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The Continuing Adventures of Catweazle

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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,830 ✭✭✭catweazle


    Macanri wrote: »
    Classic.

    A good stint of training their CW.
    Re the 3hr bike or run, I would be inclined to agree that the bike would be easier to recover from - assuming similar effort used for both.

    Cheers Macanri I think the change of scenery is great for the mind too - note i have no intention of doing a 3 hour run before Swinford just using it as a contrast to the three hour bike


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,454 ✭✭✭hf4z6sqo7vjngi


    A busy few days CW, i would certainly find a 3hr bike less taxing on the legs than the run.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,830 ✭✭✭catweazle


    Wednesday Lunch: I wanted to start increasing the pace of a few sessions this week and put some stress on me before the taper next week. So after a few days of strolling through forests admiring the scenery today was back to the grind and a fast tempo session. The plan was a 4.40 pace for just under 7.5k around the local route but I was feeling good so pushed it a bit harder. The HR monitor only kicked into life near the end so the stats were wrong but I finished thinking I could put in a decent pb on my current 10k pb of 45.01. 7.5k at 4.27 pace

    Wednesday Evening:
    The plan was to work hard on the bike this week so tonights session was a cruise interval session on the turbo (weather too bad again for outside :o). HR was kept in the 130/140 range for the hour so I found it tough. AHR = 127

    Thursday AM: Its been a long time since I was in the pool, so I picked one of Interested's Kick board and speed session. Main set was 8 x 100 off 2.05. I found this tough - probably too much easy open water swimming sessions recently. Came in between 1.45 - 1.50 on them. No time for the warm down 1800m

    Thursday Evening: I wanted to do a brick session tonight but the weather was atrocious so another session on the turbo. 90 minutes endurance session keeping the HR between sets of 128, 133 and 136 HR. Sweat was really pouring of me as you couldnt open the windows with the rain

    Friday Evening: Having not been able to get in a run at lunch, I did a small brick session this evening. 40 minutes on the bike at planned HIM HR rate of 120 ish and then a small 5k brick. No brick at all off the bike so maybe a mix of the benefit of doing a good few brick runs recently and probably more I didn't really push it on the bike. The Garmin was set for indoors so it didnt pick up the gps on the run but i would know the 5k marker anyways. Kept HR in the low 140s rate throughout and was pleased seeing 23.30 for the 5k, this felt very comfortable AHR = 141

    Plan for the weekend is long swim and run tomorrow, I was tempted to do the Salthill Aquathon of 1.9/10k tomorrow but I think I would be better served getting the long run instead in. Hoping for the long bike and short brick then on sunday and I am going to see if I can find some type of HIM Hr for the bike for a three hour ride. I just had a brief look there at last years HR in the bike and it was over 140 for the 90k :eek: Where did that come out of. I am struggling to get it to that heart rate at the Sprint and Olympics this year :o


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,830 ✭✭✭catweazle


    Cant find my Garmin USB Key so will put in stats before I forget

    Saturday AM:
    With a cracking day I was very tempted to head down to the Aquathon in Salthill but I decided to do the next best thing and base the training around it. Headed to Annaghdown Pier where it was as smooth as a snooker table. Out to the rock and back 4 times (just over 500m)
    9.12
    9.50
    9.45
    9.40
    The first lap was too spicy so slowed it down after that one but was very comfortable throughout. I will have to be careful in Swinford, I did 38.50 last year pushing hard and I think I could come well under that this year. Need to take it easy though, killing myself for a couple of minutes in the water will bite me in the arse later that day. 2000m

    Off to Salthill to watch the aquathon and get in a few laps of the prom while I was watching it. A good number of entrants and a cracking day for it. It was 30 minutes late starting which killed me timewise for my run but it was great to see the top guys starting out. Did a complicated few laps with a stop to see the leading swimmers coming in. 18k at around 5.20 pace. For the first time I wore the Zoots for a long run and after about 15k I started feeling tight in the back of the ankles and the last 3k were a little bit uncomfortable. While they are a fast shoe I dont think they will be the shoes for Swinford - I will get some lock laces for the Sauconys! The heart rate was in the high 130's low 140's for most of it

    Sunday AM: Not as nice a day but dry. I wanted to get in a long bike ride with a short brick off it. The route was Home-Moycullen-Spiddal-Oranmore-Home. Around 88k - I remember hitting 80k in 3 hours. I was happy enough with this - I got held up in Barna for a funeral and going through town was a disaster as well. Its not worth the hassle for the bit of people watching you get up to. I didnt quiet get the AHR up in the 120's for the entire trip so I think 120's on the day in good conditions will have me in around 3 hours which is what I am targeting for Swinford.

    Straight off for the run - The loose run plan at the moment is to set out at sub 5.30 pace for the 1/2 marathon and if I am holding ok I will try and pick it up. I am terrified of another slog like last year so I am going to be cautious. A bit of jellylegs but wasn't too bad, 1k beep went off, 5.01 - christ i felt like I was crawling. Slowed it down and 2k beep was 5.02, a nice complaint for a change, HR was low 130's. I began to feel a little bit tired around the 4k mark and the HR climbed into the 140's (I am too tight to be taking gels on training runs around the house). Slowed down between 4-6ks (5.20's) and then the heart rate dropped down again into the 130s so I picked up the pace again to low 5 minute ks. 8k total. Food for thought anyways for me!

