Monday 13 December 2010

Triathlon Ireland Annual Awards Night. 2010

Triathlon Ireland Annual Awards Night.

As last season was only my 1st year in the sport of triathlon this was my 1st Triathlon Ireland Awards Night and hopefully the 1st of many.

I think everyone who will have been there will agree with me when I say that it was a brilliant night.

I think a big congratulations has to go to all the National Championship medallists, Conor Murphy and Elena Maslova winners of the overall National Champions and Aileen Morrison on winning Athlete of the year.

It was a brilliant night recognising the achievements of Triathlon Ireland in the past year and how far they have come along. Triathlon Ireland is only really finding its feet on the international scene and this year has been a real spring board for them and I believe this is only the start and there is much more to come.

I came across a good quote the other day and I believe it is sort of apt;

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

Let’s show the rest of the Triathlon world what we can do!

The entertainment all night was very good, especially Brian Keane’s interview with Nicholas Roche which gave us a very exciting insight into how a professional cyclist lives and trains.

I was very lucky to receive Nicholas Roche’s cycle top which he was kind enough to sign for me which I am greatly thankful for. Even if it involved me taking my top off to get it I’m glad I did.



A very good night indeed looking forward to next year.

Tuesday 9 November 2010

Random Update

Training over here in Stirling aswell as Uni work all seems to be going good, pity its just awful weather at the moment.

My leg seems ok, just not rushing things, have done three runs so far, 5, 6, and 7mins and still no pain which is a good sign.

Also earlier on today I did my 1st ever Roller session, I had never been on rollers in my life before today but seemed 2 pick it up quite quick and really enjoyed it.
It took me about 4mins until I was cycling comfortably without holding onto the wall, which I think is pretty good.

Have been organising going home in 2weeks to attend the Triathlon Ireland Awards Night, so I am really looking forward to it and very pleased to be getting home for a while to be spoilt rotten and most of all see my family :):):)

Sunday 31 October 2010

World Triathlon Championships

World Championships 2010,

A really long way to come in only 8 months!

So 8 months in the sport of triathlon and I am at the World Champions, not bad, if I can make that much improvement ever 8months I will be doing alright.

We flew over to Hungary on the Monday before the race – a full week to get settled into the busy city of Budapest.

The whole build up in the week before, the first day of travelling wasn’t great delayed flight and no mini bus when we got to the other side etc.

Budapest had its flaws, especially the city being cycle UN-friendly and of course the weather, crap weather that nobody had expected, and therefore not really having appropriate clothing with them.

The cycle familiarisation was eventful; heavy rain, a lot of triathletes and some very slippy tram-lines as Elena, the Irish junior head coach found out the hard way.

It was awful once it was finished I still didn’t have a clue what the course was.

All that aside when I came to race day I felt ready and confident, I didn’t have much nerves as I didn’t feel that I had any pressure on me, I just looked at it as an opportunity to surprise people, but unfortunately it didn’t go to plan and I believe that I didn’t do myself justice and extremely underperformed. It was all basically down to the swim, I was in a good position up until the 1st buoy, although not feeling 100%, felt a bit heavy and not as comfortable as usual, when we hit the 1st buoy, it was basically the end of my race, I got battered and didn’t give what I was being dealt, and lost a lot of positions I went wide and after that struggled to get back into the bunch, which meant I wasn’t getting any draft, and therefore exiting the water a hell of a lot further back than I believe I am capable of. Hopefully something that can be easily fixed due to more experience swimming in a bunch.

On to the bike and I felt good, ended up being in the 3rd pack with guys that had no intention of trying to catch the others. I made the decision to do my best to pull them along, as I was currently pissed of at where I was after my awful swim.

The cycle pissed me off the fact that nobody would work.

On to the run and I was pretty wrecked due to the fact that I had basically sat at the front of the pack for the whole cycle. One major thing that I regret was that after doing all the work at the front I dropped back going into T2 and just gave away positions, I will never do that again!

The run wasn’t disastrous as I had bust myself on the bike, but if I ever want to do anything in this sport it needs a lot of work. Didn’t really loose any positions but didn’t really gain many either.

