Hi everyone.
I asked some of the marathon group to write up a short report on how their training and their races went for Manchester/Paris/Boston/Connemara marathon 2022, while the pain and elation were still fresh in their memories.
It might give you an idea on what to expect if you're ever planning on doing any of the above marathons :)
So, in no particular order, here are a few pieces from some of the crew. (Apologies re the lack of photos...I can't figure out how to put them up on this blog!!)
Put on the kettle ;)
Elaine M. Manchester:
This was my 3rd Marathon with Ian and I had another PB. I took this plan day by day and when there was an optional run and I was tired I took the day off, I felt good during the training and felt even better on race day, Ian and the group gave me the confidence to push on race day! It’s hard some days to find the energy to go out for a run, but when you know everyone in the group are out there getting it done it gives you the boost to go!!💪
Emer M. Paris.
Paris Marathon 3rd April 2022. I joined Ian and the Team IP family less than 2 years ago. I always loved running. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be able to run a marathon. Last November 2021 we started the 18 wks of training. I was planning on doing Paris with my brother Chris, the rest of the crew were heading to Manchester. We were very lucky with the weather until February.The wind and rain on the long runs would really make you second guess your ability. I was blessed with great friends who joined me Saturday mornings week after week. They were “Simply the Best”. The marathon group gave me massive support throughout the 18 wks. I have to say a huge thank you to the guys who checked in with me every week, Ye had my back @ all times and for that I am forever grateful. I had an injury along the way but thanks to Ronan Crosses in Sports & Spinal, who quickly got me back on track. To my brother Chris you were so supportive and my absolute rock.Marathon day in Paris started with blue skies but quite cold. The atmosphere on the Champs Elysee was nothing like I have ever experienced. The route on the day was Amazing. The French people lined the street and cheered us on in abundance. There was a band playing music every mile. After running through the city the route continued into a park, up the River Seine and through tunnels to the Eiffel Tower. John was standing at the Eiffel tower waiting for me which was very emotional.That was it, the tears flowed.46,195 people ran on the day and at around 20km I met up with 3 lovely Clonmel runners who were also flying the Irish flag. Adele who I had never met personally recognized my Team IP top. It’s true what they say you can’t beat the Irish.The last mile was mind blowing, the roars from the crowd reminded me of All Ireland final day in Croke Park. Never for one minute did I doubt myself. My legs and head were in a good place for the duration. Crossing that finish line was pure magic. I did it, all by myself…26.2 miles. I truly believe that my brother Ken was on my shoulder the whole way.To Ian Purcell, Thank you for helping me make my dream come true. It’s nearly a cliche but its true when they say trust and follow the plan. It always works. My 18 week journey is now over but I think I have the marathon bug. Roll on the next one TeamIP. Paris Marathon will be a precious memory I will forever hold close to my heart.Emer.x
Gemma R. Manchester
My race experience
Started running with IP pre-pandemic, but frequently missed sessions...might have made 1-2 sessions, and typically missed out on the long runs due to other commitments. Then we were forced to stay at home - because of the pandemic. I guess I was lucky as I had a really super bunch of experienced running friends, so when Ian would send out our weekly schedule- they would do the analysis and map out a route. It was great to have a plan, even if we didn't have any race to look forward to. We did some of the trail runs together when we were restricted to 5km limit or we went out in pairs. But no one came home alone. I realise how important it is to have such a solid bunch of friends to motivate us and keep us all going through that dark patch.
I was eventually 'cajoled' into signing up for Manchester Marathon 22 because it was an 'easy route' !! I think it was also because everyone else had signed up, I couldn't bear the thought of having no training buddy, and my back-up plan was always, 'sure, I can always pull out, if it gets too intense'. So I signed up, and started the training. Maybe we were lucky in Dec & Jan, the weather was mild, but boy did we have wind in February. But everyone kept saying 'it will make us stronger'. I used hate early morning starts, (and I still do), but its 100 times easier to have those long runs done in the morning with someone of your ability than trying to fit it in somewhere else in the day on your own. BTW when Ian says 7.00am, it does not mean 7.01am....think I might have added a few stress lines to his brow for arriving 'just on time'.I feel very fortunate to have trained through the whole session with a bunch of very loyal and experienced core group and I learned so much from them. Marathon training is as tough as you make it. But it is made so much easier when you have good friends to share that journey with. The group factor is amazing. So many stories have been shared on those roads....but it got us around. Did I feel well prepared for the Marathon ? I had no previous experience, this was my first time. So I was terrified I would get injured, or worse still not be able to finish it. But, I stuck to the plan. That is the key thing. Do it to the best of your ability. I might have missed days because there weren't enough hours in the day, or I just didn't feel up to it - but I learned to leave that at the door.
Day 2 Post-Marathon - was I well prepared? yes we definitely were. Did it feel as bad as I thought it would, No actually. Why, because I stuck to the plan on the day (or almost).
What could be improved: I think the more experienced marathon runners probably don't need as much mentoring, but I rarely did the stretching, even if it was 6 mins. So that needs to be made mandatory (for me at least) . I also realise that diet is so important - and maybe that is something that should be looked into a bit more. Equally, a correct running shoe, I didn't have experience of lovely blisters on my toes ...so I now know, I should be buying a running shoe, a 1/2 size bigger than my regular shoes...There are also lots of tricks like chaffing creams out there, and even foot creams too, which I have to explore. New territory. What else did I notice? Its a funny feeling, because for someone like me, to cross that finish line was a huge achievement. So much had happened personally in the last few weeks. But I don't think a single member of the group had avoided Covid or some other significant setback along the way. I think Covid had played a more significant impact on some of the group and affected their overall performance, especially those that had it only a few weeks ago . What I always felt is: I would need to be feeling 100% before going in to the Marathon. But in reality, those of us who ran the Marathon were prob only at 60-70% - as something during that 18 week journey had knocked us back. But that is life, and we dust ourselves down and get back on the wagon again for another day. The main thing is, we have met so many new friends along the journey and true like-minded friends.
For those like me, a bit more of a 1-2-1 might not be a bad thing, to monitor our performance a bit more. I had no idea if I could do a sub-4 hour marathon. I was winging it. I had no idea what my MP / Tempo Pace actually was as it was my first marathon, so I went about it a different way. I went about it, that if i wanted to make a sub -4 hour marathon, I needed to be running at x/pace as MP. But during my training sessions I usually went much faster. I am not sure if you noticed this Ian, but my plan vs actual pace never married up. But I went by 'feel ok' monitor !! I know you had given me rough numbers...but I felt I could run faster than your numbers. So i had always had that niggle...oh shit, this could blow up very quickly. By training with Jane/Shelia/Mick/Niall, I was always training harder I guess...but it definitely stood to me on Marathon day. I actually had the legs to push on for the last 2 miles. Mile 25 - pace was 8.34, mile 26 pace was 8.47, last 0.29 miles, average pace was 7.34 - when I spotted the finish line... [My marathon average pace was 8.41min/mi)]My average HR was 142, my Max HR was 176. So is there a little wiggle room for improvement ?- yes I think so. But god knows, I could mess it up next time. Ignorance was bliss. Maybe I should retire now.
