Getting to know..........MD1983

pointer28 · 27-03-2015 4:55pm #1

So, after my attempt to bore everyone to death last week, MD1983 has kindly agreed to step up this week and answer all your questions.

I suppose I should get it started.

Bucket list race, time and money no object?
Who would you like to run like, and who do now run like?
Who would you like to ride like, and who do now ride like?
Who would you like to swim like, and who do now swim like?
€2000 to spend on sport gadgetry, what would you buy?
If you could have any coach, who would it be?
Favourite go to session in each discipline?
Lance vs Macca, who wins?

tunney · 27-03-2015 4:58pm

Are you a doctor?
Where you born in 1983?

sconhome · 27-03-2015 5:09pm

Favourite go to run session?
Favourite running shoe? and why?

MD1983 · 27-03-2015 5:15pm

Bucket list race, time and money no object?
Norseman or something like that, it just looks so difficult and the setting is nice

Who would you like to run like, and who do now run like?
A Brownlee and i run now like an average guy, i cant pick out anybody famous who runs like me

Who would you like to ride like, and who do now ride like?
fabien cancellara, he impresses me no end. hard to say who rides like me

Who would you like to swim like, and who do now swim like?
in triathlon terms i would like to swim like either of the brownlees or gomez, good enough to get out in the lead bunch but not expending wasted energy off the front. not sure about who i swim like, in technique terms i would say i am not a pretty swimmer but still swim ok nevertheless

€2000 to spend on sport gadgetry, what would you buy?
€2k wouldnt get me what i want which would be a new bike cause my one is old now. i suppose i would get a new wetsuit as i need one now that i am a bit thinner and a new TT helmet and perhaps the new garmin. i dont focus much on gear as thats not my performace limiter and if i but it its just a treat for myself

If you could have any coach, who would it be?
somebody who i was not friendly with who i could tell them that is was over when it didnt work out without feeling bad!

Favourite go to session in each discipline?
bike - turbo w/up 10*1min hard, 1 min easy, 3 mins rest, 3*8 mins hard, 4 mins rest in between, c/down = 1 hour
Swim 1 hour - 7*400m at varying intensities and using tools as i fancy
Run - 10*1km hard as i can

Lance vs Macca, who wins?

in triathlon at this stage, give each 3 months to get fit and i say Macca

MD1983 · 27-03-2015 5:16pm

tunney wrote: »

Are you a doctor?
Where you born in 1983?

no - tax advisor/businessman. born in 1983!

MD1983 · 27-03-2015 5:18pm

AKW wrote: »

Favourite go to run session?
Favourite running shoe? and why?

10*1km hard for the session, not my favourite but it is my go to!

i am relatively injury free so never really pay that much attention to my run shoes, i never really notice the difference when i change back and forth. current i have a paid of asics, not sure of the model and a pair of addidas

joey100 · 27-03-2015 6:30pm

What's your pb's for sprint an Olympic distance??

Any plans to go longer??

Did you get into category 1? ( seen as your in my age group and from your log a good bit faster than me!)

Kurt Godel · 27-03-2015 6:48pm

Hi MD1983:

1) What's your favourite run-related 3-letter acronym and why?
2) What's your favourite bike-related 3-letter acronym and why?
3) What's your favourite swim-related 3-letter acronym and why?
4) Describe your best ever swim battle?
5) How fast can you swim 100m all out this week?
6) Why are tracker products not subject to the 1% Investment Levy Tax?

tunney · 27-03-2015 8:06pm

MD1983 wrote: »

Bucket list race, time and money no object?
Norseman or something like that, it just looks so difficult and the setting is nice

Who would you like to run like, and who do now run like?
A Brownlee and i run now like an average guy, i cant pick out anybody famous who runs like me

Who would you like to ride like, and who do now ride like?
fabien cancellara, he impresses me no end. hard to say who rides like me

Who would you like to swim like, and who do now swim like?
in triathlon terms i would like to swim like either of the brownlees or gomez, good enough to get out in the lead bunch but not expending wasted energy off the front. not sure about who i swim like, in technique terms i would say i am not a pretty swimmer but still swim ok nevertheless

€2000 to spend on sport gadgetry, what would you buy?
€2k wouldnt get me what i want which would be a new bike cause my one is old now. i suppose i would get a new wetsuit as i need one now that i am a bit thinner and a new TT helmet and perhaps the new garmin. i dont focus much on gear as thats not my performace limiter and if i but it its just a treat for myself

If you could have any coach, who would it be?
somebody who i was not friendly with who i could tell them that is was over when it didnt work out without feeling bad!

Favourite go to session in each discipline?
bike - turbo w/up 10*1min hard, 1 min easy, 3 mins rest, 3*8 mins hard, 4 mins rest in between, c/down = 1 hour
Swim 1 hour - 7*400m at varying intensities and using tools as i fancy
Run - 10*1km hard as i can

Lance vs Macca, who wins?

in triathlon at this stage, give each 3 months to get fit and i say Macca

I think you need to revise your definitely of hard. I'd you can do that much hard is not hard enough

MD1983 · 27-03-2015 9:46pm

joey100 wrote: »

What's your pb's for sprint an Olympic distance??

