We signed up just after IM Cork 2019. Remember that crazy day? The 70.3 was definitely enough and not one part of me fancied doing the full. As you know, 2020 and 2021 were cancelled so it was all systems go for 2022. After doing the Manchester Marathon, I could not wait to get back swimming and cycling. In good weather. (70.3 means 70.3 miles in total. 1.2 mile swim (1.9km), 56 mile bike (90.1km), 13.1 mile run (21.1km). A full Ironman is double everything, 140.6 miles in total.)I threw out the idea of a coached training group to some of the lads and I ended up having Paul, Andrew, Catherine, Conor, Daithi, and Marie Clare joining me for a 16 week coaching plan in April. The lads (as far as I’m aware!) stuck very well to their plan and with a bit of flexibility here and there, they hit the key sessions very well. I hope I’m correct here but I think it was the very first Ironman branded event for Paul, Catherine, Conor, Daithi and Marie Clare. Andrew is a veteran of them at this stage! So there was lots of excitement as, despite the extortionate and very prohibitive costs associated with entering IM branded events, they put on a really show in terms of support and logistics. My own training was hit and miss. I was pretty lazy after Manchester and TBH I did as little training as possible. Myself and Aine would be staying up watching TV til 11 or 11:30 most nights (having a great laugh in fairness!) and I would always have good intentions of getting up at 5am and doing sessions then. Inevitably I turned the alarm off nearly every single time and then had to either squeeze in a quick turbo/treadmill or just do nothing! That’s the problem when I’m answerable to only myself. I think I need some accountability from now on! I managed to get in maybe 3 or 4 long solo rides, 2 rides on the course itself (once with catherine, andrew, and daithi, and another time with paul and Richie), 5 Open Water swims (with no wetsuit) and a very decent superbrick session one evening in my garden in the crazy heat which lasted about 3.5 hours. My running fitness was good from doing long runs with the group and I knew I had residual fitness from Manchester/Cork/Limerick. Any sessions (bar the 2 Youghal ones) were done very close to home to stay near Aine as due date was fast arriving. Could I have done way more training? Yes. Did I have a great summer with the ones I love? Yes, the best summer of my life. Turning 40 was great! So it’s all relative. You can spend all the time in the world training, but at what cost to your family, your happiness, and your social life? It’s all about balance and not being a slave to it. Just enjoy the journey and keep reminding yourself that this is supposed to be fun.So let’s fast forward to the IM and IM 70.3 weekend. We were all excited but I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it. The baby was due on the 10th (3 days before the race) so I knew there was a massive chance I couldn’t go. The 10th came and went. The 11th came and went….etc etc etc etc. I went down on the Thursday with Catherine to register in 31 degree heat. I love the heat The atmosphere was intense! Really glad we registered on Thursday as everything is more relaxed. Friday came, I got all my logistics together, sorted out the bike and went down myself to rack the bike and the bags. Home by 3 and relaxed with the family for the night. So when Aine went in for an appointment on the Friday and was told it was highly unlikely there was going to be a baby born in the next day or 2 she told me to go for it. I still didnt decide until I got up at 2:30am on the Saturday whether I’d travel or not. Aine got up with me and said there’s nothing happening here, just go for it! So I got down to Youghal in 45 mins. Sweet talked a garda into letting me park at T2 (top of windmill hill) at 4am. Met Andrew,(who gladly got a wheel and a timing chip sorted) and we were amongst the first in to T1. Set up everything and met the lads. Paul and Catherine in great form but missed Conor and Daithi. What an incredible morning. I was loving it. I’ve never been more relaxed about a race. I think that knowing Aine was ok and that the race director was well aware of the situation put my mind at ease. There were stewards dotted all over the bike course ready to whisk me off at a moments notice and I had Adele, Siobhan, and Seamus on call too if anything should happen.