    Monday Evening: A friend called for lunch so just went for a easy 8k around the local loop at 5.30 pace, HR was in the 120's for most of it but legs were tired


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,830 ✭✭✭catweazle


    Tuesday Lunch: With me down to Tipperary for the evening, I took advantage and went for a 1500m OW swim in Loughrea. Pancake flat which is unlike Loughrea and a great crowd around with the good weather. I felt like a bit of a gob****e striding down the pier with the wetsuit on with all the locals swimming away, but I enjoyed the swim anyways. 1500m straight.

    Wednesday Lunch: Went for a tempo run, I went out at 4.30 pace but was struggling a bit in the heat so ended up at around 4.46 pace for the run 8K

    Wednesday Evening: Out for a quick bike - managed to hold 30kph for a change although I really had to gun it in the tailwind back to get it. 20k

    Thursday Lunch: Recovery run, nice and easy 5.40 pace 8k

    Thursday Evening:
    I finally bit the bullet and am now the proud owner of a Giro TT helmet :o. The strap on my existing helmet is always playing up and its a little tight, so I have been keeping my eye out for one and picked one up on adverts for €50 euro. This one is also a little tight but the extra cm it has on the other one makes it a bit more comfortable. Took it out for a quick 13k and the only noticeable difference so far is its a lot quieter. O Dowd and Marrey and the other uber bikers at Swinford will have a nice giggle at the lad in the TT helmet cutting through the wind at 25kph :D But if it saves me a few seconds over the 90k I can live with that.

    The taper has now officially started - I am going to slip in one more long bike on saturday. Theres a barbecue that night in the friends so that will be a heavy one (good timing for me I suppose) and I will have a slow trot of a long run on sunday of maybe 12ish k depending on the head


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 94 ✭✭hammerheadjack


    Sounds like the training is going well for you CW. just back from holidays myself, managed a few nice cycles there, but not much else. Had my first long run this year yesterday, and now a little concerned:-) whats the humbert run like? hilly or flat.. If i pass you on the bike there is every possibility you will sail past me on the run as I console myself with jaffa cakes and coke while walking the last 5K. Btw also came across a pointy headpiece :-) never thought id do it. We'll have to get a photo taken of the 2 of us.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,830 ✭✭✭catweazle


    Btw also came across a pointy headpiece :-) never thought id do it. We'll have to get a photo taken of the 2 of us.

    Its a bit like the Sunday Independent, you will never admit to buying it but you might come across it in a dentists waiting room or a copy left in a cafe ;). You will do yours justice though - you will enjoy that cycle route up there beside the Windy Gap its flat and fast. Mine is a bit tight the ear was killing me today out on it but after a bit of adjustment it was ok so I will take my time getting it on right in transition. Your missus told me you were eying up Mount Etna, they mentioned Contadors attack on Mount Etna on TV last night and I thought of you :D

    We will see - a slow 66k on the bike today and I was in no state for a run after. I reckon you will put at least 20-25 minutes into me on the bike so you would need to bonk altogether on the run.

    The run is flat, there's a sharp hill about a k from transition but after that nothing to talk about


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,830 ✭✭✭catweazle


    Nothing done on friday - I had planned a swim but the weather was crap so didn't bother.

    Saturday AM: A 66k bike through Oranmore-Craughwell-Monivea. This started off well, first hour came in at just over 36kph. I was singing the praises of the new TT helmet even though it was killing my ear. I had a few glances at the HR and I was in the 140's for most of it - even though with the tailwind I didn't feel under too much pressure. I had overdressed perhaps and I was sweltering in a rain jacket. I got to Craughwell and the HR was into the 150's now so I reined it in. The route was nice as the road home was semi protected so I didn't suffer the full effects of the headwind. Back started to get at me near the end and I was suffering, I didnt bother taking any gels at that stage as I was only 10ks away from home. My right Aero bar gave away during the week while cycling and to get it to hold I had to move it down the bar so I am wondering did that contribute. Its a moot point now anyways, it wont hold where it used to be so I will have to live with it. Already planning for next year I complained mercilessly to Mrs C about my bike beginning to fall apart......I will get a TT bike yet ;)

    Sunday Afternoon: 13k lsr - Glad I went out, watching the golf with a nasty hangover, I had almost talked myself out if it. But decided when Clarke drove off that I could be back well before its over. Started out at 4.55 pace for the first three started to feel crap and slowed out to 5.20 for a few and then started to feel better again, held at 5.15 and then brought it down to 5 for the last 3k. Enjoyed it eventually!

    Need to get out swimming tomorrow, haven't been out since tuesday!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,437 ✭✭✭Izoard


    Hey CW,
    Best of luck with the race on Sun - given my "home" focus next year, this one is definitely on the radar...looking forward to the report!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,184 ✭✭✭El Director


    Izoard wrote: »
    Hey CW,
    Best of luck with the race on Sun - given my "home" focus next year, this one is definitely on the radar...looking forward to the report!

    +1 to that CW, really really looking forward to the report, I remember last years and enjoyed reading it. I hope ye get decent conditions for it so you can compare with last year. Good luck dude.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,830 ✭✭✭catweazle


    I am tired and irritable and feeling sorry for myself. Two big fat coldsores duly arrived on tuesday and I am panicing that I must be run down! Weight is nearly back up to 80 kilos from 77 in little more than a few days and I am silently cursing Mrs C for filling the house with chocolate and muffins. 3 of her friends are staying here till friday and then I have to do a barbecue for her uncles that night..........does she not know I have an A race this sunday!!!!!