Any plans to go longer??

Did you get into category 1? ( seen as your in my age group and from your log a good bit faster than me!)

Joey - ill take a look tonight and try to find the PBs i dont know off the top of my head as things like that dont really stick with me

yes there are plans to go longer. i was planning on doing ironman barcelona in october and i need to decide shortly on this, i havent signed up yet but maybe i could get a cancellation or something. i was waiting to be sure that my health problems of last year/early this year had finally gone before making a decision on whether i would really commit to this or not

i didnt get into Cat 1 automatically and wouldnt apply for a dispensation although i would like to try that kind of racing as i think it would be fun. i am not under any illusions of thinking i would do well at it but i dont think i would come last either

i read your log and always think your times are similar to mine and thats why i read it to see what similar guys are doing ;-)

MD1983 · 27-03-2015 10:06pm

Kurt Godel wrote: »

Hi MD1983:

1) What's your favourite run-related 3-letter acronym and why?
2) What's your favourite bike-related 3-letter acronym and why?
3) What's your favourite swim-related 3-letter acronym and why?
4) Describe your best ever swim battle?
5) How fast can you swim 100m all out this week?
6) Why are tracker products not subject to the 1% Investment Levy Tax?

what a list! i actually dont know too many acronyms Kurt but anyway:

1) LSD
2) FTP
3) SCM
4) None stick out for me Kurt, i know from your log that you do some swimming races and perhaps battling for a position is more important, if a guy starts to fight me, other than at the start of a race when i battle, i will just let him on and gladly take the draft. if the guy is a stupid c*nt who is intent on drafting me but is interfering with my stroke and generally persisting in being awkward i would either try to swim harder and lose him or swim on top of him
5) dont know, i di dmy best ever 50m in 35 secs last week so i think i would get close to 1.20. i will try this out the next day swimming is my main session of the day and give it all
6) tax is a funny thing, its like medicine, different advisors do different taxes so i dont know about every tax. i literally wrote the book on capital gains tax so capital taxes and family business type taxes are my forte.

i never heard of an investment levy tax, are you thinking of something else? Irish tax policy IMO is not that well thought out in certain aspects, a lot of measures are purely revenue raising rather than having any specific policy purpose, other aspects are very well planned such as incentives for non-resident companies to locate here. there may be no specific logic for why one thing is taxed and another is not, it could be that the thing that is not taxed would not raise that much revenue and therefore they didnt bother with it

MD1983 · 27-03-2015 10:12pm

tunney wrote: »

I think you need to revise your definitely of hard. I'd you can do that much hard is not hard enough

why?

i suppose i could be more descriptive of what i do. the effort i describe as hard is something that i could do the number of times listed like 10 in this case but probably not much more than that. then again i didnt say very hard or extremely hard!

Kurt Godel · 27-03-2015 10:30pm

MD1983 wrote: »

what a list! i actually dont know too many acronyms Kurt but anyway:

1) LSD
2) FTP
3) SCM
4) None stick out for me Kurt, i know from your log that you do some swimming races and perhaps battling for a position is more important, if a guy starts to fight me, other than at the start of a race when i battle, i will just let him on and gladly take the draft. if the guy is a stupid c*nt who is intent on drafting me but is interfering with my stroke and generally persisting in being awkward i would either try to swim harder and lose him or swim on top of him
5) dont know, i di dmy best ever 50m in 35 secs last week so i think i would get close to 1.20. i will try this out the next day swimming is my main session of the day and give it all
6) tax is a funny thing, its like medicine, different advisors do different taxes so i dont know about every tax. i literally wrote the book on capital gains tax so capital taxes and family business type taxes are my forte.

i never heard of an investment levy tax, are you thinking of something else? Irish tax policy IMO is not that well thought out in certain aspects, a lot of measures are purely revenue raising rather than having any specific policy purpose, other aspects are very well planned such as incentives for non-resident companies to locate here. there may be no specific logic for why one thing is taxed and another is not, it could be that the thing that is not taxed would not raise that much revenue and therefore they didnt bother with it

Good answers! Except 3), which is just lazy

Hoped you'd expand on Early Vertical Forearm or somesuch.

5) 35 for 50 is flying; you should get under 1:20 this week. Closer to 1:15, best of luck!

6) Well I never. You are responsible for CGT thresholds etc. Expect many PM's from me over the next few years looking for free expert analysis (I'm a financial advisor). When is Parent->child CGT exemption being raised from 225K? Life-support is so expensive for many of my trust fund clients, if there's any way we can grease the wheel I'm sure a nice B2R voucher could be sorted.;)

Investment levy- if someone wants to invest in most collective funds, the Gov takes a nice 1% levy on entry. This isn't applicable to tracker-based funds, as they are considered deposit based. Probably a decision made around Cabinet table without a lot of thought, in case it impacted on people actually depositing into banks. Doesn't make sense to me (and a b*tch to explain to clients), but as you say its all about the revenue.

I'll have more Q's in a day or two!

