Big thanks to “coach bloke” Peter Kern and “bike bloke” Rob Cummins for getting me this far! And best of luck to all those taking part!

-Aisling-

I’ve also started keeping a blog about my Ironman experience over at Wheelworx. Image is from the Beast flickr set.

That’s Paul Tanner getting on his bike!

You can view Valerie’s gallery of photos on her own site. There are tonnes of super photos there from An Turas.

-Aisling-

Main photo is Colette Lawlor! Taken by Valerie O’ Sullivan.

Alan’s race report appears in full over on Triathlon Ireland:

I knew my swim did not go well. It hasn’t been good of late and consequently I did not expect to catch Trevor Woods or Mark Riseley (the other two Irish who started in my wave on the bike). I know Mark won’t mind me saying this, but when I came upon him going up the Solarer Berg on the second lap, it gave me a great boost. And then to pass Trevor a little later – well I knew for me anyway - the race was now on. The lads are both very strong runners and I knew I had very little chance of holding them off in the marathon. Still, I decided to put the hammer down in an effort to get a few minutes head start on the run –you never know.

Just to scare you completely Alan’s splits read like this: 1 hour 5 for the swim, 5 hour bike and 3 hour 6 minute marathon. And the story also appears in today’s Evening Herald. If you ever manage to get your hands on a copy of the Stone Mad DVD then you’ll realise the effort put in by Fergus and Alan Ryan on their journey to their first ironman in Austria in 2005. This was a documentary showing their training and build up to it. It’s brilliant viewing, you’re guaranteed to watch it and enter for one………at least that’s what happened me………… ;-)

-Aisling-

Image from Triathlon Ireland.

Cheers Peter and well done! Bet you’re glad I used that photo of you with your team mates in Germany and not one from the after-party at the Europeans…..(private joke…..) ;-)

-Aisling-

Photos are mine. Main one is Jackie O at last Saturday’s Triathlon.

Speaking to Jackie afterwards, she explained how she was under pressure the whole time. She took the lead on the bike and despite opposition breathing down her neck she held it together for a great win. I’m dead chuffed for her!! It was a really tough course. She’s also heading to the Mountain Biking nationals tomorrow, just to prove how hard she really is!!!

I was there too….not such a good day for me……still not able to talk about the swim….I’m traumatised. :-(

It was an incredibly well organised event, with marshalls at every junction out on the course. Very reassuring for us newbies. Congrats to Wicklow Tri Club. Great job!

-Aisling-

That’s my photo from my flickr set.

Pictured above is Bronagh Ni Bhriain, Fionnuala Doherty, Christine Hannelly, Aisling Coppinger, Orla McEvoy and Geraldine O’ Shea. I got that photo from Peter O’ Farrell and you can see his picasa set here.

-Aisling-

DUBLIN, IRELAND (Team Geared Up) Well Grainne told me not to do it on the mountain bike but I did it anyway!! I could’ve borrowed a road one but for all the difference it would make to someone as slow as me….. I’m talking about the Naas Wheelworx Tri Club Dirty Weekend Duathlon in Punchestown this morning. About 2 miles run, 20k cycle and 2 mile run. For the cycle I did indeed lose lots of places as the people on road bikes went “schoop, achoop, schoop” past me every minute. I reckon I wouldn’t have been much faster on a road one, knowing how slow I am. I made up a few places on the last run though as the cyclists seemed to have lost all use of their legs!! (I did for about 2 minutes, it’a the strangest sensation!!)
This race is extremeley well organsied and the use of Punchestown is a real bonus; stands for people to wait and spectate, cover if it does happen to rain, handy parking and an all round great place to set up by the organisers. Race started late because of the lack of an ambulance but was eventually won by Sean McFadden and Elena Maslova.

-Aisling-

Photo from my flickr set.

According to Alan:

Initially, you’re going to do one for the experience just to chalk it up and say I’ve done an Ironman and that’s that. But it becomes a way of life, an addiction, but a good addiction

The article covers Mark Pollock, extreme marathon runner and all round superstar. Is there any multi day event that Mark has yet to conquer? You can also read about Antarctic Explorer Mary Casey whose next event is kayak down the Danube or husky-racing in Siberia.

Article by Olivia Smyth.

-Aisling-

For the last 6 months:
I rise every weekday morning at 4am, at weekends it’s normally 3.30am. I am asleep by 8.00pm.
I ride to training, it’s 10-15km away across to the other side of the city.
I complete a 3 hour session before I walk through the doors of my work place.
I refuel within 20mins of finishing every session I complete.
After my ‘paying job’ day is over I have a 1 ½ hour evening session to complete
I go home, eat & shower and I go to bed.

Seriously an incredible read about the drive and ambition and sheer determination that it took for her to get where she is. Inspirational stuff!

-Aisling-

(There are 5 or so toilet stops mixed in there somewhere. I should have got a portaloo – especially since the toilet was up two flights of staires!!)

Ouch! But it was all in aid of the People In Need Telethon Day on October 26th. His CV boasts heaps of charity cycles, numerous Dublin marathons and Ironman Austria! Big kudos there…..So what does someone like Eoin do next?
From his blog:

That’s a wrap on what has been a hell of an experience. Everyone keeps asking me ‘what next?’ I have an idea that I’m looking at. Just like this one I won’t be revealing it until I’ve got some level of certainty that it will be a runner….Till then.
Adios amigos

-Aisling-