“The season, overall had its ups and downs.  Mostly good performances and some not so good. I learned more from the bad ones

I learned how to suffer in the bad ones, when I felt like abandoning. A case in point was Caroline’s Race, when I did not feel right all week and felt horrendous in the race. As it turned out, the points I received when for finishing on 17^th were probably crucial for my final National Points Ranking.

The concentration on the national series, was intensive, but is actually the kind of pressure I respond to well and need, to keep me on track.  The planning of our goals and of all our races by the team and especially Darren Kelly was invaluable, as he worked out the logistics of what exactly we would need to do in terms of races in order to maximise our chances in the National Series.

I tended to work to achieving a peak and then clumping 2 sets of 3 races together. This worked for the first peak for Lough Ine, Athlone and Kinsale, which I was on top form for, not as well for Carolines Race, Gael Force and Dublin. The method of clumping the races though I think works for me overall followed by a very easy week.

 

I learned that consistency pays off.

 

12^th National Series individual ranking.

2nd Natioanl Age Group ranking 30-34.

National team Champions (Wicklow Team)

5 Wicklow Athletes in top 15 National Series Rankings!

Selection for worlds age group in Hungary and European in Ireland 2010.

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It is very difficult to maintain form throughout the year. There simply has to be blocks of racing and blocks of training. I don’t believe you can do both all of the time. From my initial contact with Adam and a short review of his 2008 season I suggested that he raced a little too much without breaks for training in between.

From a coaching perspective I found myself trying to contain Adam’s enthusiasm ! This was an athlete who loved to race and wanted to race to the best of his ability everytime. If I hadn’t of argued against it he would have raced every weekend, twice !

Recovery was key to Adams season – working in the fitness industry with Zest  meant that his work was additional training !  A swim trek holiday, a trip to the summit of Mont Blanc, some xterra races and Gael Force were all included into his season and so the programme needed to be adpated to make sure he recovered enough to be able to race.

In terms of recovery I think we got it right most of the time but sometimes:

when the dog sees the rabbit its hard to hold him back !!!!!

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Adam and I share a similar view on life – it’s all about experiences. I was really pleased that in 2010 Adam will challenge himself further and not limit things to the sometimes ‘stress’ of the National Series

 

“I always like to try new challenges, and snowboarding off MT Blanc is one of them.  I wont do the same challenge again, because life is too short.  Therefore I will not aim to concentrate on the national series again in 2010 “

 

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