After the race I was extremely grumpy as I had felt that I had let myself down, looking back I still have that view but I also believe that it was a vital experience that will help me with my future in this sport, and I like to think that I have learnt a considerable amount from it. The race aside I loved the whole experience of the world championships and the whole lifestyle of it.

The day after I returned home I went for an X-ray after having a pain in my lower left leg that I struggled through to get me to the end of the season. The x-rays showed that I had a stress fracture on both the bones in my lower left leg, and the doctors told me that it looks like I have had them for the majority of the season.

Looking back at the whole season I believe that it was a pretty impressive 1st season in the sport of Triathlon and the 1st of many more seasons to come.

I have gone from zero to the world championships in 8months and raced with stress fractures. I just can’t wait to see what I am truly capable of with more experience better training and injury free.

I hope to keep you updated along the way so keeping reading,

Thanks

Friday 8 October 2010

Settled in to University.

This will be my 1st post since moving to University.
(Stirling University) I am now well settled in, everything has been really busy these past couple of weeks, but I am really enjoying it over here and really think that I have made a good decision.
Haven't had time to write a report on the World Champs yet, with everything being so crazy lately, but I am planning on getting it done this weekend as it looks like it will be pretty quiet and it will give me a bit of a break from some school work that I need to keep on top of.

But anyway, all is good at this end. The set-up here is awesome, especially the 50m pool, I love swimming in it in the mornings, should really get 2 bed now as I Have a 6.30 session in the morning.
I have got back into a wee bit of gentle cycling which is good and no pain in the leg so far.

I haven't actually mentioned that yet on this; the day after I came home from Budapest I went to the hospital to get an x-ray on a sore leg i have had all summer.
So i got the x-ray only to find out that I had a double stress fracture in both the tibia and fibula of my lower left leg, so was told no biking and running for six weeks (currently on 4 weeks atm), - thinking about it i didn't really have a bad season considering i had been racing with a double stress fracture in my leg all summer and maybe even longer. Really looking forward to seeing what i can do next year with more experience, and fully fit. :)

... So have been seeing the physio and all looks good and seem to be healing pretty well, still no running yet, but there is no point in rushing into things as it has happened at the best possible part of the season that it could have, so making sure it is fully healed before i do anything stupid.

So thats basically the gossip since coming back from the World champs, keep checking the page out for more updates.

Monday 6 September 2010

Photo's

I will get some images for my previous races as soon as i can, i just concentrated on getting the posts up in the first place and getting the blog up to date, so just to let you know there will be some pics to come in the near future.

keep checking. :)

Budapest here I come --------->>>

Finally found out that I will be competing in the Junior Elite Race in the World Championships, Budapest.

I'm so happy!!!!!!! :):):)

Hopefully I will be able to come back and post a very exciting race report, with a very pleasing outcome.

Fingers crossed!


Finally Up to date!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

It has taking me ages, but finally I have got around to it, and have all my race reports upto date.

From now on i can just use this to post random things that are currently happening to me in the way of triathlons, as well as my future race reports.

I hope you enjoy reading them all, I know they go on a bit, but I will work on cutting them down in the future, and also I'm sure there is the odd, or maybe very common spelling mistake, and probably no doubt some dodge grammar, but i'm not too worried about this being Shakespeare standard, it is just to record and document my triathlons.

Hope you enjoy, keep reading.

... and also if u want to contact me leave a comment, or drop me an e-mail.
Thanks :)

Lord of the Lake.

At Camlough, my nearest open water venue. They held a competition, to swim the full length of the lake from one end to the other, (1.7 miles)

So I managed to win it by a margin of 2 mins.

I went 30 mins exactly, could they not have gave me 29.59.99, that would have been alot better.
But never mind there is always next year.
I was told that it mite actually me the course record, its not official yet but lets hope so.

It was really good fun, i really enjoyed it, i'm sure there is plenty of people that would disagree, and say that swimming non stop for 30mins is madness, but to me it isn't.