Swim 1.9kmWhat an experience. Has Youghal ever had such calm water? It couldnt have gone any better. Got into a lovely rhythm of about 66 SPM and got on good fast feet. We swam into the moonlight, then turned and swam into the sunrise. Pure magic. Loved every second. Very surprised with that considering my swimming has taken a real hit this year. Time: 31 minsPace: 1:38/100RPE: 5 out of 10
T1I’m ridiculously bad at transitions. Stupidly I pay them no attention and don’t train for them which is mind blowing from a Tri Coach. I’m far too relaxed, chatting away, loving life! This was to cost me at the end. Prob lost around 2 mins faffing about
Bike 90kmAgain, just incredible. The weather @ 6:37am when I got going was just perfect biking weather. About 22 degrees, not a bit of wind. Super fast opening 20km (approx 38kmph average and 230 watts, HR about 140BPM). Then it gets a bit bumpy. But still fast to Midleton at 50km mark. At this stage my average was about 36.6kmph and my NP was about 235 watts. My Maurten drink mix had finished so after Midleton I tried twice to grab the water bottles on offer at aid station. My hands were too slippy and sweaty and twice the bottles fell away. Feck. It’s ok, I’ve a bottle on my rear bottle cage with electrolytes. Shite, no it’s gone. It must have bounced out on the pre Garryvoe potholes. Suddenly the mouth feels very dry! Luckily an absolute legend from Cork Tri Club (Mark 30-34) saw I was looking for my bottle and he came up beside me and offered me his gatorade. I took it gladly and swigged it completely, covid or no covid, I needed it or I wasnt finishing. I got my energy back and powered up the 16km climb to the 70km mark. Felt great now and passing lots of athletes. Managed to grab one more bottle of water at the 70km aid station luckily and I was good to go again. I was really happy with my bike power. I haven't seen those numbers in years. Felt I could have gone about 20 watts harder. (Which is a good feeling but obviously never act on it in a race!!) Approaching Windmill Hill and T2 I got very nervous. It was very hot now and I could hear the roar of the crowd from about 1km away. It was intense. Rounded the last corner into Windmill Hill and I can truly say I’ve never experienced ANYTHING like it within a race. It was just unbelievable. The crowd. Just incredible. Honestly felt like Alpe d’Huez in the TdF. (Not that I know what that feels like, but I’ve seen it on TV) I struggled up. Cramp in right quad after about 80 secs shook me, right hand sweaty, slipped and hit my di2 gear button to send me into heavy gear…..Noooooo!! Got it back down again TG, Then Seamus appears out of nowhere, urging me on, running beside me like a lunatic. It was probably THE best moment on a bike I’ve ever had. He is an absolute legend and his roaring spurred me on. That hill is CRAZY. Siobhan roaring at me too and Adele. They are the best! Time:2:36NP: 237 wattsAv Speed : 34.55kmphHR: 149BPMRPE: 7 out of 10
T2Whimpered into T2. Legs like jelly after that. Brain was mush! Run gear on quickly actually! Then I ran out of T2 with my run bag “Who collects the run bag” I shouted at nobody in particular. A lad behind me said, “Am, you’re actually meant to rehang them? ”. I knew that. So why did I run out with it?….brain mush. Heat stroke? God knows. Anyway, another 2 mins lost running back in. Never mind! Run 21.1kmLoved the run too despite the heat. I started my run @ around 9:20am but it was still 28 degrees. I knew coming into this that my run was solid, not spectacular. I only did one brick session in training so I knew that I’d be slower than normal. Kept the HR under 150 and just settled into a nice rhythm. Used every single aid station and took every bit of water, coke, red bull, gatorade on offer. A godsend. The locals were amazing with their hoses. That was magic, running through the cold mist. Unfortunately I had to stop around 11km as the timing chip was cutting into my achilles badly. Took it off and carried it the rest of the way. The new Asics Metaspeed Sky+ were excellent. No issues and a serious race day supershoe. I really kept within myself and just told myself to soak it all up and enjoy the experience. I can genuinely say I loved every second of it. It’s really cool seeing the 20km marker knowing there’s a fair bit left in the tank so I upped the pace a bit to the finish line. Saw a few familiar faces in the last few hundred meters and it really gives ya a huge pick up. The finish was typical IM. Red carpet. Music blaring. A brilliant MC. Unbelievable crowd. High 5’s all the way in.Time:1:33Pace: 4:25/kmHR: 154 BPMRPE: 7 out of 10
