kenmare training weekend report

kenamre report 2010

This year the club once again headed south to Kenmare for our annual training camp. The camp is both a social camp and one where people can come together and train in a great location. This year the camp had extra meaning due to all the snow and ice over the winter months. The goal for the training camp this year was base miles and some extra work on the bike under the tutelage of Ciran Power.

Friday evening saw all the groups assemble in the village houses of gortmullen. All the houses were prepped on the morning’s plans and the main conversations focused on which person could cook the porridge best in the morning.

The following morning saw the group assemble and head to the Kenmare race transition area for a drills and run session. One house managed to get going an hour early but they shall remain nameless but they did managed to act as alarm clocks to the rest of the group. Thanks Stuart.

Running sessions took place in frosty conditions but this did not hamper the spirit and all were soon enthusiastically jumping up and down in anticipation of the skipping and running drills. Our taller tri stars couldn’t think why they needed a rope but it took many back quite a number of years to child hood memories—some got lost in though

“We started with the skipping session, this I wasn’t looking forward to , graceful it wasn’t , at one stage I was reduced to jumping up and down swinging the rope beside me, then it all fell apart when we had to run and skip, where I nearly proceeded to choke myself with the rope. Seriously tough this was different for me and good crack” Brian o shaughessy

After the run session we headed back for the arguments’ over the porridge where the proud Emmet Ryan was still aloft in the labba had acclaimed he was the porridge king had slept in and forgot to rise to cook. Other houses were on course for the healthy full Irish as Ciran arrived.

Ciran gave a briefing a quick talk about training and on certain aspects of cycling. On the outward leg we had a little crash but that man that is Mr.  Dunne wouldn’t let it slow him down. We hit the base of the big climb where we watched a demo of over gearing from Ciran and did some repeats soon after Ciran gave us all a quick talk and a demo with some of the maverick riders tucked onto his wheel of descending and which line to take coming into a coming out of a turn.

The rest of the bunch looked on from the top of the Healy pass in amazement

With a few tips from pro cyclist Kieran power, it was down the other side. This has to be one of the best thrills for me in all  the sports I have taken part in , the descent on the Healy pass, taking those bends with only a whisker to spare is pure adrenaline, it sure beats some of the out and back boring cycles on some of the tri courses.  B’o’s

For many the best part about training is the going out after it, in a typically Irish sense that is. I think it must carry over from the G.A.A days of many of our miss spent youth.

It was with great excitement and courage after the tuff bike ride that we hit the town some of the more eager for nutritional fluid replacement where already there keeping the seats warm in the Italian restaurant for the wolfish appetites of the rest. Flurry baths was also located for the traditional sing song where we were all treated to a beautiful version of some boy zone song from our belpark spy-Louis thankfully though Fiona and Brian corrected proceedings.

Sunday morning saw the frost make another appearance so we adjusted the plan and had a great core work session with entertainment provided by mob- the old seated wall test challenge was won by nial c with Stuart and Dave Richardson pushing him all the way or shaking all the way!!

The weather change and with the rain came the call to head for the bikes. Although the bodies were tired the rain didn’t deter them. The trusty rusty mounts were mounted and mike lane fresh from his extra long nap rode front and centre to force the pack along

Emmett was convinced the houses needed cleaning so he like a true gent offered up his services and tested the bed to make sure they were sleep able

A 2hr30 bike followed by a short run to the warm to body’s followed.

Congratulations to all who took part in the weekend. a special thanks to Ciran power, Emmett Ryan, mike lane and Darragh Dunne for helping with the organization

Now that’s what I call a club Training Weekend, I think a tough but successful Munster win on Friday night set the tone and got everyone in the right mood for a tough but successful weekend.   From a training perspective the sessions included skipping, core work, running, a brick and a fair amount of bike mileage including the opportunity to cycle with a former pro cyclist and pick his brain for tips which was great.  
The social side of things did not disappoint either with some great banter, a delicious dinner, a whole lot of tri talk and of course the now infamous Kenmare singsong!  Overall the weekend was fantastic and the setting and scenery down there is second to none!
I think at the end of it all there was a great sense of camaraderie and achievement and that is exactly what a club environment should be all about.  Thanks to all for the company, the laughs and the encouragement.  A.W

Kenmare training weekend-2009

Everything was very positive!! End of story J

The round up….

I wish it was that easy. Unfortunately it was to involve a lot of big hills on the bike and something my body is not used to at the moment, running.

Friday evening saw the group training in the pool in killarney. The main idea behind the swim was to get the athletes to think about 1500m pacing and to show the swimmers how to draft effectively.

1500m pacing is simple, if you take your average swim time for that distance last year and break it down into shorter more manageable intervals with adequate rest you will get faster and more efficient. Instead of getting in the pool and hammering out as many lengths as possible until the arms and legs can’t move!!

Drafting this can be tricky. It is a bold word in the gladiatorial world of Irish triathlon but it is perfectly legal in the swim and run legs of our beautiful sport. The guys and gals quickly caught the hang of the idea of it and hopefully as the season progresses we will see a number of happy sea swimmers just watch out for those gladiatorial leg kicks!!

After the swim and the luxurious warm down pool (the Jacuzzi) we headed on down to our base for the two nights, I must say the accommodation was first class. With the minimum amount of fuss we all settled in for the night. I think a few people were feeling nervous about the big bike sessions and needed some liquid calming but all in all everybody settled in for some much needed sleep.

The Saturday morning saw us all up bright and early for the big bike session. For the “A” group the plan was the ride the half ironman route and for the “B” group it was to ride the little bo peep course once the intervals were done.

The intervals involved over gearing work. This is very good on the bike strength work. Brian Jenkins kept a close eye on all the proceedings and passed on tips for doing it correctly. Once the hard work of intervals was done the group came back together on the climb and we took off.

I was very impressed that everybody regrouped after the mountains. It really brought the team element into play. Although nail was skeptical I advised everybody that there were no medals won in January J

On the bike sections we covered a lot of things from knowing when to eat, when to change gears and descending. I was very impressed with the heart shown by some of the members in tackling hills they would normally not even contemplate doing.

Off the bike some of the athletes took Liz up on her cooking skills and were treated to some soup and sambo’s. Although normally I wouldn’t advise on soup before a run, I think the weather allowed it. The heavens opened before our running session but as we know tri-athletes tri harder and braved the foul weather.

The running session was an easy run with fast feet intervals. This is a great way of training the legs to move quickly off the bike. This technique is new to a lot of people but even with the rain pouring down everybody was ready to try.

That evening saw us all make a quick transition to a famous location of Kenmare, Florry Baths pub, a scene of great emotion last year were we saw our mentor for the weekend Brian celebrate with a number of limerick triathletes with a few songs and before the night was out a few more were sang!!

The Sunday morning came and this time the clouds were gathering in people’s minds rather than in the sky. Mike Lane made a dramatic last min decision and a quick T2 to make out on the cycle over molls gap. The scenery that greeted us was amazing. The entire group stuck together for the climb and even with the “sins” of the night before I could see the improvement in everybody’s group riding and descending.

The weekend was ended with an easy run off the bike in the clear but cold skies. Although I did not do the last run leg I could hear and the see the smiles on all the faces afterwards.

Congratulations to all who took part, to those that conquered demons and to those that took hope from the weekend. I think we all came away with new friends and training partners. So in the words of the famous remember…

“Aim for the moon even if you miss you will land amongst the stars” P.Radcliffe

Stephan Teeling lynch