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<channel><generator>iloblog 1.0</generator><title>Aileen&#039;s blog Feed</title><link>http://blog.aileenmorrison.com/</link><description>&lt;a href=&quot;http://aileenmorrison.com/index.html&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Home &lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://blog.aileenmorrison.com&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Blog&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href=&quot;http://aileenmorrison.com/results.html&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Results&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href=&quot;http://gallery.aileenmorrison.com&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Gallery&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href=&quot;http://aileenmorrison.com/sponsors.html&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Sponsors&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href=&quot;http://aileenmorrison.com/contact.html&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Contact&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href=&quot;http://aileenmorrison.com/links.html&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Links &lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;</description><item><title>DMC Santini</title><link>http://iloapp.aileenmorrison.com/blog/blog?Home&amp;post=72</link><description><![CDATA[   Visit the DMC stand at this weekends bike show at the RDS to see DMC Santini custom suits!    AILEEN MORRISON’S LONDON DREAM FURTHER ASSISTED by DMC Sports  



 DMC
Sports Ireland, the Irish distributor for the Santini brand amongst
others, has today announced a sponsorship agreement of London 2012 hopeful,
triathlete Aileen Morrison. The agreement will run to London 2012 and beyond. 



 Commenting
on the agreement, Aileen – currently ranked 7th in the ITU World
Rankings – said, “For any athlete, sponsorship is important. Furthermore it is
good to have the support of companies in the know, and that they see me as a
good enough athlete to want to support. It’s a confidence booster for me”.    

 Aileen Morrison's new
tri-suit in Monica fabric with Acquazero treatment 



 Earlier
in 2012, Triathlon Ireland announced an apparel agreement with DMC Sports and
Santini. Since the beginning of the season, Triathlon Ireland wears both
technical and leisure garments from the Italian based clothing company.
According to David McQuaid, Managing Director of DMC Sports, an independent
sponsorship of a high profile elite Irish Triathlete was the next step. “  

 Naturally
the sponsorship of Aileen is somewhat value added to our initial kit
sponsorship with Triathlon Ireland, but it is a little bit more than that.
During the winter we worked all three parties on the development of a high-end
world class Santini tri suit from scratch. It was there that I came across
Aileen and found her to be not just professional and pleasant, but extremely
willing to be involved and lend her experience. Aileen is an asset to a
sponsor,” he said. 

 The Derry native has been in blistering form this season, already
netting two podium positions, firstly at the first ITU European Cup of the
season, at Quarteira in Portugal and following this on with another silver
podium position at the ITU World Cup in Japan. “I met David during the winter
when we were prototype testing the new suit. I’m happy to be supported by DMC
because it allows me now to have the performance kit that I need to compete at
the highest level in WTS and look good doing it” she said, before further
adding “ DMC are also helping me with some travel costs this year which takes a
lot of pressure off me in an Olympic year, by being able to go to all the races
I need to go to, to enable me to move forward in my sport”. 



 Commenting
on the new clothing itself, Paola Santini, Marketing Manger of Santini
explains, “This was a project. It started from point zero. And gradually we
developed in house the suits following the requests and indications of the
Elites”. 



 “The
suit is made of what we refer to as Monica fabric, elastic but very compact, it
provides both muscles compression and support. But our finishing touch is the Acquazero
treatment. This water-repellent treatment is exclusive to Santini and still
allows the suit to maintain it’s original features” 



 “One request coming from our
Irish distributor’s side was that the end suit was 100% customisable. Well the
Monica fabric is printable through sublimation, and all suits that we will
provide to Triathlon Ireland in 2012 will be printed” she said. 

 “The
material makes for fast swimming” Aileen added. 



