Tunney's Blog

I finally confronted my fears and went for a spin on Sunday, just out to Balbriggan and back, about 2:30 riding. Thankfully uneventful. Can’t believe how much bike fitness I lost, sucks donkey balls. Second spin back since the disaster that was Austria ended up being a 2:30 spin on Tuesday night including 1:45 of the Lance in the Park ride. Chaos, bedlam, fredfest – call it what you will. I avoided the crashes and the guys going down left right and centre. I didn’t have to ride over anyones legs or their bikes like one club mate had to. On the last two laps the pace (and required power) went up quite alot and I topped out at 900 watts @ 127rpm. Still I got to ride beside the man for a bit and talked to him about Kona. 2011 seemingly will be when he races there. Once he started talking about triathlon someone on the otherside of him jumped on the triathlon bandwagon to talk to him too. He told Lance all about “this young guy Liam Dolan who broke the irish record and qualified for Kona, and he’s only 22″, Lance was very impressed that someone so young could qualify for kona but a little concerned at someone so young doing IM. The guy then proceeded to tell lance that Dolan “couldn’t swim or bike but could run, 2:17 off the bike”……. Lance was very impressed with young Dolans running.

There’s a whole other world out there where energy drinks are called “Paulaner, Erdinger, and Bulmers”, energy food comes in the form of “breakfast rolls, burgers and pizzas” and bed times are after 10pm. Its a strange and scary world thats weirdly enjoyable. I just hope I can find my way back to the wardrobe.

Thirty today. Thankfully the idea of turning thirty doesn’t bother me. Partially because I’ve had since January to get used to it. Chaning to 30-34 at the start of the year was a slight shock but at least it was good preparation!

My first week back to structured training, a few swims and a few runs done and feeling better on the feet and in the water. However Sunday was meant to be a few hours spin on the bike but motivation and confidence were lacking. The rain sapped the motivation but the big problem was my lack of confidence. I can cycle to work okay but the idea of sitting on the bike for a training spin terrifies me. I think the accidents and the fact that I didn’t get straight back onto the bike have combined and left me scared of my bike. Obviously something that I am going to have to address – preferably sooner rather than later.

It nearly killed me but I sold my Kenmare and Dublin race entries. I had hoped that my coach, my wife and the man with the tan would be wrong and I’d spring back into race form. But once again this summer they were right and I was wrong so the slots got sold and the race wheels are in the attic

I managed to do all my sessions so far this week. Admittedly getting up at 6:30 is proving more difficult than I remembered. I’ve been swimming and runnin but have been too terrified to get back on the bike. Swimming and running are both dog slow with me only managing 5:30 per km easy running and 1:50 per 100m swimming easy. Lightyears away were I was. Now I’m terrified to get back on the bike for another reason. The power numbers This comeback will be hard.

First week back proper training. By proper I mean structured, planned and accompanied by a clean diet. Volume waaaaay down and only really doing one-a-days.

Yesterday was the first day of this, a good swim in the morning and a gym session later in the day. Only twenty minutes and keeping the reps high and weight low. By about 18 minutes I was getting frustrated with things being so easy. Then halfway through some weighted lunges both hamstrings spasmed and locked and I feel very slowly sideways. I knew there was a reason for keeping it easy. I dread to think what I would have been like, then and now, had I not gone with girlie weights. Ouch. Sore and embarassing.

This week has seen me make a big effort to try and get back into things. I’ve tried to clean up my diet, cut back on alcohol and get back training (or at least trying to train). So far I’ve managed two swims and three “runs” this week. The swims have been painful, my collar bone is still sore but it’s a world improved since the last time I swam properly in it. Running is tough for a few reasons. Having a leg completely immbolised for two weeks has left me with some muscular problems, the lack of exercise has left me with cardio defencies and the few weeks of “enjoying food and drink” have left me about a stone heavier. I also still have alot of pain around where my knee was aliced open. All this means my running is slow and hard going. But on the up side it’s improving every run Recovery will be while but it will happen.