6 weeks in hell -Abu Dhabi to Conn via Donadea

pgibbo

Best of luck this weekend. :cool:

shotgunmcos

Count down the miles on this one. Last step of the mad 6 weeks. Good luck

DustyBin

Nearly there now, best of luck tomorrow

big mce

Best of luck.

RacoonQueen

5:57 for Izoard. Awesome stuff, enjoy the beers and the rest.

griffin100

Awesome is right. I am very very impressed. Well done Fearghal Fergal.

Izoard

griffin100 wrote: »

Awesome is right. I am very very impressed. Well done Fergal.

Cheers P - fixed that for ya:D

Izoard

After a mental week and still feeling under the weather, this was beginning to fill me with dread.

I’d completely lost focus after Abu Dhabi, so I was sure the chickens were going to come home to roost.

Anyways, with 3 of us in the car covering half, full and Ultra, I was putting on a brave face.

After manfully tackling the “porridge” in the hotel, I bumped into Aimman, who spun us down to the Oughterard bus.

Briefing at Peacock’s was touching – focusing on the human side of the race, rather than the race details…(keep turning right – easy).

Was not really sure what to do with the nutrition and ultimately put my gel belt and a packet of hard gums into the 16m bin for pick up later.

On the fly, I went with the plan of no nutrition until mile 16 and then do standard marathon nutrition from there.

At the start line a Boards group was formed, with the aim of sub 6, including myself, Aimman, claralara, MarthaStew, Digger, Frank (does he really go by Oisin on Boards?) and a few others.

I was pushing on ahead at the start, so was sitting off the front for a while, but ultimately felt it would be better to be in the group than trying to gain time in the early stage of the race.

Conditions were great, warm with little wind – perfect for me.

We passed the 13.1 in 1.56, and I started to get a little concerned that I wasn’t banking enough time for the horrors ahead.

As the miles ticked by, the group got smaller, leaving CL, MS, Frank and myself heading down towards Leenane.

At this point the girls were flying and I was hanging on – CL realized that she could probably set a marathon PB by stepping on the gas for the run in to Leenane – that was the death knell for me, as I couldn’t respond to her acceleration, while the others were able to keep on track.

Through the marathon in ~3.54 – very worried now that I’d blown the sub 6, particularly as my group mates were disappearing up the road.

I was a bit dispirited hitting the Leenane hill, but agreed with myself that I would only stop to pick up water and consume a gel – no way I was stopping on the hills, if there was even a remote chance of hitting the sub-6.

This gave me more confidence as I was picking off quite a few who were walking the hill.

Once over the hill the marathon dead-zone (miles 13-17) kicked in where you feel you are too far away from the finish to get excited and there is nothing much going on around you.

Kept plugging away and eventually caught Frank about mile 16, where he was struggling a bit. I reckoned the girls could not be too far ahead and they would come into view soon.

While I was feeling good, I was still too close to the 6 hour projected finish for comfort. Quads were beginning to protest, but while the cramp twinges were coming, they never arrived.

HotW required “running” all the way, but once over the top, I felt that the sub 6 was within reach if I could keep the pace ticking over.

Although only 2 miles to the finish, Peacockes never seems to get any closer, and with the wind carrying the announcers voice, I began to panic that the finish was a bit further away.

The crowds started building and sure enough the Finish gantry appeared into view – sub-6 excellent (5.57.24 on the Garmin)!

Very happy with that, as it required a big effort in the final 1/3 to keep it together.

Met CL at the finish, where she and MS had put a whopping 10 mins into me by the finish – huge respect for their efforts and they made it look pi$$ easy.

So, the “6 weeks in hell” is complete and I’m pretty happy with the overall results.

Will go into the freezer for a while, starting with a 2 week stint in Orlando from Tuesday, getting Disney-fied:)

Will hopefully reappear at IM70.3 Galway…

Thanks for reading and I’ll be busy stalking a bunch of logs – (particularly those first time IMers J), with a beer in my hand.

belcarra

Good report izoard!
I was one of the few ye burned around mile 18. Strange that over that distance I didn't actually get to say hello...?!
Great time by you!

snack_ie

Well done chief. That's one well deserved holiday.
Make sure to check out Universal & Wet & Wild, and even one over by Tampa if you like your rollercoasters - it's been a while since I have been there but I am sure they are still awesome.

hf4z6sqo7vjngi

Great going Ferg, that was one busy 6 weeks of racing. Fair play for keeping it together and nailing your target time. Enjoy Disney, +1 for Universal i found it much better than the Disney parks.