 Aileen
next competes in Dunkerque in France on May 20th, before joining her
Triathlon Ireland teammates for the Madrid round of the World Cup Series on May
26th.  
 ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 09:48:56 +0100</pubDate><category>my blog</category></item><item><title>Silver in Ishagaki World Cup (again)</title><link>http://iloapp.aileenmorrison.com/blog/blog?Home&amp;post=71</link><description><![CDATA[ In my second visit to Ishagaki, I picked my my second silver. I was ranked no 4 going into the race, but I knew it was Kathy Tremblay I had to watch out for after her 6th place finish in Sydney WTS last week. I was surprised by the fast run of fellow canadian Sarah-Anne Buralt, who put I admittedly had somewhat of a tactical battle with. I tried to overtake her and she didn't let me, so I let her run in front and tire before I went for it. Sorry, but thats racing!    I did have a good swim again, exiting the water in 2nd behind Kathy. I thought we might have a small group but we ended up in one large group anyhow, which was more like a primary school slow bicycle race with a few sprints out of the corners thrown in, just for the craic.   Anyhow I stayed in the first 4 wheels to cover any breakaways, avoid crashes, and try to get myself in a good position for T2. I failed miserably on the last goal, and exited T2 way behind Kathy who had a mad dash for it on the way in (way behind in triathlon terms means 8-10seconds). I tried to close the deficit, but didn't want to blow the gasket. Then sarah and I had our wee battle (she is infact lovely) and I came away with silver in another World Cup I can be happy with.      Earlier in the week i was invited to the press conference, which was fun. Im not sure why the lads put their hand on the hips when the dude asked us to make 'guns', it looks v funny!  Off home now for 3 weeks, a FGP for my new team Poissy, and Madrid WTS.  
 ]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 22 Apr 2012 15:52:08 +0100</pubDate><category>my blog</category></item><item><title>Sydney WTS</title><link>http://iloapp.aileenmorrison.com/blog/blog?Home&amp;post=70</link><description><![CDATA[ So its now a World Triathlon Series and this years first, in Sydney was another mixed bag for me.    Image Delly Carr- ITU Media. Thats me 3rd from left.   I exited the water 4th just after Helen &amp; Emma Moffat, Go me. I told you I could swim.   Then had a good bike ride and just didn't feel good on the run. A bit of funny tummy &amp; just feeling wick, I cant explain it all, other than I know I could have run better. I will take a 28th nevertheless and remember the days i didn't swim 4th fastest!   Never mind, onto Ishagaki on Monday with Chris, Deirdre &amp; Gav.   Gav done well in 35th, and we were both so pleased to have the Irish support here in Australia (via some of my family and the half of ireland who seem to work here) and support on Twitter etc. Thank you guys. Lots.  What a fab pic.  
 ]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 14 Apr 2012 13:31:51 +0100</pubDate><category>my blog</category></item><item><title>Sydney</title><link>http://iloapp.aileenmorrison.com/blog/blog?Home&amp;post=69</link><description><![CDATA[ Just up for an early cycle around Sydney city centre. 6am gets you 10laps around the botanical gardens, with a photo opportunity.     Sydney WCS is at 7.36am Saturday 14th. And i'm no 4! Gone just pinch me. Gav is off then about 9.30 ish, and we are both off to Ishagaki, Japan on Monday for a WC on Sunday 22nd.   Hopefully a good start to a good year!  
 ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:29:16 +0100</pubDate><category>my blog</category></item><item><title>Silver in Quarteria ETU</title><link>http://iloapp.aileenmorrison.com/blog/blog?Home&amp;post=68</link><description><![CDATA[  I arrived for my first
race of 2012 in good spirits. I had raced Quarteria (Portugal) European Cup
Triathlon before in 2009, so I was familiar with the course and my past block
of training at home has gone really well. 

 2weeks ago I competed
in a 5k at Gransha Park in aid of Foyle Hospice, a locally organised race was
fantastic warm up to my season on the international stage. My time was good-
17.11, but I paced my self badly going out too hard. 

 I was ranked no1 going
into the race which adds a bit of pressure, but is nice too.  

 There was a swim
familiarisation on Friday, with strong winds the sea was rough. Being used to
swimming in the Donegal beaches from my surf lifesaving days it didn’t phase
me. 

 At the race I was
called to the start line first and got a good cheer from the crowd. When the
horn went I got a good start but after a few hundred meters a girl swam on top
of me a few times and then grabbed my hat and dunked me. I was outraged so I grabbed her back!
Girls racing is notorious for bitchiness but this was silly- it wasn’t helpful
for she or I. I panicked a bit and lost ground on a group of 5 girls who got
away. I ended up in a second pack on the bike doing a lot of hard work to try
to catch up to no avail. Once onto the run I was a full 60seconds behind the
leaders for the 10k run. But on the first lap I caught 3 of them! Then the
number 3 ranked athlete Carol Peon of France on the last lap, but unfortunately
not the Spaniard Anoua Moura. Silver in my first race, but also an amazing run
after getting beaten up in the swim. 