MD1983 · 29-03-2015 6:16pm

joey100 wrote: »

What's your pb's for sprint an Olympic distance??

Any plans to go longer??

Did you get into category 1? ( seen as your in my age group and from your log a good bit faster than me!)

Joey - on the PB's

on a full distance olympic course my best is 2.11 (ballybay OD), i probably have faster times in places like Kilkenny (for example 1.58 last year) or Athlone i think but they are courses that are not full distance/or have downstream swim/or both and kilkenny doesnt count transitions so i wouldnt count them

Sprint is 1.04 in Athy i think

MD1983 · 29-03-2015 6:29pm

Kurt Godel wrote: »

Good answers! Except 3), which is just lazy Hoped you'd expand on Early Vertical Forearm or somesuch.

5) 35 for 50 is flying; you should get under 1:20 this week. Closer to 1:15, best of luck!

6) Well I never. You are responsible for CGT thresholds etc. Expect many PM's from me over the next few years looking for free expert analysis (I'm a financial advisor). When is Parent->child CGT exemption being raised from 225K? Life-support is so expensive for many of my trust fund clients, if there's any way we can grease the wheel I'm sure a nice B2R voucher could be sorted.;)

Investment levy- if someone wants to invest in most collective funds, the Gov takes a nice 1% levy on entry. This isn't applicable to tracker-based funds, as they are considered deposit based. Probably a decision made around Cabinet table without a lot of thought, in case it impacted on people actually depositing into banks. Doesn't make sense to me (and a b*tch to explain to clients), but as you say its all about the revenue.

I'll have more Q's in a day or two!

Kurt - on the 35 i hit the tumble turn perfectly on it for once, i am not great at the turns yet and only turn in the deep end as i hit my head in the shallow one. chances are if i did a 100 i would miss my 2 turns and i can honestly say if i got anywhere near 1.20 i would be delighted and probably reward myself by heading to the sauna...

i think guys who follow programs or have a coach giving sessions would be good at the acronyms, even when i did go to coached sessions my eyesight is so poor i could never read the board anyway, i found the sessions a haze in terms of my sight and also i am not an early morning person so i was at the sessions in body if not fully there in spirit

i am not responsible for the thresholds or anything like that, i am not in the Revenue or DOF and work for myself, i just write the commentary for practitioners and its a way of getting work

those thresholds wont move upwards in the short term IMO, it would not be the Revenue who would be against it and indeed an increase in that threshold would be welcomed and probably availed of by almost every family in the country at some stage. politics would prevent it, can you imagine the spin put on it by SF and the rest

mossym · 29-03-2015 6:47pm

going pull something from your log here

i have a major run weakness and its running at a high (for me) tempo for distances, i think comparably my ability to run short distances fast is better than my ability to run a longer distance fast.

so, curious now, 5k, 10k, HM, Marathon PBs?

MD1983 · 29-03-2015 8:48pm

i honestly cant remember the last running race i did, it could be 7 years ago so i dont know/have any PBs for running, but i would estimate:

5k around 19mins assuming its a flat course, this week i did 20mins exactly for 5.2km on a hilly loop so i think that would be a good estimate, in two duathlons recently i recently did 3.45 per km for the opening 3km and probably could do that for another 2k, so 19 mins not far off

last year the club did a 10km run TT on a dead flat 1km strip (up and down 5 times) and i did it in i think 41mins 50. i am a bit lighter this year and running better so i think i might get close to 40 mins, not far off that for sure

i wouldnt know or be able to guess half marathon or full marathon with any accuracy

IMO my running comparatively is worse than my swim and bike, in simple terms i do ok in the swim, move up on the bike and go back on the run, only 3 times in my memory have i gotten off the bike in a race and not been passed by someone, its a bit frustrating, i rarely run by anyone other than in wave start races where there is a real mix of abilities.

the statement about the comparison is based upon last year when running with the club, i would be comfortable enough running 1km or 2km with the same people, then if the session was say a 30 min run at a high tempo i would be ok for maybe up to 3km and then gradually fade away.

Dory Dory · 30-03-2015 1:41am

Hi MD1983!!

So, what is your background in sports?
How did you get into tri?
How many years have you been into tri?
Is there a triathlon race that you participated in that stands out for you in some (any) way?
How disciplined and consistent would you say you are about training?
Do you train to race, or race to train?
From above:

MD1983 wrote: »

If you could have any coach, who would it be?
somebody who i was not friendly with who i could tell them that is was over when it didnt work out without feeling bad!

Anything you care to share with us about this coach thingy?
Have you any tattoos? If so, how many, of what, and where?
Best pickup line at a bar?
Favorite drink if you're out and not driving?
If you could put together your dream boards tri relay team, who would it be made up of (and you are one of the legs) and why?
And who would comprise the boards tri relay team that your dream team would most want to crush in a race, and why?
What are you afraid of?

MrCreosote · 30-03-2015 3:40am

Mostly been lurking myself here of late, but howdy!