I seen a t-shirt for a half ironman today, on the back it quoted all the distance and underneath it said;

" WHY? Because I can! "

I thought that it was brilliant.
from now on that will be my response to anybody that tells me what I do is crazy etc.


London Junior Elite Triathlon

London Junior Elite Triathlon

London Docklands/Ex-cel Centre

8th August 2010

The worlds largest triathlon, it was crazy, it was just a constant stream of participants.

All ages, all shapes and all sizes competing in different distances.

I was in the Junior Elite race. This race was mainly made up of the Top Juniors from across Britain. This was my chance to see what I was like against our friends from the mainland.

The swim was in the docklands, with an in-water start.

Had a decent start, and was going up towards the 1st buoy in line with the front bunch, coming upto the buoy everyone just crammed ontop of eachother, it was like nothing I had ever experienced - it was scary, I thought my race was over there and then.

I had to thing quickly I see what was the best thing to do, I had no water to catch so I bailed out of the bunch and went up the inside got around the buoy ok stayed where I was until the next one, and managed to get around it without much drama. Finally clean water! Now the huge straight. This was my chance, I swam straight up the inside along the rope I didn’t even sight, I just followed the rope the whole way up, I just was passing loads, I was making up all the places I lost at the buoy. The rest of the swim was fine and exited with the front guys maybe 8th out of the water, happy enough.

Had another super T1 maybe 1st or 2nd fastest, this helped me get out on the bike in 4th place. The cycle was pretty uneventfulfor the majority of it, just sat near the front of the lead bunch, was not a very fast pace at all but still the chasing pack wasn’t gaining anything on us.

Then coming back upto the Ex-cel Centre, the race completely changed, I was at the very front of the pack, the course was meant to go on past the Excel Centre, around a round-about and back in. the only problem was the marshals wanted us to go straight into the centre without going past it, and therefore not the correct course. As I was leading the bunch I knew I had to go on, I started to go past the entrance, but I seen the majority of the pack turn in, I decided I had to do the same. I had to turn back. From being at the front I was now at the middle to back of the pack, I had lost so many places.

Another good transition made a few more places up and onto the run, feeling ok I just had to forget what had just happened and try and do my best on the run.

Run went ok nothing special, but still ok.

I managed to gained more places along the way, and ended up finishing in 6th, very close to 5th, if I had another 100m I would have had him, but I didn’t, so 6th it was. Therefore I was pretty pleased, didn’t manage to fulfil my aim of top 5, but I think it was very good considering the major mishap that was uncontrollable.

All in all a really enjoyable weekend, and a good race to finish it off. Looking forward to this race next year.

LISBURN CITY TRIATHLON

LISBURN CITY TRIATHLON.

1/8/2010

Today was the day of what I classify as my local race; the swim section was held in the swimming pool that I train in everyday of the week. This time however it was a different experience, not a typical training session and very different from any race I have ever taken part in. No tumble turns!!!

I was in lane one in the final wave, I took up the mantle and lead the lane out. I wanted to win this race, and I had to do it the only way I knew how; from the front!

I have always been a swimmer and in order to make the most of this natural advantage I had to go hard right from the start. My swim went to plan, and was out of the water first, it was a long run to the first transition so I pulled my running flats on to get to the bike as fast as possible in hind sight this mite not have been the right thing to do as I didn’t gain as much time in running fast to T1 as I lost by putting the shoes on. T1 went well and I was out of transition before the 2nd athlete made it in, with a 50 second advantage. I knew that Brian Campbell was not going to be far behind me, and this week he knew who I was so he knew what he needed to do, therefore I didn’t have the element of surprise this weekend. I knew I needed to have a fast bike and that I wasn’t going to be able to let him take anytime off me if I was going to stay away from him on the run.

The bike course was 2 laps of the Lisburn 10k run course; (on open roads) there was loads of traffic lights to negotiate and left hand turns which meant that it was hard to establish a strong rhythm. Thankfully I didn’t get stopped at any red lights, but to be fair I don’t think I would have stopped if I had hit any.