    Ah now I remember why I don't like tapering, I have too much time on my hands :D

    Monday Lunch: A very easy 5k, down to the bridge at the end of the lane and back, around 6.00 minute pace

    Monday Evening: Having been nearly a week since I last swam I was desperate to dip the feet tonight, windy day so went to the pool. After a slow groaning warm up I began to feel a little better. Main set was 8 x 100 off 2.15 which got easier as I went along, all in low 1.50s and then I decided to shake things up a bit and do a 400m straight aiming to get in around 8 minutes. Was feeling strong around the 10th length so pushed the last 6 to come in at 7.25. Total 2000m

    Tuesday Lunch: An easy cycle with Gibbo, who slyly stuck in a 6 x 30 sprint session at the end. After following along exhausted behind him, I gave the last one a good rattle and even drew ahead of him only to run out of steam and off he went but I gave him a fright! 28k

    Wednesday Lunch:
    With me working in Limerick tonight I went for a quick run, I was going to do one k hard one easy but after the 1st 1k hard, I shut up shop and trotted around. I will save the hard stuff for the weekend. 8k at 5.17 pace.

    Very little more planned, will do another OW swim either tomorrow or friday depending on weather, one more bike and one more run all at a snails pace


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,957 ✭✭✭interested


    always an entertaining read but on taper week - unmissable ;)
    Take it handy over the week - think about the volume and sessions you've done and what you can control before and during the race. Keep it handy all week - employ ear plugs and head to bed a little earlier and leave the girls at it and go out and enjoy the race at the weekend. After going through what you did last year, and trying to pack for a holiday at the same time, this year SHOULD be a different story and see you finish strong - and dont be afraid to push the pace a little early on during the swim - you're well able to up your game across the board but do it with control

    Enjoy - the BBQ and the race eh ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,377 ✭✭✭pgibbo


    You might have given me a fright but more importantly it shows that if you were to structure your bike sessions a bit more you'd knock spots off your current cycle times.

    No sleep walking now while all those ladies are staying over! :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,034 ✭✭✭griffin100


    Where can I get live updates of the Catweazle v Pgibbo bitchslap fest thats on the cards for Sunday:D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,957 ✭✭✭interested


    griffin100 wrote: »
    Where can I get live updates of the Catweazle v Pgibbo bitchslap fest thats on the cards for Sunday:D

    +1, it'll be epic


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,793 ✭✭✭Macanri


    All the best for Swinford on Sunday CW. Nail it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,377 ✭✭✭pgibbo


    griffin100 wrote: »
    Where can I get live updates of the Catweazle v Pgibbo bitchslap fest thats on the cards for Sunday:D

    It looks like Kilkee will be our only head to head this year unless CW steps up and submits to peer pressure and does Barcelona too. :D I'm not doing Swinford this weekend.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,830 ✭✭✭catweazle


    griffin100 wrote: »
    Where can I get live updates of the Catweazle v Pgibbo bitchslap fest thats on the cards for Sunday:D

    Unless we could get rid of the inconvenience of a bike and run and leave it at a swim which would be close, I dont think watching gibbo humiliate me would be much of a spectacle!

    My sleep walking is legendary gibbo I have some horrendous stories, even though we have another free room the girls are packed into the one room - safety in numbers I reckon although they are safe enough this week it only happens when I am on the beer


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭RedB


    Best of luck CW. Give it a decent lash in Swinford this time :)

    Next time you're heading to Limerick bring your gear. Our nice 50m pool in UL would be worth a session if you got a chance


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,087 ✭✭✭nomadic


    Good luck tomorrow!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,830 ✭✭✭catweazle


    This taper hasn't been the best for the confidence. I have been feeling run down all week and MrsC put the cap on it this morning by commenting I look like sh1t. She lived to regret that loose comment as she was interrogated by a panicing Catweazle, in what way, is it my eyes, the coldsores not clearing up, am I pale looking, whats wrong with me?. So the planned short bike ride today has been binned and I am resting up knocking back Vitamin C tablets and watching Le Tour.

    I am trying not to panic, my two tapers before my A races last year I was absolutely frothing at the mouth to get going and I still crashed and burned in both of them so we will see what happens tomorrow.

    Plan for tomorrow all going well is

    Swim: I think I am capable of a good swim, I was 38.50 last year which was my best swim of the year pace wise but I think I am well capable of getting in at under 2 minute pace for 100 metres. Going to go out easy like last year and Kilkee this year but maybe a little faster as I don't want to hammer it on the way back from the Island this year. All going well a low 37 minute swim or high 36 minute is the plan.

    Cycle: As ever the crucial area of my race. I have done almost 3 times the milage leading up to this year than last for this race but have not seen much improvement in my times up to this. Definitely guilty of junk miles which I will address for next year. Given similar conditions as last year I should be capable of at least matching last years 3.05 pace but I will gladly take around the same time as this as long as I have running legs this year. Going to take it easy until after the Windy Gap which comes around 20-25k into it. After that there are no more hills and its fast so plan is to push it a bit harder at this stage. Last year I went hard from the start so hopefully some copious feeding and hydration early in the race will do me good later.