-describe your best race so far
-what is the thing that annoys you most about triathlon?
-what grammatical error gets on your goat?
-in 10 words or fewer, outline a long term sustainable solution to the problems in the Middle East.

mossym · 30-03-2015 8:14am

MD1983 wrote: »

the statement about the comparison is based upon last year when running with the club, i would be comfortable enough running 1km or 2km with the same people, then if the session was say a 30 min run at a high tempo i would be ok for maybe up to 3km and then gradually fade away.

ah see what you mean now...i thought you were seeing a drop off as you went up the distances i asked about. cheers

joey100 · 30-03-2015 8:31am

Money no object what bike and set up would you have??

Member of a club? Train with them (if you are) or by yourself?

MD1983 · 30-03-2015 3:07pm

Hey, thanks for the Qs

So, what is your background in sports?
had a tennis court at home so played tennis every day from early until in my teens. played soccer from teens for club and school and then played on the college team for a year then for the graduate football club for a few years but nothing serious as i was working by then and work had taken over my life

really enjoyed the tennis and football and may go back to the tennis some day

How did you get into tri?
wife and brother in law signed up for triathy and i did it too just because they were, i was seriously unfit and couldnt swim at all and i still remember fondly the surfing wetsuit i had for it. i was very heavy (95KG), fat but also big up top as i used to lift weights

How many years have you been into tri?

not sure, could be 5

Is there a triathlon race that you participated in that stands out for you in some (any) way?
the ones that stand out most are the ones i did when it was still an achievement for me to finish one, i remember my first olympic distance race in Belmullet which is a really exposed part of the country and it blowing a gale and i still couldnt swim and just being petrified of the swim. i felt so good finishing the race, such a buzz to have overcome the swim and the rest of it and really enjoyed the group of friends who were doing tri then.

racing now is different, i am not doing it to finish anymore and i suppose the times at the end more govern my enjoyment than completion.

maybe if i did an ironman i might get the same sense of achievement as its not a distance i have done but i suspect not, it would be down to performance again

How disciplined and consistent would you say you are about training?
very consistant and reasonably disciplined, i might sometimes not do all that i set out to do but i rarely miss a session

Do you train to race, or race to train?
bit of both, i like training and i like racing. i suppose its more train to race as there would be no way i would do hard intervals or efforts if it was just for fun

From above:

Anything you care to share with us about this coach thingy?
no, i suppose it was a bit of a flippant comment, i find the triathlon scene to be small and you repeatedly come across the same people so i wouldnt like any awkwardness.

looking at the question again i suppose i should have said somebody like Brett Sutton (ignoring his past for this purpose only) as i would like to live in the Alps someday and often thought of buying somewhere over there for holidays, i think he is based in Switzerland so it would suit. maybe Macca as he seems to be in Thailand now and i would also like to go there

Have you any tattoos? If so, how many, of what, and where?
no - they are not for me, each to there own

Best pickup line at a bar?
never used one

Favorite drink if you're out and not driving?
vodka and coke

If you could put together your dream boards tri relay team, who would it be made up of (and you are one of the legs) and why?

interesting one, i skipped off to look at the 400TT there and no one strikes me as being particularly fast, i know from peter's log that he is swimming well so i think he could swim, there was one guy last year who was 4.30 something for the 400m but i cant remember his name.

my best attribute is cycling so i would do that.

i think Zico may be the best runner on the tri forum so i would get him to run

And who would comprise the boards tri relay team that your dream team would most want to crush in a race, and why?
i havent had any negative dealings here so far so no crushing required..!

What are you afraid of?
heights, spiders, having a heart attack or dying while training/racing and leaving behind the wife to fend for herself

[/QUOTE]

MD1983 · 30-03-2015 3:19pm

MrCreosote wrote: »

Mostly been lurking myself here of late, but howdy!

-describe your best race so far
-what is the thing that annoys you most about triathlon?
-what grammatical error gets on your goat?
-in 10 words or fewer, outline a long term sustainable solution to the problems in the Middle East.

Love the middle east one!

best race is a tough one, i suppose the race that surprised me a bit in a good way was the first duathlon i did this year, i didnt think i was fit and feared it would not go well for me but i did ok and i enjoyed myself and proved that i was improving some. lately i think that was the best race for me

most annoying - long runs in bare feet in transition or potholes on the bike or if its really windy and the tri bars hard to control

misuse of the apostrophe, i am not a grammar policeman though

the nuclear option is sustainable for the middle east.... the place is simply beyond help

Dory Dory · 30-03-2015 3:19pm

MD1983 wrote: »

And who would comprise the boards tri relay team that your dream team would most want to crush in a race, and why?
i havent had any negative dealings here so far so no crushing required..!

This was meant as friendly rivalry for some fun. Nothing more.

:)

Thanks for your answers! Chances are you haven't seen the last of me.

MD1983 · 30-03-2015 3:34pm

joey100 wrote: »

Money no object what bike and set up would you have??

Member of a club? Train with them (if you are) or by yourself?