Despite all of this I was able to stay out in front of Brian Campbell (former commonwealth triathlete) however he had made slight in-roads into my lead of 5 seconds or so. I knew that Brian was a very strong runner and this was going to be a fight to the finish.

I was right; the run consisted of 5 laps on the grass around the football pitches, it was the hardest run I have had to do so far, I was lucky that it was an open course and was able to see where he was at all times, I didn’t constantly check as I was finding it tough and digging deep but at the top end of each lap the run went around the perimeter of a football pitch so I was able to look across and check what the gap was. I could see that he was closing in with each lap, this was going to come down to a tough finish.

On the last lap very near the end he came up on my shoulder and the only thing I could think of was a saying the Oliver constantly tells me “acceleration kills people!!!” so as soon as I knew he was there I kicked – I had nothing left but I somehow kicked. He managed to respond he was back on my shoulder but I knew he was hurting cause if he was strong enough he would have went past me.

There was a 90* courner just before the finish line and as soon as I hit it I kicked again only this time with everything I had. I had got him he had nothing to respond with. I crossed the line – 1st place by 2secs, the commentator came over and started talking to me he said “…where did that final sprint come from – were you leaving a bit for the finish?” my response was “nope, I don’t know where that came from, I was bust” – and that was the truth. Before the race I told my dad a saying and that’s how I ran the race. “I’m going to hurt --- if anyone wants to beat me they are going to have to hurt more.”

I crossed the line in 58.08, with a 2 second advantage. I won the overall male title as well as being placed top junior.

Three weeks – three races- three first place finishes,

I feel like I’m getting stronger with every race,

Roll on London next week!!!!

Big Splash Triathlon, Portglenone

Big Splash Triathlon,

Portglenone.

24th July 2010

2nd race in a row, was hoping this race would go the same way as last weekends race.

Still being an unknown, I was hoping to slip under the radar and surprise a few more people this week again.

The swim was in the River Bann, and was very short, ended up it had been measured wrong; if only I could do 4mins50 for all my 750m swims it would be amazing.

Still managed to exit the swim in 1st place, but was closely followed.

After a very speedy T1 I was well on my way and had a gap between myself and 2nd place. It was a 20km out and back course which gradually climbed up to the turnaround point, the only problem was it was hard to make up the time on the downhill because there was a headwind back to the transition area.

I managed to get back to T2 still in 1st place – my biking has really came on leaps and bounds. T2 wasn’t great, 1st of all I was obstructed into the transition area by the lead car, and then when I went to run out of transition I started to run the wrong way, it wasn’t until I heard everyone shout that I realised that I wasn’t going the correct way. As I was running out I managed to see the next two men coming in from the cycle and I was able to judge how much time I had, I was pretty confident that I had a strong lead but this race was still far from over.

The run was an out and back course as well, so I was nearly always able to see the gap between myself and second place. On the run second place was Brian Campbell, I knew he was an extremely strong runner, as he is 3 time Irish cross country champion and commonwealth triathlete, so I knew that if I wanted to win this race I was really going to need a very strong run.

At the halfway point I seen that I had a good lead, and felt very comfortable so I was able to just keep going and managed to finish in 1st 2 weekends in a row. Once I finished my coach Oliver Harkin came over to me to congratulated me and he said “I don’t think you realise how big a scalp that was beating Brian Campbell!”

I was so happy to have won today as it meant that last week wasn’t a fluke and that

I had found a bit of form; hopefully this run of form would last for a good while.

2 wins in 2weeks. J

Muckno Mania Triathlon

Muckno Mania Triathlon.

Castleblaney.

17th July 2010

1st Race since the Europeans, was really looking forward to get back racing and staying on the bike this time.

The swim was in Lake Muckno, the coldest swim I have done so far. At one point I didn’t know if I was kicking or not because my feet were so numb.

The swim was good, came out in the lead, it had felt very comfortable and I had felt in control but it didn’t feel that fast, it was hard to see all the buoys, they weren’t very viable and had birthday balloons to try and make them easier to see, but didn’t really work, it was all made harder as there were 5 buoys so u had to swim in a pentagon, therefore, a lot of time was spent sighting rather than just swimming.

