New Loop Record Holder

May 7th, 2010 by Gavin

“On Monday evening Irish Triathlete Gavin Noble set a new ‘LOOP RECORD’ in the Spanish fields. Pleased with his effort he commented

“I didn’t go out with the intention of setting a record but half way around I was feeling good and so pushed on. I am happy with the effort”.

Loop training has been used by athletes for many years. There are no spectators or prizes and athletes like Noble use various loops around the world.

”I like the loop. I train often on it. I get to know the distance and sometimes don’t even bring a watch. All my problems seem to get sorted out on the loop. I think about everything and nothing out there. A lot of the time I feel terrible on it and don’t even contemplate racing ‘shadow’ but sometimes I feel great and I chase him until the end”

There a few unwritten rules on the loop:

You cannot begin a record attempt and then pull out before the end.

You may decide during the loop to take a time but once you start or signal intent you have to see it through.

If you fail in your bid to set a new record no excuses are allowed and it is frowned upon to wear racing shoes, stretch or warm up before the loop start line. In particular ‘strides’ are outlawed.

Stopping your watch to cross a road or at any other time is also not allowed. Even ‘code brown’ is not a viable reason for stopping and re starting you watch. Such an event, particulary when one is on record pace is termed “tough shit”.

The best loops start within 100m of your front door and are not an exact distance. It is also preferred by the Loop Lords that they are not pancake flat.

If someone wants to know where the loop is you are under no obligation to reveal it but then again ‘no one likes a pr1ck’.

As any Loop Record holder will know it is a great feeling to check your watch at various points along the way and know your on record schedule

“I know places on the loop where I can go faster but I am not sure when ill attempt a new record run. Most of the time you cannot plan these things, they just happen”

“At the moment it is my Loop and I am the champ” Noble concluded with a cheeky smile.

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