OVERALL TIME: 4:49:01 Finishers tent. Met Adele before I collected my post race bag. She told me a pro guy who came in just in front of me was getting disqualified for racing on someone else’s entry. So I came 30th overall and 9th in my AG. Absolutely delighted as I was not expecting that. Headed in to the brilliant finishers tent after collecting the medal and ate and drank everything that was on offer. Grabbed the finishers t shirt (pretty poor quality t shirt was the only negative on a brilliant day) and headed straight to the beach next door and into the water. Bliss. Got changed quickly, stretched a tiny bit while trying not to cramp and then headed back to meet Siobhan and Seamus. Cheered the other lads as they came in and that was just brilliant. Paul, Andrew, Conor, Catherine and Daithi were absolutely loving the red carpet experience. Just amazing to see them so happy. Mark and alex met us then and a few kebabs and coffees later we had to make the trip up windmill hill to get all our bikes and stuff out of T2 and head home. Checked in with Aine and all good. Nothing stirring. Absolutely shattered on the way home but a good shattered. Life is great. Well done to my brilliant crew, and to everyone who raced fairly and finished the 70.3 and the full. You are all an inspiration. You may not think that but you are.It was fantastic seeing all the msgs of support from everyone in Clonmel too, particularly my running group. They are genuinely the best bunch of people.It’s amazing what you can do if you get your mindset right. I’m a firm believer in if you have something to focus on and you have a plan to follow then you will achieve your goal. Get your head right. Live in the moment. Remember that it’s just a hobby and you will be way happier. Try your best not to take yourself too seriously. Life is far too short for that. Small improvements that can be made as you progressively get fitter are tangible rewards. That feeling of fitness and strength and the knowledge that you are peaking for your “A” event is the best high I know. If a race goes to plan thats brilliant. If it doesnt, move on. It’s just a race and there’s always another one right around the corner to make amends.Peronally, I think I could have been 5 or 6 mins faster for this race. But I don’t think I would have enjoyed it as much. If it’s meant to be it’ll happen. No matter what, I’ll enjoy the journey. Sooooooo, what next?? Strike while the Iron is hot and the mojo is bangin. (If Adam reads this he'll be cringing...I'm glad I didn't say groovy or hip)I’m looking at getting a big group together of absolutely all levels and going all in for one of the following 70.3’s in May/June next year:Marbella (Relatively cheap to get to, relatively cheap air bnb accom, lovely swim, hilly bike, flat run, warm)Mallorca (Same as Marbella)Warsaw (The cheapest and flattest of the lot..looks very fast)Challenge Wales (Easiest to get to Fishguard, but looks a tough race, weather can be dodge)Staffordshire (Easy to drive to logistically but expensive and looks to be a tough race too re hills and irishy roads)
There’s a few Irish ones that I want to get done next year too, Tyrone, Lost Sheep, Hardman….but plans can change. The baby was welcomed to the world a week over due on Wednesday morning at 9:11am. Wendy Ruth had a tough first 48 hours but it’s looking great now and the staff @ SCBU in STGH are just amazing. We’re just so lucky. She’s a beautiful buster 9lbs 3oz. A real fighter. Aine got to hold her for the first time on Thursday Her big sister Heidi and big brother Adam can’t wait to meet her. Aine was amazing. So calm compared to me. What a woman.