    Run: In a perfect world I will get off the bike and come out of transition needing a 1.50 run to get in under 5.30 hours. I am well capable of running at that pace but it all depends on how the bike has effected me. I hobbled to a 2.26 last year so I am under no illusions about how difficult a time this will be for me but at least I will have given myself the chance. I am going to go with how I feel though, theres a nasty hill right at the start of the route which will tell me all I need to know no doubt

    Target goals: Sub 5.30 is the target, set from the start of the log and I will be going for it, I do these for enjoyment though so while I will give my best I wont be losing much sleep if I don't get there. I will however be disappointed if I don't get under 6 hours. Its looking like it is going to be hot day tomorrow - but the forecasts have some rain in the west :).


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,076 ✭✭✭Rawhead


    Did the sprint today. The lake was like a mill pond and the weather was perfect if a touch warm. Brian, Padraic and the lads ran a great show today. Best of luck tomorrow buddy and give it socks, I'll be joining you for the half next year.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,034 ✭✭✭griffin100


    Best of luck CW. Looking forward to the race report.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,454 ✭✭✭hf4z6sqo7vjngi


    Good luck for tomorrow CW, have a good race.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,241 ✭✭✭ronanmac


    Best of luck today, catweazle, we'll have candles lit for you in Connemara!
    Fair play on the pre-race analysis, it'll be interesting to see how things turn out. Looking back on last year, I can't get over how strong your swim was on your first year out. The run should be much more comfortable this year after all the bike mileage done.
    Good luck!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,830 ✭✭✭catweazle


    No sub 5.30 but I am not complaining, took 40 minutes off last years time and sprinted the last 3k home so it was a different world to last years race for me, i am happy with that I gave it everything!

    Swim=35.40
    Cycle=2.59.26
    Run=1.57.23
    Total = 5.37.52

    Might leave the report till I am poolside in Portugal - as have no doubt it will be a long one.

    Fantastic day out in Swinford - the race was superb again!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,377 ✭✭✭pgibbo


    Serious improvement there CW. Well done! :cool: Enjoy the week in Portugal


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,957 ✭✭✭interested


    +1, great stuff

    especially liked the "sprinted the last 3k home" - always a good way to finish.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,832 ✭✭✭littlebug


    Well done Catweazle, sounds like you had a great race. Look forward to the report.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 94 ✭✭hammerheadjack


    catweazle wrote: »
    No sub 5.30 but I am not complaining, took 40 minutes off last years time and sprinted the last 3k home so it was a different world to last years race for me, i am happy with that I gave it everything!

    Swim=35.40
    Cycle=2.59.26
    Run=1.57.23
    Total = 5.37.52

    Might leave the report till I am poolside in Portugal - as have no doubt it will be a long one.

    Fantastic day out in Swinford - the race was superb again!



    Fair play CW. You improved your times and thats what counts. Having failed miserably on that run myself yesterday, I reckon you deserve respect from all fellow mid packers for that time, in that heat, on those endless drags. While you are away, will you do up a plan for what i need to do to improve my run for Galway. One that involves my wife giving me a few lashes of a big stick to get me out for a few long runs might work best i guess.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,377 ✭✭✭pgibbo


    Fair play CW. You improved your times and thats what counts. Having failed miserably on that run myself yesterday, I reckon you deserve respect from all fellow mid packers for that time, in that heat, on those endless drags. While you are away, will you do up a plan for what i need to do to improve my run for Galway. One that involves my wife giving me a few lashes of a big stick to get me out for a few long runs might work best i guess.

    You should have done a few long runs with FB dude! ;) Well done at the weekend. I know your run was a disaster but you knew that was going to be the case beforehand though. Nice swim and bike though. That kick in the a$$ should see you sorted for September! :cool:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 94 ✭✭hammerheadjack


    pgibbo wrote: »
    Fair play CW. You improved your times and thats what counts. Having failed miserably on that run myself yesterday, I reckon you deserve respect from all fellow mid packers for that time, in that heat, on those endless drags. While you are away, will you do up a plan for what i need to do to improve my run for Galway. One that involves my wife giving me a few lashes of a big stick to get me out for a few long runs might work best i guess.

    You should have done a few long runs with FB dude! ;) Well done at the weekend. I know your run was a disaster but you knew that was going to be the case beforehand though. Nice swim and bike though. That kick in the a$$ should see you sorted for September! :cool:


    That was the plan P. Going to up the running now.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,830 ✭✭✭catweazle


    While you are away, will you do up a plan for what i need to do to improve my run for Galway.

    Nice and easy - get out and run 2+ hours each weekend and you will be fine, no need for any speed work you are fast enough as it is.

    Great time all the same for you for a training race and just back from a holiday - is that a pb.

    You would swear you were doing nothing from all the giving out you are doing - easily your best year so far - you are flying :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,241 ✭✭✭ronanmac


    Fair play, catweazle, a big improvement on 2010. Impressive swim time. Looking forward to the analysis!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,830 ✭✭✭catweazle


    After a decent nights sleep, I woke up feeling fairly decent. Due to some good negotiating from the club members I didnt have to stay the night before in Mayo and could register early in the morning. Had my porridge and bananas, 2 cups of coffee and off I went. I had the HRM on in the car on the way up and I was a bit nervous with the readings, high 60's low 70's on the drive, usually in the 50s for me. I put it to one mind and blamed the coffee and nerves for the high heartrate. The first feel good signs was when i stuck on the iphone and played a few songs on the way up, I started to feel the emotion at this stage - I have had these songs during training all year and they were getting me well whipped up in the car. Taper blues over I was ready to get going.