If money was no object i would go off to the states to that guy i read about on slowtwitch who does the aero camp (name could be chung?) in the indoor velodrome and test loads of bikes until i found the one that i was most aero on and buy that one.

on looks alone i think i would take the Cube bike that Andreas Raelart had on Slowtwitch recently but with a Hed 3 spoke on the front. also like the BMC timemachine

i was a member of a club (t3) until i moved out of dublin and trained with the club at there run sessions only, i previously went to the swimming.

not a club member but i am near Athy Triclub and i might join them but i think i am better off training on my own for everything aside from a long bike where i enjoy company. i train with the wife regularly enough and thats good company too but she wont train for as long as i want to so she only does part of the cycle or swim etc

MD1983 · 30-03-2015 3:38pm

Kurt Godel wrote: »

Hi MD1983:

5) How fast can you swim 100m all out this week?

Kurt - 1.19, i was fresh and gave it everything so thats the max. once i had my session done i tried again and it was 1.25 but was tired by then and a floater interfered with my turn. the best thing was i didnt go to the sauna as a reward....!

catweazle · 30-03-2015 3:54pm

MD1983 wrote: »

So, what is your background in sports?
had a tennis court at home so played tennis every day from early until in my teens.

A tennis Court :eek:........................................You posh bastard!

Favorite Movie?
Favorite Scene from a movie?
One race at the Olympics to attend - what would you pick?
3 Sports personalities that you admire and 3 that you don't and why?
Dream Date (besides the wife of course)
Is your wife any good at triathlon?
The O Donnells.....get them out or let them stay?

MD1983 · 30-03-2015 5:10pm

A tennis Court :eek:........................................You posh bastard!

the real posh guys had the swimming pools..... not really there was an old lawn court beside the house when my da bought the farm years ago, we dug it out and tarred it and put up fences to keep the balls in. played tennis with my da after school and in the local club, family came around at the weekends to play, it was a good social thing and i would love to go back to those days for a while anyway

i shouldnt probably mention playing croquet on the lawn so.....

Favorite Movie?
Gladiator

Favorite Scene from a movie?

the first battle scene from gladiator and also the final death scene

One race at the Olympics to attend - what would you pick?

not triathlon, i think that would be better on the TV, i would say the 10km

3 Sports personalities that you admire and 3 that you don't and why?

Paul O'Connell - standards so high for years
Federer - just the class to his play in the early years
Gomez - so consistant

Dont admire
jose Mourinho - a winner but a bit of a cheat

i need to think more about these ones, no one jumps out

Dream Date (besides the wife of course)
i will look at this later as i have to go now to collect the wife from the train - thats a date i cant miss....!

same for the Qs below - will answer later!

Is your wife any good at triathlon?
The O Donnells.....get them out or let them stay?

tunney · 30-03-2015 5:13pm

If you could have a super power what would it be?

MD1983 · 30-03-2015 8:34pm

Dream Date (besides the wife of course)
in a triathlon context i would pick either Erin Densham or Helle Fredicksen, a few pics would do a lot for this thread if only i knew how.....

Is your wife any good at triathlon?
indeed she is, comparably much better than me, she wins and podiums 90% of the time and she isnt really all that interested in triathlon in comparison to me!

when she is fit and interested she is a decent training partner for me

The O Donnells.....get them out or let them stay?

out - what do they expect? they offered the house as security for loans, any fool knows that if you dont repay your loan you lose what you offered as security at a minimum.

we can debate the rights and wrongs of what the banks did but we cant overturn what should be fundamental legal principles or else how would we have a functioning banking system...

i dont have an issue with them getting due process, we all have that right and if there was a legal flaw in the paperwork then so be it, but for me the fundamental thing is you get a loan, offer security, dont repay said loan you should expect to lose the secured asset

MD1983 · 30-03-2015 8:38pm

tunney wrote: »

If you could have a super power what would it be?

there are so many possibilities! only one superpower could leave me vulnerable to exploitation, i mean superman has loads and he still gets into bother

but i think i would like to control the weather, i could then blow away my enemies, do some good in the world, have good snow when i go skiing and also always have a roaring tailwind on the bike...!

pgibbo · 31-03-2015 9:29am

How are you settling in to the new house?
Did you self build or get a builder? Stressful?
Five people you'd have for dinner and why?
What would the courses be?
How many hours a week do you train?
Is every day a double or triple training day for you?
Do you use a PM? If so, what one and what's your FTP? Watts/kg?
it appears you have a strong bike and the ability to suffer. Any thoughts on why your run lags a bit compared to your bike?
Have you done any HIMs or IMs?

MD1983 · 31-03-2015 10:33am

Hi pgibbo

How are you settling in to the new house?
getting used to it now, back living in the middle of nowhere was a bit strange at first but it now feels like i never lived in Dublin at all. having a nice big house rather than a pokey apartment is refreshing but there is more to attend to like gardening and planting hedges and trees and the like.

Did you self build or get a builder? Stressful?
got a builder as self build wouldnt be practical when i was not living close by and also i think the new building regs make that difficult now. builder is obliging sort of guy and i get on well with him but the last few finishing touches are dragging out a bit which is starting to grate. stressful enough but not as bad as i thought it would be, wouldnt do it again in the short term thats for sure

Five people you'd have for dinner and why?
hmmmm i have never thought about this. if it was an open an honest conversation i would like (and assuming people can be resurrected of course...)

