This weeks Title – ‘Come on and start me up…..’

I guess there is no point in having a Blog unless your gonna write something…. Being new to this public diary lark you’ll forgive me (or maybe thank me) if I keep this to all things related to the Static Triathon event. Ironically in the height of training for an Ironman there really isn’t much else to talk about. Life virtually stops due to the all-encompassing commitment. So for the next 8 weeks or so I’m gonna record the fun and games that will get me ready for Telethon day on October 26th

Bit of quick background. By no means am I beginning from a standing start. I’ve been dabbling in the dark art of triathlon for 3 years. This year, starting in March, I began the proper training for my first Ironman – Ironman Austria. Won’t dwell on that, there is a video and a few pictures I’ve you’d like to have a goo. That was in July 8th. Since then I’ve been trying to recover, trying to keep training and trying to stay out of the pub. Can’t say I’ve succeeded in any.

For weeks I’ve been saying “next week the training starts…” The thoughts of getting back into the groove wasn’t appealing. For Ironman Austria there were lots of people to train with (60 in total from Ireland). For Ironman Grafton St – it’s just me. That’s the price you pay when you organise an event that only one can enter! I guess if you can’t win the regular races - what better way to be the Champ than to create your own race and let no one else play.

So between the jigs and the reals I did mark an official start to the Static Triathlon. When Mick Jagger said “good nite Dublin” in Slane, little did he know what he was really saying was “get your arse in gear Eoin. Get focused”. Time to crank it up again!

So you’d think with all this positive hypothesising I would have been rearing to go on Sunday. Not so! I got too wasted at the concert and had a slow moving hangover for 2 days. Fast forward to Tuesday.

Tuesday: Out for a 1.5hr run in Phoenix Park. We (Neil and I) got going at 19.40 – Neil had to bail after 40 mins so I had the remainder to tackle by myself in the dark. Looks like our “summer” is fading. Gonna have to get used to this as my running distances increase.

Wednesday: I was gonna make this a long swim. But the weather was too good to pass up on. I got out of work at a reasonable hour and headed from Ballyfermot to Malahide on the bike. Might as well call out to see my niece and double up on a few km’s. That was a 2hr 20min round trip.

Thursday: That skipped swim needed to be boxed off. I did a one hour non stop front crawl in the swimming pool. Considering this is my soap box I might as well get this off my chest… Could people keep an eye on the swimming direction posted at the swim lanes please! I had a head on collision with a guy in the swim lane. It wasn’t fun for him or me. Thanks for the apology and the lump on my head whoever you were…

Saturday: The Dublin City triathlon was on in the Phoenix Park. I’d entered this race months ago. It’s close to home and always a well run race. Swimming in the Liffey might not appeal to everyone or anyone but it’s a luxury to know at the end of the race I’m only 5mins from my own bed! No planes, trains and automobiles like Austria. I decided Friday evening to throw the race and make it a training session. So once the swim was over I was on my own agenda. The swim was a tough but enjoyable 1.5km, the bike was 5 laps or 40km of the Phoenix Park and the run was 2 laps or 10km. I decided to do 10 laps of the bike and 3 laps of the run. Why? I maintained that I’d benefit by covering more ground. Right now it’s not about speed – it’s about build up. Building up the miles so the body is prepared for October 26th. I prepared myself with extra water bottles and food for the bike leg. It made for an interesting day! 4hrs & 40 mins of interest to be exact. My Premier League position in triathlon has taken a nosedive. No stress – its been a different kind of year for me race wise. The priority now is to get the head and the body right so I can complete the Static Ironman distance and raise a wad of cash for People in Need.
Total time spent training: 9.5hrs

Karnten Ironman Austria