Wetsuit didn’t really come off as easily as I would have liked but still managed to exit T1 still in first.

On to the bike, 1st time using my new Mavic Cocmic Carbone SL wheels, they elt amazing, the cycle was shorter than the usual 20km, and very fast, I didn’t see anyone on the cycle, and I didn’t really know the course so it was good that I had a car to escort me the whole way around the cycle.

T2 happened very smoothly, and was out on the run in no time, the run course was great there was a wee island and it was two laps of it, it was virtually a completely flat and gravel path and was really easy to run on.

This has been my best run so far, it was very fast and very comfortable, still hadn’t seen anyone, just kept running though as it was hard to see who was behind. I kept the foot on the gas to the very end, after leading the whle way I wasn’t going to give it up at the end.

I managed to stay in 1st the whole way winning by a margin of 2mins 37secs. I had just got my 1st, 1st overall in my very short career.

3rd then 2nd now 1st in my past 3 races, going in the right direction anyway. J

European Junior Championships

European Junior Championships.

Athlone, Ireland.

4th July 2010

The biggest race of my extremely short career to date.

Home turf and everything, was really up for this, there was no pressure on me at all, just enjoy the experience and see what I could do – see if I would be able to cut it with the big guys.

Race was on the Sunday, so was down with the whole team from Wednesday. First major competition so it was an experience itself to be with the seniors and have a management team around me, it was brilliant.

I loved the atmosphere of the whole weekend it was just incredible, it was really good to see all the races before me and see how things were going.

Sunday;

Cycled down to transition area with my kit, got tri-suit pictured and get my numbers on me, and got transition all set up, everything was going smooth, was really excited and just wanted to get at it.

Got my wetsuit on went in for a quick swim warm up, was feeling on form, then when we were lining up it was announced that the race was going to be delayed, so had to go back into the athletes lounge.

The delay was caused by the strong winds blowing tiles of the roof and barriers fallinf down. At this stage I didn’t realises how much of a factor this strong wind was going to be to the outcome of my race.

Due to this unforeseen circumstance the route of the cycle and run was slightly changed in order to avoid the area around the castle.

So that was that, didn’t really mind the delay and I was ready to line up for the second time now.

I was so surprised; I didn’t even get nervous for the start.

Swim Start was fine didn’t even get cramped that much, but wasn’t really going as fast as I would have liked, but it wasn’t a disaster, wasn’t really able to see a thing either which didn’t help.

Got around the first bend fine and pretty comfortable, but once I got around it the punches came in thick and fast, but lets just say I was giving as much as I was getting, there was no point being mister nice guy when everyone else wasn’t.

One thing I hate is people trying to pull my zip down I just think that it is a really low thing to try, luckily my Blueseventy zip went the opposite way and it cant be pulled down.

The rest of the swim wasn’t that eventful, still didn’t know where I was position wise, but ended up exiting in 13th which wasn’t too bad for my 1st ever swim with people around me. Although unknown to me at that point it was going to be unlucky 13th.

T1 was amazing, have never got a wetsuit off so fast, was class, mounted the bike and the lead bunch was only 5m from me I thought I was sorted, but didn’t get into my shoes fats enough. Looking back that could have changed my whole race.

So missed the lead bunch, and waited on the chasing pack.

1st lap went ok, but wasn’t quite as comfortable as I would have liked.

On to the second lap, was at the front of the chasing pack, doing all the work and was just about to bridge the gap to the lead bunch coming up to the turn around point, they were so close. Then out from an entry there was a cross wind and a redbull can blew out, it was like slow-mo I could just see it coming, and I was prepared to dodge it, I was on the outside and I just seen it slide under the front wheel of the guy to my left, and he just lost it – went straight down and just slid and wiped me out – took my bike from underneath me, there was nothing I could do, then I could feel another fella go straight over the top of me (I had his tyre marks up my back and neck) so I was down, I had came of in the Europeans, what was I going to do? there was no way that that was the end I was finishing this race no matter what!!!

