Week One
They said it was going to be tough. Boy, were they right.
I guess you can never tell though when someone just says it like that. You have to feel the pain before you know just what he really meant.
I have been feeling the pain and this is only the first week.
Because I train and play football, I actually thought I was already pretty fit but that session with Peter, the training guy who Powerade have hired to keep an eye on me, was a real eye opener.
Dollymount
We had played a match on Sunday morning, which had gone to extra time so I was already pretty tired when I went home, grabbed my gear and raced off to meet him on Dollymount Strand.
The camera crew were there filming the ad but you don’t really pay much attention. It’s not like they are in your face or anything.
The first exercise was up on the bike and Peter told me I had to go through the pain barrier for it to do any good. I had some serious cramps and when I came off the bike I was nearly in tears with the pain. Better prepare a bit better next time.
The camera crew caught some of that but you know they could have been four gorgeous blondes and I wouldn’t have cared. You can’t just put on an act when you are in the pain I was.
Then he told me this was only a fraction of how tough it was going to get. Great!
Football
I am keeping up my football training as the running and cycling and swimming is pretty lonely.
My two brothers are on the team and they weren’t slow in letting the rest of them know I was doing this challenge. Now all I hear is ‘Powerade, give us the ball’ or “Pass it here, Powerade.” God knows what they’ll be like when the first ad goes out.
I would love to be going to Croke Park on Saturday. When I was younger I imagined one day that I might make it as a player. I did pull on the jersey for Ireland at Lansdowne in an under 14’s match against Northern Ireland and that was magic. Sadly I was one of the many for whom it didn’t progress into a glittering career. Stephen Elliot was on the same team as me and we were good mates at the time. Hopefully he’ll be in the Premiership next season.
Big Game
I’m sure the team will do well though playing in front of such a big crowd won’t be easy and Wales have got some big game players in the likes of Bellamy and Gabbidon. If anyone out there has any tickets, let me know…
Anyway I’m out for another run tonight. Not too tough. It’s the swimming that will be the worst. When we started out on this I could only swim one length. Now I’ve got it up to nearly four but after doing that my chest was so sore I felt like I had had breast implants.
I just don’t like the water and I will have to work hard in my head as well as in the pool to make sure I can do the one and a half kilometres in August.
March 26th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
Hi Will, your training sounds incredible, keep it up! Can’t wait to watch your progress. Love, Lorraine.
March 26th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
You’d wanna work on that swimming!
March 27th, 2007 at 8:47 am
Will - re the swimming - go have a look at a friend of mine’s website in Oz - 7 time world champion marathon swimmer Shelley Taylor-Smith @ www.championmindset.com.au
Inspiration there will help with getting your mind around the swimming - she has some good stories in there & you can sign up for motivational messages to be sent to you.
Good Luck with it all!
Lottie
March 27th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Best of luck with the training Will - and hope those 4 gorgeous blondes turn up for ya sometime!!!!!!!!!
March 27th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Best of luck. Keep at it, wouldn’t want to see you not complete the race …
March 28th, 2007 at 12:25 am
Go on you boy ya, Brian O Drico will be glad that he’s not the only one shamelessly endorsing some quality products. I’m a mate of Daryl Sheridan’s. Fairplay and best of luck man. I’d be knackered from the effort of just taking a swig from the bottle.
Fair play again and best wishes.
March 28th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
hey will saw the ad looks great,
March 28th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
On my head powerade!!!!
Lookin fwd to playin ya’s next week pal. I told Thompson to take it easy in the tackles!
March 28th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
Best of luck Will, go for it for yourself cause you only live once!!!!!!!!
March 29th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Good man Will! I always knew that you’d get back on the telly someday! Renee Zellweger would be so proud of ya! Best of luck mate
March 29th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Hi Will,
Best of luck with the training! You’re doing great. Keep focused and just tackled it one week at a time.
Didn’t know Fran was a strong swimmer!
April 3rd, 2007 at 9:35 pm
Best of luck will, my god that sounds tuff but keep it going the feeling of completing it will be well worth it!!!!
April 3rd, 2007 at 9:45 pm
Just to let you know that my girlfriends and I all think you are hot!! Best of Luck with the training. I ran my first New York Marathon last year and signed up again for more punishment this November. If I can do it, so can you. We’ll be looking forward to seeing you in the shorts in the new ad!! x
April 4th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Hi will,
Better you than me. Good luck with it all.
April 4th, 2007 at 5:10 pm
Good Luck with it all! Loved the ad by the way
April 8th, 2007 at 9:17 pm
Good luck 4 the triathlon!
Seen the ad, it was so funi!! ….lol
April 10th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Good on you Will. You gotta get someone to sort out your position on that bike or you’ll have some serious back issues. I know you’re new to the bike, but you positioning on the bike in the TV ad did nothing for you.
April 16th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
I’m in a jocker just watching you mate
April 29th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
Fair play to you Will, rise to the challenge. If your mates want to join in here is a lesser challenge. A sprint distance tri in aid of Focus Ireland 750m swim, 20 km, 5km run. I did it last year, my first tri aged 42, great fun and you don’t have to be super fit. Best of luck to you!!http://www.focusireland.ie/htm/fundraising/challenges/triathlon/index.htm