Hi everyone here's what I got up to for training week 4.

It's been a quiet week on the training front,I've been moving house this week and this along with the tapering for the Kildare half marathon (doing very little to give your body a chance to recover for an event) and the step back week for the 6 weeks to try has left this report a bit bare,here's what I got up to anyway.

Monday and Tuesday: were rest days (apart from packing!)

Wednesday: More packing but managed to sneak out for a 3 mile run in 26 minutes,a bit too fast but needed to get out and got a bit carried away with my pace because I knew time was tight and I hadn't been out for a few days.

Thursday and Friday: were moving days so no training for me.

Saturday: Had a chance to go out on bike but Kildare tomorrow so decided to rest.I find the third day without exercise is always hard,feel the need to get out and do something but resisted the temptation as Kildare has been planned for 6 months now.

Sunday: Kildare half marathon Day.Met up with my friends from the 5k's last year at the Curragh race course,among them Sharon Ashmore,Julie,Ger,Seamus and Rebecca.Weather was nice but a bit windy.We set off just before 12 on the 13.1 mile course,starting with a lap of the race course,up to the army camp,out into the country and back through Kildare town to the Curragh race course.A very nice route.Race went well although I started too fast (still learning about pacing myself) I ran the first 7 miles with Julie before I couldn't keep up any longer and let her go ahead.We even had a nice chat with Ray D'Arcy on the way. The last 3 or 4 miles were hard though,my early pace took it's toll and I got slower and slower.I was very happy to see the finish line and even happier when a saw my time,a new PB by a good bit,all this training must be working!!

As I sit here writing this on Sunday evening with a cold beer and a warm glow (sunburn and satisfaction) I'm thinking it's days like this that running is all about for me.It's nice to get a PB but nicer to share the experience with good friends and just enjoy it and have fun.I'm sure our TryAthy is going to be the same on the June bank holiday and I'm really looking forward to it.

Hopefully I'll get a bit more training done next week,not long to go now. Hope all your training is going well too.

I have swimmer's ear,saddle sores and jogger's nipple,am I a triathlete yet?

All joking aside,a bit of a mixed week as other things got in the way of my training this week,here's what I got up to.

Monday:Felt good after the training camp yesterday.This is my usual day for my long run and will probably be the last long one before Kildare on the 13th.Did a nice 10 miles in 1:43,happy with that.(wore my 6 weeks to try T shirt,showing off a bit...ha ha)

Tuesday:Rest day,always nice after a long run.

Wednesday:Went for another run,seems to be my default position.If I'm pushed for time or not sure what to do I go for a run,I suppose it's what I'm most comfortable with at the moment. Did 6 miles in 58 minutes.I found some time this evening to make some adjusments to my bike, as suggested by Angela and couldn't resist the temptation to go for a spin and see if they helped.Ended up doing the same 6 mile route I ran earlier in 26 minutes.It felt a lot better than before,I'm actually using the right muscles for cycling now and that makes a big difference.

Thursday:Tight for time again,I put the runners on.My daughter Emma(13) asked could she come with me on her bike and I was only too happy to say yes.Repeated the same 6 mile route for the 3rd time in 2 days and completed it in just over the hour but happy to get out and very happy with the company.

Friday:I had intended to have a swim/brick session but it didn't quite work out timewise and ended it up being a rest day.

Saturday:Cycle day.A very enjoyable 12.5 mile cycle in about an hour.I'm feeling more confident on the bike now and don't even mind hills too much,I still hate the wind though!!

Sunday:I went to watch the Boyne 10k road race.Strange being a spectator and not being involved but enjoyed cheering a few friends up the hill to the finish.Went for another run this evening,5.8 miles in 57 minutes with Emma for company again. As I said,a mixed week but still enjoyable.Didn't get a swim,which is disappointing but this next week is taper week for the half in Kildare so I hope to get to the pool for a swim while I give the legs a rest from running.

