Inov8 bag ..

Inov8 say ..

The Race Elite2 is a compact and functional waist pack. Being ergonomically formed and low profile with good secure pockets makes the Race Elite™ 2 ideal for storing accessories and ultra lightweight gear on runs, fast & light walks or travel.

We say ..

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Brothers in Arms – Who we are, where we come from and what we like to do - Live for Today

Brothers in Arms – Pearse and Declan Fahy - Live for Today

As a team of brothers, we are proud to be the first representatives from Ireland to compete in Ö TILL Ö. Our team is made up of Pearse (the older brother aged 38) and Declan aged 29. We grew up like most Irish people, in the rural country side, just outside a small village called Dunshaughlin.

Growing up we played our National sports games of Gaelic football, hurling (one of the fastest ball sports in the world) and also cross country running. While never competing to the highest level, we represented our local school and club teams with pride and passion. Numerous injuries over the years for Pearse resulted in many untimely interruptions and he was unfortunate to have had four knee (ACL) reconstruction operations. Declan thankfully has enjoyed a relatively injury free sports career to date.
In recent years, the sport of triathlon has become the main sports pastime for the lads as their bodies have started to slow down! It must be said that the many triathlon events competed to date have always been memorable and thoroughly enjoyable. At these events, you will never just see Declan or Pearse competing by themselves - inevitably there will be their support crew to cheer them on. Pearse is married to Eileen and has two children Mae (aged 3) and Charlie (aged 1). Declan has a girlfriend Kate and they are well suited to each other … so perhaps there could be a need for the ladies in our families to start looking for a hat for a big day out!! No pressure there Declan or Kate! Our sister Carmel will also be on cheering duties for the first Monday in September, our date with Ö TILL Ö.

Having discovered Ö TILL Ö by chance over the internet in October 2008, it was put on the ‘Must Do’ list without hesitation. As the months went by and as we spoke to our friends and explained what this race is about, each time without fail we were met with very puzzling expressions and questions as to why we would want to swim 10km and run 55km across 20 islands ..in the Baltic Sea. But for us, that is exactly the reason! Experience Ö TILL Ö will be a once in a lifetime thrill for us. So far it has been a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Probably the biggest reason for entering the event is the unknown and conquering that same unknown. We look forward to finding out the answers to so many questions about ourselves and each other.

It is time to embrace Ö TILL Ö and live for today.

Some bits that hopefully won't be needed!

..probably will

.. probably will ..

..hopefully not ..

.. and probably will ..

..PROBABLY..

The Plan Ahead....the clock is ticking...

Wednesday: Mid distance Run
Thursday: Swim 1.6km
Friday: Swim 2km & finalise equipment options
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: Simulation training
Monday: Swim1.5km & short run
Tuesday: Short Run
Wednesday: Swim 1.5km
Thursday: Swim 1.5km & Short run
Friday: Leave for Sweden.....

Reggie

More than a little worthwhile -

We're soon facing a challenge right in the eye.  This day two weeks time, Declan and I will have past half way in a challenge that will last for what might be up to 13 or 14 hours.  We have trained hard, we have trained wisely we hope, but most of all, we have trained with one goal in mind - to complete Otillo.  For almost two years we have been looking at this race and wondering what it is like, what does it take to be a part of this beast and what it would feel like to finish this race.

This challenge is only one day in our lives - there is a challenge that many many people face every day of their lives, this challenge is Blindness.  In Ireland there is ONLY ONE SCHOOL for the education and training of blind and vision impaired children.  Students come from all over Ireland to attend this school and avail of the marvellous work the teachers and staff do for every child.  Declan and I would be very grateful if you could give a little or little extra towards this so worthwhile charity - a charity that helps young people face a challenge every day and win.  Thank you for your time.

Click here to sponsor 

http://www.mycharity.ie/event/brothersinarms2010

Jelly Fish ruin everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday both Pearse and I arrived at Donabate beach to simulate the 2nd half of the Otillo. The weather was great 18'C and rising. It was 9am by the time we set off on our first run of 3,500 and then into the water for 1000m swim. It was the first time we both wore our new Blue Seventy Skull caps and we are very pleased with them. The water was colder than last week but still pleasent enough. Pearse had his new inov8's and he seems to be delighted with them. We also wore a back pack which was our first time to do so and we have learnt a lot about what it takes out of you in the water. Decisions on this still need to be made. After getting out of the water for our second run along the beach we noticed that we had been swimming towards a bloom of jellyfish as there were as many as 50 left on the shore as the tide was going back out. They were the brown ones thats sting (pictured below) so this meant that we had a decision to make whether to get back in the water and continue on or risk getting stung and possibly ruining our training for the next week ahead. We decided against getting back in the water and opted for another long run instead.