 Having some points on
the 2012 bag is also helpful, but I have a really good ranking from last year.
My Olympic ranking was 11 at the end of last year which means even though
Olympic qualification doesn’t end until June I am certain to stay in the top 55
starters; and therefore don’t need to race again before London. For me I still
need to compete in European races to boost my confidence, and in World series
events to get more experience competing at the top level.  

  It was great to have
loads of support at the race with mum &amp; dad and some of the Northern
Ireland Athletics team who are here on a training camp. 

 I’m home to NI on
Monday, and then I fly to Sydney for a World Series event on Saturday and onto
a World cup event in Ishagaki, Japan. After that I have 3 week of hard training
at home. I will keep you all updated! 
 ]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 31 Mar 2012 23:56:14 +0100</pubDate><category>my blog</category></item><item><title>Sun &amp; Snow in Sierra Nevada.</title><link>http://iloapp.aileenmorrison.com/blog/blog?Home&amp;post=67</link><description><![CDATA[  The Centro Altitud is like a big space ship. 

 At 2350m above sea level It’s both sunny and snowy.  

 The cycle from the nearest city of Granada is 31k and takes me 2hours
uphill. 

 The run from Sierra Nevada village at 2200m 8k uphill to the military
base at 2550m takes 41minutes 30s. 

 Last nite was -8 when I got there.     With everything under one roof Spain’s Altitude centre is an athletes
haven for every kind of sport. The 50m pool has underwater cameras, underwater
viewing areas, even plasma tv poolside. The rest- weights room, cardio room,
indoor 100m track, outdoor track, analysis centre, sports med &amp; physio
included so we can monitor blood markers for iron/ hemoglobin/ hematacrit. Breakfast,
lunch, dinner &amp; wifi under the same roof to train 24-7 is just about
perfect. Day off? In 3 weeks here we have 1, I’m happy to sleep &amp; read.
I’ve read 2 books since I’ve been here (I’d recommend both Nicolas Roche &amp;
Andre Agassi).  

 We’ve also cycled up the mountain 4times so far, and run to the top
from here 3. I’ve had my first experience on rollers (sorry Declan), and my
first track session of 2012 in Granada (8x split 800s, 45rest 3m between
sets). Coach Chris &amp; SINI
physiologist Declan were here for 10days and have handed over to Tommy for the
remainder. We even had a visit from RTE folk for a wee slot on winning streak
on Saturday night. Alls well and the craic is ninety with Conor, Gav and
Caroline for company. Basically
its been all go since my last blog and to fill you in on the rest…. 

   

 After Tongyeong I had some time off, headed home to Derry and on some
holimadays to Portugal to lye in the sunshine a few days. With no more than a few lengths granny
stroke and a walk as means of exercise for 2 weeks it was poles apart from my
daily routine.  

 I was asked back to talk to the ‘sporty kids’ in my old school
(Thornhill) and to St Cecilias where I had done my PE teaching practice a few
years ago. I hope I said all the
right things!  

 I was nominated as Novembers Irish Times sportswoman of the month and
got to attend the end of year prize ceremony where Nina Carberry (Jockey)
picked up the overall 2011 honors. 

 In December I headed off to my winter ‘home’ in Aguilas to swim/ bike/
run/ eat/ sleep in the sunshine. Apart from the usual Gav &amp; Connor, we were
joined by a host of others including Martin Muldoon Irish Ironman, Caroline
Ryan Irish track cyclist, Philip Deginan pro-cyclist and young Jack Wilson who
cycles with my club in Lisburn. Athletes Darren McBrearty &amp; Thomas Chamney
joined in the craic to make great entertainment at the dinner table and meant
we had a whole room full of Irish to cheer on Fionnuala Britton (coached by
Chris) to European Cross Country success. 
The camp was fab as always, and a few 4 hour rides in the mountains set
me up for a Lap-of-the-Lough with the Maryland boys when I got home 3 days
before Christmas! (Lough Neagh that is- 89miles in 4hours 51mins) 

  Christmas brought a Downtown Abbey box set and no actual days off as I
opted for a 5k road race in Stranolar on boxing day. I thought it would be fun
to go all out from the start (cos it was only 5k), but it was in fact no fun at
all at 3k when I reached a new max heart rate of 177! I was just glad to finish
in 18.30ish, It was actually a 1minute 30s pb as I hadn’t done a 5k since being
a ‘serious athlete’ some 4 years ago. I tried again on new years eve at a ‘Park
Run’ 5k in Cavehill where I was a bit more conservative and managed a similar
time 18.45ish over a tougher course. Happy enough I suppose with only winter
aerobic miles in my legs. 