Sheila P. Manchester
Manchester Marathon 2022: After much procrastinating I signed up for my 11th marathon last November. I naively thought having done the distance before that surely it couldn't be that tough. I can honestly say only for the IP plan, the structure and my fab running buddies I may have given up by February once those real long runs ramped up. Winter training is not for the faint hearted, wind, rain, hailstones, frost, we had to contend with it all. Trust the process is what I believed, trying to nail marathon distance training in all those tempos and lactate threshold runs during those 18 weeks and digging deep when the body is tired from daily life and stresses kept my focus. Was it easy? NO. Did I ever think I could manage to complete a sub 3.30 Marathon? NEVER.Not until I arrived on the morning of April 3rd to the start line and began.... always have a Plan A & Plan B. Am I thrilled YES! The IP plan works. The group sessions work, take all advice on board and work on those negative thoughts and mental mindset. Do your dynamic stretching, S&C and Core work.So, on reflection I learned to run a marathon in control throughout it and nailed a 3.26 marathon time. Thanks guys and girls, you know who you are ✔️
Seamus D. Manchester (The first of 3 Marathons in 4 weeks!)
The Road to the Manchester Marathon 2022
Monday 28th November 2021 our training block commenced, it seems such a long time ago now, it can be quite difficult training for a spring marathon due to shorter daylight hours and the onset of winter, however because of the constraints of the last two years I think everyone just wanted to get out there,December and January flew by,helped no doubt by unseasonably mild conditions, February was a different story,high winds on practically every Saturday long run tested our resolve, as always Ian was meticulous in the planing of the training block,lots of variety to keep us focused and always offering words of encouragement to keep us going when things weren't going to plan.Suddenly it's race day weekend,I've done a number of Marathons abroad but this is the first time I've been to one where Team IP have been there in strength, it really added to the whole occasion, from the meet ups before the race,to the actual race itself, the inevitable postmortems and of course the celebrations.It was amazing to be part of this group and to witness first hand the joy of those competing in their first Marathon and achieving such wonderful results.It will live long in the memory
Adele H. Paris
A Spring Marathon was never part of the plan for 2022 but when my club mates in Piranha TC started chatting in late 2021 about running Paris in the Springtime , a plan started to form. Never one to miss a bit of fun, I was easily persuaded to hop on the bandwagon. I was concerned about it impacting my A race which is Roth full distance triathlon in July 2022 so I first chatted to Ian to see what he thought and as always, I got the thumbs up and an assurance that we'd make it work.
So I signed up for Paris Marathon in December. I never had any confidence in my running and had never really picked up any speed so figured a marathon block would do me the world good. I set myself an internal lofty goal of sub-4 despite having ZERO indication that I had the ability to run that pace for four hours. I didnt get started with the training properly till well after Christmas due to a complete lack of motivation and having covid so when I did get going it was a slog. However in a couple of weeks I really started to enjoying the training. I was hitting the track with my club mates where possible and we formed a group for our long runs in Phoenix Park every weekend. I did my tempo sessions on my own on Tuesdays and was loving them too. But for me the highlight was the Saturday long runs, we had a fab group, all buzzed for Paris and had a blast chatting over coffees once we had our two or three hour session done. Despite all sorts of insane weather, I left those group runs on a high every week after nailing the run and having brilliant crack as well. I really noticed how much stronger I was getting and how I was picking up a bit of speed also. I hit a massive PB in a ten miler on St Patricks day so my confidence was high.
So the race.... leading into the race I was genuinely so excited and felt like I was well able to nail my sub four and do it strongly. I had my race plan and I was ready to smash it. No nerves and was bizarrely confident in my training. Just under 30 of us travelled to Paris so it was an exciting weekend for everyone.. A couple of draining days travelling and seeing a bit of Paris meant when race day came, I felt a bit flat. From the first step, I knew I was off form. Despite running with pals who I always run and chat with, I hadn't the energy to talk - I was gone mute (a rare occurence for me!). I figured the crappy feeling would pass but two hours in I was still low in energy despite fuelling really well and avoiding the temptation to go off to hard... Familiar with ploughing through the misery and fighting in races, I knew I would get the race done but I would be lying if I said I enjoyed it! Even the sights of Paris couldnt distract me from what was now the goal of getting the head down, battling and focusing on finishing.
A battle from start to finish and came in at 4.02. Missed the target but probably a race I will always be proud of due to the knowing how hard fought it was!! For me the best part about Paris was the training block - I can honestly say I loved the sessions and training with a group with a common goal. I've definitely discovered a love for running that I never had before and have no doubt will be getting a sub four with change on my next day out!! Now to find my bike and get into an Ironman training block!!
Seamus Boston Marathon (2nd marathon in 15 days!)