Monday 23rd

We were back in the pool again this morning for our usual mile before work. We hit it at a good pace and were both happy that any negitivity left in our heads from Sundays session was wiped away.

Today we are working on our plan for the next 14 days and what we need to do and whats organising needs to be finalised. It is hard to think of anything else but the Otillo right now with it being just around the corner.

New Shoes!

Got my new claws!      Inov-8 X-Talon 212

Looking forward to giving them a good testing on Sunday morning.

A mile a morning

With 17 days to go its just one more week of hard training before we taper down for the Otillo.  We are currently swimming a mile in the morning before our work day starts 3 mornings a week and keeping the running for the evenings when we have time. One more simulation of part 2 of the course this Sunday and then its just a matter of keeping the heart rate going all through next week. Really watching the diet at this stage just 4lbs to lose in two weeks.

Nothing to do with Otillo ..

Here's a little something that has nothing to do with Otillo but is pure classic cinema ..


"It's a chopper baby"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ue996GQMC8&feature=related

Swim Caps

Tomorrow I'll be buy the swimming caps for otillo, we have decided to wear the blue seventy skull caps. 

Yesterday - Sunday 15th

When you wake up on your day off with the sun peeping through a small gap in the curtains, and no alarm clock has gone off, then you just know for sure that its going to be a good day.  I woke up at 07.40 and was thinking of what we had planned for training today.  Then I could hear a little boy wake up, Charlie is one year old and was doing his version of what sounded like a repeat race commentary that he must have heard while watching Eurosport the previous evening with me.  I listened and laughed and then decided it was time to get out and meet the day.  Eat, pack car, put Charlie into his seat and select music for the short drive to collect Declan before dropping Charlie off at my parents who were going to look after him for the day.  Then is was off to the beach (Donabate) to do a race simulation.

Today it was going to be a race trial as far as the first cut off point on Namdo.

Water conditions were ideal - we're not sure how it will be in race day but today it felt good!  Air temperature was about 19C when we began and then increased to about 23C during the runs. Wearing the wetsuit on the runs was not a problem and we don't think that it will be any warmer than this in September.

Fluid and nutrition  - We used 6 bottles (6x500ml) lucozade energy drink, 2 mars bars, 2 energy gels and water (4x250ml).  No sickness or feeling thirsty so again, it was a positive result.

Declan wore the vibram trek KSO's which he was very pleased with and I wore a pair of Brooks Racer ST3 (lightweight running flat). There were fine to wear in the water, hardly any drag and did not hold water and as a result were not heavy when exiting the water.  Ony slight problem was the grip is not to great when going over rocks so I need to address this issue.

A good days training - no real problems and so looking forward to the last big session next Sunday before we experience OtillO.

Breakfast of Champions

Time to buy some gadgets

Tomorrow we go to the shops to buy some gadgets for OtillO, Back Pack, Compass, First aid compression bandages, waterproof map holder, whistles and race fuel.  Should be interesting...

My New Magic Shoes :)

The magic shoes have finally arrived in the post. €52 online free delivery from this site http://www.buyfivefingers.com/vibram-five-fingers-mens-kso-trek-black-p-5740.html V’s €160.00 in my local Running store. So glad I shopped around. Anyway I put them on yesterday for the first time and my little toe was the only one that didn’t fit well. But after a couple of hours of wearing they soon opened up and all toes are fine now. Planning my first run on them tonight so will just jog a light 5km to see what they feel like. Really excited.




Swam 1.8km this morning and 1.6km on Monday. Watching diet now as I’ve got 6lbs to lose in 4 weeks to get to race weight.

Short - Sharp - Shift

A short sharp shift this morning - 8km trail run through Carton Demense in Maynooth, a few nice testing hills along sand / gravel paths with a few low branches to keep the concentration up followed by a quick 500m in the pool and a cool down. All went well.

Four weeks to go

With under 4 weeks left of preparation it really is fast becoming a reality of what is required to complete the Otillo. Another race under both of our belts with the Clogherhead triathlon on Saturday 7th which is our last of the year. Now all focus is on training and equipment. Early to bed, diet, keeping the body free from injury and talking tactics. Today we will examine the cut off points and what is required speed wise to reach the cut off on Orno at 17.00.