New to Tri: Week 6 – John

I managed to regain my willpower this week, and you will be glad to hear that my diet is back under control. Things seem to be going well and I got through a lot of work in the last seven days, covering roughly 150km on the bike, approx 4km in the pool and 15km running the roads. Add in a few push ups and sit ups for good measure and I am happy to say that things are progressing well.
 

Read on for more…

The bulk of the pedalling was done during the Pillar to Post charity cycle, and today somewhere between Cork and Limerick 45 riders plus some guests are approaching the end of the 7th day of the 10 day challenge. The participants are attempting to visit every permanently manned military post in the country, covering 1200km, while raising over €35,000 for the Irish Heart Foundation. Many of the riders are relatively new to cycling, having taken advantage of the fantastic cycle to work scheme, with a sprinkling of experienced amateurs who are using it as a training session for the Ras. Along the way they will be joined by stage riders, like me, who will keep morale high by joining the lads for a leg or two of their journey. I couldn’t get the leave required to complete all of the stages, which was probably a blessing in disguise!

Pillar to Post began last Friday, when we set off for Dundalk from McKee Barracks in Dublin, via Gormanston camp. Obviously with so many differing standards there were faster and slower groups, and as we passed through Ballymun I realised that I had attached myself to the lead group. The pace was fast and the weather fantastic all the way to Dundalk. I managed to get there under 3 ½ hours, which I was happy with. I hope to join up with guys again for the last two stages this weekend, where we will make our way from Kilkenny to Dublin, via the camps in the Curragh, Baldonnel and Kilbride. Fingers crossed the saddle sore won’t be out of control when I catch up with the lads, but I have a
feeling there maybe some raw hides in the pack.

My new wetsuit and extra tight togs arrived from Chain Reaction in good time and I decided to take them for a quick dip in Carlingford Lough on Saturday morning, the perfect remedy for my tired legs after the spin. I found the wetsuit strange initially and my breathing felt a little shallow. I presume it will take time to get used to both the wetsuit and the cold water having been spoilt with the 50m Westwood pool for so long and I hope to get into the sea more often as we approach the summer months.

To finish a good week of training I hit both the pool and the bike on Sunday. The spin was great and Seamus and I completed a lap from Newry which included Omeath, Carlingford, Greenore and Ravensdale. Being a local lad I am biased, but if you aren’t familiar with the area it really is worth a trip to check out the great views of both the Cooleys and the Mournes. As per usual the Sunday night swim was a beast of a session for the beginners. Tadhg, with a wry smile, kicked our arses from the bank. No change there then and sure we wouldn’t have it any other way.

John