What a great summer in Ireland!

My life as a full time coach……..

From the Division 1 and 2 National Championships to the Youth Olympics Festival and European Junior Championship and finishing with the British Age Group championship with mixed results in swimming most people would think it would be enough for one man.

Opening the Training Centre

But my drive to succeed as a sportsman brought me to open the Sports Ireland training centre “phase 1”. Not just a gym but a proper training facility with Richard Feeney to bring one of the first custom gyms where people are like athletes and reviewed on a regular basis. We basically focus on why they join and what are their short term and long term goals with monitoring and follow up. The centre also offers cross fit training, boot camps, slash hammer, tractor tyres, boxing, martial arts, dance classes, usual Pilates, yoga, capoeira etc….. with physio, chiro, acupuncture and massage clinics.

Irish Sport on the World Stage

Chris Jones moving from Triathlon Ireland to the Athletic Association of Ireland was also a significant move, and will hopefully bring the sports forward in the athletics endurance side of it. My athlete Barbara had the fastest marathon time in the country this year and had a European qualifying. I wish to congratulate Rob Heffernan on his gold medal at the worlds, such great results and achievement for him and his wife Marion. Fiona Doyle, Barry Murphy at the worlds swims champs with amazing results and finally the para Olympic team……. Ireland is rocking at the moment internationally.

The Rio Olympics will bring me some serious challenges for me to have some athletes over there. The talent is there, I would hope I am up to it as a skilled coach, but the support needs to be improved from the Irish sports structure. Not just funding but more access to sciences, facilities when needed on a regular basis and NGB supporting clubs and coaches also instead of extracting athletes from their environment neglecting the ground work being done locally.

I am happy in the last 14 years now, most of my athletes who kept training still contacting and train and have strong link with me in their adult hood as professional working with me, athletes or even become close friends.

Training and Ultra-Running

Recently we trained in Castlerea outdoor pool, with some of my crew and along in Loughrea lake for some nice and lake and cross fit training.

Finally, the Connemara 100 miles ultra-running event, brought our small ultra-running together again after Portumna forest marathon and the 24h in Belfast. A great atmosphere with great people for a long long run.

Every day is a new day to achieve something exceptional

Every day is a new day to achieve something exceptional, every day for me as a coach is to make someone achieve what they thought they could not or at least learn one new thing.

Time for coach Seb to go back training as well