Maurice Mullins Trail 2018

8th – 1h57m One of the excellent IMRA events, which I completed for the 4th time. Conditions were calm and mild, and a lot drier underfoot thank I’d expected. It’s nice waiting at the start in Ballinstoe. Watching the Ultra runners reach their halfway mark, just as we set off. Fair play to them all. …

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Thoughts on America

January 2018: After a week in Trump’s America, working, travelling and meeting people, here are some thoughts: Work Start early, finish early Face to face meetings are great Redmond, WA has so many job opportunities The drinks fridge is impressive Microsoft is full of white & Asian people The Reno office is really quiet People …

Skiing in Tahoe, USA

I was lucky enough to ski at Lake Tahoe in January 2018, while on a work trip to Reno, Nevada. It was very cold but beautiful and a great experience. It got me thinking - how does skiing in the USA compare to the European Alps? 20-Jan: Skiing at Heavenly Back in South Lake Tahoe …

Rotterdam Memories: 11 years later

I wrote this piece in 2017, after spending a week in Rotterdam. In September 2017, I was back in Rotterdam, 15 years after I first stepped off the plane in the Netherlands. First, I came to Maastricht on a university exchange in 2002. I loved it so much and it changed my world, that I …

Cycling in Gran Canaria: North vs South

Gran Canaria is a mecca for winter cycling, on the road and off-road MTB. For years I’ve spent a week around Christmas riding through the valleys and climbs on the southern coast, based out of Free Motion in Playa del Ingles. This year I explored the north of the island, based out of Las Palmas. …

The Spanish Football Podcast Live #TSFP

Spanish football has been an interest of mine, ever since I first watched the Galacticos of Real Madrid back in the 1990s with Beckham, Raul, Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos. Zidane's winning goal in Hampden Park, Glasgow in 1998 against Bayer Leverkusen stands out, even though it's 20 years ago. So it was nice to go …

Gran Canaria Cycling: Pico de las Nieves from Las Palmas

Route: 91km, +/-2855m, 5hrs, 20th Dec 2017 HC climb – for years I watched the Tour de France and didn’t really know what it meant. Hors Categorie – without categorisation. Climbs could be graded 1-4 depending on gradient and length. HC was invented for climbs off that scale – tougher than a Cat1. (In Ireland …

Novice XC Champs 2017

WIT Arena, Waterford, 17th December 2017 44th in 21:37 (3:45 pace over a muddy & hilly 6km course) Pure racing. Raw sport. No bells or whistles. Cross country needs a muddy field, a car park, tape to mark the course and start/finish line. Bring along 2,000 runners of all ages and let them at it. …

Virtual workshops using Surface Hub

This week I got to use some cool technology which really impressed me. Imagine if the National Emergency Coordination Committee could use this technology to collaborate on the response to natural disasters like Ex-Hurricane Ophelia which hit Ireland this week? Ok, I work for a tech company who makes cool stuff like Xbox, Windows, Azure, …

Cycling around the Netherlands

September 2017 Overall thoughts After 5 days of cycling around the Netherlands, there are a few great things I noticed and appreciated, which makes cycling safe, enjoyable and easy. Touring on a bike is such a great way to see the countryside. You discover so much more than going by car or train. It’s a …

Race day – Rotterdam Triathlon (World Championships 2017)

Race report from Rotterdam Triathlon - ITU World Championships 2017

Rotterdam: Name the Triathlete

One of the best things about racing aboard is the World Cup of nations you met and get to race a against. The Mexicans had the best gear, hands down, inspired with their Aztec floral design on every piece of kit – from arm warmers to bras (so I was told!). With over 100 nations …

Charity Cycle for Laura Lynn

On Tuesday 5th September, I'm taking on a 3 day charity cycle with 40 work colleagues at Microsoft in support of Laura Lynn Children's Hospice. Training began in June with many first time cyclists but it's great to see everyone out and ready. We have a big fundraising target of €50,000. Please donate online here …

Remembering John

John left this world 12 years ago, back in 2005. To be honest, I didn’t realise til I had a chat with my dad this evening. I’ve tried to remember him each year, as I’m sure lots of people miss him and think of him regularly. The post below is something I wrote back in …

Race Report: Dun Laoghaire Harbour Swim

13th August 2017 One of my goals every year, when I sit down in January, is to try something new. For 2017 I wanted to improve my swimming – I love getting out in the sea. My plan was to swim every month in the sea – starting in freezing cold January waters. The perfect …

Achilles Injury: The Positives

I can’t remember who Achilles was but he’s got a tendon named after him. So, I’m assuming he knows how I feel, with a bit of Achilles Tendinopathy. It’s a mouthful but a month into physio, rehab and no running I know a bit more. Being told I can’t run and need to rest is …

