Training blog 2

Some times the negatives out way the positives, but the positive has to be looked at in the right way.

The weeks training tally was on course for another big consistent week.

3km swim 100k bike ( planned sat & Sunday rides ) the cycling team Club Rothaiochta is going from strength to strength with the extra support from local athletes Rich/Nial / Tom/ Jim all chipping in to drive it forward. Some training has to be done solo but having the guys there really helps.

Run 55k with a 80k plus target, even with the accident I’d be happy with the totals.

Friday evening saw me training with mountain goat Paul Tierney, who I have been coaching for the past few years. Paul & co recently returned from Art O Neil run of 54k where he placed 8th along with Carolyn taking second. Plotting a new course for the relaunch of Madventure we veered off road to add a little distance. Paul is prepping for “the race” in march which takes place in Donegal. Judging by Friday the shape is there for him to do well.

We were nearing the end of our run, 18k and aprox 3km from the car park. I was thinking of soaking my legs in the lake and slipped and impaled my knee on a rock. ( you always remember your last thought)

Everything slows down except anger! The ghosts of moylousa and Ballycruggan heard my screams of Ireland’s favourite F- word. Paul was right there to help me up, and all I was thinking was keep moving, this ain’t happening.

Adrenaline is a great thing…., it helped me hopalong while Paul ran on to the car to see if the gates where locked and to grab some warm clothes.

Long story short, 11 stitches from a brilliant Doctor Bernie Lynch in Killaloe along with some lovely pain killers. I am at home with my feet up trying to give myself fun training targets for the next 5 days before I fly to Tenerife to coach the first team for 10 days.

I look back at the time I have lost to injury, illness, family health and such things and I just think F it, there are plenty of things you can do with any injury. I just have to be careful with what I’m doing and pain killers and re-opening the wound etc.

It will be an interesting week, anything that involves movement of the knee/ quad causes a lot of verbal Fffs, swimming is out with the stitches, cycling is out due to not being able to bend the knee …. Crutch to 5k or crutchathlon have been mentioned 😉

Outside of my training – the hounds are coming into shape.

I call them hounds as a general statement but each of them are individual dogs.

I have a number of labrodores a Great Dane, a couple of Alsatians, A poodle, a jack russell, a couple of pit bulls and a pack of others. ( cross breeds – those GAA – or other sports folk who drift in, fit as fiddles – you just need to nail their program and figure out what genes they have)

I read a great book/ article by psychologist Steve peters of British cycling a few years back about athletes and animals. Where he hints at training and coaching by character rather than numbers. It struck a big chord with me and since then I have always looked for the dog in someone. It’s a bit nuts but it basically means getting to really know your athletes beyond swim/bike/run – basically what makes an athlete click, what gets them up every morning. What is the real reason for chasing victories.

Recommendations for the week – invest in your footwear ! enjoy everything you do

Train smart – train happy

Stephan