Brian Lenihan - what really happened? i think this man did his best for the country from an impossible position

Hitler - looking back what would you have done differently and what was your motivation to push on when you already had so much?

George Bush - what was the Iraq war really about?

Obama - i want to know all about whether there is aliens or not and what do we know?

Gerry Adams - whats your real plan if you do get into power as i dont buy what you are saying at the moment?

What would the courses be?
just stuff that i like

starter - something with goats cheese on it or even battered goats cheese balls, i just love goats cheese

main - simple enough - steak with pepper sauce, some veg and potatoes/chips or something like that

dessert - profiteroles - love them

How many hours a week do you train?
i would say something between 14-17 on good weeks.

Is every day a double or triple training day for you?
most days are now that i can go to the pool, id say there are more double and triple days than days where i only do one thing

Do you use a PM? If so, what one and what's your FTP? Watts/kg?

yes i use a PM, its a Quarq (crank based).

i havent tested my FTP since February of last year - my 5 min power was 398 watts and 20 min was 329 watts. i havent tested since and am about 5-7kg lighter now. based on recent training i would estimate as follows:

5 min - about 370-380 - that would be circa 5 watts/KG
20 min - 310-320 - that would be circa 4.2 watts/kg

you couldnt pay me enough to test this at the moment! i did 100m in the pool for Kurt but an FTP test is a totally different kettle of fish....

i use the PM as a guide in races, i am not a slave to it at all, i go as hard as i can and look at it from time to time, i think trying to hold an average power for me seems stupid, you could be going downhill for a few mins and average very low watts and then trying to bring that back to the goal average would take a lot. for me its more of a limit guide and especially on moderate/bigger climbs i would try to keep it consistent as i have a tendency to really spike efforts on climbs and that is probably not helpful

it appears you have a strong bike and the ability to suffer. Any thoughts on why your run lags a bit compared to your bike?

thats something that nags at me and i think about it a lot, i am a much more committed cyclist than runner, thats probably part of it, i am balancing the cycling and running more this year but the running lags a few years behind in commitment terms.

i would not say that i have good run economy but that is improving.

and finally perhaps i put too much into the bike and have largely ignored fuelling for olympic distance racing when i should have thought more about it, that probably starts to hurt me a bit on the run.

Have you done any HIMs or IMs?

halfs and the double olympic in Athy twice. i did galway twice, the first year i was woefully unprepared and walked some of the run, the second year i did a bit better.

i am signed up for the double olympic in athy this year and am hopeful as i think i can do ok at it. i might sign up for an ironman for later in the year but i will see

pgibbo · 31-03-2015 11:15am

I hear you on the FTP tests - a world of pain!!!!

Do you ski or board?
Have you been many times?
Favourite resort?
Have you skied in North America? If yes, how does it compare to Europe?
Do you wear a helmet when skiing/boarding?

MD1983 · 31-03-2015 11:53am

pgibbo wrote: »

I hear you on the FTP tests - a world of pain!!!!

Do you ski or board?
i Ski, never boarded

Have you been many times?
cant recall exactly, i went when i was a child and then in my 20s and with the wife. never went for more than a week and i always have the desire to go for a season and tour around to loads of different resorts. pipe dream, maybe next year...!

Favourite resort?
St Anton had the best skiing from what i can remember. i liked Zell am See too, went with the wife and enjoyed it, nice place. might be nice to go back to in the summer sometime.

i also liked the thermal Spas in Bad Gastein but the skiing wasnt as good

Have you skied in North America? If yes, how does it compare to Europe?
no but a mate of mine has moved to boston and i might go over and go with him if he stays for long

Do you wear a helmet when skiing/boarding?

at first no but in recent years yes

pgibbo · 01-04-2015 8:30am

Do you do much in the line of core, SnC, maintenance (rolling, stretching, etc)?
What sort of time do you think you're capable of for an IM with ideal prep and an issue free day?

MD1983 · 01-04-2015 2:49pm

Do you do much in the line of core, SnC, maintenance (rolling, stretching, etc)?
i do a bit of S&C but not a lot, mainly at the moment as my left knee tilts slightly inwards when i run and gets a bit uncomfortable after about 6-7km but nothing major.

i roll when injured or tight but rarely when not so, a bit lazy like that. i am not flexible at all so maybe i should do a bit more

What sort of time do you think you're capable of for an IM with ideal prep and an issue free day?

hard to know exactly not having done any long distance race in a few years.

on a fast course i think i would be close enough to 10 hours this year, i hope to do one this year later on so i will get an eye opener thats for sure. but for the sake of speculation i would say

swim: 1 hour should be very doable assuming of course its wetsuit. i think i swam about 3.4km in a 1 hour pool swim last year with no wetsuit and a wetsuit makes a huge difference to me, about 45 secs over 400m i think. so considering that 1 hour is a solid estimate.

bike: 5 hours should be doable, thats only 36km per hour and i hear the roads on the continent are like glass and the wind is always at your back..... on the glassy irish roads 280 watts gets me circa 42km per hour average so perhaps as little as 210-220 watts average would be enough for 5 hours. no idea but thats not a bad guess.

run: so i am back in T2 after 6 hours and then i have 4 hours to do the marathon!

d4r3n · 01-04-2015 3:31pm

Based on your power information to date... max power, 5s wkg, 1m wkg, 60m wkg?

