as I clunked along and really struggled to warm up :o. I didn’t feel like eating or drinking either but forced myself to take a gel after 20min, again on 40min and some energy drink on 60min. I repeated that twice more throughout the cycle and picked up a replacement water bottle on the start of the second lap giving a total of 1.5L water, 750ml Energy Drink and 6 Powergels. I was too cold to really use the aerobars initially and it took over an hour before the deep cold left me. It was a bit breezy in spots and we had a shower or two so I regretted not wearing more. The sun was out alright but I was never in danger of overheating so it would’ve been wiser to have a jacket than not. The course was a bit rolling with mixed surfaces and I deliberately wasn’t attacking it as I wanted to hold back for the run. However, I didn’t hold back enough once I warmed up and ended up picking off approx. 10 riders in the last hour but feeling more tired than I wanted over the last 10-15km :rolleyes:. I also needed to water the flowers for ages before finding a suitable time and space on a downhill section with no cars or riders around. The relief was worth the discomfort and at least I didn’t fall off this time! :D The course was very well marshalled and the water in bike bottles was excellent. While I was a small bit behind my target time I hadn’t factored in the rolling nature of the course which took more out of me than intended and in hindsight I should have actually gone slower again and saved more for the run. I did enjoy the second half of the cycle but the first half was not good. During the race I was a bit disappointed with the time versus my effort and how many people had passed me but it turned out to be a fair enough ranking for me in 3:20:15 (123/187 = 66%).
    I came through T2 with no issues, grabbing a hat and gel belt as well and out in an ok 1:46 (74/187 = 40%).
    I was breathing heavy at the start of the run but probably going a bit too fast for me as I hit 1M in 7:59 (4:58/km). I waited until a suitable round number on the Garmin and kicked off my 9min run/1min walk strategy. I found it ever so slightly uncomfortable to restart running the first few times but that passed and I was happy enough for the next few miles at 8:29/M(5:17/km) and 2 x 8:26/M(5:15/km) :). I took a gel around then and a few more roughly every 20mins but I lost count and was feeling a bit sick of them at that stage so probably only took 3. It seemed we were hitting hillier territory and the pace dropped to 9:09/M(5:41/km), 9:13/M(5:44/km), 8:51/M(5:30/km) and by 12km when we hit the first lap at Fore I was fairly busted but had to go around again. I cracked after 13km and had to walk part of a hill when it wasn’t planned and it was a slog from there to the finish :(. I tried keeping to the plan but mentally and physically my strength slipped away and I slowed and stopped several times. The cramp alarm bells had been going off for hamstrings and quads but I just about avoided them. The last few miles were 9:20/M(5:48/km), 10:34/M(6:34/km), 9:06/M(5:40/km), 9:44/M(6:03/km) and 10:15/M(6:22/km) and I knew Sub6 was gone. I wasn’t sure of my run time though as I’d no swim time and just total bike/run time displayed. I figured from feeling I was > 2:10 for the run. When I got near to the finish line the clock displayed 6:04:44 so I legged the last 70m+ to scrape in just under 6:05. I was disappointed with that but figured I’d learned a few lessons. It was only when the official results came out yesterday that I realised that I’d done 1:57:29 (118/187 =63%) for the run which I’m actually well chuffed with as sub 2:00 was my target. Official overall time was 6:04:58 (124/187 =66%) which wasn’t as far down the field as I feared so happy enough with that all things considered :).
    Got some grub into me and had a few words with BTH as I very slowly got dressed. Cracking result from him and I wonder why I bother sometimes when I look at those sort of Sub 5 times but hey, I enjoyed it :p.

    http://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.274385259324224.58661.100002582567904&type=1&__user=717595190#!/photo.php?fbid=274398862656197&id=100002582567904&set=a.274385259324224.58661.100002582567904&__user=717595190


    http://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=274410452655038&id=100002582567904&set=a.274408099321940.58667.100002582567904&refsrc=http://m.facebook.com/photo.php&refid=9&_rdr]Run photo here.

    Lessons learned – dress conservatively, go easier on the bike, get the nutrition in and run/walk.

    Sun 13/05/12 - Rest :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,437 ✭✭✭Izoard


    Great going Red - someday this race will be nice and warm, but where is the craic in that?:)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,888 ✭✭✭Dory Dory


    Well done you!! Way to go a sub 2 hour run after the freezing cold, core chilling swim and the looooong bike. Oh, and congrats on relieving yourself on the fly. You fell last time? :eek: That must have been horrid. :o But what a fantastic job you did on Saturday!! :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,173 ✭✭✭BennyMul


    great result Red, been a busy 3 weeks for you, and proof that the IM is well on track.


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