SIGNING OFF

Well as anyone in the know knows, I didn't do Barcelona and pulled out of the RAI after a day.

Firstly many congrats to Johnny, Shaun and Henry who finished the job off under extremely difficult conditions. Trojan effort by all. Also I realise the importance of a good support crew - the guys headed by Jason were fantastic and the driving of Mr. Feeley was an endurance test in itself.

Got the medal from Shaun - thanked him but still feel I hadn't earned it. Will be back one day, u can be sure of that!

Since then I have done nothing. Absolutely nothing. Feeling unfit, bloated and generally out of shape. On my one and only swim in the last three months I couldn't keep up with Ed in the pool (no disrespect intended Mr. McEntee). Can't even run 10 min miles at moment.

Weighing in at 16st 4lbs. My heaviest in a long long time. Actually have only 2 pair of trousers that fit me now.

Austria 2010 is on the list, and my hopes of getting a good time are already hampered by weight and a total lack of fitness. In general things are looking bleak and I think I mighn't be able for it.

But sitting here eating my 6 jam tarts after my Big Mac Meal and 6 nuggets (it stops here!!!), I am strangely motivated to start tomorrow on the road to austria and................................







Smashing The Walsh Wonder.

p.s. www.austria2010.blogspot.com if u are interested.

THE SWIM FROM HELL

The last week was intentionally kept easy enough with the RAI coming up but ended with an enduring sea swim that I though would never end.

The previous week ended with a cycle home on Thursday night which took 65 minutes. I ran for 45 mins on Friday but a cold kept me out of action for the weekend and all I managed was a Skerries sea swim race on Saturday for about 20 mins or so. Overall only managed about 7 hrs for the week.

The week started well with an hours run at lunchtime on Monday followed by a 90 minute fartlek session on Monday evening with Leewa. Ran for 30 mins the following day.

On Wednesday I swam for about 2000m and cycled home for about 65 mins.

Thursday was a 1500m swim and I did a 45 min run the following day.

Saturday meant an easy 2.5hr cycle with Swords with a bit of banter and some small intervals thrown in. Myself, Shaun, Locho and Robbie turned off at Ballyboughal to make the cycle a bit shorter than normal as all had things to do.

Sunday was the 'Frosties Mile' sea swim race in Skerries. With the current against the swimmers the swim seemed a lot longer. While the water temperature seemed okay at the start, the amount of time I spent in the water really made me feel cold. The swim seemed to go on forever but when I eventually finished I got the shock of my life to sea Killian and Garrett sitting there waiting to congratulate me. The sincerity in their voice would soon be replaced by gloating and boasting...But when u give it u gotta be able to take it. So well done lads.

The only disappointing thing is that it was the last race of the year, so gotta wait another 9 months to have a crack at them again.

Overall about 9.5 hrs for the week and a game of ball on Thursday night.

JUST DONE AVERAGE HRS SINCE STARTED

Well looking back to Day 1, including football, my average weekly exercise hrs has amounted to 11.2hrs per week.

Not bad - but still don't feel prepaed.

RECAP SINCE LAST FRIDAY

Last Week

Did nothing on Friday or Sunday and sandwiched a cycle in on Saturday for about 2.5/3 hrs. Had two punctures. Thanks to Joe and Connor for helping me with first and a super vet named Liam Mackey who fixed the second and found the reason for the puncture - a thorn in the tyre. Should have checked tyre first time but felt under pressure as cycling with Swords and didn't want to hold them up. The cycle with Swords for the first hour was really really easy - don't know if they were going slow or if I am just getting faster and fitter.Will soon find out anyways.

Total time for week was 11 hours - had hoped to do more.

This Week

Monday 31/8 - Ran with Leewa. Was a fartlek session and Garret Early and Gav Farrell took part. They were miles ahead of me, especially going up hill, and total session was 55 mins. Hamstring felt very sore.

Tuesday 1/9 - Ran with Alan for 55 mins easy around Skerries. Hammer felt a bit better but still a nag there.

Wednesday 2/9 - Cycled into work for total of 75 mins from door to door. Felt good and kept a decent pace up. Didn't wanna go with Shaun as Hegarty is just to slow - only joking Shane - just didn't get text as lost phone!

Also did my own speed session in pool in gym in IFSC - swam total of 2,000 metres and felt surprisingly good.

Thursday 3/9 - Swam 1,500m at lunchtime - felt okay again but want to get a long open water swim this weekend if I can find time.

FINGAL INDEPENDENT ARTICLE

Attached is an article on the RAI team from the Fingal Independent.

http://www.fingal-independent.ie/sport/other-sports/meet-the-marathon-men-1862916.html

JUST 5 1/2 WEEKS TO GO

Monday 24th August

Ran with Leewa and the guys - was a fartlek session and lasted 70 mins broken down as 3 mins @ HR 130, 3 mins @ HR 140, 3 mins @ HR 150 & 4 mins @ HR 160 until session ended. Running good.

Tuesday 25th August

Cycled for 2 hrs in the morning. Meet Shane Hegarty and Shaun and rode with them till Swords and then turned back. Easy enough.

Wednesday 26th August

Did 1hr 50 min session with Emma Quirke around Fingal. Had done 30 mins before meet Emma and had a good chat to pass the time quickly.

Thursday 27th August

Cycled for about 3.5 hrs in the morning. Cycled into town with Shaun and turned back. Meet Kevin and Ian Butler for last hour. Thought it would be easy but three alpha males meant for a few sprints and races up hills - all of which I won...easily!!

Need to Swim!!!!!!!!!!

HOLIDAYS - SO LAZY WITH THE POSTING

Well, have to admit that I haven't been very active on blog for last two weeks as been off work and just lazy re blogging but not re training. So starting from last post I will update ye with the training done:

Saturday 16th August

Finished the session with Shaun and got in all the sessions as previously stated. Overall was happy but realised that nighttime cycling will be considerably slower. Pushed it in every session, especially the first one which seemed to be a race between Clubber and Shaun. I just hung on and took the draft.

Knackered today and missed session with Swords. Did get a game of ball in and, as family away, went to see Inglorious Bastards and avoided the chocs.

Sunday 17th August

Did 2hr 5 min run with Paddy - felt fine throughout but legs were very heavy afterwards. Pace was slow but there was a very strong wind about, which might have been the reason for that (or maybe it was the fact that I weigh 210lbs!!!)

Overall I did 14.5 hrs and three hours of soccer for the week.

Week starting Monday 18th August

Tried to take a step back this week so didn't do as much.

Cycling - Cycled home from work on Monday and into work Tuesday with each session lasting about 75 mins. Then cycled with Kevin O'Sullivan on Wednesday for 70 mins very easy. Kevin is an accomplished swimmer and fierce competitor but only coming back from a broken ankle so easy enough session. On Saturday I cycled with Karl and Shaun for two hours and chatted about the RAI etc. Overall did 5 hrs 40 mins of cycling.

Running - 30min run on Monday and ran with Paddy for a hard 90 mins on Tuesday. Good session with Paddy and a good pace. However didn't meet Paddy for other sessions as planned as life got in the way!

Swimming - None. Very Bad.

Football - The usual 2 hrs on Thursday and played for 1 hr on Saturday.

Aquathon - Did the 3Dtri Aquathon in Skerries on Saturday, in between my two hour cycle and game of footie. Was a 750m swim and 4km run. 6th out of water in this race and 9th overall. Happy enough. Didn't do the bigger Aquathon as felt would be pushing it with other activities I was doing during day.