What are your least favourite swim/bike/run sessions?

Of your 14-17 hour weeks, how many hours per discipline? what would the intensity split between hard/easy be?

MD1983 · 01-04-2015 4:30pm

Based on your power information to date... max power, 5s wkg, 1m wkg, 60m wkg?

i will test max power, 5s w/kg and 1 w/kg tonight and let you know. absolutely no way i would do a 60 min test! i dont know if i would ever really know what this is at an open TT race unless i enter some TTs which are not on the horizon currently

What are your least favourite swim/bike/run sessions?
i suppose the sessions i am happiest to be done with are long swims - 4-5k, i hate FTP testing with a passion that why i havent done one in so long, and least favourite run would be a long treadmill run when i do one, say ifs its dark outside or poor weather

Of your 14-17 hour weeks, how many hours per discipline? what would the intensity split between hard/easy be?

bike - normally 2*1 hour sessions that i would class as hard with the rest i suppose easy, i dont really keep them that well defined as i could include hill repeats in an easy cycle or there could be a long section into the wind or up a big climb where i am essentially pushing myself - of that weekly hours i would say 8 would be bike

swim - i suppose 4-5 sessions a week ranging from 45 mins to 90 mins. if i said 4 - 5 hours a week would be average. i will do some days intervals say 100s or 50s or 200s and mixed in some longer stuff, some days if i was intent on doing a longer session the sets might be longer say 400m

Run - about 4-5 runs from 40 mins up id say average about 4 hours per week. mixture of faster and easy stuff

MD1983 · 01-04-2015 6:14pm

Max power - 822 watts,

5 seconds - 810 watts

1 minute - 538 watts, probably could do more if i tried it again as at the end of the minute i could have gone on longer

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/734721778

MD1983 · 01-04-2015 8:25pm

I have one more day of questions, if anyone wants to volunteer to take over please PM me otherwise i will have to go looking for a replacement!

Dory Dory · 02-04-2015 6:30pm

Hello....couldn't let you get away without a few more questions!

One piece tri suit or two? And why?
If I were to hop in your car right now, would you have to clear the passenger seat of clutter for me? And what would be playing on your radio?
Morning person or night owl?
What makes you laugh?
What is the most annoying habit you have?
What is the last book you read?
Do you play a musical instrument or sing?
Have you ever done karaoke?
How many bikes do you own, and do they have names?
Right now, what kind of shoes and socks do you have on?
What is the first thing you do when you come home from work and walk through the door?
What kind of cook are you? And what is your signature dish you make?
Chocolate cake with chocolate icing, fruit pie, or any flavor ice cream?

That's all!!!

MD1983 · 02-04-2015 8:35pm

Hello....couldn't let you get away without a few more questions!

One piece tri suit or two? And why?
mixed bag over the years, i am in a one peace now for the simple reason that a company i have an interest in has trisuits and i wear one

If I were to hop in your car right now, would you have to clear the passenger seat of clutter for me? And what would be playing on your radio?

no clutter - wife sits there regularly and she cleans my clutter out

Newstalk radio or Today FM

Morning person or night owl?
Neither really, i get up early some days but not very productive if i am left to my own devices, tend to sit, drink tea and watch TV unless i have a goal. rarely stay up late as training has me tired

What makes you laugh?

stuff like Only Fools and Horses, chatting with friends and family that sort of thing

What is the most annoying habit you have?
i get a bit narky if wife repeatedly asks me to do something, that happens so often its probably a habit now....

What is the last book you read?

Zlatan - i think that was the title of Zlatan Ibrahimovic's book, read that around Christmas. the last book i referred to was Bohan: Capital Acquisitions Tax which i looked at today but its not a cover to cover type book

Do you play a musical instrument or sing?
instrument no - sing yes in my own head regularly enough

Have you ever done karaoke?
yep, drink has a lot to answer for

How many bikes do you own, and do they have names?
2 bikes, one TT one road bike, the TT is Betsy and the road is POS

Right now, what kind of shoes and socks do you have on?
brown runners, two odd black socks

What is the first thing you do when you come home from work and walk through the door?
turn off the alarm if its on, drop what i am carrying and probably put on teh kettle

What kind of cook are you? And what is your signature dish you make?

a limited cook. have no signature dish, but what i cook for myself most regularly is sweet potatoe, tomatoes, spinach and chicken for my dinner

Chocolate cake with chocolate icing, fruit pie, or any flavor ice cream?
a bit of rhubarb tart would do

shotgunmcos · 02-04-2015 9:06pm

How many times have you watched Gladiator?
What is your view on water charges?
Favourite weather presenter?
How long can you hold a plank to fail for?
Have you cracked an hour for 40k?