    Pulled in around 7.45 and the club mate Hammerheadjack was beside me in the next car, chatting to him and his missus and then went down with the gear and bike to register. I couldnt remember did I pump the tyres by the car, I had the pump out at the time.....they felt fine so i left it. Had a look around, recognised a good few lads. Most of the big local names had turned up again this year, Geraghty, Marrey and O Dowd were all here again and Donal Mahon another elite was beside me in transition, I was pleased for Swinford to see some more decent guys around as well, word had spread from last year no doubt.

    Had a chat with Abhainn beforehand and then got ready, I was very much worried about nutrition this year so I had 4 or 5 gels stuffed into the saddle bag and I had three Nutrigrain for the back of the tri suit. At the race brief as usual I spent more time socialising than listening and I said hello to Marrey who wasnt feeling the love for the day as he has been struggling with injury I said hello to Mayoroadrunner who is one of the organisers but would be racing as well.

    Anyways race briefing over and off we went to the lake.

    I had one main objective today - if today went bad that would be the third long Distance A race that I blew up on. I was going to consider sticking to Olympic distance next year if that was the case, maybe I was not cracked up for the longer distances. So my main goal today was to get around this race in good shape.

    The Swim:
    Like last year the lake was as flat as a snooker table, its a sheltered lake with steep sides all round which must offer a great view of the race. I had decided to wear the dodgy Zogg Phantom Elites ahead of the Enduras, they have a tendency to leak but offer great visibility, I didnt think it would be as bad to have leaky goggles in freshwater. Of course they leaked, tried to readjust them but if they dont work first time they tend to not work at all. The horn went and off we go, I felt tired going out to the first marker, I was a little bit stressed about the leaking and my arms seemed heavy. Once we got around the first marker I saw a red Xterra wet suit and I assumed it was my club mate, balls....either he is flying it or I need to pick it up a bit. I decided to catch his feet and was behind him for a good while. The swim started feeling easier, I had adapted to the leaky goggles and I was beginning to enjoy it, the xterra suit in front started to go off course and I was sighting well so I let him off. I then was slightly behind a girl but from the side, I had remembered reading some post from Tunny that this was the best place to draft so i stayed there for another while. The mind wanders......why dont I do bilateral breathing any more, as soon as the training sessions from Interested called for faster time splits the bilateral went out the window and I have just got used to breathing to the right now, its not doing my times any harm anyways. Out and around the island now and we are heading for home, I am feeling great and trying to keep it controlled rather than starting to cane it.....its a long day ahead. The xterra suit comes up alongside me again but this time I see the guy has a goatee, ok Hammerhead is at least not getting a free draft off me. Up to the shore and I see 35.18 on the clock...........nice one! I go through into transition in 35.40, three minutes better than last year and I am the first of the club mates out. 3 more of the club mates come into transition while I am there.

    Swim 2011 = 35.40 (48/138)
    Swim 2010 = 38.50 (54/101)


    Looking at the results after, like Kilkee the swim was my best split :)

    Transition 1
    A slow transition, I had so many nutrigrains and gels I didnt want to put them on under the wetsuit so stuffed them into the trisuit, put on some socks and grabbed another 2 gels. Coming out of transition I saw one of the girls from my old gym coming out just ahead of me. This sport is an awful leveller - this time last year I dont think she knew how to swim and now I realised that this was the girl I was drafting off - some achievement in a year!

    The Bike:
    My major worry all year. Mayoroadrunner said conditions were the exact same as last year so I had figured the tailwind would be on the long streches of the motorway like last year. Straight off on the bike I saw where I went wrong last year - my HR rate was in the 150's so this time I was going to get that HR down before I did anything else. My plan was to race to heartrate on the bike - I was going to keep it in the 120's all the way around and see what happens, based on previous efforts I reckoned I wouldnt be far off 3 hours with that plan and I would have some running legs. The Windy Gap and the first water stop was at 26k and the plan was to have one of the water bottles finished by then. Last year I had just water in my bottles this year I had an Orange concentrate/water/salt mix in the bottles. First impressions was this was ridiculusly easy - I was holding 32kph after 15 kilometres with the HR in the 120's, this was supposed to be the slowest section of the cycle. One of the club mates caught up to me here so I had a nice chat with him as we were moving along - he moved ahead then and I let him off, I wanted to take it easy till after the gap. Discipline was going well had my first nutrigrain at the 10k and was sipping the drink regularly, 1st gel at 20k. There is a small hill just before the Gap and this catches a lot of people out by going too quick up that and then turning into the Gap which is short at just over a k but its as steep a hill as I have come across cycling so far. Last year there was me and just a mountain biker at this stage but it was busy this time 6 or 7 bikers around me, saw a guy walking up it and trying to get back on and clip in, I felt sorry for him he kept falling off, no chance with this gradient of getting forward momentum he would have to walk it. The club mate was taking it on criss crossing the road, I went down to the granny ring and kept it on the saddle, HR rocketing up into the 160s but I was getting up it comfortably enough. Got to the top and I see the race photographer got a couple of nice shots of the two of us smiling in relief. Rolling hills for the next 10k but it is mainly downhill and fast which suits me so I pushed on from the clubmate, turned in Castlebar to head back out towards Swinford. This should have been fast but its wasn't - we had a slight headwind but in fairness it was a calm day so there wasn't much in it either way.

