Tunney's Blog

Its arrived! Next weeks AND the week afters training. Rich had said I’d be less enthusiastic once I saw it – and it will be tough. Challenging but fun. One thing is for sure – I’ll have no trouble sleeping over the next two weeks!

Every Thursday my training programme for the next week arrives in my mail box. Its been that way for the last four or so years. I normally look forward to it arriving but this week I just can’t wait for it! Next week is the first week of my specific Ironman training and I’m excited to say the least. I’ve an idea of what to expect but the devil is in the details!

All the training so far this year and been building up to this. The ironman training. The next ten weeks of training. An easy week next week to prepare the body for the hammering it’s going to take for the final 9 weeks. I can’t wait but I’m dreading it.

Less than 11 weeks to go.
Thankfully the effects of the chest infection and the anti-botics are well shifted and I’m back to normal. I’m in the middle of a speedy block of training and as part of this block of training I was to do a sprint triathlon down in Tipperary last weekend. I went along with no expectations really other than giving it socks. On the day I was in the 7th wave off (it was a pool based swim), a long enough water to start so you’d imagine I’d be there ready and on time, but oh no I was a little rushed and a little late. No harm, into the water and seeded myself as second in the lane. First was planning on swimming 7:00 for the 500m, I was planning 7:40 and the rest of the lane was planning 8:00. As it turns out only the lead out man was right. The others ended up swimming 8:30 plus and getting lapped a good bit but the big surprise for me was I swam 7:11. I didn’t know I could do that! Out of the water in fourth and out of T1 in first. The first 10km of the bike were taken handy and at the turn around I could see a few people about 30-45 seconds down. I lifted it for the second 10km and was well clear by T2. I stayed away on the run and crossed the line 2:30 up on second place. A good day in the office. A great swim, good transitions and felt good on the bike. Delighted!

This week is another fast week and then some down time before the IM training begins – that will be when it gets interesting!

Nort Tipp Sprint

About a fortnight ago I felt a cold coming on. The cold turned into the start chest infection so off I went to the doctor. Anti-botics were prescribed given my history for chest infections and my asthma. The chest infection started to clear up pretty quickly but the antibotics knocked the crap out of me. Most of last weeks training was missed. I managed to get out onto the bike for a ride on Saturday but the effects of illness and antibotics kicked in and I crawled home after two hours riding. I was down to do a 10km road race on the Sunday. I decided to do it against advice and if I felt bad I’d drop out. I did feel bad, shockingly bad, but as predicted by others I didn’t drop out but struggled home. Fingers crossed the effects of the antibotics clear quickly!

This time twelve weeks I’ll probably be lying on a hotel bed in Austria absolutely crapping it with herself trying to calm me down. 12 weeks to go. Everythin to this point has just been preparing for the work that is to come from here on. Preparations have gone well let’s just hope the work goes as well.

Weight: 11st 4

I’ve been laid up not training for the last few days. I got a sinus problem that lead to a cough that lead to a chest infection. It happens every year so when I felt it coming on in earnest I got to the doctors and get antibotics. Suffering from asthma means most colds and flus result in a chest infection for me. I’m hoping it clears soon as I’m beginning to get a little stressed missing training with only three months to go! Trying someting new with a PE scale – ala Calop kiddie’s pain indicators