Race Report: Jailbreak Cobh Triathlon

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jancek/34842408953/in/album-72157682945422153/ Jailbreak - who wouldn’t like to swim away from an island back to the mainland? If they can do it in Alcatraz, Cork won’t be outdone. After years of going to Kinsale, for a great race and weekend at King of the Hill, I decided to give Cobh a go, mainly due to the …

Leinster Open Water Swim: Wicklow

16th June 2017 The last time I swam competitively was over 20 years ago when I took part in the Community Games in Mosney. I’m no fish, but I did the backstroke in the 4x25m medley relay. I diverge. Last Friday I took part in the Leinster Open Sea Swim event in Wicklow Town. They …

DAR 2017: Race Report

Result: 6th in 2hr 54m “Rachaimíd ar nós na gaoithe” was my thought at the start line on the Marina in Dingle. I was buzzing after hearing the living legend Micheál O’Muircheartaigh, who started the race with a countdown “o deich a haon.” This was my 7th year doing DAR – I’ve finished 4th twice, …

Coaching & 360 Feedback

I’ve been working with a personal coach over recent months. He doesn’t tell me about heart rates, mile paces or recovery. He doesn’t blow a whistle or wear a tracksuit. Nope this coach is helping me with my career. I’m lucky to get the opportunity to avail of some pro-bono coaching. Coaching - Personal Development …

VO2 Max Test

My Health Matters – Seán Kinnane (April 2017) Things clicked again today. I got refocused on making sporting goals this year and believing that I have a lot more potential to run faster. The catalyst was a VO2 test. It took 20 mins running on a treadmill and 20 mins to explain the results. An …

Duathlon Race Report – RD view

This is a race report with a difference. For a race I didn't even take part in. The Phoenix Park Duathlon took place on 22nd April 2017 with over 200 competitors. I was one of the 40 Belpark Tri Club volunteers who made it happen. Here's my report from the race director's (RD) eyes. Where …

Maurice Mullins Trail Race 2017

Race report from the Maurice Mullins Trail race on the Wicklow Way. Organised by IMRA in March 2017 over 26km.

Book Review: Run Wild

Book review on Run Wild by Boff Whalley - musician & runner.

TI Race Organisers Summit

25 February 2017 – Athlone I.T.: I always saw a race director as a stressed looking individual busily moving around a race transition zone – clipboard in one hand, phone or walkie talkie in the other. Telling other people in hi-viz jackets where you can and can’t park your bike, or what time wave 3 …

First run of 2017

Most people start a new year straight out of the blocks, eager to start that marathon or 5km training. I’ve listened to friends talking about the London Marathon in April, Manchester in March, duathlons in January and cross country on the unusually dry fields of Leinster. I’ve to watch from afar. The runner who can’t …

2016 Blog Stats

My blog has been around for several years now, but it’s always interesting to check out this is there. I’d an active year in 2016 with over 30 posts.   Most popular posts Two topics proved popular: travel and race reports followed by food and nutrition. My article from 2013 “Girona: a cyclists paradise” is most …

Waterford Greenway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXayKRZjhDs It’s great to see such positivity and comments about the Waterford Greenway. It’s not even finished or officially open yet, but 2016 was a breakthrough year. I hope 2017 bring lots of new people to the area to walk, cycle and explore the beautiful countryside. The Greenway is a 46 kilometre paved trail on …

Tramore’s Beach & Backstrand

Everybody from Tramore, and probably anyone living within an hour’s drive, loves the beach in Tramore. At Christmas time, with so many people home, you release how special it is to have on our doorstep. I’ve been walking down the beach every day. It’s a great place to meet neighbours, friends, runners, dogs, horses, kitesurfers, …

Camino Portugues: 4 days running

This is a detailed blog post about running the Camino Portugues from Vigo to Santiago over 4 days in September 2016.  Jump to these sections: Day 1: Vigo to Pontevedra – 33km Day 2: Pontevedra to Padron – 42km Day 3: Cambados to Pontecesures – 50km Day 4: Pontecesures to Santiago – 39km Gear: What …

Cal-Neva Lake Tahoe Marathon

1st place - 2h58m, 8th October 2016      /     Sand Harbor, NV to Homewood, CA Tahoe is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. So, when I heard they do a 3-day marathon weekend, I was in. I decided to do the Saturday marathon, the Cal-Neva which went across the northern side of the …

Book Review: Flow

Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmaiazyi The subtitle gives you the idea of what this book is about “the classic work on how to achieve happiness”. A bold claim, but given a recommendation by Enda McNulty, where her explained how powerful this thinking was, I wanted to read this book. It didn’t disappoint - everyone from student, …

My 2016 Season Review

I've raced 28 times so far in 2016, more than 2 races a month. I've really enjoyed training & racing. Being part of two great clubs in Belpark Triathlon Club & Rathfarnham WSAF AC has really helped, as has training with a bunch of mates. Here's my thoughts on the year that was... Best races: National …