126th Boston Marathon 2022.While some may question the logic of running two marathons in a fortnight(even I'm wondering myself how I managed it😂😂)the chance of participating in one of most iconic races in world could not be allowed to slip by.Following an excellent session(rub down) with Ian on the Wednesday after Manchester the focus turned to Boston,endless queues at Dublin Airport on Friday 15th before we touched down to glorious sunshine at our destination stateside,accommodation sorted we took a stroll downtown to collect our race numbers at the expo.Even at this early stage(race isn't until Monday there is a real sence of anticipation in the air,Saturday morning I do a 5k,nice and easy just to get the legs moving after the long flight,after the run I bump into Katherine Switzer (again)the first woman to run the marathons despite the best efforts of the race director to throw her off the course,a brief visit to Hopkinton to check out where it will all begin,Sunday flew by,a pre eve of race meal with some past and present Team IP members namely John Griffin and Eddy Flynn,we awake on the Monday to a cloudless sky,perfect, after a hearty breakfast we make our way to the bag drop area and pickup by the famous yellow buses,by 9.30 we are on our way for what should be a one hour journey, nearing Hopkinton our driver for some strange reason decides to leave the convoy and go his own way,needless to say we get hopelessly lost for the next half hour,the hour journey turns into and hour and twenty,by the time we get to the athletes village it's deserted, it is now 10.55,starting time is 11.15 and the start line is a mile away,so much for a stress free morning, a quick stretch and jog down to corral and we're ready to go.And so it begins, the Dublin marathon can be quite crowded at the start but this was on another level,elbow room only as we negotiated the first downhill miles,from mile four things start to open up and we get into a nice steady rhythm, the miles fly by and suddenly the much vaunted Newton Hills are looming,they are everything they promised to be and more,this part of the course I found a real struggle, what had been an enjoyable run up to now was proving a real struggle, I eventually crested Heartbreak Hill and now at least we had downhill all the way to Boston,got the legs moving again and soon we can see the Citigo sign in the distance,here the crowd support is unbelievable as it has been all along the course,the cheers ring in our ears as we turn right on Hereford,left on Boylston and suddenly it's there,the finish line, I cross the line with joy and a profound sense of gratitude that I was able to participate in one of the oldest and greatest Marathons in the world.It will live long in the memory
John G Boston
“You Got Dis…..”, April 2022 I’m not sure where to start this piece, I could go back listening to Richie Kennedy tell me that I was doing really well getting 5 push-up done (on my knees), or Stephen Houze telling me that my first touch had improved over the 3 years playing 5 a side(before breaking my ankle and having a plate inserted), or maybe venturing out to do the Wicklow 200 on my own, or maybe taking on the Malin to Mizen team challenge in 2013, or my first tri-a-tri in Limerick in 2016, or my half Ironman in 2019 in Dun Laoighaire or my most recent escapades with midnight Mountain Running with IRMA on the hills of Munster. In reality, those were just steppingstones along the journey. The first step came all the way back about 2009 when I looked a photo of myself as a 17.5 stone father of three young daughters at a Kiddies Christmas party. Was this the example I wanted to set for my daughters? Sunday, the 10th of April (8 days to go) “Hello, Swift Clinic. “Hi, can you fit me in for an X-ray? I think I might have a broken bone in my foot”. This was my 5th marathon training block, and I knew my drill. Train hard for 12-14 weeks, to the point that you’re mentally and physically exhausted, get injured, spend the entire taper stressing, strategizing drop-out points on the route, before turning up on the day to out-performing my own and everyone else’s expectations. It was one of these occasions in 2019, when in the best shape of my life, coached by Ian Purcell, and shod in Nike’s finest, I managed to run 3:21:35 in Dublin to qualify for Boston. I knew that not everyone who qualified would likely get an entry, as they only accept the best 25,000 qualifiers world-wide, so every second counted in that last run-in from Ballsbridge to Merrion Square. I knew that, and pushed as hard as I possibly dared, and, as the cramps came as I hit the blue carpet, I knew I have given everything to make it to Boston. For me, Boston is the pinnacle of the sport of running marathons, like the Crucible, Madison Square Gardens, Croke Park, the San Siro, Wimbledon, Monaco or Alpe D’Heuz. Unlike any of these, I could never compete in those colosseums at the highest level, but I had the slimmest chance to do so in Boston. All I needed to do was jump thru some minor hoops like a global Pandemic and meet the cut-off criteria – both significant barriers. Thankfully 2 years later, I had done that. The rest was up to me. Tues, 12th of April, (6 days to go) – Clerihan Community Park. I knew I had to make a call. Stay or Go. The last 7 weeks of the training block were very disrupted by injury, all down my left leg. Initially, I pulled my groin in late Feb when I slipped on a patch of mud on the cemetery loop in Clonmel. I recovered from that after 2 weeks, but it was another 2 weeks before I felt confident to put the power down on the interval sessions. In reality, with about 6 weeks to go, I’d agreed with my coach, Ian Purcell, that getting to the start line in Hopkinton was a higher goal than a marginally faster time. Saying all that, I did complete 3 runs over 30km and a further 4 over 32km and most of those were on what I thought was a Boston-like route around Clonmel-more on that later. I had done over 700km in the 14 weeks, so I wasn’t lacking stamina, but the reality was that I’d only run more than 10 miles once in the previous 5 weeks before the race and that wasn’t exactly successful. This final long run, 2 weeks before travel, was a route around Clerihan. Unfortunately, early in the run, I stepped on a round stone and it rolled on the ball of my foot. I didn’t think any more of it and finished the run but when I tried to put weight on that foot later that evening, it was clear I had done some damage. Lots of icing and Voltorol were applied so by the time the following weekend rolled around, with only marginal improvement in weight bearing ability, I was convinced I had blown the whole thing to pieces. Hence the Sunday evening visit to the Swift Clinic in Cork. The Doc did a series of pressure tests and manual manipulations and within 2-3 minutes reached the tentative conclusion that nothing was broken. I explained the whole marathon thing and he seems to understand and eventually relented and referred me for an X-ray. 10mins later, he reconfirmed that while he still thought it was a soft tissue injury, he couldn’t rule out a stress fracture. That was good enough for me. I did some googling on cut-off times to get a Finisher’s Unicorn Medal and figured if I could run 10k at 6min/kms, 32kms of walking at 10min kms would get me in under 6:30 hours. I had cancelation options on both the flights and my accommodation until the following day, so I needed to make a call. Boston is a long way to go for a long walk so with just over 5 days to go on that Tues evening, I felt I needed to be able to run at least 6k, balancing the risk of further injury versus the risk of a wasted, and very expensive, journey. I ran the 6k with moderate discomfort. I felt with another 6 days of “rest”, I would be able for the 10k. The remaining 32k, I’d walk, if I needed to. This was Boston and with no race deferral option, it was a case of “Use it or lose it”. All I had to do was get thru the Covid test (Thanks to Barry in O’Reilly’s) and the delays in Dublin Airport (5 mins !) and I was heading west. It was my first flight since 2019 so I really appreciated the freedoms from restrictions. The only downside was that I was travelling alone, missing my family and wishing we could share the experiences that travelling brings. Primarily because of this, but also because of the ridiculous hotel prices, I was only spending 48 hours in Boston. Flying in on Sat evening and back out again post the race on Monday, Patriot’s day. Easter Sunday, 17th of April (one day to go). Stayed in Harvard. Lovely area. Still on Irish time, I woke early and did a 30 min “shake-out” run. The body was good. Did a few 100 metres at tempo but didn’t chance any sprints. Attended the longest Easter mass ever (80 mins) in St Paul’s and then headed into town to meet the lads for a lovely brunch in Thornton’s. Easter Sunday Morning Brunch with Seamus, Eddy and Pat. After that headed to the Expo, where I got my Bib (and jacket, not sure why) and then on to the finishing line for some photo opportunities (thanks, Seamus). Back then to the Abbott Hospitality suite in the Westin, where we were treated to a lovely Pasta dinner and an insightful talk from Joan Benoit, two-time Boston Winner and