 With the race season fast approaching I need to start thinking about
which races to do. Having signed this year for the best French Team, POISSY,
I’m hoping to open up with a Duathlon (run bike run) for them if it works out,
before taking on an ETU and then the first WCS of the year in Sydney which will
be a big race, with all the big guns. Then flying the following week to the
Japanese Island of Isgahaki where I bagged a silver medal last year. 

 So my first few races should look like this;   FGP Duathlon, Vitrolles, France 11 March, TBC.   ETU cup Quarteria, Portugal 31 March WCS Sydney,   Aus 14 April WC Ishagaki, Japan 22 April. 

 After that I’ll regroup, though have a rough idea of what I hope to do,
I’ll leave it at that for now. 

 Lastly well done and good luck to my world class swimming, cycling and
running buddies. Beth Carson of Lisburn won 2 bronze medals in 2.02.44 200fc &amp;
100.86 100fly at the weekend in Luxembourg. Whilst Caroline Ryan will head on
to a bike track camp in prep for the London World Cup, and Amy Foster will be looking
a to dominate in the Irish Indoors 60m 12feb at the Odyssey. Go the girlies! 

 Hope you all are training hard, and have got your hotel/ tent for staying in Hyde Park in August!  Aileen x.  
 ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:58:58 +0000</pubDate><category>my blog</category></item><item><title>Silver in Tongyeong</title><link>http://iloapp.aileenmorrison.com/blog/blog?Home&amp;post=66</link><description><![CDATA[ In my last race of the year I bagged myself a medal in Tongyeong World Cup. Jess ran away with the gold whilst Zurine Rodriguez was challanged to the end for bronze by Carole Peon. Its a short one today cos im off to pack and party! 2 weeks off yeaaaaaaa.   
 ]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 15 Oct 2011 08:26:29 +0100</pubDate><category>my blog</category></item><item><title>Huatulco &amp; YOU magazine</title><link>http://iloapp.aileenmorrison.com/blog/blog?Home&amp;post=65</link><description><![CDATA[  Inside YOU magazine. Go me. Great pics by Patrick Bolger.     What a cool airport,
thatched roof building, palm trees, 1 check in desk, 1 gate, 5minutes from
drop-off to boarding door. The flight is a bit bumpy on them short trips tho.
Anyhow, yes Huatulco was hot, and so we had prepared well in Florida. But the
hill was the killer. 20% grade (or so) at the bottom, and so I was glad Gav had
convinced me to put on the 27. I tested it and could climb it in the 25, but
standing entirely, and I wouldn’t have been able to run very far after. I knew
either Flora or Sarah would take out the swim, but I had a good start and 2nd
round the first bouy, I felt like I could swim faster so tried to overtake
Sarah into the beach, as did Flora but Sarah got the prime. I held a good
position into the 2nd lap, but I don’t think we swam all that fast?
It would have been nicer to drop a few non-swimmers and get a small pack. On
the first time up the hill we had a big enough pack and the cameraman on the
motorbike stopped (sideways) in the middle of the road. I was near the front
and was able to avoid him by going left but the girls who went right got taken
out. Natalie (one of my new Aussie friends) and race no1 Mauoua went down, and
when they recovered they were caught by 2nd pack. I stayed at the
front on the hill and tried to push a bit of pace, I’d rather be the dropper
than the dropee (if there is such a word). But apart from that, again a lot of
the girls were taking it easy for the run. I knew that Mazzetti, and
Dalmincourt would be fast, and I took the lead in the run for the first lap,
but they both passed me as did Ide (at speed) and my wee legs couldn’t keep up
with them after the hills. I felt a bit crappy for the first 2 laps, but
probably held my speed on the 3rd &amp; 4th. Finishing in
4th was a good day at the office, I was happy with swim/ bike/
transitions and ran as fast as my legs would allow after the hills. I don’t
imagine it will be my best run time, but neither will it be for anyone. It was
a course that suited small light girls (&amp; guys) who could get up the hill
easy, and still run after. Luckily I didn’t have then to worry about
anti-doping nor medal presentations as I was home/ changed/ packed for the
airport in 2 hours. 