    This was when the Garmin went on me.......too much data please delete history kept coming up on screen and a constant vibration. I tried to fix it while moving but I couldn't get the info off the screen to see what I was doing, it had crashed. I had to turn it off, so 2.06 minutes for 63k and off it went. I was fuming....why didn't i look harder around the house for the USB key. Flying blind now - I started it up again and just decided to run on the HR, keep it at 120's as planned and don't bother trying to delete data until I got to transition.

    It was beginning to get harder - not so much on effort or legs but the back started to act up and the balls were killing me. A lad from Ennis pulled up alongside and we had a brief chat - he was worried he had gone to hard on the bike - he was hoping for a 1.35 on the run and he didn't know if it was on now. He went on in front but he was coming back to me on the downhills and going away from me on the drags.

    Nutrition was going well, coming into transition I had three nutrigrains and 5 gels down me washed down with three waterbottles. I had no clue what my bike time was with no garmin

    2010 Bike Time 3.05.30 (69/101)
    2011 Bike Time 2.59.26 (73/138)


    Transition 2
    No idea of the time leaving transition but I asked a guy what was the time on the way out and he said 12.45, sh1t that meant i had to get a sub 1.45 to get in under 5.30 if the race started on time, a 1/2 marathon pb....no chance. So with banana and waterbottle in hand off I went

    The Run:
    I had another plan here - I wanted to keep my pace to low 140's HR for as long as I could, this I guessed would be around 5.30k pace, I couldn't face walking again this year so I wanted to get through this in one piece. Shortly into this I realised I needed a pee, I should never have read all those Ironman logs, lets do it on the run I decided. Hmmmmm no-one behind me and just two women sitting on a wall a mile ahead, go for it, my first thought was well I am certainly not dehyrated anyways, my second thought was I am coming up awful close to those women and no sign of it stopping, my third thought was what am I going to do here. So while the women are telling me well done and keep it going, I am cunningly pretending to pour water over my head while missing on purpose and pouring it over the groin, legs and feet area.

    On I went and the Ennis lad overtook me and a few relay runners, the first hill on this is a ballbuster and I was really struggling now, I walked up this last year but I was determined not to this year. The Garmin goes off and the 1st K is 5.06, this makes me feel much happier....too fast, last year I was 6.45 up this, I can slow down a bit. I was going to wait till the aid station at 4k but i knock back my first gel now, when feeling good - eat. A lad goes by me, I saw him go by me a few times on the bike, a big guy and I was surprised at his pace. He starts to steady and I am behind him for a while until I draw alongside - a nice fella and then I move on. An aid station worker is counting out the positions, I was 72nd, I wasn't happy when I heard this, I began to question my bike time, was it slower than last year, I thought I would be higher then this. I started to get some nasty stomach cramps then around the 3k mark, I will ignore them and they will go away hopefully. Hitting low 140 HR still and 5.30 pace, feeling on the verge but ok, I take another gel with my water at 4k, might as well take them while I can I think to myself. 7k there was another hill here and I remember this is where I started to come apart last year - i am ok and I get a mental lift here going over that hill. The stomach cramps are killing me now, the landscape was breaking my heart all high bushes and straight road, nowhere to go for a number 1. I start to slow down 5.45/5.50 for a few k- i feel ok but I need to crap asap, no way was I trying another one on the go.

    10k I finally find a small path off the road, I run down and drop the pants and then I realise I am at the front of a garden and there is a full scale barbecue going on just behind a few bushes. I try and keep quite a difficult task after 8 or 9 gels down me but I get the job done and tip toe out. A good few people had gone by me. I instantly feel better, the 10k buzzer goes off 8.48. :mad: Time to pick up the pace, I allow myself go into the high 140's, 11k 5.06 / 12k 5.04. I begin to hit the 150s HR, I ease off to bring it back into the high 140s, too early yet to start going into the red, I take another gel 13k/14k done in low 5.20's. I am now at 15k and finally I am seeing some blow outs on the long straights ahead. I decide its time to have a go, 6k left and I feel ok. I down another gel and start increasing the HR back into the 150s, 15k wasnt a great pace if I remember 5.17 I think. Lets forget about the HR altogether, a guy with an athletics top comes alongside me - we are on a long straight with loads of runners dotting the distance he gives encoragment, we are strong lets do some damage he says. Off we went 16k/ 4.55, 17k / 4.50, passing a few here but the pace starts to kill me and I let him off ahead. After just drinking water throughout the race I grab a coke and an Isotonic drink at 18k and down my last gel. I start to feel good again 18k 5.02. 19k I am steaming along now - the athletics guy had slowed and was running alongside the Ennis club racer who was dying, I had them in my sights, the 19k alert goes off on my garmin 4.42. As I was coming along beside them I contemplated running in with them, but they started roaring me on so i felt I better keep going. The next guy ahead was a good distance away but he was walking and he had a Tri Lakes trisuit on......oh you better believe I was gunning for him 20k - 4.22 pace. Last k I wasnt going to catch him he had started to run again but I said after what I went through last year I am going to keep this strong, 21k 4.14 pace. Beginning to buckle now - wheres the bloody finish line, I asked a spectator and he said about another 400 metres - ok keep it going I came around the corner and I saw the finish gantry, lets keep it rolling and I held the pace coming up to the line until the PA announces lets give a big cheer to "Catweazle" from Tuam....TUAM.....TUAM..... I laughed to myself, first time I ever thought of myself from Tuam but I suppose I better start getting used to it.