first Women’s Olympic Gold Marathon medallist in LA. Popped back on the “T” to Harvard, rested a few hours, before taking one final carb injection from Pinocchio’s Pizza (apparently Mark Zuckerberg used to eat there). I was in bed by 8pm(US) and slept soundly for 7 hours. Race Day Woke up at 3:30am, Showered and got race kit on. Forecast was for a dry but sunny day, with easterly headwind. The last point was particularly significant as Boston is a point-to-point, west-to-east course. I dropped my post-race clothes change and luggage for the flight to the Abbott Hotel for 7am. I knew Abbott had several rooms set-up for athletes to shower and change after along with food and drinks and space to relax. They really put on a great Breakfast event too, with Coffee, bagels and porridge and snacks available. I had a half a cup of coffee, rested a while and left for the buses, arriving there about 7:45am. Queuing for the buses to take us to Hopkinton Very quickly, I realised how big this operation was. It was busy, but very efficient, and by 8:15, about 30 mins later than planned, I was on my way to Hopkinton, a small town about 26 miles west of Boston. The buses themselves were comfortable and, armed with yet another breakfast of Flahavans flapjacks for the last 20 mins, we arrived at the Athletes Village about 9:15. It was busy, very busy. I was conscious that time was short so immediately made my way to the farthest end of the football field set-up to join the Portaloos. I chose one of about 80 queues only to find myself standing behind Eddy. I was delighted to meet someone I knew. We chatted nervously as we queued and before long we were done and Eddy was heading for his 1st Corral start. Athletes Village. I wasn’t called for about ten mins and used the time to lube up my feet and apply Factor 30 to my RHS (again). It was lovely running weather- cool but bright. I planned to start the race with a baseball hat, Clonmel AC top, arm warmers, shorts and my Nike Next %s. The obligatory Queue…Primed and ready to go I walked to 1km from the Athletes Village to the Start line, taking advantage of one final pit stop on the way. I had drank about 1 litre of water/electrolyte up to that point as I’d been awake for about 7 hours. I was also carrying a 750ml bottle of water with two ISOGELS mixed in. I figured that this should get me to about 70 mins (8 miles), avoiding the chaotic initial water stations. I tried to do some drills and stretches but there were people everywhere. Oddly, I seemed to be the only one making any effort. I joined my corral about 5mins before my scheduled start time of 10:25. The excitement was electric. It was a bundle of bodies, all wound tight in anticipation and fear. I just really enjoyed the atmosphere of common purpose. I didn’t feel particularly nervous, but it did feel surreal. Up ahead, we could hear the announcer, starting our wave, Wave 2. We were here, in the US, listening to the Star Spangled Banner, starting the Boston Marathon. Definitely a “Pinch Myself” moment. A shuffle turned into a walk, and a walk turned into a jog, and by the time we had moved 200m from where we were standing, we were passing the start line and hurtling down that first hill. The Race It’s steep. That first hill. And long. And dangerous. The first km is about 4% and then it settles into rolling downhill before rolling flat from 10-25k. I shortened my stride and increased my cadence for the initial decent but found it difficult to get any rhythm with all the traffic and folks weaving back and forth. A one point, about 2km in, I had to chop my stride to avoid a diagonal runner. I felt a twinge in my groin straight away and slowed down to let it settle. I knew, as I climbed the next hill, I needed to ease back further, but with the ongoing downhill pushing me on, the kms were still at 5:15ish. I was passed by clubmate, Pat, at about 3km. It was great to meet someone familiar, but knowing I couldn’t keep up, let him move on after a few mins. My worse case plan was to try to run to 10k, so resigned myself to that option. The crowds were exuberant and surprisingly well lubricated for 10:30am. I decided to take in the surrounding, so the next 12 kms was taken up with crowd watching. Everything from kids on trampolines, families on roofs, 20 people on rowing machines (!) and lots and lots of music and speakers. Even though there weren’t many houses around, there were crowds shouting encouragement and hollering most of the time. As I came to the 10k point in Framingham, the groin had settled a bit. It wasn’t getting any worse and I only felt pain on the hills, of which there were many. I recall seeing the 6M signage and thinking I was working too hard for my pace but knew if I could get to half-way, I might still rescue the day. Worst case, I knew that the train tracks ran along the course all the way to Boston so, I’d make my flight home, with or without a medal. At about 18km, I started to hear the Wesley girls, and as I approached their “Scream Tunnel”, I started to believe. They were loud and insistent. I had come to experience the Boston Marathon, and this was one of the “experiences” and as the emotion came over me, I started to think this was going to be My Day. The earlier groin injury was now more a general tiredness across both legs. I knew my modified stride was taking its toll but I was moving ok. About this time, I was passed by some Irish runners, a woman from Middleton AC and a guy from (Castle?)Blaney Rockets. She shot ahead but I managed to stick about 10m behind the Monaghan lad for the next 5k. I passed half-way at 1:51. I figured that I’d lose at least 5-10 mins in the second half if I maintained the current effort, and, as the Newton Hills were waiting, I was starting to tire. I’d switched to the Maurten gels at this point but was struggling with the rising temperatures and inability to master those cursed paper water cups. I longed for my bottle I had discarded about 5 miles back. The Newton hills are a series of 4 hills between 0.7 and 1km long. They’re not particularly steep at 3-4% but they arrive at the perfect time where you reserves are almost depleted. They start at about the 25th km and last until the 34th. Traditionally, it’s where your training is tested, especially if you’ve gone out too fast on those early downhill kms. As soon as I hit the base of the first hill, I felt my glutes tighten, not quite a cramp but a signal that I needed to respect the terrain. I slowed considerably as I climbed that hill but managed to get my pace back on the downhill after. I then came to the first turn on the course (there are only 5 in total), Right by the Newton Firehouse where I faced the next hill. Again, slowing considerably, was helped over the top by the sight of two Tricolours flying in the strengthening breeze. I think it was here on this downhill, that I spotted a guy on my LHS and he had 3 bottles of water. I almost took his hand off. I knew this would buy me time, avoiding the efforts of the paper cups, as my focus had definitely started to narrow. I was working now, not flat out, but probably 90%. The next hill was shorter but steeper. The crowds were both sides, screaming encouragement all the way. I’m fairly sure I was passed by walkers, but I did not walk. I would not walk today. Over the top and my stride was getting ragged, especially on downhill sections. Pace was drifting too. Only one hill left and it was a downhill run to Boston but this was the iconic Heartbreak Hill, the last big challenge of the course. The noise/encouragement were deafening. I tried to take it in as much as I could, trying to distract myself from the pain. I’d imagine my stride length could have been measured in mm and eventually I passed under the traffic lights at the top and pushed into the Haunted Mile, so called because it runs by a cemetery. One final gel and I saw the sign for 35km, still descending so my pace was decent enough. Ran thru the third and fourth turns, managed to negotiate a series of train tracks and then I was on Beacon Street, about 4 miles to go. As the road levelled out, I continued to push as hard as I could, still balancing those cramping glutes. It was clear I was losing ground to anyone running and the only folks I was (barely) passing were the increasing number of walkers. I had no intentions of joining them, so stuck to the job. At this point, my body was aching, the road was rough, the inclines seemed huge, and the crowds were starting to become annoying. It was a long straight 3 miles to the CITGO sign but when I passed that I knew I was almost there, down thru an underpass and then “Right on Hereford, Left on Boylston” and I could see the prize, 600M away. The Final turn for Home….. Suddenly, I didn’t want it to end. I looked around, savoured the plaudits from the crowd, glanced to my left to where the 2013 bombings took place and thought about my family. I would have loved for them to be there. I crossed the line in 3:47:24. I was emotional as I collected my medal. It was great day to Run the Boston Marathon. I felt honoured and privileged to have earned the right to participate in such a prestigious event. I wont ever get to do it again, but I’ll never forget the 18th of April, 2022. Boston Strong.