 In different news I
got yesterday, I was in a magazine at home. YOU mag a supplement with the Irish
Daily Mail. I even made the front cover with a wee spread in the middle. A
lovely lady (Michelle Flemming) interviewed me one day and decided to send me
to a professional photographer (Patrick Bolger- great work) with all the hair
and make-up and designer clothes from fashionista wardrobe lady. It was a
really fun day as I done it on a day off. Felt like one of them off Americas
next top model- though I had no other girls to bitch fight with like they do on
the telly (gotta love that show). Big shoes, orange lippy, and a wind machine!  
 ]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:42:09 +0100</pubDate><category>my blog</category></item><item><title>Beijing and Yokahama.</title><link>http://iloapp.aileenmorrison.com/blog/blog?Home&amp;post=64</link><description><![CDATA[  Beijing  After Tizzy I got back into the swing
pretty quickly when physio Dee fixed me up nice. It was back to the 7 cycle
session per week and some decent warm weather training in the SINI lab. Tommy
pushed me on the Scarva hill, and Sleivegullion where we found a 17% climb. Who
needs the Alps when you have Northern Ireland? Declan brought two heaters into
the lab to recreate some heat and I was all set for Beijing. With a decent support
crew in Dee, Chris, Tommy and Matt, myself Gav and young Ben arrived in good spirits.
On the Friday night I sneezed 3 times in a row and took a Vitamin C hoping it
was nothing. I spent all day Saturday in bed/ drinking hotwater with lemon and
manuka honey feeling a bit shi**y. I was determined this course would suit me
and the training I had done with the hills so nothing was gonna put me off.    

 (pic) Gav, Tommy &amp; I took a bike ride to the great wall!   I got the worst start imaginable, followed
by the worst swim ever- I got ducked under no less than three times and
suffered a few nice bruises. As I got on my bike I hammered it up the hill and
didn’t stop until we caught another bunch on the third lap. I stayed near the
front all the time and was extremely happy with my bike. Although there was a
small group in front, the 3 Emmas, Spirig and a few other hot favs were in my
pack. I tried to run with Jackson on the first lap but didn’t have the zip. I
managed to pick up speed on the uphills and on the 3rd lap picking
off a few, finishing a credible 18th to match my London result, and
with a decent run split. At the line I told Chris and Dee it hurt the most of
all my races, but it felt great to be up there on the bike and in control. I
felt so proud of the work I had done and thankful to Tommy for the relentless
biking. Although front pack would have been nice, it was to me my best and
hardest race this season. 

 Ben managed a breakaway on the bike (go u)
but was passed by the fast runners and finished 30th in the U23 race,
Gav made front pack and ran himself into 26th. I enjoyed a night in Beijing with my big
sis Ruth who lives in Hong Kong; she and hubby had come to cheer me on. We
visited Tianiam square, the Forbidden city and the silk market where I got lots
of knock off stuff! T’was great to see my sis.    

   

 Yokahama  Gav, Tommy and I stayed a few days longer
in Beijing training there as opposed to Japan as we knew we could cycle there.
We arrived in Yokahama on the Thursday and we cooked. Boy it was nice to be in
Japan, a very western culture compared to China. I only had a few quick hits of
training that week as I had 7days between races, but I felt good. It was hot
and Chris advised me to go out hard on the run (‘as if it’s a 5k’ he says!), as
everyone would die off anyway, and it would be a procession from there. I thought
I might as well try it as I had done it the other way in Pontevedra and that
got me no-where. (pic Delly Carr ITUmedia)    

 I felt sick before the start somewhere
between nerves and the amount of water I had consumed. But this time I was
prepared for a fast start, and managed to be 3rd around the first
bouy behind super swimmer Lucy Hall and Helen Jenkins. I stayed with them but
not exactly on-feet until the second lap where they had a slight lead into
transition, but I was still 26seconds up on the chase pack! Wow go me and my
swim! With Lucy &amp; Helen already away I might as well sit up and wait as I
wasn’t going to catch them on my own. I had a wee drink and spin until the pack
caught me. The course was flat but had 10 corners every lap. Tommys advice was
to stay near the front, with seated accelerations so as not to waste energy
surging or standing with the yo-yo effect at the back. I did, and I think it
worked. It also meant I had good positioning into T2. I also took Chris’s crazy
advice and went out hard. I took water at every aid station pouring it over my
head in desperate attempt to cool off. Hewitt and Moffatt made an early lead,
but I tried to stay with Helen when she passed me. I ran with Lisa Norden,
Jackson, and Kate McIlroy on my heels for the most of the race. I tried to
inject pace every now and then to burn them off as I didn’t fancy a sprint at
the end. Kate and I dropped Lisa and Emma, and managed to pass Helen on the
last lap who was suffering in the heat. Kate then passed me with 800 to go and
I didn’t have anything left, just making it to the line at this stage would be
nice please. A 4th place at a WCS is my best result this year.
Totally happy with my swim/ bike/ run/ transitions/ attitude I think it’s the
first time this year I managed to put it all together. And that’s what this
game is about for me now. I know I can swim/ bike/ run well, I just have to do them
well on the same day, have a good attitude in the race and have a wee bit of
luck on my side. (For those of you are saying ‘what does luck matter?’ it
matters because luck dictates how many times you get hit in the swim/ if
someone crashes in front of you/ you get a silly wee injury that pops up the
day before a race etc etc etc).  

