Starting 2023 with a Bang

In March 2022 I toed the startline of the Naas 10 Mile race with a winter of consistent training behind me. I was in the best shape of my fledgling triathlon career and eager to test myself. I was both confident and nervous. I expected to perform well but felt the weight of that expectation. When I crossed the finish line I had set a number of PBs and averaged 4:21km for the race. In 2023 I again toed the start line of the Naas 10 mile but this time my winter training had been anything but consistent. I had no expectations and was concerned that I would perform so poorly that it could impact my training.

After the adventure and challenges of the last few months of 2022, I finally settled back into training as 2023 took off. I started a training diary to set out my weekly schedule and report on how I had done. I planned my training around my office days, running before work on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. The first few runs along the grand canal were tough and painful but as the sessions continued I began to enjoy running again. I rejoined the Blu Squad swim sessions, now on Friday mornings and another fixture was added to my weekly schedule. With the Sunday morning cycle a mainstay I am able to build my weekly plan around these core sessions and finally consistency has returned.

So maybe the Naas 10 Mile would not be as bad as I feared. I had two decent months of training behind me and when I began running, I felt surprisingly good. I deliberately did not look at my watch for the first 10 kilometres. I wanted to run off feel. To push myself and not be influenced by any notions of a previous version of me. I felt fast but was still shocked when I saw my watch read 4:14 for the 10 kilometre. I tried to ignore what I read but could not wipe the grin from my face. I still felt good and was confident I could push on for the last six kilometres. At kilometre 12 I hit the ground, hard. Blood immediately poured from my hands and left leg. I climbed to my feet and moved to a grass verge to try to understand what had happened. I am still not sure how I ended up on the ground. I eventually tried to jog on but it was futile. My legs cramped and pain seemed to radiate from everywhere. I hobbled to the finish line and another DNF. I am not disappointed. The wounds will heal and what will be left will be the knowledge that I am near my best again and ready for 2023. I am ready for everything it will bring and I am diving in the only way I know how, with both feet.

My 2023 Race Plans

I have entered a race each month starting in May and ending in October.

• May - Xterra Lake Garda: Lake Garda is one of my favourite places in the world so I could not turn up the chance to race there. The fact that it is an Xterra race ticks even more boxes and I can’t wait to get going!

• June - Athy Olympic Distance Triathlon: I completed this last year so I will be looking to improve on that performance. It is my local race, giving me the opportunity to practise the route.

• July - Tri Limits Tyrone (70.3): Another race I completed last year. My race last year was my first middle distance triathlon and I learned a lot from it. In 2023 I will be treating it as more of a race and looking to push myself.

• August - TBD

• September - Lost Sheep: This race is unfinished business.

• October - Ironman Portugal: My second Ironman and a chance to improve on my first. The race is in Cascais, another place I have visited multiple times and I am particularly fond of.