It’s 6 days to the European Champs and for the past few weeks I haven’t really been thinking about the race. I have been in a heavy block of training and my mind was focused on that. After the race in Des Moines we ramped up the intensity and volume. We were looking to get more out of me for the Europeans. It’s worked and right now we have moved my cycling and running on a bit from where they were a few weeks back. I’m in a decent position race-wise, but still not where I’d ideally like to be going into the Europeans as a home athlete.
It was in this event last year that I won my first ITU Cup race and coming back to the scene of the crime is exciting. It’s a very different line-up for the race this year as it’s a European Champs,which are a much bigger prospect. Really, the only similarly between this year’s and last year’s is the course (which I love) and a hand-full of the same athletes. The start list this year is pretty impressive. Most countries are sending their best athletes and it’s going to great having the likes of Brownlee and Gomez in Athlone. I am relishing the challenge of racing Europe’s best on home soil. The support I got last year in the race was just amazing and this year I think it will be even better. People are getting excited about the race, it’s time for me to do the same.
As for the past few weeks, well, it’s been great being back in Dublin after a month and a half of living out of a bag, Routine is nice. I returned to boxes of goodies, my new clothing for the year form Champion Systems and more stuff from the guys at Giro – thank you Connor. You can see me fashioning my new kit at the Stephen Roche GP. I love that race. I also got the chance to cheer on my brother on in Kilkee over the weekend. It was my first time at the Hell of the West and it was a great weekend, almost a holiday. I got a new bike mechanic, small hands are great for cleaning bike chains, not sure if mum agrees..