Enjoy the well deserved beers...i have had a few this week but need to get back to it:)

handangeo

Well done my friend, I met Simon in Paulstown [our kids were playing against each other on Saturday morning in a u-11 cup match ] we were discussing your mental few weeks. Well deserved rest - are you and your legs on speaking terms ?:D

Abhainn

Fair play to you. You are one determined athlete. Great going and superbly well done on getting that sub 6. Enjoy the break

LCD

Cracking effort over the 3 weeks.

Liam

pgibbo

Cracking effort. Congrats. Enjoy the hols and the beers! Well earned :cool:

Marthastew

Fantastic finish for you F, don't know how you managed to be so disciplined after your last few weeks. Thanks for the good company, I'm sure Mrs Izoard and the young uns will be delighted to have you all to themselves for the next couple of weeks. Have a super break:)

shotgunmcos

That was a jam packed few weeks. Enjoy the Laurels and pig out dude Entertaining report as usual and well done on achieving your goal. Way to end a journey with a high!!

catweazle

The way you travel I would have thought a holiday would have been a week at home, well done on the race!

Dory Dory

Yes, well done on your ultra. I think you jammed just about everything challenging that you could into the last few months. Bravo. Enjoy your holiday here in the states...and if you and the family get a wild hair to head north to my neck of the woods, give me a shout!

Izoard

Thanks all - still walking downstairs backwards - haven't had to do that since my first marathon:)

Krusty_Clown

Super stuff Izzard. You made the ultra sound all too easy. Enjoy the break and the beers. Perfect timing for a holiday!

TFBubendorfer

You've had quite the program over the last few weeks. Well done and congratulations! Take it easy for a while.

claralara

Well done again on Sunday Izoard. It was lovely to meet you and chat about all your wonderful adventures! I thought my bucket list would get shorter once I completed the Ultra, not double in length!! Hope the recovery is going well. Have a great holiday. You certainly deserve it!

Izoard

Right...

Nothing since April 1st, but I've "3 weeks in hell" quickly approaching, so I reckon it is time to bring this back to life.

26 Aug Oylegate Half Marathon (pacing)
02 Sept Galway 70.3
08 Sept Brittas Bay Olympic Distance

Will come up with a more appropriate moniker for the log, once I've figured out what the plan is for next year...

Good to be back!

Kurt Godel

Izoard wrote: »

08 Sept Brittas Bay Olympic Distance

Hope to join you at this. From the looks of previous photo's, they let the swim go ahead when its a bit choppy. Handy and local too.

Izoard

Kurt Godel wrote: »

Hope to join you at this. From the looks of previous photo's, they let the swim go ahead when its a bit choppy. Handy and local too.

Great - definitely a hidden treasure and must be the longest running tri in Ireland.

Swim can be hit and miss, 7 years in a row, no problem, then 2 out of 3 had to be cancelled.

Also, in recent years, the swim has gotten tougher* - current and wind has meant that I've come out with times in the mid-high 40's in the past couple of years (usually 1,500m in ~30min in the pool).

* Given it is straight line and parallel to the shore, I've had the embarrasment of seeing people walk the swim in a quicker time:)

Abhainn

Kurt Godel wrote: »

Hope to join you at this. From the looks of previous photo's, they let the swim go ahead when its a bit choppy. Handy and local too.

Good to see you back. Probably lazing about for the last 4 months?

I try and be there to support you 2

Izoard

Abhainn wrote: »

Good to see you back. Probably lazing about for the last 4 months?

I try and be there to support you 2

Older, lazier and fatter - the perfect mix for a wannabe triathlete.

Are you doing any races before Barca?

griffin100

You any loose plans for next year? A certain French mountain is calling me........

Izoard

griffin100 wrote: »

You any loose plans for next year? A certain French mountain is calling me........

Yeah, that is definitely on the bucket list - great distances over tough terrain and unfinished business on that mountain.

I'll be putting the feelers out soon - IM South Africa is something I can probaby get done mostly under the radar, so that is the early favourite....

griffin100

An April Ironman? Too much winter turbo training for me

Izoard

griffin100 wrote: »

An April Ironman? Too much winter turbo training for me

I just about got away with it for Abu Dhabi, so would no doubt go down in flames if I try it again:)

RacoonQueen

Surely it's better to have you training for an April long distance race so all your training is done during crappy weather then you're available for doting daddy and loving husband duties during all the nice weather to bring them to nice places and what not? :pac:

Abhainn

Izoard wrote: »

Are you doing any races before Barca?

I was half thinking of DCT at the end of the month but it doesn't really appeal to me.
Might enter a 5 or 10k road race in the coming weeks to sharpen things up.

Izoard

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Surely it's better to have you training for an April long distance race so all your training is done during crappy weather then you're available for doting daddy and loving husband duties during all the nice weather to bring them to nice places and what not? :pac:

Clever girl:)

Yep, that is the pitch alright...the "going down in flames" reference was more about a spectacular blow up on the crappy roads of SA, due to zero "real" bike training:eek:

Kurt Godel

Izoard wrote: »

Right...

