The borough of DunLaoghaire Kingstown was once again a most majestic host to this years Focus Ireland sprint Triathlon on bank holiday Sunday. Local lady Irene Walsh stormed home to take the women’s title for the third time in four years, just missing out on the tri hatrick last year by coming in second place. Having undertaken her first Ironman in 1989 in a time just over 14 hours, she is one Irelands longest competing female athletes, well known and respected by her peers.
Her winning time of 1:14:25 mins secured her top spot on the podium along with the male top performers from Pulse tri who as ever put on an amazing show. King for the day was John Connolly with a winning time of 1:06:39 mins. The shorter Try distance male and female event was won by Brian McCann 1:16:05 mins and Alexandra Birney in 1:15:21 mins respectively.
The early start for volunteers, marshals and the two hundred competitors was all taken in good spirits as it is a good cause. According to Joyce Loughnan of Focus Ireland ‘91cent in every €1 goes towards providing core services’ for the homeless charity. The triathlon event alone has raised over €490,000 since 2005 with a target of €100,000 for 2011.
The multi sport event of swim, bike and run attracts many new to tri competitors as well as experienced athletes and weekend warriors training up for more challenging events later on in the season.
After a quick bike check by local husband and wife team Eddie and Monica Roe of Mikes Bikes, the first wave set off at 8.15am, only minutes behind schedule.
The swim conditions for the 350m or 750m distances in the east pier were close to ideal with a bit of a pull needed on the way out and somewhat easier on the turnaround. The closed road and no drafting on the bikes made it safe and achievable for all levels while the two loop run of the pier made it perfect viewing for the many spectators who had gathered to join in the atmosphere and cheer home the entrants.
The considerable cost of hosting the event is all made possible by generous donations from the main sponsor KBC Bank, promotion through Q102 and of course the participants who do a magnificent job both in raising sponsorship and training to compete in the event. A number of teams and corporate groups also signed up.
The successful running of the event is all thanks to the cooperation of local authorities, An Garda Siochana and an army of volunteers. DLR Sports partnership works alongside local groups to promote exercise and activity through various events such as this. The well established trio of MC Tighe Sullivan, Technical Officer Eamonn Tilley and Race Director Noel McCloskey, themselves veterans to the triathlon scene, gave their valuable services and expertise in making this a fun and enjoyable event for all involved.
The training advice from the experts is to focus on your weakest discipline, train each section twice per week, allowing about eight hours per week in total. The growing body of Triathlon Ireland continues to promote development of athletes, Level 1-3 coaches and Technical Officers.
Full results and further information:
Focus Ireland www.focusireland.ie
Triathlon Ireland www.triathlonireland.ie
Monday, August 1, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
Awaken The Energy Within - September 2011
~ Vacance En France ~
Friday 16th September 2011 to
Wednesday 21st September 2011
Cost:
Twin Room Sharing €550 all inclusive.
Single Room €650 all inclusive
**SPECIAL OFFERS AVAILABLE**
Excluding Flights
Ryanair Fly To Carcassonne:
Friday 16th September:
Depart Dublin: 07:00hrs
Arrive Carcassonne: 10:00hrs
Wednesday 21st September:
Depart Carcassonne: 10:35hrs
Arrive Dublin: 11:50hrs
Cost of flight at 8/6/11 is €95. Great Value!!!
An exciting opportunity to enjoy a luxury health break in the typical French village, near Carcassonne. *Five full days*
Daily Activities Include:
• 2.5 hours of combined fitness, yoga and mindfulness
• Nutritionally balanced homecooked food
• Trips to Vineyards, Carcassonne, lakes and local markets
Stunning walks with the Pyrenees as a backdrop.
A feast for the mind, body and soul in a stunning tranquil location.
Small personal group.
Cost includes: Transfer to/from Carcassonne Airport. Accomodation in 55 acre demense. Single or sharing comfortable twin/double room with en suite. Breakfast and one other meal daily (lunch or dinner). Wine with evening meals. Soft drinks and refreshments all day. Daily programme of 2.5 hours instruction and information in health, fitness and wellness
Vacation Organizer: Patricia Murphy MSc Exercise & Nutrition,
Personal Trainer, Yoga Instructor
Phone: 086 6482651 email: inspiretrainers@gmail.com
www.inspire-patricia.blogspot.com
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Motivation
Motivation
Could you be bothered?
No matter how we glamorize it, package it or sell it, making lifestyle changes is always going to require a big effort. What do you want? What makes you tick? Is it realistic and achievable? These are some of the questions you should be asking yourself before you even start to jump feet first into new routines only to beat yourself up weeks later having tried but failed. We have all been touched by a moving story or lost a loved one through illness and swore that we would turn some of our negative habits into positives – swapping the fags and the pizza for a pair of runners and a healthy salad.