   

 Sometimes things are out of your control,
but you can work on things that aren’t- attitude to racing, being aggressive on
the bike, having the mentality to stay focused when things don’t go to plan,
believing that you deserve to be in the front pack, and at the front of the
front pack into T2. Knowing that you can run well in hot races, cycle hard up
hard hills, believing you still have legs for the run after a hard bike. I’m starting to believe. 

   

   

    Florida baby 

 2 races down and 2 to go in my
round-the-world adventure (with 3 weeks in the middle). 14 flights over 6 weeks
of racing, travelling and training. It was good to be in the one place for a
while, but preparing for a hot race means training in heat. You’d think this
would be fun, but running at 1.30pm in 40degree heat with no water was not fun.
The wee Aussie chicks have one-up on me there and my 4x2k turned into 2x2k and
make it back to the van before passing out. My Internal organs suffered that
day. But other days were more fun. Gav and I stayed at the AAA Triathlon
Training Centre C/o John and Jodi. Jamie Turner an Aussie Junior coach brought
a bunch of ones there last year and we decided to jump on the bandwagon as we
needed somewhere hot and some training partners. Both those worked out well and
I got my ass kicked a few times in the process. We only trained once at the NTC
in Clermont as it was quite expensive but the area was nice. I’d return for a
similar heat experience or recommend it to a friend. Finding hills was a
different matter in flat Florida. We were recommended to go to Sugarloaf
mountain the steepest and longest hill in the area. A total of 2minutes 30s of
riding time. Though we also used a hill in the middle of a housing estate that
we got 50seconds out of. I hope it helps for Huatulco, the hill on the course
is 19% at the bottom, so I’ve borrowed a 27 from John. I am ranked no2 in the
race, but I’d never under estimate any of the junior athletes who haven’t raced
much on the world circuit. Sarah Haskins is ranked no3 and I’m sure she’ll head
out the beach-start swim fast. Maybe my surf-lifesaving skills from a former
life will come in useful? Being highly ranked is pretty awesome, but there is
also a wee bit more pressure as people expect something. I’d normally look at
the other athletes arriving at the airport seeing who was there and what shape
they looked to be in. I noticed one of the girls on the plane nudge another to
say ‘look there’s that Irish girl’ made me chuckle. I fly out straight after
the race for my final race in Tongyeong. I’ll only have 6 days between as I
will travel forward in time! That will be a challenge of recovery. Optimum
protein bar, ice bath, debuild bike, asics compression socks, fly (ok 2x
flights, an overnight in LA and another flight), land, sleep, 4 days easy
training before the last race. 

   
 ]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 07 Oct 2011 22:24:33 +0100</pubDate><category>my blog</category></item><item><title>Pontevedra Hamburg London &amp; Tizzy</title><link>http://iloapp.aileenmorrison.com/blog/blog?Home&amp;post=63</link><description><![CDATA[  I hope readers will forgive me for not
blogging. But, its hard to blog when your down, disappointed with your results.
Not just because they weren’t great results, but because I know I’m better than
that. Also because I don’t want to make excuses for my bad races. It is my
fault if I swim poorly, mess up transition, am a coward on the bike, or if I’m
just not fit enough. Yes I follow direction from a coach, but in the end of the
day I have to do the work, and feed back if things are going to plan. 

 I've done a quick summary of each race.  