Emily Connemarathon
Conn on Sunday I had decided I wasnt doing it but Ian said I should try it might be what I need… i had picked up an injury,then gotten so sick for 6 weeks and had a major family disaster so I was going to support Elaine and I said I would walk it. We were up early for room service as on Sunday breakfast isn’t till 8 we needed to be on the road to oughterard to catch the bus as it was 30 min away and then 45 mins on the bus to the start. Passing the ultra runners on the bus was inspiring these guys were taking on 39.3 miles. The scenery on the way to the start omg. Bus dropped us at start so loo and bag drop and stretched. We were off at 10.30 on the button. And it was hot at this stage. First few miles are lovely and flat but the road is open to cars till 13.1 miles , it’s goes up at 6 miles nothing major but the headwind due to the change of direction was a tad mad. The scenery was unbelievable lakes, mountains, ponies, lambs, waterfalls, turf. Next hill was at the half start where the road was closed and this was a tad bigger but it went down, ultra runners were passing me at speed I was in awe of them in the heat.
Water every 3 miles, jellies, lucozade sport on two stations and honestly the miles flew by due to the amazing views, then we across the bridge to take you to the finish at mile 21, mile 22/23 is up hill and seems relentless but you do get up over it and it goes down and then its on to the finish. It was tough physically,mentally I was prepared for the long walk but the heat was cruel, there was a breeze along the course as there is a lot of water and it’s up so high 🙈. Honestly it’s an amazing experience, from start to finish you are looked after, there is no pressure and every runner was so chatty and great company, always smiling and having a giggle, if you want a unique experience then this is for you, it’s not easy and the weather can be unpredictable but you won’t be disappointed
Elaine H Connemarathon
I began running with ian last year having run some half marathons myself but with a hope to completing a Full Marathon. I was concerned because I had some bad habits and had developed Plantar Fasciitis but after some weeks and no signs of it improving, I was encouraged to take some time out from running which was difficult but definitely the right thing to do. I rejoined the group Manchester Marathon plan as that training coincided with the Connemara Marathon that I had hoped to complete. The group tempo sessions I found very beneficial to me as were the group long runs on Saturdays. I successfully completed my first Marathon the Connemarathon on 24-04-22 and was thrilled with my result. It was a hilly Marathon and my heart rate during the elevation was a sure sign that Ian’s program worked. I am looking forward to rejoining Ian’s group sessions again for the next marathon training and hopefully completing the Dublin City Marathon in October this year. Ian’s group is a wonderful way to do what you love to do in great company and meet like minded people who encourage each other and give each other the confidence to achieve their goals. 👏💪🙏🏻😊🏅
Conclusion
So, that concludes a few thoughts from some of the lads. I was blown away by each and every one of them. From the first timers to the experienced athletes, they all absolutely nailed it, and as far as I am aware they all achieved official Marathon PB's.
(I must also say for the record that both Seamus and John did the Limerick Marathon too, 2 weeks after Boston!!! Time for some rest lads !)
Also, apart from Seamus and John in Limerick, there were 10 other TEAM IP athletes doing the half marathon. It was a brilliant day, especially for the first timers, loads of PB's!! I highly recommend the Great Limerick Run, and personally, it was the most enjoyable race for me in a long time(crowd were amazing) I came in at 1:22:10 with an average power of 321 watts.
How did all this start and why did we decide on Manchester?
So, on the 24th October 2021, I organised a "Virtual Dublin Marathon" and a 10 mile/10k/5k challenge on the Greenway Dungarvan. There was a brilliant group of athletes across all distances on what proved to be a desperately tough day with a crazy head wind on the return leg on a surprisingly hilly path. However, that didn't deter the lads as just about everyone nailed a PB on the day.There was great support from family and friends on the day and from 7am right through to 2:30pm it was one of the most enjoyable days I've ever experienced as a coach/supporter. Kudos goes to everyone who turned up that day on a very tough challenge from 5k to marathon.
Fast forward to that night and we were in flying form. Covid restrictions were still to the fore so we were very nice and orderly as we tiptoed into Mulcahy's, greeted Paul from behind our masks and signed in. We obediently sat down in our seats and settled in for a few quiet celebratory drinks. While we remained impeccably behaved ALL night long (Paul may disagree slightly),a few of the group were discussing possibly doing the Manchester marathon. A few sore heads later and by the end of the November there was a group of 23 (including me) who had signed up.
The Marathon group started on November 29th (coinciding with the news that we're expecting our 3rd child!) along with the John Treacy 10 mile group and the 10k/5k groups. ( I had started training 2 weeks before that as I had little or no running done between the start of September and then so I had a bit of catching up to do)
Because the vast majority of the group had such an impressive baseline fitness from the Greenway I had decided at an early stage that we could kick on a bit with intensity and volume. It's always a tough prospect training in the depths of winter and when you throw in Covid/crazy flu's and colds, then it makes training even harder. Life was starting to get back to normal too which meant that people had less time on their hands and Saturdays were generally absolutely crazy for most people. So taking all the above into account, I can only sit back in awe at everyone who still managed to make the sessions, and nail them too!
The lads above referred to the weather as playing a major part of the training and I had forgotten how much of a factor it can be in terms of motivation in the winter months. (It had been 6 years since I had trained with any real purpose in the Winter and I had conveniently forgotten!) I was housebound with Covid for 2 weeks in December so I can't really remember what the weather was like. I know my treadmill got a huge amount of use!
January: On new years day we started our long run @ 9am. Lots of lucozade was consumed on route over the 20kms!! There was a particular weekend at the start of January too that apparently was a complete washout here. (I was away at the time) The girls had said it was the worst weather they had ever run in! The rest of January was good though and we were a bit spoiled coming into February.
February was absolutely crazy. Every weekend or Thursday night session was like being in the middle of a gale force wind. Usually a head wind as we ran up from Kilsheelan. But we kept telling ourselves that it's 'character building'! It actually was though and it definitely toughened us up a bit. We had some hard days but hard is a relative term and we kept on reminding ourselves of how lucky we are to be able to run in the first place.
March was really good, challenging and tiring but thats marathon training, and then suddenly we were tapering. Just like that. From the 23 who signed up in November we had 17 who made it to the start line of the full marathons and we had 3 who dropped back to the half marathon in Manchester on the day. 2 of the girls got injuries unfortunately but should be back in a few months, and 2 decided not to travel for personal reasons.
Some of the 10k and marathon group suffered bereavements during the plan. We were all so saddened by this and regarding running, it put absolutely everything into perspective. RIP.
