Yet another busy year with my training distance slightly up on 2010 but because I also had less rest days my average run distance is down. When compared with last year's figures I estimate that I should have covered at least 600K (372 Miles) more and it seems that the shorter races were at the expense of more important longer runs as they usually fall on the same day. For 2012 I'll be a bit more selective and not race as often unless of course it fits in with my plan or I can afford the time.
The year started with an early call from Ultra Running Ireland asking if I'd run on the Irish Team for the 100K Anglo Celtic Plate to be held in Scotland in March. A great start and I followed this with another 2 appearances on the Irish Team with the Trail World Championships on home soil in Connemara and the 100K World & European Championships (&Masters) in Winschoten, Holland.
Anglo Celtic Plate 2011
The year started with an early call from Ultra Running Ireland asking if I'd run on the Irish Team for the 100K Anglo Celtic Plate to be held in Scotland in March. A great start and I followed this with another 2 appearances on the Irish Team with the Trail World Championships on home soil in Connemara and the 100K World & European Championships (&Masters) in Winschoten, Holland.
Trail World Championships 2011
100K World & European Championships.
The 24-hr World & European Championships to be held in Brugg Switzerland was cancelled and attempts to find an alternative venue were unsuccessful and the race was officially cancelled in March. This was to be my goal race for 2011 and although disappointed I was consoled with the other opportunities to run on the Team.
Rather than waste my event specific endurance training I then decided to to take part in the Energia Belfast 24-hr Race which was also the Irish Championships but because it was only 2 weeks after the Trail World Championships I wasn't fully committed and my training became trail specific. An early fall in the Trail World Championships slowed my pace significantly and I finished the Race knowing I wouldn't need much recovery for the 24-hr Race and I was right as I went on to win the 24-hr Race and the Irish Title.
2011 also saw the release of the 'Running Man', a documentary by Caroline Brennan and Giant Leap Production which followed my preparation and build up to the 24-hr World & European Championships in 2010. And in September there was a big screen Premier of 'Defining Moment', a feature length documentary following my participation in the Spartathlon and telling the story of how I came to be there.
On Location in the French Alps.
Stats:
Total Distance = 5500K (3250 Miles)
Rest Days = 69
Running Related injuries= 0
International Appearances = 3
Personal Bests = 5
Races = 15 which included:
Races = 15 which included:
1. Donadea 50K
2. Anglo Celtic Plate 100K
4. Energia Belfast 24-hr Race & Irish Championships
5. 100K World & European (& Masters) Championships.
6. National Novices Cross Country, running on Kildare Team.
As well as the above I raced a few shorter distances on road and cross country representing Club & County.
Other Stuff:
Other Stuff:
- Profiled in Irish Runner.
- Profiled in Runner's World.
- Contributed to Feature in Runner's World
- Irish 24-hr Running Champion.
- Running Man Documentary
- Defining Moment, Feature Length Documentary
- Raced or Ran in France / Switzerland / Holland / England / Scotland / Gran Canaria.
- Outsider People of Year List 2011.
My thanks to:
- My Family for their continued support.
- The Great Outdoors.
- Salomon Running.
- Saucony.
- Le Cheile Athletic Club.
- Ultra Running Ireland and my Team Mates & Support Crews
- Martin McCann & Lateral Vision Productions.
- John Belton and Staff at No17 Personal Training.
- Peter Matthews, Sports Massage Therapist.
- Caroline Brennan, Giant Leap Productions.