So up I got I didn’t even think about it I was pumping, got my chain back on as fast as possible and back on the bike. My shifters were both bent inwards, went round the turn around point and realised I couldn’t reach my breaks – I thought I was off again. I was still out of the saddle trying to make up time, but when I went to sit down I realised my saddle was sideways, this was a disaster, couldn’t sit down, hardly any breaks and ripped open down my whole right hand side.

On with the race I went there was nothing I could do. Got into the town again and just came in like a lone rider with my battle wounds, I could hear people cheering for me and then in their next breath – “o flip he has came off!”

Once I got through transition I sat up waiting on the next bunch, I was just freewheeling for ages waiting on someone. So as I was waiting I was trying to yank my seat around. Finally got it a bit straighter, at least I could sit now.

Two others caught me finally so worked with them as a three for the rest of the cycle, we were going ok and nobody else caught up with us.

Onto the run, first lap was awful, whole right side was dead from landing on it; hip was solid there was no spring off the ground at all, and to make matters worse I had taken a gel on the cycle for a pick me up, only thing was I had lost my bottles in the crash so hadn’t taken much fluids with it and it just sort of lay in my stomach making me feel awful, but I ran on.

Once I got a water station it helped and I was starting to loosen up, was getting into a rhyme.

I never knew if there was such a thing as home advantage, but after that 2nd lap I experienced it for myself, it was such a boost, I floated around that lap, somehow recording the 10th fastest 2nd lap run split (not bad after falling of a bike before hand) so that was it sprinting around the 2nd lap trying to make up as many position as I could.

In hind sight it wasn’t a disaster, infact there was many positives to take out of it. I finished 47th but I really thing I would have been top 20 at least if I hadn’t of coming off. The main thing was :- I now know I can cut it with the best in Europe, and the best part of it, I still have next year to redeem myself as a junior and really show what I can do.

Sorry that this has dragged on, but it was a bit of a dramatic race, I hope you enjoyed reading it, even if it took you a while.

Keep reading my blog – there is plenty more to come. ;)

Monday 2 August 2010

Camlough/Crooked Lake Triathlon 5th June 2010

Camlough/Crooked Lake Triathlon

5th June 2010

Camlough is my nearest venue for open water swimming, I had been down a couple of times with my coach, trying out my new wetsuit, and just generally getting used to swimming open water. I also had been around the course twice on the bike prior to the race, I made sure I knew the bike course well as I planned to be out of the water 1st and needed to know where I was going.

I knew Conor Murphy was going to be my biggest competition as he is a strong all rounder, so the tactics of this race was go out hard to try and get as much of a head start as I could and then let him chase me the whole way.

The swim went to plan I went out hard and soon realised I had created a bit of a lead, I just kept the pace up and tried to get away, was out of the water first, didn’t even bother to look back and see where anyone was, just ran and ran, transition was huge and I was at the far end. I heard my dad shout “8.30” so I knew nobody else was going to be on my tail at this point. The next big challenge was getting my wetsuit off, my new helix wetsuit was awful to get off quickly but thanks to a whole bottle of baby oil and half a tub of Vaseline it came off better than usual. The only draw back with so much lube was that once I went to get my bike shoes on, (still not attached to the bike) all that lube that was on my wetsuit was now on my hands. What made it worse was that I still used cycling shoes so trying to fasten three straps per shoe with extremely slippy hands was a discipline in itself.

The bike course is very hilly especially at the start, so I tried to use the advantage of being a good climber and also being on a road bike to get a bigger gap on the rest of the field. I really put everything into the cycle I knew Conor was nifty on the bike and I was constantly checking to see if he was gaining, but I never seen him.

I managed to make it into T2 still in first place. Transition was massive so I had a long run with the bike which was inconvenient, as I racked my bike I heard the commentator announce that Conor was into T2, I knew the race was now on!

The run course was just as bad as the bike course as soon as you’re out of transition your hit a hill, and not a very pleasant hill.