    Pontevedra   So the races didn’t go to plan. I was all
hyped up for the European Champs. I had prepared to the best of my ability and
everything was going to plan, with regards to training and targeting the race
for a potential medal. When I arrived at the race I practiced everything from
the swim exit &amp; dives, to bike transitions. The few days before the race
were very hot and I also hydrated well and was prepared for a hot race.   I swam
amazing to be in a brake-away group of 5. I hung on their wheels but the bike
was hard and hot. We were caught after 2 laps. In transition the ground was so
hot my feet were burning and I made a conscious decision not to max the first k
as I knew half the field would blow up. I was full of water and my legs felt
like crap after the hard bike. I ended up a disappointing 13th.      I
was disappointed with my race and how much effort I had put into it the
previous weeks. I chalked it up as a bad day but also reflected that I needed
more bike work. 

   

 Hamburg 

 In those 3weeks before Hamburg I had 2 days
off the bike. I developed a sore bum from so much bike work, I was swimming
well and my training on the whole was as good as ever. I swam the first 400
again amazingly well to be looking across at Lucy Hall on my right I knew I was
flying. Unfortunately I couldn’t hold the pace and by the time I got to
transition I had redlined and been in redline mode for quite a while. As I hung
on Moffat’s wheel going up the hill Hewitt and some others passed me. A gap
opened at the top of the hill and couldn’t close it cos I was breathing out my
ass! I joined the second pack and started the run with them, running the 10th
fastest time and placing 30? Its no use running the 10th fastest
from the second pack tho and it was back to the drawing board to sort out some
swim endurance. Moffat won with Emma Jackson in 2nd and Snowsill in
3rd. Watching it back and seeing Moffat win and knowing that a year
perviously I had been in that lead group and that sprint finish made me
jealous, angry at myself, downhearted but soon after hungry for more training
and racing.     

 After another few weeks of hard swim/ bike
training I was set for London WCS.  

   

 London WCS 

 After the disappointment of the previous
races I was determined to make front pack in Hyde Park. As the Olympic test
event, all of the big names would be here and many countries would use this as
a selection race, so they’d be in tip top condition. On the bike
familiarization it felt very special to cycle in front of Buckingham palace, to
have all the traffic closed down for us, and to be a part of such a big event.
Admittedly I was nervous/ intimidated going into the race. Id say having
crashed in this race two years ago may not have helped confidence issues! 

 I think I lost some places over the second
half of the swim, but I exited the water in a reasonable position and was ready
for the bike. A good transition and when I seen Spirig on the bike I absolutely
did not want to let that wheel go. We hammered the first lap until we caught
the leaders and the remaining 5 laps were steady enough saying as I stayed
totally at back of the pack like a custard. The last lap was a bit twitchy and for
there not to be a crash was a miracle. Inevitably I was near the back entering
(and therefore exiting) transition. I ran really well, and after learned that
Id run the first 1k as fast as the race leaders. Unfortunately for me I was
14seconds behind them running at the same pace and had no chance of catching up
at that speed. I did pass a few, but never got to the front of the field
because of my cowardly back-of-bike-pack cycle and poor transition approach.
However with that caliber of field to finish in 18th position I
decided it was neither overly amazing nor overly poor. It was about where I was
at. Helen Jenkins executed the perfect race and I was really happy for her to
finish like that in front of a home crowd. 

   

 Tizzy 

 In the week between London and Tizzy, Team
Triathlon Ireland spent a few days training in Lensbury near St Marys in
London. The Irish team will use it as a training base before the Olympics next
year so we decided to give it a test drive. Cycling in Richmond park was lovely
and it was a nice build up to the Tizzy race. 

 On the Thursday I ran a great fartleck,
felt really good. But on Friday I had a sore calf. It subsided a little but I
didn’t run again until my warm up for the race to try to let it settle. I was
in a long line of girls out of the water and managed to mess up my transition
and not make front pack with the girls I was with. I worked hard on the bike
this time trying to stay near the front on the course which had 11 corners per
lap. At some stage in the middle of standing up for those 77 corners, I could
feel my calf sore and decided that if I would at least try to run the first 1k
at full race pace. I got off and ran and could feel my calf sore after
100meters. So I stopped. Its my first DNF (besides London 09 when I went to
hospital), but I knew it was the smart sensible decision. The American ran from
my pack through the field to take gold, while Italian Mazzentti held on for
silver with Aussie Sheedy-Ryan in third also from second pack. Frustrating but back home form more
training.  
 ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 13 Sep 2011 04:13:11 +0100</pubDate><category>my blog</category></item></channel>
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