Motivation is the emotion that tugs at your heart strings and gets you fired up for action. Success though is all about discipline and not motivation. Starting with the end in mind and setting well formed goals is the first step. What exactly are you trying to achieve and how are you going to get there? It’s about keeping your focus and building on your strengths, step by step. Every day reinforcing new and healthier habits.
Of course there are days when motivation seems a million miles away and you are left feeling deflated and vulnerable. Just do it! Push through the invisible pain barrier, like an ultra marathon runner on their last ten miles. Go for that walk or run that you promised yourself, get to the gym or just walk up and down your stairs twenty times. Have just one biscuit instead of the whole pack and then pat yourself on the back for overcoming the urge to accept setbacks and replace it with discipline and self belief.
Observe a wire cable or strong rope. It is not built with one single strand. Many, many individual fibres are twisted together to give it strength and resistance. And even if one or two fray or break the strength is still intact. Build on your strengths with discipline and courage. As they wind and twist together to form the new lifeline that is you, any temporary lapse in motivation will serve as a chance to let go and grow.
We build our lives one thought at a time and include discipline as the backbone to our success – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
Could you be bothered?
No matter how we glamorize it, package it or sell it, making lifestyle changes is always going to require a big effort. What do you want? What makes you tick? Is it realistic and achievable? These are some of the questions you should be asking yourself before you even start to jump feet first into new routines only to beat yourself up weeks later having tried but failed. We have all been touched by a moving story or lost a loved one through illness and swore that we would turn some of our negative habits into positives – swapping the fags and the pizza for a pair of runners and a healthy salad.
Motivation is the emotion that tugs at your heart strings and gets you fired up for action. Success though is all about discipline and not motivation. Starting with the end in mind and setting well formed goals is the first step. What exactly are you trying to achieve and how are you going to get there? It’s about keeping your focus and building on your strengths, step by step. Every day reinforcing new and healthier habits.
Of course there are days when motivation seems a million miles away and you are left feeling deflated and vulnerable. Just do it! Push through the invisible pain barrier, like an ultra marathon runner on their last ten miles. Go for that walk or run that you promised yourself, get to the gym or just walk up and down your stairs twenty times. Have just one biscuit instead of the whole pack and then pat yourself on the back for overcoming the urge to accept setbacks and replace it with discipline and self belief.
Observe a wire cable or strong rope. It is not built with one single strand. Many, many individual fibres are twisted together to give it strength and resistance. And even if one or two fray or break the strength is still intact. Build on your strengths with discipline and courage. As they wind and twist together to form the new lifeline that is you, any temporary lapse in motivation will serve as a chance to let go and grow.
We build our lives one thought at a time and include discipline as the backbone to our success – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Show 'Closure' The Door
On Emotional Healing
Our experience of difficult life events provokes an array of emotional states. Most of us are aware of the stages of grief: Sadness, denial, anger, bargaining and acceptance. We may also be aware of how we recycle back and forth through these emotions in search of closure.
Even the concept of closure can be a struggle. The word suggests an end or final conclusion to our emotional upset as if we were signing a contract on a business deal. There is sometimes pressure from family and friends urging us to move on, knowing that it is for our own good but forgetting that closure is a process and not a single act.
Relationship breakups, loss of a job, financial losses and death itself are real and relevant life experiences. With these losses comes the pain and uncertainty of the future. We flit through past memories, present feelings and future projections in an attempt to find comfort and make sense of our world. Even when we think we have served our time in one of the emotional stages, it is not unusual to experience those feelings all over again further down the healing process. Days, weeks, months and even years later.
So the attempt to define closure is slightly misleading when we are referring to our emotions. Our self talk wags it finger and tuts at us in disappointment if we feel we just haven’t got it yet. The ‘it’ being closure.
Each one of us has a different set of healthy coping skills and timeframe to bring about real and lasting changes. Incorporating exercise, nutrition, positive psychology, socializing, hobbies, family and friends are the tools, the ‘how to’ get from where we are to where we want to be.
Our new goals of ‘Acceptance’ and ‘Healing’ have a far more appropriate feel to them and match our emotional vibrations with compassion and understanding. As we treat our emotions with respect, getting the help and support that they need, we allow ourselves to ‘Let Go and Grow’. Moving forward step by step with health, happiness and true understanding of the human condition and our lifes higher purpose.
