And we are Off!

So winter training is up and going again;finally says ye. :P Most athletes are back into the swing of things but unfortunatly as always have lost a few which is very dissapointing and sad but as always a reality.But we already have 2/3 new athletes which is always good.Part of the reason we seem to progress every year is that when we lose 2/3 for whatever reason,exams,other sports etc;they are always replaced with 4/5 new athletes so alls good!

  Sandylane was the venue for our first session back last Saturday.While it was just a taster for next week some still found the gradual easing in session tough but all got through it unscathed in our lovely tropical weather of sunshine mixed with showers.

   Tralee Sports complex saw 16 early risers at 9.45am on Sunday morning for weights.Again this session was just to ease everybody back in with all athletes doing mainly squat and powerclean technique work.Thee few experienced athletes or athletes with good squat technique did a max sqaut test to help calculate their precentage weights for the months ahead.Needless to say i suprised myself maxing out a 135kg full squat which wasnt bad for my old age. :) The distance group have a seperate session on a Sunday from 1-2.30pm in Ballyseedy woods south entrance.While we were missing a few those who attended cruised around their LSR of 35 minutes looking very comfortable for this time of year;the cross country wont be a bother to them this year.
  Our circuit session took place in Ardfert hall on Tuesday from 7.45-9.15 but this isnt the finalised time and venue for this session.Again we had a good number for our first night with 20 athletes which were broken into two groups.Once again we just had an easy session for the first week but it looks like this is going to be a very intense and far more beneficial session than other years due to some new ideas i picked up while in Loughborough University last month.
  Wednesday and Thursday sees the older athletes do their own sessions at lunch at school and after school.Reports suggest most athletes did their fartlek session on Wednesday lunch at school with one Luke Griffin nearly missing biology class afterwards due to his inability to stand due to lactic acid after the session! :)
  On a competitive note Eoghan Courtney travelled to Waterford on Tuesday for the schools multi events.Eoghan is in the junior category and finished in a very close 2nd place only 27pts behind the winner Dan Finnerty of Nenagh with both over 3000pts;these scores would have got both athletes on last years irish schools team so it looks promising for both athletes at next Saturday September 25ths All Ireland schools combined events in Santry,Dublin.Eoghan had PBs in the 200m with 23.89,80m hurdles 11.89,Long Jump 5.46 and shot putt 9.65m.He also had a good performance in the high jump with 1.50m but by all accounts ran a very soft 800m which will needed to be improved upon dramatically if is to have a chance next week.Well done Eoghan.
   So a reminder,training again this Saturday from 1-2.30pm in Sandylane,banna for all u13+ athletes.Everyone is reminded to read below everything that is needed.
See you all then,
Shane.