Category: General Stuff

HUSBAND, FATHER, WRITER, PAINTER and ageing athlete who hasn’t quite hung up the lycra.

Treadmills Anonymous

A good few years ago I was lucky enough to pick up a reasonably good “domestic” treadmill in a New Year sale. Treadmills are not cheap but you can still get a decent one for less than the price of a carbon race wheel. In fact I only had one race wheel at the time.…
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If the shoe fits – A bit of culture courtesy of my Dad.

Beneath the polished flagstones of Saint Canice’s magnificent cathedral, in Kilkenny, there lie the bones of a humble shoemaker. He lies there amid the tombs and memorials of noble knights and ladies, soldiers and bishops, a humble cobbler, a cordwainer, a follower of Saint Hugh, the martyr. And why not?  It is likely that during…
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The Moon Landing, tackling my kids and Wheelworx.

“Right lads get off my head, stand up, you have to watch this. This is your Moon Landing. You can tell your grandchildren you saw it happen live. Emily pull your nappy up. Yes Luke we can watch Jake and the Neverland Pirates in a minute.” My parents kept myself and the older brother up…
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Born to Run

Bruce was in town, Eimear, her sister and all the other ageing rockers were going. The mother-in-law lived close to the bike turnaround and despite spending a few days previous with us cooped up in a hotel, I still had a willing babysitter and free accommodation. Not to mention a thirty year school reunion and…
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What’s been going on – and plans for the season.

It’s been a big weekend and a good one the triathlon front. Not a bad one for all three of my brothers too. This weekend marked my return to racing since the Ironman World Championships last year. It has taken me a long time to admit that I was considerably more broken up after Kona…
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Stay Safe

It’s been a sad few weeks. A fellow triathlete and experienced cyclist was killed on his bike close to were I live.  I have cycled that stretch of road many times and regularly pass the spot where he died. Although I didn’t know him, every time I pass by now I will think of him…
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Interview – Beyond Going Long 1st Feb 2013

Recently I was delighted to be interviewed by the very popular UK and Irish long distance triathlon website, Beyond Going Long.  Here is a copy of the interview.  Check out www.beyondgoinglong.co.uk for all the latest goings on in the long distance triathlon world. http://beyondgoinglong.co.uk/ Alan Ryan – Ireland’s Kona podium athlete Irish age-grouper Alan Ryan,…
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Fingal Independent Sportstar of the Year

Why would you make a treadmill and not make it waterproof? Over the last couple of years I have grown to depend on a treadmill for some sneaky training sessions when the kids are asleep. In that time a little bit of perspiration had taken its toll on the frame but it still worked.  I…
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