Patricia Murphy
Inspire
Awaken The Energy Within
Email: nutrishon@gmail.com
www.nutrishon.blogspot.com
Mobile: 086 6482651
Our experience of difficult life events provokes an array of emotional states. Most of us are aware of the stages of grief: Sadness, denial, anger, bargaining and acceptance. We may also be aware of how we recycle back and forth through these emotions in search of closure.
Even the concept of closure can be a struggle. The word suggests an end or final conclusion to our emotional upset as if we were signing a contract on a business deal. There is sometimes pressure from family and friends urging us to move on, knowing that it is for our own good but forgetting that closure is a process and not a single act.
Relationship breakups, loss of a job, financial losses and death itself are real and relevant life experiences. With these losses comes the pain and uncertainty of the future. We flit through past memories, present feelings and future projections in an attempt to find comfort and make sense of our world. Even when we think we have served our time in one of the emotional stages, it is not unusual to experience those feelings all over again further down the healing process. Days, weeks, months and even years later.
So the attempt to define closure is slightly misleading when we are referring to our emotions. Our self talk wags it finger and tuts at us in disappointment if we feel we just haven’t got it yet. The ‘it’ being closure.
Each one of us has a different set of healthy coping skills and timeframe to bring about real and lasting changes. Incorporating exercise, nutrition, positive psychology, socializing, hobbies, family and friends are the tools, the ‘how to’ get from where we are to where we want to be.
Our new goals of ‘Acceptance’ and ‘Healing’ have a far more appropriate feel to them and match our emotional vibrations with compassion and understanding. As we treat our emotions with respect, getting the help and support that they need, we allow ourselves to ‘Let Go and Grow’. Moving forward step by step with health, happiness and true understanding of the human condition and our lifes higher purpose.
Patricia Murphy
Inspire
Awaken The Energy Within
Email: nutrishon@gmail.com
www.nutrishon.blogspot.com
Mobile: 086 6482651
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Dartmouth Yoga 30/4/11
Every teacher needs a lesson. Every teacher needs to update their skills and experience and look outside the microscope of their own classroom. I had to remind myself why I had set my alarm clock for 9am on a bank holiday Saturday. Today I was the student.
The novelty of an outdoor yoga class in Dartmouth Square needed no real persuasion for me. Hook me in to mother earth and I am as happy as any yogini. Even a spring downpour did not dampen the spirits of the enthusiastic thirty or so participants who showed up waiting for the signal to get started.
We chose to work out and tune in under the natural protection of the vines, twisting their way up and around the wooden structure overhanging the path, opening into the large circle in the centre of the park.
Elbow to elbow we kept our balance and moved from downward dog to plank pose to cobra. Our mats filled with organic debris from the vines above, the birds tuning up around us as the odd shower of rain penetrated our safe little canopy of union. Breathing, stretching, strengthening and relaxing. A happy bunch of guys and gals moving in time and tune to the directions of Sinead our instructor. Collectively we appeared to be a perfectly coordinated group while individually we were all in pursuit of our own nirvana.
The twelve o’clock chime of the nearby church bell signalled that our practice was coming to an end. Indeed, the vibrations of the whole experience were felt and heard long after midday. The feeling of being elevated and energized rang in every cell in my body. Long after midnight the lingering feeling of a day well spent is still with me. Physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually I have worked my day to its potential. I am grateful for the lessons that I have learned today: Keep it simple!!!
The novelty of an outdoor yoga class in Dartmouth Square needed no real persuasion for me. Hook me in to mother earth and I am as happy as any yogini. Even a spring downpour did not dampen the spirits of the enthusiastic thirty or so participants who showed up waiting for the signal to get started.
We chose to work out and tune in under the natural protection of the vines, twisting their way up and around the wooden structure overhanging the path, opening into the large circle in the centre of the park.
Elbow to elbow we kept our balance and moved from downward dog to plank pose to cobra. Our mats filled with organic debris from the vines above, the birds tuning up around us as the odd shower of rain penetrated our safe little canopy of union. Breathing, stretching, strengthening and relaxing. A happy bunch of guys and gals moving in time and tune to the directions of Sinead our instructor. Collectively we appeared to be a perfectly coordinated group while individually we were all in pursuit of our own nirvana.
The twelve o’clock chime of the nearby church bell signalled that our practice was coming to an end. Indeed, the vibrations of the whole experience were felt and heard long after midday. The feeling of being elevated and energized rang in every cell in my body. Long after midnight the lingering feeling of a day well spent is still with me. Physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually I have worked my day to its potential. I am grateful for the lessons that I have learned today: Keep it simple!!!
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