    Over the line in 5.37.52 and a big hug from Mrs C, happy with that.

    2010 Run: 2.26.07 (81/102)
    2011 Run: 1.57.23 (63/138)


    Overall
    2010: 6.17.21 (78/102)
    2011: 5.37.52 (61/138)



    More important than getting the sub 5.30 was a feeling that I can survive these distances without calving like I have previously done. So it was a super mental boost to be sprinting home this year. Looking back on it now I learnt so much from last years nightmare, I had some type ofheartrate plan this year to try and keep things in check and I really focused on getting nutrition into me this year. The High5 gels of last year didnt seem to have the same beneficial effect as the SIS gels this year

    As always with me I am never totally happy - I think a sub 5.30 may well have been on with a little more bravery on the bike and run but again I hope I will learn from this again and have a better idea of what I can hold for the next time.

    No real plans for the rest of the year yet I may well try a couple of long runs and see how I then feel about knocking that 4.1x marathon down, I am disgusted with that time and i hate people asking me about it but I don't know if I have the motivation for all the long runs.

    2012 Plans
    I would usually time the following years race negotiations over the holidays with a couple of bottles of wine with Mrs C who is usually much more pliable with alcohol down. However she is five months pregnant so getting her tipsy isn't an option this year. I am now seriously considering going longer next year, I feel I can justify it to myself more than this year

    The club are talking about a Challenge Barcelona outing, with Mrs C due in December I was thinking the earlier the better if I was going to do one and Roth was what I was looking at, but she mentioned last night due to timing and a good public service job she will be getting 10.5 months maternity :D No wonder the country is shagged but that gives me more options and it also allows me to do Swinford again next year - the best race on the triathlon calendar if you ask me and i will be looking for a 5.14.59 finish next year ;)


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,076 ✭✭✭Rawhead


    I did my first sprint in Swinford this year and that post has given me the final push to do the half iron next year. Great report and I will be with you at the start line next year....

    Enjoy the holidays.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,087 ✭✭✭nomadic


    Nice work, great stuff finishing so strong.

    Disappointed I missed it now, great to see increased numbers this year for a brilliant race.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,241 ✭✭✭ronanmac


    Fair play, Catweazle, great report. I had to laugh reading the bit about going for a crap!
    Good detail, I'll have to get onto you again for half IM race tips.
    PS I always suspected there was a bit of the Tuam about you :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,793 ✭✭✭Macanri


    Wow, great report CW.

    You finished very strong, really great running. And I thought your swim was your best performance. A great race for you, you knocked spots off your 2010 times.

    That was a classic re the crap. I can imagine some auld lad sitting down on a chair on the othe side of the hedge. Others are coming up to talk to him and walk away soon after thinking "Gosh there's an awful smell of sh!te of your man" Classic.

    Finally congrats to yourself and Mrc CW on the impending arrival. Is this your first? A wee triathlete on the way - great stuff!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,238 ✭✭✭Abhainn


    Fair play to that report J. Great progress from last year and I'm sure 2012 will even better that.
    Good meeting you again, fingers crossed see you in Barcelona


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,034 ✭✭✭griffin100


    Just catching up with your race report now CW and I have to say I'm disappointed with the less than committed attitude that you displayed on the run by stopping for a toilet break. You should have dealt with it like a real man, gambled on the fart lottery and lived with the consequences :p

    In all seriousness nice result. I'm gutted I couldn't do this race but I think next year I'll be there.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,377 ✭✭✭pgibbo


    Another classic report CW! :cool: Pi$$ing on the go, taking a dump in someones front garden and using HR to pace yourself. All new and all worked to get you a huge PB! :D Well done on the PB. And you're officially a sham now too......LOL

    Hope the holiday is going well. :cool: Keep me posted on what race you pick for next year! ;)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,100 ✭✭✭DustyBin


    More great racing and writing there CW
    Delighted for you and Mrs CW with the baby news


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,830 ✭✭✭catweazle


    Rawhead wrote: »
    I did my first sprint in Swinford this year and that post has given me the final push to do the half iron next year. Great report and I will be with you at the start line next year....

    Cheers Rawhead - will be a good few boardies next year by the sounds of it
    nomadic wrote: »
    Nice work, great stuff finishing so strong.

    Disappointed I missed it now, great to see increased numbers this year for a brilliant race.

    They made much fanfare of a new bike course record, the way you are going you would have a good crack at breaking it yourself next year
    Macanri wrote: »
    Finally congrats to yourself and Mrc CW on the impending arrival. Is this your first? A wee triathlete on the way - great stuff!

