IN THE THIRD of a series of columns, last year’s Triathlon Ireland Super Series winner Aidan Callaghan will talk us through 2016.
The Letterkenny native is broadening his horizons further this year, with the aim being completion of a full ironman. However, a cold or a virus held up his early season plans, which was discussed in his last column. Now though, it’s full systems go.
Consistency …
Eureka! A month of consistent training with no interruptions, break downs or injuries … Life is good, not there yet and a long way to go. Small steps in the right direction.
Since my last post I’ve started to put together a few good weeks and have had little or no interruptions due to sickness or injuries. As you know the first couple months of the year didn’t exactly go to plan so I’m delighted with the way things have been going.
Apart from the obvious physical benefits and training adaptions for performance-related targets and goals, getting consistent sessions and improving gradually over a period of time does wonders for the head.
Trying to keep the chimp within at bay!
It keeps the what ifs, the doubts, the ‘maybe this isn’t my year’ thoughts at bay and allows for positive hopes and aspirations to take centre stage. Anyone that is familiar with Professor Steve Peters book ‘The Chimp Paradox’ will know what I’m on about.
This is the same chimp, that tells us we need that chocolate or sugar hit, the same chimp that says, ‘go on have that big greasy burger and chips, you deserve it.’ The same chimp that thinks it’s ok to lay on and not go training at 6am, you know the one, everyone has one. It’s hard work keeping him in his box.
This isn’t to say it’s always good positive, hippy happy energy flowing around the grey matter but it certainly helps the overall outlook of the coming weeks and months.
I took part in the Letterkenny 24/7 club duathlon at the beginning of March, which was a good spin out. I had a steady run and an OK bike.
I knew going into it that I wouldn’t be competing for the medals – indeed coming off the bike I was doing that much coughing and spluttering I didn’t think I’d make the run. The machine himself Paul Carroll destroyed the field on the bike, with Killian Heery and Gavin Corey in second and third.
This weekend past I completed the Omagh half marathon, which again served as a good confidence booster. Last year I ran 78.45 and finished very poorly, the final three miles was torture so this year the plan was to start easy, go through six-mile at about 36-minute pace and then pick it up slightly from there. With three miles to go this time round I felt great passing five others to finish in 77.16 in 10th place. Mission accomplished.
Aix 70.3 is under five weeks away!!
Training for the past month or so has been based around building a good solid base and looked something like the following.
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Rest Swim Gym Swim Swim Long Bike Long Bike Core & Recovery Run Turbo Interval Run Turbo Gym & Long Run Recovery Swim Rest Swimming – 10k – 12k Running – 40k – 50k Bike – 250 – 300km
I have been very careful with recovery and although the above is a general outlook of the week, I don’t think I put a full week together as of yet. Due to the bug I picked up, if I’ve felt tired or lethargic at all during the week, I took a session off. The last thing I wanted was to be back to square one, at the end of the pool some morning wondering way I cant get to the other side.
Going forward I’ll be integrating some more race specific sessions at race pace and power output or above. Aix is a very hilly bike course and by all accounts athletes seem to be either climbing or descending for the whole 90km so my training will have to match. The Donegal hills should the perfect training ground!
Some exciting news coming in the next few days so I’ll be back shortly to keep you all updated!
Aidan Callaghan is the current Triathlon Ireland Super Series champion. He took up triathlon originally in 2010 and in 2013, hired a coach.
Now 32, in 2016 Aidan is targeting the longer 70.3 and Ironman events. He aims to compete in Aix-en-Provence 70.3 in May and from there he will go to race the Ironman distance in Bolton, the city in which he studied. Then, it’s onto the Irish Middle Distance Champs in Kenmare, Co Kerry.
Aidan will write a column here ‘The Iron Road’ on Donegal Sport Hub on his preparations, participation and performance. His website is aidancallaghantriathlon.com and you can follow him on Twitter, @aidan_callaghan
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