Nothing since April 1st, but I've "3 weeks in hell" quickly approaching, so I reckon it is time to bring this back to life.

How does this "nothing" work? Absolutely zero training? Or non-race-specific ticking over?

Izoard

Kurt Godel wrote: »

How does this "nothing" work? Absolutely zero training? Or non-race-specific ticking over?

I've been ticking along, but "zero" referred to events since Conn Ultra.

If I do sign up for something substantial in spring 2013, it will be the kick in the ar$e needed to get back on the wagon....

handangeo

Happy Birthday old timer! M50 yet??

Izoard

handangeo wrote: »

Happy Birthday old timer! M50 yet??

I think we'll both be going off that cliff almost simultaneously....

Have my eyes on Kona qualification for M75 - If I continue my one-pace approach and avoid injuries, I'm in!

handangeo

Izoard wrote: »

I think we'll both be going off that cliff almost simultaneously....

Have my eyes on Kona qualification for M75 - If I continue my one-pace approach and avoid injuries, I'm in!

We'll both be there so...along with everyone else who has the same idea. It will be more competitive than ever!

Don't have to much Cake, slow you down even more in Galway!

Dory Dory

Is it your birthday???? If so, then happy birthday to YOU!! And don't listen to that party pooper Handangeo - eat all the cake you want. Rumors that it will slow you down in Galway were started by the healthy folks who only eat vegetables and tofu. Don't be that guy.

Kurt Godel

Happy Birthday Izoard!

<<orders a drink for "the baldy fella at that table", and waits expectantly>>

shotgunmcos

50 :eek: no way. do you bathe in milk or something ?!

griffin100

Feck it he's hardly 50........is he? I better start wearing me compression gear to bed so!!

hf4z6sqo7vjngi

Happy birthday old man

Izoard

Thanks for the multiple birthday wishes - however, to nail one rumour - I'm a '70's child, so the whole 50-thing is not to be given credibility just yet.

I am a big fan of full-time compression-wear though....:)

Izoard

So, after a summer of gluttony and sloth, I decided it was time for a re-appearance, so signed up to pace the 2hr group at this event.

A few one-liners from VR was about as much info as we got prior to the event and the web site was a hangover from 2010, so pre-race preparation was even poorer than usual on my part.

Travelling from Ballymoney meant a reasonably civilized spin down the N11, in the company of The Chairman, who is talking in terms of a 3.0x at DCM this year.

Cracking day for it, and Wexford's finest were out in force, milling around the local GAA pitch, waiting to get started.

No pre-race briefing - "take the balloon and get on with it", was the gist of it.

VR was all tooled-up in his personalized 1.45 pacer shirt, while I went off in search of my wing-woman - jcsmum, in her first pacing outing.

The gun went off about 2 minutes after everyone started running, so picked a random moment to start the garmin and off we went.

Of course, I forgot I was in the company of Imperial-measurement types, so had to do some Garmin fiddling to switch to miles and feet, while in flight.

The course description was a closely guarded secret, but with some input from the locals in the pace group, we reckoned it was "rolling" until a serious kick around mile 7.

After mile 1, the road headed sharply up into the shadows, resulting in the first cull of our group.

Things settled down until mile 7, where we hit the "hill" - turns out it was just a long drag for about a mile, but served to whittle down the group from 15 to 5.

At this point, it wasn't looking good for jcsmum and myself - potentially finishing with no pacees, is bad for business.

A further kick around mile 10, reduced the pacees to 3 and then 2 - nothing like a personalized service - 1 pacer to one pacee.

Luckily, we were catching a female runner ahead and despite her best protestations, I insisted she jump on, to get her to the line in under 2.00.

So, we finished with 3 - not sure if our late addition got in under 2hrs - she proceeded to tell me she stopped for a "few minutes to go to the toilet" as we crossed the line in 1.59.15.

Despite the pre-race lack of info, this race was well marshalled and organized. Although on open roads, traffic was very light, so was a non-issue.

The Chairman knocked out a 1.38 and is eyeing a sub 1.30 at the half race series, while jcsmum did a great job in her first outing - me, I was happy to get through unscathed and start turning my attentions to Galway 70.3 next week.

BennyMul

Happy belated birthday sir.

Izoard

Finally, an opinion I can use to justify no stretching...:)

brett sutton ‏trisutto
Stretching. It is necassary in extended range of motion sports, it has little value4 triathletes , other than2 increase the risk injury

pgibbo

Saw that alright and was tempted to open a seperate thread on it. I see Miranda agreed but Leanda called him on BS!!!

Different strokes for different folks I guess.