Thoughts on my own training
I started with a 10k test to see what my pace was @ my MAF HR in mid November. I averaged 4:45/km @ a stryd power of 261 watts
@ 74kg. The ideal situation in marathon training is to develop your aerobic baseline and your power to weight ratio over the plan duration so that when it comes around to race day, you're able to sustain your highest possible aerobic power for marathon distance without hitting a wall(Ideal scenario!).
My baseline fitness improved over the 20 weeks to the point where I was running @ 4:20/km @ the same HR @ approx 275 watts. My race day weight was 71kg. However, my weight fluctuated wildly over the 20 weeks. At one stage I was 76.5kg and with only 2 weeks to go I was still 74/75kg. My portion sizes were astronomical and I was definitely consuming far more calories than I was burning. I couldnt stop drinking these delicious over indulgent protein shakes. So with 2 weeks to go I was 6kg heavier than I was for Dublin marathon 2019! I cleaned up my diet a bit and it made a big difference but I prob left it a bit late!
I trained quite well and definitely found the running fitness coming back but I still found the motivation very hard to come by. I had a lingering sinus thing (maybe covid induced) from December which I couldn't shake. It was brilliant meeting the group for the Saturday morning run. Strength in numbers! I completely abandoned the bike and the pool and just concentrated solely on running for this race. I had never done that before and I really missed the other 2. But I just couldn't find the time to even think about swimming or cycling. Family life was brilliant but hectic with Aine pregnant with our 3rd child, my 15 year old son doing his Junior Cert & playing for Clonmel Og and Tipp, and my 2 year old daughter being, well, a very entertaining 2 year old! The weeks just go by so quickly. 2 races were done with the groups; John Treacy 10 and the Kilsheelan 10. Both were great and I was very happy with both as were the lads (i think!)
Race weekend:
Headed up with Brigid and Alison and met some of the group in Dub Airport. We were all in great form and had a good laugh in the cafe in the airport.
Said our goodbyes in the taxi in Manchester and collected the number off Seamus (Absolute legend)
Chomped down very badly on my tongue in Manchester airport (big lump gone and bits of flesh hanging off)...Strangely this happens me quite alot when I am run down/stressed and suffering from lack of sleep. It usually gets infected very fast so I was a bit worried. (It actually got infected badly the day after the marathon) It's like my tongue swells up and is just waiting to be bitten! So I headed to a pharmacy as soon as I checked in to my crazy hotel, Native Manchester, and bought TCP and olbas oil. I then bought some turkey steaks and rice and settled into a very boring and restless night.
Laid out all my race gear; Alphaflys, Stryd powermeter, Hilly Monoskin socks, Under Armour compression shorts, Team IP Verge Singlet, Mighty music player, Trekz Aftershokz headphones, Garmin 935, race belt, and 4 Maurten Gels (1 caffeine)
Drank my 500ml of Maurten 160 and proceeded to try watch TV for the night. The Greatest Showman was on. Texted Aine and Adam a few times and put the lights out at 10:30pm but no luck. Could not switch off at all. I actually cannot ever sleep properly in hotels. The anxiety reaches a whole new level! I think I was finally drifting off when the guy in the room next to me came back very drunk at 2am. He then "watched" TV at full volume until 5am. My alarm then went off!! I wasn't too worried though. The night before Dublin 2019 I also didn't get a wink of sleep and I had a great run. This wouldn't be much different.....would it?
The logistics of getting to race start in Manchester were brilliant. So easy to get there on Tram and everyone was so friendly at race HQ. I was so excited and really couldn't wait for the race to get underway.
The weather couldn't have been better and all the stars seemed to be aligning for a great day. I didn't meet the lads before the race as it was literally unknown territory and we were all starting at different times. I slightly misjudged how far the start line was from Old Trafford Cricket HQ so I panicked a little bit when I saw that I was one of the last Red bibs to be sprinting to start line!! I arrived @ 9:13am, dragged off my warm clothes (and my 36km gel!) and dumped them all on the side of the road. Checked that I had everything; music working ok, gels all there....oh wait, no they weren't! Missing one! :( I'd cross that bridge later....
Gun went off and I settled into a nice rhythm. I must have got passed by a few thousand in the first few km. They came past me like Japanese bullet trains. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I flicked on the other screen on my watch and I was going along @ my intended Stryd power of approx 280 watts and first mile was 6:55 I think, so I was following my plan. I couldn't understand what was going on. Either thousands of people were wildly optimistic about their ability or else there's a massive percentage of sub 2:50 marathon runners in Manchester! One particular guy came flying passed me after 1km. Like, seriously flying passed. A really young guy. Wearing tights and running in "ordinary" runners. I remember thinking at the time that I hope this guy is an elite and just arrived late...maybe he's just doing it as a training run. But his style of running didn't really appear too elite. 7km later I passed this fella and the poor guy was shuffling along in an awful way @ approx 7:00/km. I felt awful for him. It's a very lonely place to be.
I continued on @ approx 4:11 per km until 34km. I felt quite good up to that point. I was in a rhythm. I wasn't loving this marathon experience but I was enduring it and I definitely was winning the mental battle. Then there was a hill that none of us had planned for at Altrincham that came as a bit of a shock. How did we miss that in the research! Maybe it just came at the wrong time and maybe it's not steep at all, but it felt like Tickincor (steep hill where we're from!) I think that's when the doubts started setting in.
I remembered @ 34km that I had lost that gel. Psychologically that affected me greatly. Again, my own fault. I should have been more careful. I didn't take any SIS gels which were being handed out....., not because I didn't want to but I didn't think I had the energy to reach for them!
The last 7km were the toughest of any marathon I have done to date. I was running on empty. I got progressively slower (is that an oxymoron?) I was getting passed by what seemed like hundreds of athletes but I dug deeper than I ever have before and managed to get to the finish line in one piece. In the grand scheme of things I didn't lose too much time, I went from 4:11/km to 4:20 to 4:30 then to 4:38/km, but it's all relative. I felt like I was running through quicksand. I have never been so happy to see the finish line of any race!
How did I get through it?
That's what got me through it. The mind can be an amazing tool when harnessed properly, but at one stage it tried to convince me to ask Darren Fletcher to hail me an Uber when I passed him at mile 22!
I had no idea what time I did until I crossed the line. I only had the time of day on my watch as I didn't want to be consumed by pace and power data. I knew we started at approx 9:15am and I think I was at approx 24.5 miles @ 12.02. My brain was mush so I just kept trying to put one foot in front of the other.
When I finished, I looked @ my watch and it said 12:15. I stopped it and up popped 2:59:30 which I am very proud of. Having said that though, I genuinely would have been proud of any time. I was incredibly happy to just finish.
I averaged 291 watts and 4:14/km over 42.35km. I lost 2.5 mins over the last 7km, & about 3 kgs in salt and sweat! But it was probably my proudest marathon because it was my toughest and I didn't give up.