Part of the course you have to take a sharp left so I seen Conor, coming up fast and he looked like he was a man on a mission, so I tried to lift it to stay away. He finally came up on my shoulder and I wasn’t going to give up without a fight.

I tried to stay with him and did for a short period but, I had put far too much into the bike and I was now paying for it, so he went past with about 2km to go. It wasn’t over, I had no idea how close 3rd place was so I just gave everything just to hold onto second. I crossed the line and still had plenty of distance between 3rd but I wasn’t to know that at the time.

I love the fact that with an open water swim tri, u can cool off in the water afterwards – very refreshing! :)

All in all really pleased with this race, and happy that I am moving up the podium, just one more step to go!!! :)

Sunday 1 August 2010

Fingal Triathlon 16th May 2010

Fingal Triathlon.

16th May 2010

First race of the season!

It was part of at Triathlon Junior weekend; The Saturday consisted of a talent identification day, where the members of the squad had to renew their times to get back on the squad and a chance for new people to get on the squad.

On the Sunday the current members of the squad participated in the Fingal Triathlon, and aquathon.

This meant that a wee weekend in Dublin was required.

As this was the first race of the season and only my second ever triathlon, it was still all very new to me and I was constantly learning.

Thankfully we had all been giving Irish trisuits, which meant that it would cut down time in transition, unlike my first triathlon when I wore Speedo jammers, and pulled on a cycling t-shirt, which lets just say didn’t exactly give me the fast T1 split of the day. J

This triathlon was a pool swim (50m pool), which I didn’t mind because I hadn’t done many open water swims and also didn’t have my own wetsuit, so that was a plus.

I was in the fastest lane of the fastest wave, with the rest of the Irish Juniors and some top class Triathletes, unknown to us at the time this lane included the top 3 men and top lady.

The swim was good, very comfortable I was in control at the front, setting the pace and feeling strong, I was passed with 150meters to go by a fellow junior athlete, this did not worry my, so I just tucked on his heels which give me a wee bit of a rest at the end of the swim which let me set my self up for the rest of the race.

I was 1st out of T1 – although not supper fast as I was yet to master the skill of having my shoes attached to my bike.

The bike leg was good, not brilliant, but still promising, it was an out and back bike course, which I had travelled in the car the night before so was confident on the route. I was passed by Bjorn Ludick very quickly and soon after Colin Bolger. I ended up going into T2 in 5th place and exited in 3rd.

My legs were very heavy coming off the bike but just ran in order to stay in position for top junior, at no point had I even realised I was in 3rd. The run was also an out and back route, but it felt like it went on forever, every marshal I meet I asked, “how much further to the turn around point” and every single one gave the same answer no matter were they were on the course; “just around the corner” I didn’t really mind this cause each time I asked I believed them and picked it up that little bit more.

I finished strong and was so happy I was 1st Junior, but it just kept getting better after I came across the line.

Chris Jones came over to congratulate me and as he shook my hand and said; “Well done Russell, good race - on that performance we have decided to bring you to the European Championships!” I couldn’t believe it, I had qualified for a major competition in my 2nd ever Triathlon! J

I also found out that I had finished 3rd overall all, but I don’t think it was possible to get to another level of happiness than what I was already at.

Soon after the results came out to confirm this and also that I had been clocked with the fastest run split, I couldn’t believe it, everything has came on so much in such a short period of time, and the best thing was I knew there was much more to come! J



Saturday 31 July 2010

Plan of action

As I have decided to use this blog as a way of plotting my journey of becoming a triathlete I mite as well start at the beginning, therefore I have decided to backdate my race reports for this season.
Once i get them all sorted I will post them up.

Hope you will enjoy them,
:)

Thursday 29 July 2010

First Post

Hey,
Thanks for visiting my site.

As you can see it is at an early stage, a bit like my Triathlon Career, but I will get it all set up soon enough, I plan to record most things from training to competitions and everything in between.

It will be a way of recording how my life as a Triathlete develops, and I hope you will enjoy reading up on my journey along the way.

As the song goes - "the only way is up!"


Russell. :)