They both came home yesterday and all is brilliant :)
So now, it’s back to running until DCM 2022 . We’ve got the Boston Scientific Half marathon in Clonmel next Sunday and I think theres 77 or so of the group doing it.Then in Sept/Oct there’s a few tune up races before the big day.I’m very tempted to do the Knockmedown challenge and the Dungarvan Oly tri but we’ll see.Wendy, Heidi and Adam might decide otherwise!!One last big congrats to the lads and a big thank to you to all the supporters and sponsors of TEAM IP:CycologistFetchFlexellePhoenixA&E JewellersPro RecoveryNagle’s Kilsheelan So, thats all for the moment. Thanks a mill for reading. Best of luck to the lads still training for IM events in Sept and Oct. We’ll be rooting for ye.Ian (Next up is Daithi’s account of training and the race)Tuesday August 16th 2022So, it’s been 3 days since Ironman 70.3 Cork and I have had time to digest exactly what just happened.My Ironman 70.3 Journey started in 2021 when a 70.3 race was announced for cork. I just had to do it and from that date completing this race was my main goal.I contacted Ian and told him I had signed up to the 70.3 and I asked him 1 question “am I going to die” His reply simply said “lets do this and I promise you won’t die” I started on my plan and was pretty much starting from scratch as I had been doing very little training.As covid became more and more of a problem Ironman was looking very doubtful, however I stuck to the program and continued to build fitness.Fast forward to 2022. Its happening this time and it looks like we have been given the green light.My fitness was in a better place now and a new program had started. A lot of my training was done solo this time around due to home commitments, so plenty of very early morning runs and as soon as the sun came up, I was out on the bike. Also, on rainy days the turbo was my best friend.16 weeks of a jam-packed program was now complete and it was time for Youghal.Friday August 12th 2022 (Registration Day)Myself and my cousin George who was also doing the event met at 12pm at Apple Green on the Dungarvan road and headed in convoy to Youghal. The excitement was building and I could hardly sleep with excitement.We arrived in Youghal, parked up and headed into the town to registration. We are in and out before we know it. All done and I’m bib number 700We headed back to the cars and started dividing all our stuff into the different Transition bags and then set off on you journey to Transition 2 (at the top of Windmill Hill).This was the first sight of how big the event was. Transition 2 was huge. We placed our run gear on our numbered hook in the tent and took note of where we would be racking our bike. Row D, Right hand side, Bottom of the row.Transition 2 sortedOff we headed to Transition 1Down the hill we went on our bikes and rolled up to T1. Helmet on, Brakes checked and in we went. We racked our bikes straight away and there was a great buzz around this area with plenty of activity going on. Into the tent to drop our blue bags that has all our bike gear in. On the way out we bump into Eoin Lyons who stops for a chat (and goes on to come 3 in his age group for the race)That was it, there was no more we could do now. The training was done, the bikes were racked and the run gear was dropped. Time for some lunchWe headed to a bar at the finish line for some food, that was the first time I got to see the famous Ironman Red Carpet and finish line. I was getting a little nervous now.After we finished lunch, we head back to the cars and make a move to our accommodation for the night. We were staying in Ballymcoda. This is on the bike course so we get to see all the houses decorated in flags and signs of motivation along the way, Houses, telephone poles, Walls, they were everywhere. We drop our bags, chill out for a bit and head back in to take a look at the swim course now that all the buoys were in place.I asked a guy who had just come out of the water at the swim start what it was like in there, CHOPPY but WARM he informs me.We headed up along the road to the swim exit, the more of the course I saw the more nervous I was getting. The swim was starting to get into my head now.George could see I was getting rattled at this stage and takes me off and buys me a lovely 99. So back to the car we headed again, the next time I would see the course would be in a few hours for race day.We had a good dinner that night and drank plenty of water and just talked about our race plans for the following day. The swim was still on my mind and I was starting to worry now. 9.30pm off to bed now. Alarm was set for 3.15am Night Night.Saturday August 13th 2022 (Race Day)The Alarm goes off at 3.15am and I was awake already as my sleep wasn’t great, so I head downstairs and get my breakfast and coffee intake into me. Trisuit on and off we go.As we approach claycastle there are cars everywhere. I get directed up to front strand and I park up right at the swim start.We head straight for T1 so we can drop our water bottles and do any last-minute bike adjustments before transition closes. As we walk up the road the is a feeling of nerves around the place. Everyone is quiet and hardly talking.In the distance behind me I can hear the Foo Fighters I turn jokingly to George and says I bet that is Paul Purcell. Before I had his name out of my mouth Paul pulls up beside us on a mountain