I was absolutely caked in salt sweats and got cold so fast. I knew I had to get back to the hotel ASAP but it still took another 80 mins to get back there. The crowds on the trams were immense. Straight to Subway for a meatball marinara and relaxed for the afternoon.
Met the group around 7 for a meal and we ended up having an absolutely brilliant night in a few pubs in Canal St. There may have been karaoke, and some dancing but I'm not too sure. You'll have to ask the other lads.
The next morning we had the interesting task of getting through Manchester Airport (It wasn't a great experience, especially at 9am!) Got home at 4pm with Brigid and Alison, we collected Adam in Cashel and relaxed for the night. Took me about 4 days to feel physically ok again and obviously another while before the internal aging process was reversed!
Positives:
Negatives:
But, all the negatives mentioned there are obviously very much first world problems. Not to be enveloping you with too much toxic positivity but aren't we all just incredibly lucky to be able to run in the first place? Give me toxic positivity any day over toxic negativity!
Why do we do it?
Escape, redemption, testing limits, peer pressure, wanting to suffer and feel pain, city exploration..... the list is extensive. The psychology of it is definitely something I'll explore a bit more. I'm not sure any of us really know the answer
Are we ever satisfied? Yes, but that feeling is finite and self actualisation is a never ending journey! Hence the reason why not many people just leave it at "one" marathon. It can become a serious addiction!
Coaching
From a coaching perspective, the plan that I put in place was demanding and quite intense, made harder obviously by the fact that we trained through winter. It was a high end plan but very flexible. There was never an issue with anyone missing a day here or there & I always encouraged the lads to listen to their bodies and slow down when needed. I was available every single day for questions or help with goals, and I made sure to respond ASAP to any messages. While the Manchester/Paris/Boston marathon groups were in full flow, I started a new 16 week block for the 5k/10k/cork half marathon/marathon groups. So it's been a brilliant but hectic time since mid February.
I'm constantly learning, every day in fact I learn something new about coaching and how to deal with different personalities and different situations. Flexibility and the realisation that life is fluid and people have different priorities is key to a successful relationship between coach and athlete. My approach has changed massively since I started. And I assume it'll continue to evolve as I learn more over the coming years.
TEAM IP Aims/Goals
My goal/mission, as a triathlon and running coach, from when I started in 2016, has always been to create a very harmonious group which supports people and encourages them to enjoy running, look forward to EVERY session, not be in anyway intimidated, and do it for the right reasons.
Having been aware of cliques developing in other clubs, I was determined that this should never happen in any of my running/tri groups. I have always encouraged everyone to concentrate on themselves and ignore everyone else. Everyone runs for different reasons. Some run to improve their PB's, some run for head space, some run socially, and some run to escape their demons.
I myself started running for that last reason there when I gave up GAA. Clonmel Og was my escape. When I retired from GAA I needed something to fill that void and that was triathlon and running.
The primary goals of Team IP tri/running groups are:
Being part of TEAM IP
We have absolutely no idea what goes on behind the scenes in somebody's life so never judge someone by what they do or don't do in a training plan. I try my best (and don't always succeed!) to live by the mantra of "If you've nothing good to say about someone, then say nothing at all" and I expect everyone in my groups to try their best regarding that too.
Turning Negativity into Positivity
I went for a cycle on an absolutely beautiful morning recently with a really good friend of mine. We started talking about how easy it is to be negative towards people. It requires much less energy than being positive and kind. A good example would be if you had a bad experience in a restaurant. You'll tell 9 or 10 people. But if you have a great experience, you'll only tell 1 or 2!! It's so so easy to just give out about something. We both realised that we are as guilty as anyone regarding this. But my friend said to me " At least we are aware of it and can do something about it"...Awareness of oneself, and the ability to turn negativity into positivity is an energy sapping process but it's very much worth it. It's a constant work in progress. Rather than begrudging someone of their success in sport, business or anything, try praising them and aspiring to be like them. I never feel good about myself when I b**ch about someone. It never works. I always end up feeling much worse. As I'll say later on, we don't need anyone to validate our own insecurities and vulnerabilities! If you catch yourself about to give out about someone or something, take a deep breath, give yourself 20 seconds to think, and then decide if its worth it! It very rarely is :)
Definition of an athlete
If someone walks, runs, cycles or plays any sport as a hobby, then they are an athlete, regardless of how "fast" or "slow" they are. Speed is all relative and the gear that each individual athlete decides to use/wear is their business, and their business only. If wearing certain gear motivates or encourages you to get out for runs or walks then just wear it!!! Let nobody affect what you wear or don't wear! Be proud of yourself!
It doesn't matter if you're running your first 5km or running your 50th marathon, you're a runner. It doesn't matter if it takes you 3 hours or 7 hours to do a marathon, you're a runner, and you should be so proud of yourself. Pb's and brilliant runs happen by default with consistent, clever training, but just make sure you run and train for the right reasons first and foremost.
Always looking for times or PB's in races can be mentally very detrimental, extremely stressful (for family members too!) and can cause people to end up hating running. Never forget why you took up running or triathlon in the first place.
My own Dad Pierce is now 82. He is still running (even after a recent Covid knockout!) He was the original marathon man in Clonmel and was/is easily recognisable as a beardy tall imposing figure with fantastic posture and very short shorts (It was the 80's after all) What a lot of people are unaware of actually is that he only started running in 1981 at the age of 41 (nearly 42). His very first race was the Dublin Marathon 1981 (9 months before I was born) . He did it with just a few weeks training, pottered around in over 4 hours(in his own words) and loved every second of it. Did he have a garmin? Did he have alphaflys? Did he have a coach? Did he have strava? Did he have nutrition advice? Did he have a strength and conditioning coach? No, no, no,no, no, and no. He did it for the love of it. And he still loves it. And he still has his rivals!! He has inspired 100's of runners all across the country and still continues to inspire. 35 marathons later, a PB of 3:24 at the age of 55, and a National Bronze medal for O65 for the half marathon in a time of 1:48:30, he continues to run every 2nd or 3rd day on the community track in Clerihan. Long may it continue.
My sister Ruth in Surrey only took up running last year with me as a remote client at the age of 54 and I think she secretly loves it (But won't admit it) My other sister Rachel is an excellent Ultrarunner and long distance triathlete in New Zealand (A different kind of mad) and my brother Andrew in Kilcock is currently preparing with me for Ironman 70.3 Cork while juggling a new principal job and 3 very active kids. My mam, Maureen joined my 5k running group in January 2020 at the sprightly age of 74 and it was brilliant to see her running for the first time ever!
My nearly 16 year old son Adam is mainly into GAA and the gym but he loves to do the parkruns and 5k races and it appears fairly effortless. I think there's a marathon in him in his 30's or 40's but, like me at that age, he is adamant he won't! Heidi is an extremely determined 2 year old runner!
