Club News

Sunday February 10th 7:50 I arrived at the side door of UL to see very eager beginner triathletes waiting to get stuck in after the introduction and the niceties sorted it was down to busy. There were 12 athletes and myself with Brenda Cosgrove to help out as well, it was an  national & international training day, we had people from Cork and Sligo who live in Limerick 1 lady traveled up from Cork to do the training day, there were people from Canada and Brazil so all in all a good mix.

The swim was not just lengths it was what to expect in a triathlon swim in the safety of the pool surrounding but first they had to swim the length of the Olympic distance pool some for the first time. We practiced swim starts, going around buoys running in shallow water even the dives which were so much fun.

In my session I have ask a question policy this is where you can ask me a question at any time whether on your own (if you are nervous) or as a group. The way I see it is that someone might want to know the answer but has not thought of it at the time.

The bike session was a bit nervous for me as the weather could go anyway, but the tri gods shone on us. Only a small be of rain while the club cycle got battered with hail stones and they were only about 7k away on the other side of town. The first half of the cycle was group and rule of the road and cycling in a group cycle ethics. But the second half was up to the athlete and let the push it home or stay back with me and spin legs. Some went hard some didn’t each to their own.

After we got back from the bike it was food time were we went to the sports bar and this is where I get the greatest kick to see the food people buy the healthy lunch and then I arrived with a Gravy Chip and the eyes nearly pop out of their heads ☺

The run was split in two this time around one half out on the back field new outer track and the second half indoors. At the end of the session I asked all the athletes what would they like to do different and the feedback was amazing, it just shows that even after nearly 3 decades in this sport I am still learning

I would like to thank Mark and Brona in UL for opening the pool and Brenda for her help, the athletes for coming and the bad weather for staying away

Next Training day Sunday 17th Feb swim/turbo – turbo/run at UL 8 o clock this session you will need to bring your tri suit/turbo and keep an eye on the weather. This session is something I have done with Olympian Aileen Reid and Brian Keane so if it good enough for them it’s good enough for all other triathletes ☺

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Mark Dempsey