Portugal: It’s not Spain

Irish people should be well aware that we’re not the same as our near neighbours across the water. No were not British. Yes, we speak English. No, we don’t have pounds. Yes, we do follow English football teams. No, we don’t all speak cockney. So, Portugal and Spain are kind of the same. Ear neighbours …

Trail Running in Portugal: Grande Trail Serra D’Arga

  Caminha, Portugal, 26 September 2016 This report is about running two mountain trail races in Portugal in less than 24 hours. I finished the main 33km race in 13th position after 3hrs 22mins of running over 33km. The night before I warmed up with a Sunset run over 17km. https://www.facebook.com/268751096494020/videos/1091588047543650/ I’m sitting in the …

Book Review: The Body Electric

Reading medical books for leisure isn’t one of my preferred hobbies. But I did just read a really insightful book called “The Body Electric: Electromagnetism And The Foundation Of Life” (see Amazon page). It was published over 30 years ago by a top researcher in the US, Robert Becker. You might think it’s dated or …

Making progress on goals & training

Since Caroline Kearney Triathlon 2 weeks ago, I’ve been training away but probably not as focused as (a) I feel fit and (b) the season has been long so motivation can be harder. While I get out most days, and enjoy doing so, I haven’t pushed myself as much (e.g. swim sets or run sets) …

Dublin City Triathlon 2016 Race Review

DCT has a great reputation and I really was impressed. Piranha club volunteers do such a good job – super course, slick comms, top venue, food and atmosphere. For me the race went well, 17th in 2hr 20 m, although my place is a bit inflated as the depth of quality in the field was …

What makes a good race?

We all had a great weekend down in Mullingar recently, where nearly 400 people took part in the Caroline Kearney Memorial Triathlon, hosted by Midland Tri Club. I was thinking on the way back – what makes a great race? For the weekend that was in it – we paid €55 for an Olympic distance …

Fat Adaptation Diary: Week 10

Three weeks ago I wrote about some of the challenges I faced while adopting to a Keto/LCHF nutrition approach. Good news is I feel better writing this time around. The act of writing things down, getting thoughts out of your head, accepting them and making a plan to move on is very effective/cathartic. Quick progress …

Fat Adaptation Diary: Week 7

It’s nearly 2 months since early June when I made a commitment to improve my overall nutrition, with the goals of living a healthier life, feeling better and being able to perform better. I started well, as we all do, full of enthusiasm and bright ideas on changing the world. I shared 2 quick blog …

Luna Sandals Review

Many of you will have read Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. One of the central characters is Barefoot Ted who lived and ran with the Taramahura Indians in Mexico. That book fascinated me and sparked my running journey to barefoot running through Rene & Jason at ChampionsEverywhere. Anyway what has this got to do …

Dingle Adventure Race: 6th time, just as good

I've been looking forward to the 2nd weekend in June since January when I signed up for Dingle Adventure Race 2016. I said last week it was favourite race and favourite weekend of the year - and that's across all my triathlons, running races and adventure races. I first ventured down west in 2011 and …

Fat Adaptation Diary: Week 2

The past 10 days have offered sunny weather every day – making it harder to be at work in an office, but so rewarding when I did get outside to walk, train, eat, read or relax. Combined with a sunny weekend, followed by a busy week all over Dublin at work and ending down home …

Fat Adaptation Diary: Week 1

It’s been over a week since I started on a new nutritional journey. Nutritionist and endurance runner Barry Murray has provoked lots of thoughts in my mind over the past 2 years – with his blogs and podcasts explaining how our bodies are designed to function as fat burning engines. I felt I’d made lots …

Darkness into Light 2016

HOPE written in large letters on a banner, lit up the grass in front of Marlay Park at 4am last Saturday morning. Along with over 2,000+ others, I set my alarm early, put on my yellow DIL t-shirt and silently made my way to the park. Along the way I passed Lamb Doyle's pub and …

Quest Glendalough 2016: Race Report

Last time out, down in Killarney, I walked across the finish line. Different circumstance in Glendalough, but same slow saunter under the Quests gantry. Shoulder to shoulder, chatting away to the man who’d been my target for the entire race. I finished just 3 seconds off 3rd place, behind adventure race “veteran” Peter O’Farrell. That …

Duathlon Doodling from Mondello

Ten things I learned from doing the 2016 National Duathlon Championships around Mondello Racetrack last weekend. 1. Draft legal bike racing is hard You need to be so much more aware of who’s coming behind you and who’s wheel you can stay with 2. Bike power is key Your ability to surge for 5-15 sec …

Frankfurt Airport Runaround

If you’ve ever wanted to learn about running around Frankfurt, whether it’s the airport during a stopover or downtown by the river, read on. I was there twice recently, so thought the novelty of running around the airport was worth writing about. Definitely recommended if you have a layover…  Frankfurt airport run around: 19k, 90 …