My wife Aine took up running a month or so after we got together in 2011 and within 2 months she had completed her first ever 10k. She completed her first half marathon last year and (when she's not pregnant) seems to really enjoy the head space!
One of my best friends Mark Murray used to enjoy drinking the odd Coco-Mo rum and then decided to become one of the best and committed ultrarunners in Munster. Liam is another mountain goat who has discovered an untapped talent for road running too. Let's get that glute right for the next plan Liam!
It's in our blood to be active but I firmly believe it's in everyone's blood. It just depends on your mindset and your intrinsic motivation. Human beings are designed to move, not be sedentary. But you can only be motivated a certain amount extrinsically, most of it must come from within.
For everyone I have dealt with since I started up my physical therapy and coaching business, running or tri has become a massive part of their lives. It is "just" a hobby, but we have to remember that hobbies are SO important for mental/physical health and developing friendships.
Hobbies must be enjoyed and cherished. Running/triathlon is hard enough without feeling like you're being judged and criticised. Never let anyone make you feel you're not worthy of being an athlete. It doesn't matter who you are or where you come from....EVERYONE has the ability to be an athlete.
The pitfalls of Strava
Strava's Kudos culture can be motivating but it can also be very damaging to your progression as a runner/triathlete. If you feel like you are being judged by any particular person for any activity you are doing then please block that person. You owe that person absolutely nothing.
You DO NOT need to be validated by anyone except yourself! Your biggest rival should always be you. To see true progress, all you need to do is look at your stats when you started versus your stats now. I'm sure it will be exceedingly satisfying!
I wasted a lot of years focusing (unhealthily) on perceived rivalries with other athletes. It got me nowhere to be honest. I remember at stages being really p***ed off if I lost a KOM, or if a "rival" had a brilliant workout or race, or if I didn't get into a top 10 on a segment. I got all consumed with Strava and with Kudos'. Looking back now it was really detrimental and I was doing sessions for all the wrong reasons. All I look for these days is small gradual personal improvements and the chance to train with good friends whenever I get the chance. Hitting PB's and doing relatively well in races are just added bonus'. Train and race with a smile on your face (not a deliberate rhyme)
I truly believe it's a great idea to unfollow/mute people who are annoying you with posts/stories/workout uploads on all types of social media. If you are getting annoyed at what people are doing on Strava then it's definitely time to take a major step back and reassess why you are running/triathloning in the first place. To put it bluntly, it's nobody's job but the coach to give advice or to express concern to an athlete if they feel they're doing too much or doing the wrong workouts. In my experience, most people don't appreciate unsolicited advice from fellow athletes on how they are training and how they should be racing.
The nuclear (and often the best) option to take, (only if Strava is taking the enjoyment out of running/triathlon), is to completely remove yourself from it's platform. (I have recently done this for most of my workouts and it's been a revelation for my mental health) You'll rediscover your love for running/tri very quickly again, you'll exercise for the right reasons, and won't be one bit worried about what other people think of you. Surround yourself with positive, like-minded people and where possible, remove the negative influences from your life. Give people real life Kudos' or fist bumps instead...it feels way better!
Choices
There's an abundance of quality coaches and complementary fitness and nutrition services in Clonmel and Ireland at the moment.
Clonmel appears to be experiencing a boom again in elite runners and very experienced coaches. The amount of info online and offline re all things running/triathlon is incredible. There's just so many options from free generic downloadable plans to "platinum" 1-2-1 training plans to group and remote coaching locally, nationally, and internationally. Training peaks and final surge have really opened up so many choices for athletes and if you look hard enough you will find the right choice for you.
Change is sometimes well needed. A different approach to training can be really motivating and can be exactly whats needed to spur you on.
Every coach or group has something new to offer but the key word is consistency. If you train regularly and sensibly you will become a better athlete. It's that simple! Company is key to progression and you'll make unbelievable progress if you're regularly meeting a group of similar ability athletes and following a dedicated plan....The synergy effect....2+2=5!
Prerequisites of joining my running or triathlon groups
Everyone who decides to join/rejoin Team IP must:
Coaching Prices/Packages/Sponsorship
My coaching packages are available to purchase online here on my site https://www.ianpurcellcoaching.com/
Bank transfer or SumUp card payment is also available.
For the record and for the sake of transparency, my prices (inclusive of 23% VAT) are:
18 week group running plan: €265
18 week remote running plan: €225
18 week group premium package plan: €360
9 week group running plan: €150
9 week remote running plan: €125
There are other options available too and if there's any confusion or if you'd like to tailor a package, please ring me on 0861942588
Spaces are very limited for the Dublin Marathon and summer running plans this year so please contact me ASAP if interested and we'll have a quick chat to see if my plans/approach would suit you.
Typically all plans will look like this :
Monday: Active recovery
Tuesday: Tempo Run
Wednesday: Active Recovery and Core Strength
Thursday: Lactate Threshold Intervals
Friday: Day off
Saturday: Long Run
Sunday: Active Recovery
For anyone joining the group for the summer running plans we'll be meeting at least 2 times per week (mostly 3 times per week), usually on a Tuesday morning at 6:15am for a tempo run (this can also be done at 6pm that evening), the official Thursday evening coached session @ approx 7 or 7:30pm for a Lactate Threshold interval session (we'll be on the Blueway, the bypass, the track (and the new IAAF track from Oct 1st!), the Comeragh trails, and hopefully Powerstown park TBC), and Saturday morning 7am/7:45am for our long run (usually from either Fetch Coffee, No Filter, or Paddys well)
For anyone doing the plan remotely I will be telling you what kind of terrain you should be training on for each session.
EVERYONE, both remote and group is welcome to the Tuesday tempo and Saturday long run. Company is key!
There'll be plans designed and catered for absolutely every level, from complete beginner to elite at every distance.
For the next running and triathlon block, I've partnered up with the following 7 different sponsors. Thanks to the sponsorship on offer, ALL those who are currently part of my running/tri groups will be eligible for reductions in the price of Verge trisuits/running singlets/running short sleeve tops (only eligible on first order which will be sent out on Friday 13th May), as well as exclusive deals and promotions with these amazing Sponsors (New Discount/booking codes (where applicable) will be sent out @ the start of plan):
Bring on the Cork Half and full marathon and the 5k/10k challenges on the June Bank Holiday weekend, and of course the IM 70.3 Cork!! (Really looking forward to that night out, I might even have a shandy or two)
We'll take a couple of weeks off (to celebrate a few 40ths...) and then we'll hit the ground running for the summer and Dublin City Marathon running plans on Monday 27th June.
I cant wait!
I'm also back working nearly full time in my Physical Therapy studio again so book in online or give me a shout if you need a treatment or consultation.
Congrats again to everyone who's progressed brilliantly over the last 2 years of Covid isolation and the very best of luck to ye all in the future.
Here's to the return of normality...
Over n out,
Ian