bike with the Foo’s pumping out of this phone. What a great way to settle the nerves.Water/Nutrition Dropped, Bike Checked, Transition bag checked. We head to the swim start on put on the wetsuits.I place myself with the 40min wave and watch as the race begins.6.13am this is it and I enter the water and head for the first orange buoy, halfway there when taking a breath, I get his with a wave and swallow a load of water, SHIT.I panic and start breathing fast and can’t catch my breath. I make it to the first yellow buoy and grab onto a kayak. Are you ok he asked me, I tell him I’m fine and I just need to catch my breath and compose myself, the last thing I want to do now is call it a day only 6mins into the swim,Feeling somewhat ok I head off again but I can’t get into a proper freestyle rhythm so I turn to breaststroke. Just picking off 1 buoy at a time. Then in the distance I could see the swim exit. Excellent I done it only a few more meters to go the crowed cheered us all onto the ramp. I exit the water and look at my watch 52mins.I had finished the swim, A little slower that I had planned but it was done.SWIM 52 MINSInto Transition 1, I take my time, Bike gear on, Suncream on, drink of water and a gel, quick toilet break and I was off on the bike.Having done the bike course a few weeks before I knew what was ahead. Its was starting to get warm already and it was only 7.14amThe bike leg was fantastic. The support from everyone on the route was unreal, I had done a lot of work on the bike and I felt comfortable throughout although not that fast at avg 22kpm I was never under any pressure. Looking back now I could have pushed a bit more on the bike and knocked a bit of time off. Back into youghal and its time to head for the hill, I can hear the crowed and I turn onto windmill hill, not a hope I said and get off the bike and walk the hill. Siobhan o Dwyer was half way up the hill and her words of encouragement were amazing.BIKE 4 HOURSI had made it into transition 2 just as Catherine was running out. Bike racked, runners on and off I head on the final part. I said to myself only 21.1km to go you have this.11.22am I head out on the run course. I knew this was going to be tough as the heat was mental already. Out the gate and down the hill I go, my legs were feeling good but my HR was on the high side. Time to get this down before I get into the town so I pulled it right back. Slowly it came down and I was feeling good again.Into the town I headed and joined up with the other runners at the turn around at T1. The first 10km felt good, the spectators were unreal everyone was in good spirit and full of fun. I passed Catherine, George, Conor and Andrew on the run and we all exchanged words of encouragement to each other.From 11km onwards I started to slow as it felt like my calves were turning to stone. I had to walk for a bit and slowly began to trot again. On the second lap as I was coming to the clock tower, I could hear my name being shouted and cheering it was Lisa, Claire, Sarah and the boys. This gave me a right lift; they even had a banner with you can do it on it. For the rest of the last lap, I walked/ran anything to keep moving forward.I was conscious of the cut off and always had an eye on the time. I knew I was nearly there and all I had to do was to keep moving forward. Dave Thompson was on the run course and sorted me a few times with small bottles of water and words of encouragement. I pass Lisa and the boys again. “Keep going Keep going we will see you at the finish line” 6 km to go nearly there, Walk/Run Walk Run.I get to the 20km Marker and Seamus Dorney is there “good man Daithí you are nearly is it ok if I run with you”. Next thing I know Ian & Mark are running beside me too. That was it these guys can out to bring me home, Ian says 600mts you did it keep going. Enjoy the moment.As I approach the mat Catherine, Andrew, Claire & Siobhan were there cheering me up the red carpet. As I get close to the finish line Lisa and the boys are there shouting their heads off. I had done it. Everything I had trained for had paid offI now have a 70.3 race under my belt,Would I do it again, You Bet your Butt I wouldTotal time 8h 12min (Next up is Catherine's account)
(Next up is Paul)
Two weeks before Youghal I lay in Ians studio with a calf issue in what can only be described as an emotional wreck, was my race doomed had 2 years of waiting gone done the drain??? Nope , He laughed it off and reminded me of how far I've come and totally calmed me down (and made me cry/yell working on my calf)From there I rested the leg zero running but still hit the river and hopped on the bike, Race morning was real, head was down and all the questions were back (just what I read everywhere would happen) but there was no escaping them. Into transition for last minute setups and first person I meet was Ian calm as they come and the quick chat completely settled all the nerves and it was now race day. The National anthem and seeing Siobhan and Seamus looking down with the words of encouragement were the nail in the coffin The flood gates finally opened and I was crying and was trying to stop but they were tears of joy. The race was amazing everything I was told it would be and more, as Ian says trust the plan and it's true, I hit all my targets. I got my Finish Line and I got to the startline, that's all I wanted but I got More . Paul