MD1983 · 02-04-2015 9:16pm

How many times have you watched Gladiator?
3-4 i would say

What is your view on water charges?

the people who dont pay for anything are shouting the loudest, everything should be free blah blah blah and i am delighted to see these people finally having to fork out for something, i already pay for water via a group scheme and i think everybody should pay. the government have handled the whole thing so badly though

Favourite weather presenter?
Gene Byrne ;-)

How long can you hold a plank to fail for?
5 minutes

Have you cracked an hour for 40k?

yep have done this in olympic distance triathlon in Kilkenny last year, 40.1kph average IIRC. think it would be handy enough in an open TT but all course dependant

pgibbo · 02-04-2015 9:27pm

What sort of numbers for the 40.1 average?
What does POS stand for?
When will you make a call on IM Barcelona?
What's the current A race for 2015?
Hope you enjoyed the spotlight?

Cheers.

P.

ray o · 02-04-2015 9:49pm

How do you cook your sweet potato?

MD1983 · 02-04-2015 9:51pm

What sort of numbers for the 40.1 average?

250 watts IIRC - pretty low and faster with circa 20 less average watts on the same course than the year before. fastest split of the day which made me smile a bit ;-) it was around that time that i thought my PM was reading low but if it is broken at least it is consistent!

What does POS stand for?

piece of sh*t - its a complete gate and i swear it is so slow compared to the other one and also sometimes i ride the wife's road bike and even that is quick compared to it, probably all perception and i raced a few tris on it in the early years

When will you make a call on IM Barcelona?

it will have to be soon but i dont know what the trigger will be or if i will procrastinate until it is to late, that wouldnt be out of the question as i am good at over thinking and inaction

What's the current A race for 2015?
the double olympic in triathy - thats the A race at the moment. putting it out there for future embarrassment i want to:

swim 46 - 47 mins
Bike in about 2hrs 8-10mins
Run in about 1hr 30-33

thats the goal so i will see how it goes and of course conditions could play havoc but if the weather is good i think i can do that and i suppose that is the first step

Hope you enjoyed the spotlight?

thoroughly.....!

P.[/QUOTE]

MD1983 · 02-04-2015 9:53pm

ray o wrote: »

How do you cook your sweet potato?

chop it into cubes/slices and steam it, its surprisingly quick to cook like that and actually cooking the meat usually takes longer. its such a superior taste to the traditional spud IMO

zico10 · 02-04-2015 10:30pm

Dory Dory wrote: »

If you could put together your dream boards tri relay team, who would it be made up of (and you are one of the legs) and why?

MD1983 wrote: »

i think Zico may be the best runner on the tri forum so i would get him to run

That's probably touch and go at the moment. You might be better off getting Peter to do both the swim and run right now.

I'm afraid I know very little about you, and I'm not sure what to ask.

Any sporting ambitions outside of triathlon?
You mentioned you thought your weight having an impact on your running. How heavy are you? Did you ever make any great efforts to get your weight lower than this?
Are you careful about what you eat in general?

You said you'd like to holiday in Switzerland and Thailand. Have you travelled much? Where are the most interesting places you've been?

Finally do you think you've kept your log updated?

MD1983 · 03-04-2015 8:15am

Any sporting ambitions outside of triathlon?
i would like to try cycle racing but thats along a similar vein to triathlon i suppose. when i was a young lad i suppose we all dreamed of football etc but now that i am 32 i think i can accept that i wont play in the premiership. nothing else really appeals to me at the moment

You mentioned you thought your weight having an impact on your running. How heavy are you? Did you ever make any great efforts to get your weight lower than this?

i am now about 75kg so i dont think the weight impacts me at the moment to a degree where i want to lose more, i look pretty thin now and my mother is getting concerned which probably means i am about right. i started triathlon at 95kg and am 182cm

Are you careful about what you eat in general?

yes - very careful, havent had chocolate bar or ice cream, biscuits or really junk food since July last year. occassionally i might have some crisps or some a few of my wife's celiac biscuits but they are not the same and lack taste

You said you'd like to holiday in Switzerland and Thailand. Have you travelled much? Where are the most interesting places you've been?

havent travelled a huge amount really. when i was in school and college i worked in the summers on the farm and i might get a weeks holiday in france or spain somewhere cheap as i had no cash really

i pretty much started working full time from college as a trainee accountant and on that money you could barely get a bus home so no real chance for travel in those years, also they worked you like a dog and holidays where generally a day here and there rather than weeks in a row

i went to singapore , Bali, longbok and Gilli T on honeymoon for a good few weeks, think the honeymoon might have been 6 weeks and i thought that was great. also spent some time in a small town in france in the foothills of the Pyrenese and cycled around a good bit and i really enjoyed that.

i suppose thailand would just be to see what that is like and i think i would like to cycle around the Alps as i see it on the cycling on TV and it looks great

Finally do you think you've kept your log updated?

my log is reasonable, it lacks some detail in comparison to yours. i go in phases at it in terms of whether i am interested in it enough to type out everything that i have done, times and HR and power etc, i find it easier to remember the cycling and running in more detail than the swimming as you could have 40 different things in a swimming session and i dont accurately recall whether i do my 100m repeat in 1.30 or 1.33 each time

Getting to know..........MD1983

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