Well, week 1 of the 6 weeks to try is done and here's how it went for me:

Monday: As I said last week I have a fair level of fitness from running and I guess this week will see how fit I really am and how well that fitness carries over to other disciplines.I've been signed up to do the Kildare half marathon in 3 weeks, (with Sharon Ashmore) for a good while now and we are about at the longest training runs now.We already had a long run planned for today before I won the Tryathlete competition so when I saw that the schedule called for a run I went ahead with it.I did 10 miles in 1:46, I know this is a lot more than the schedule called for and I hope it doesn't scare any newcomers, it's taken me a good length of time to get up to that level and that wouldn't be a regular run for me if I wasn't building up to Kildare in 3 weeks.

Tuesday:Rest day.Just as important as training days,let's your body recover.

Wednesday:Bike day No 1.I'd been looking forward to this, but been a bit nervous too.I haven't been on a bike in about 6 months and it would be interesting to see how my fitness would carry over to the bike.I borrowed my son's mountain bike and set off on a route that would be easy to shorten or lengthen depending on how I was feeling.I was happy with how it was going and decided to keep going longer than than the 30 mins on the plan because I was enjoying it and felt ok.Probably shouldn't have though because after about 40 minutes legs got very tired and I had to walk up a few hills at that stage. One very good piece of advice I would recommend from the plan is "listen to your body". I could have pushed on up those hills but there's no point injuring yourself or ending up too sore to train for the rest of the week.There's absolutely no reason to be embarrassed or upset if you have to walk a bit on a training run or cycle.

Thursday:The plan calls for a rest day but I changed things around slightly and went for another run. Enjoyable 5 miles in 48 minutes.

Friday:Changed things around a bit again and went for my first brick session.Haven't been swimming in about 6 months either so was looking forward to getting back in the water.Bearing in mind the listen to your body advice I brought my running gear AND a change of ordinary cloths so I could see how the swim went and either run or go home depending on how I felt.It went well,found the swim hard but enjoyed it,did a very gentle 300 metres with lots of breaks to get my breath back.Decided to have a go at the 400metres that we would be doing in Athy against the clock and with as few breaks as possible.I found the last 150 metres tough going,my shoulders were tired and my breathing very heavy but I made it.I even found it hard lifting myself up onto the poolside at the end.I quickly left the pool and got changed and decided to opt for the run.It was a bit strange running after a swim and I can definely see the benifit of brick sessions now.At the start of the run my legs felt fresh but the rest of me felt as if I'd already been running for a good while.(must remember to bring a drink and a few sweets in my changing bag next time,think that would have helped)The run went well though and my first brick session was done. 400 metre swim 14 mins/3.5 mile run 34 mins.

Saturday:Rest day to make up for missing Thursday

Sunday:Nice 5 mile cycle to round off the week,even managed to miss all the showers. I've really enjoyed my first week of the "6 weeks to try" and I'm looking forward to week 2.Hope it's all going well for you too. Paul

Hello everyone. Well the entrys are in,my name is on the starters list and the profiles are gone up so I suppose I'd better introduce myself a little. I'm one of the 7 lucky people who won the Tryathlete competition and now have the chance to do my first triathlon with the help of the organisers of Triathy.

Up until just over a year ago I had never taken part in any kind of sporting event,let alone a run/race.I was a fairly unfit 42 year old ex smoker but that all changed when Ray D'Arcy announced a series of 5k runs around the country and a couch to 5k training plan.I had a look at it and it didn't seem too bad,even for me and after a bit of will I/won't I, I decided to sign up.

The training went well with the help of the plan, gradually building up towards 5k over the space of about 5 weeks.What was also a great help was a facebook page,like this one,where all us newbies could come and chat about how we were doing in training and share our problems,achievements,tips and more than a few laughs.

The Ray 5k run was my first non stop 5k and the atmosphere and buzz on the day along with the sense of achievement got me hooked.Along with the great new friends I'd made through the facebook page,we entered more races through the year,eventually getting as far as a half marathon in the phoenix park in September.

I'd been to watch a triathlon in May last year and thought I'd love to give it a go,but felt slightly intimidated by the thought of it.

When I heard about the tryathy I thought it sounded pefect for us begineers and I'm delighted to have won the competition and be on my way to Athy in 6 weeks time!!

Anyway sorry for going on a bit,just wanted to introduce myself. Please feel free to tell your stories or let us know how training is going for you and hopefully we will all help each other along this road to the Tryathy in 6 weeks time.