    Cheers Macanri - hopefully all going well I will be able to juggle nappies, no sleep and training as well as the rest of ye
    Abhainn wrote: »
    Fair play to that report J. Great progress from last year and I'm sure 2012 will even better that.
    Good meeting you again, fingers crossed see you in Barcelona

    Might have been a bit too much wine down me when I made that announcement but it made it past the first stage anyways with preliminary approval (with caveats) from mrsC


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,830 ✭✭✭catweazle


    griffin100 wrote: »
    You should have dealt with it like a real man, gambled on the fart lottery and lived with the consequences :p

    I had made a small punt on the aforementioned lottery and nearly got badly burned so a second try wasn't on the menu :o
    pgibbo wrote: »
    Well done on the PB. And you're officially a sham now too......LOL

    Ya first time an announcement like that - damn new postman wont accept just Cummer on the post so we dont get it unless Tuam is mentioned somewhere. Bring back John Joe to the local round - he never had a problem with it
    DustyBin wrote: »
    More great racing and writing there CW
    Delighted for you and Mrs CW with the baby news

    Thanks Dusty - and thanks for the PM as well


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,377 ✭✭✭pgibbo


    Preliminary approval on Barca! Happy days. :cool:

    I hope you;re well rested after you;re warm weather training now! :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,830 ✭✭✭catweazle


    Well after almost two weeks of 30+ heat in Portugal, its great to wake up this morning to gale force winds and driving rain - ah I missed this place.

    Very little done besides cooling junk swims in the pool and a couple of slow 5k runs. In the end of it all though I suppose I did a good bit of swimming 30,000 metres in 12 days so I suppose 2500 a day isn't bad either.

    I met a lad from Galway who flew over to here straight after Ironman Germany. I couldnt believe his work ethic - looked like he was keeping up three training sessions a day between swimming/running and weight training along with a wife and three kids.

    I had come here to relax and pander to MrsC's every need so I was nervous about going training with him. My mid packer alarm bells were alerted from day 1 when he suggested we go for a run at 9am the following morning for an hour and 5 minutes. Now who says an hour and 5 minutes, not around an hour, or an hour but an hour and 5 minutes :eek: . More so it was a tempo run he wanted so in that heat no way. My suspicions were confirmed when Gibbo speculated he will be going for a sub 3 finish in Dublin this year so I dodged a bullet there I think.

    I agreed to go for an early morning swimming session with him in an outdoor pool about 20 minutes away and needless to say it was the one morning where I foolishly had a fair hangover - of course when we got there the 50m pool was closed. So we had to pay to use their indoor 25m pool - which was a bit silly considering the resort has a 30m free outdoor pool :D. The suggestion here from him was 500m warm up/ 300m Kick and then 21 x 100 off 2 minutes or had I my own plan :eek:. Again I mumbled something about I was working on my technique over here so I would stick to my own plan.

    So besides the swimming almost nothing else - with the heat unless you left before 8am it was just too hot for running.

    Came home yesterday and to qualify for the club event final which is a handicapped race next week I had to have a time in for the Aquathon series. So down I went

    Swim Section: 15.08 - with no chip timing the time is the swim + transition time. For only 61 people this was one of the bumpiest rides I had gotten in a long time, I didnt get a clear run till after the bouy. From glancing at the watch as I came out of the water I was just over 14 minutes which was just under 20 seconds quicker than my last race. I was happy initially with this time until I saw the two club mates strapping on the runners so I lost time on them this week. A crap transition where I had trouble getting into the zoots and I was off

    Off I went on the run and I was dreading this part, with a quick glance I saw Hammerhead behind me and I felt like a rabbit in the headlights. No sign of him overtaking me and I came up the hill section well. Downhill now and I am usually a decent runner on the downhill sections so I had started to hope I would hold him off. I faded badly with about a 1km to go which is unlike me as I can usually talk myself into a fast finish and he went by me along with a Galway Triathlon member. No-one too close after that so I managed myself into the finish, 4.30 the final k :mad:. From initial disappointment about the way the run went and the blow up at the finish, I was happier when I saw the results and I had just got in under 21 minutes 20.54 so it wasn't too bad at all in the end.

    Still none the wiser about the rest of the season - although I am going to test the waters this weekend with a long run and see how I feel after it. If the motivation is there I would like a crack at putting a serious dent into my Marathon time in Dublin.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,830 ✭✭✭catweazle


    pgibbo wrote: »
    Preliminary approval on Barca! Happy days. :cool:

    2012 Gibbo :D

    You will have a sub 10 in your sights then - or maybe that's on the agenda this year ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,184 ✭✭✭El Director


    Hey CW, only getting to read your report now-and another classic it was too! You took a serious amount of time off 2010's race, well done. You paced it much better and you obviously see room for improvement so it will be interesting to see.

    I enjoy following the IM logs so it's great to see a new one appear for 2012, I will follow with great interest. Well done again dude, keep tipping away at it even now-not like me last winter ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30 scrawnybawny


    catweazle and co; really enjoying the posts esp. the race reports but was looking for some predictive advice

    galway will be my first half I.M. (and just my third tri overall) and i'm a little unsure how fast i should aim for without blowing up
    i had tried to use some of the on-line calculators but they seem, to me, a little overly-ambitious (e.g. 5:40 predicted for half i.m based on recent olympic tri result of 2:40{splits of 30,80 and 50])

    hoping to do the swim in circa 45mins (would easily time trial 19-20mins for 1k.m.)
    reckon i could easily maintain 30k/hr on bike til at least the halfway mark but wonder about hitting 'a wall' and then crawling the run
    so if i can do 30k/hr over 40k of an olympic what's a realistic target for 90k, to still leave me enuf to push little on the run (and get in circa 1:45 - 1:55)
    thanx for any advice


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