Exactly one week ahead of their Munster
Hurling Final success, the Tipperary squad went though the routine that seven
days later would seem like second nature.
From the pre-match briefing followed by lunch at the hotel of choice to the bus journey to Semple Stadium before an inter-squad practice match at the same throw-in time as the game against Waterford a week later.
The only difference to the big day itself was the empty seats in the stadium and the absence of the TV cameras that would survey the same surroundings a week later as the Premier County men made all the hard work worthwhile with victory over their neighbours.
Other examples of intelligent preparation in sport include the Jose Mourinho credited 11v10 practice matches which recreate the situation of playing with and against an extra player, as would be the case when one is sent off during competition.
The famed Johnny Wilkinson/Ronan O'Gara/Johnny Sexton (select your favourite) visualization techniques for ensuring a high level of kicking accuracy with a rugby ball are well known by now.
Conor McGregor, UFC man of the moment, even moved his coaches and entire background staff to Las Vegas to allow himself and his team get used to the area and its conditions before their main event.
There is no substitute for thorough preparation and it is with this thought uppermost in mind that the final journey to the Amsterdam Marathon start-line has begun.
From the pre-match briefing followed by lunch at the hotel of choice to the bus journey to Semple Stadium before an inter-squad practice match at the same throw-in time as the game against Waterford a week later.
The only difference to the big day itself was the empty seats in the stadium and the absence of the TV cameras that would survey the same surroundings a week later as the Premier County men made all the hard work worthwhile with victory over their neighbours.
Other examples of intelligent preparation in sport include the Jose Mourinho credited 11v10 practice matches which recreate the situation of playing with and against an extra player, as would be the case when one is sent off during competition.
The famed Johnny Wilkinson/Ronan O'Gara/Johnny Sexton (select your favourite) visualization techniques for ensuring a high level of kicking accuracy with a rugby ball are well known by now.
Conor McGregor, UFC man of the moment, even moved his coaches and entire background staff to Las Vegas to allow himself and his team get used to the area and its conditions before their main event.
There is no substitute for thorough preparation and it is with this thought uppermost in mind that the final journey to the Amsterdam Marathon start-line has begun.
 |
| Photo by Padraig de Burca |
Of course, the suggestion of a
relocation to The Netherlands in advance of the big day was never going to get
the green light back at HQ, so we've agreed to make do with lots of long runs
on the old Cork, Blackrock, Passage Railway route instead!
Flat and close to the riverside for long sections, its similarity to the 26.2mile route through the Dutch capital is ideal. The long Sunday runs are proving very enjoyable and all commence at 9.30am, again to rehearse the morning of the big day.
A recent visit to a dietician has been hugely helpful in gaining an insight into some of the extra measures that can be applied to eek out that seven-minute improvement required to break the three-hour mark.
Carbohydrate and protein intake is now measured closely and the pre-long run breakfast of four Weetabix, banana, milk + three boiled eggs is consumed at 6.30am. Easier said than done, believe me!
A weigh-in directly before and after the longer training run allows us to gain an understanding of my sweat rate and will ensure that I am taking on board the right amount of liquid throughout the race.
With a positive summer season of racing brought to a recent close, the focus is now solely on October 18th. This month’s 10km as part of Jailbreak Triathlon relay in Cobh is the first of three stepping-stones to the main event. From here, the road into Europe takes me through Clonmel and Charleville for half-marathons.
I hope to see you along the way for a chat and a catch up about your own journey.
And don't forget, if you're going to do it, you might as well do it properly.
Words to live your life by.
Flat and close to the riverside for long sections, its similarity to the 26.2mile route through the Dutch capital is ideal. The long Sunday runs are proving very enjoyable and all commence at 9.30am, again to rehearse the morning of the big day.
A recent visit to a dietician has been hugely helpful in gaining an insight into some of the extra measures that can be applied to eek out that seven-minute improvement required to break the three-hour mark.
Carbohydrate and protein intake is now measured closely and the pre-long run breakfast of four Weetabix, banana, milk + three boiled eggs is consumed at 6.30am. Easier said than done, believe me!
A weigh-in directly before and after the longer training run allows us to gain an understanding of my sweat rate and will ensure that I am taking on board the right amount of liquid throughout the race.
With a positive summer season of racing brought to a recent close, the focus is now solely on October 18th. This month’s 10km as part of Jailbreak Triathlon relay in Cobh is the first of three stepping-stones to the main event. From here, the road into Europe takes me through Clonmel and Charleville for half-marathons.
I hope to see you along the way for a chat and a catch up about your own journey.
And don't forget, if you're going to do it, you might as well do it properly.
Words to live your life by.
