3rd Place at Occidental

Congratulations to Steph for her 3rd place finish in the Steeple at Occidental – where she ran very close to her PB – with a super 9’49.78!! Great start to the Season.

http://www.flotrack.org/coverage/238774-Occidental-Oxy-High-Performance-Meet-2011/video/491456-W-3k-steeple-F01-Championship-Aguilera-just-misses-A-Oxy-High-Performance-2011-

My Greatest Athletics Experience

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This is probably going to be a very long post, but it will be my last one so I am going to pretty much go through my entire day today.

I am sure by now you have all seen the results from my race this morning. In case you haven’t – I finished 10th in my heat in a time of 10:13 something, not sure exactly. Obviously did not make the final but had the greatest athletics experience of my life and went out there and ran as hard as could for as long as I could.

Yesterday I had a lovely training run. 5 miles easy, strides and drills. I felt really good and was very excited to race today. I think I got a lot of the hard core nerves over with my first couple of days in Barcelona. So going into today I was feeling calm and focused and ready to roll with it. Every athlete has different ways of dealing with nerves, and I tend to have a meltdown (as Paul calls it) a couple of days before I race. Funny really because it usually has nothing at all to do with racing or running. But little things that just irritate the hell out of me. I am sure there are a lot of you out there that do this crazy sport and can completely relate to that. At least I hope so, it sure would be reassuring knowing that I am not the only lunatic out there …LOL. I still get nervous race day, but usually the good excited nerves.

So race day finally arrives. I had a great sleep last night. I think a little too good and when that 7am alarm went off all I wanted to do was stay snuggled up in bed for just a little longer. Up and out and down to breakfast for 8am. I had a cup of coffee and toast with peanut butter and then off to catch my shuttle bus to the warm up track. This was really happening now. Got to the warm up track and joined up with other athletes competing and the AAI medical staff. While there just chilled out until it was time to warm up. Call room check in is 40mins before race start so all the warming up needs to be done before heading in there. This is something that I need to get used to, and is very new and different than my typical warm up where I just run, stride and get on the track.

My warm up went very well and I felt really good, bouncy and excited to race. Now it was call room time and I checked in and I headed over to the stadium along with all other competitors in my heat to call room 2 for final check in, bag checks, spike check, hip numbers and transponder attachment to race bib. Crazy stuff, but I tell you that 40mins flew by and before I knew it I was on my way out to the track to race at the European Champs.

I walked out into the stadium and there was this enormous roar from the crowds, and the sun belting down on top of us. My heart seriously was beating so fast, and I actually could feel my body shaking. I didn’t know if I wanted to cry or throw up. It was pretty unreal and something that I have never felt before. There were tons of Irish flags everywhere. I spotted my family straight away with their big huge Irish flag, and as I kept walking around the track to the start I heard lots of people yelling good luck to me. The Irish support was brilliant. Once at the start I got out on the track and did a couple of strides. After being cooped up in the call room for the last 40mins I needed that. Finally they called us to the start line and this was it. The TV cameras scanned across the start line of runners for introductions. They came to me and I gave a big wave and 2 thumbs up. The thumbs up were especially for Marcus and Dylan. I give them thumbs up going to bed every night.

The gun went off and I got right into the thick of the race. I felt decent for the first 4 laps, and was in a qualifying position. I haven’t seen the race but people have told me that there was actually a break with the first 4, including myself. After the fifth lap/2k I started to feel like the legs were gone, and they were going but I desperately tried to keep it going as hard as I could. Those barriers never felt so high and trying to lift lead weight over them was ridiculous. I gave it everything and was thrilled to have competed at such an unbelievable meet.

Following my race I was pretty spent and it took a while to get myself feeling normal again. I had a bit of trouble getting off the ground and moving back to the gear pick-up. My head hurt so bad…I was nauseous, sweating profusely, had stars or some kind of fuzzy objects floating around in my eyes in bright orange and yellow colors (I swear it is from the logo banners which are bright orange and probably the last color I was seeing as I finished the race) , and just couldn’t get my breath. It was a horrible feeling. I finally got off the track and made my way out of the track. I was hurting pretty bad and just needed to lie down and cool down. I have to say but this is probably the worst I have felt after just finishing a race and sure hope I never feel like that again. It was very hot, and maybe I just underestimated that….who knows. But all I can say is that the AAI medical staff are just unbelievable and they helped me out so much. I hate to be so dramatic or anything like that and I felt silly, but I honestly felt like I could pass out or throw up at any moment and they were there the whole time until I finally felt normal again. Thanks a million.

Despite all the drama …haha. This was the greatest athletics experience I have ever had, and I sure hope it is not the last. I am very hungry for more championship racing, and look forward to such a great opportunity again. This time around was very last minute and a little un-organized and it was almost perfect. The one thing missing in this whole experience was having Paul, and the kids with me. I am looking forward to having them with me in future events. For everyone else, thank you so much for all your support. Your well wishes really enhanced my experience…until next time!

In Barcelona…

Naomi here, Steph’s sister… Have just arrived in Barcelona to be there to act as cheering squad for Steph tomorrow!!! Am very excited to see my little sister run in such a major event and will be quick to post some photos and a update tomorrow afternoon after the race!!!

Good luck to Steph and Fionnula tomorrow in the 3000m Steeplchase and to all the other Irish athletes out here competing. Also a big congrats to Jason Smyth, the first Paralympic athlete to compete in a European Championship.

Just Amazing

I hadn’t planned on visiting the Olympic Stadium before my race since I had raced there 2 weeks ago. At the last minute I decided to jump on the shuttle to the open training session for athletes this morning. I figured I could get all my picture taking and merchandise shopping done, rather than trying to do it when I am there for my competition. Anyways my parents and sister will be arriving soon, and if you all know my mother she will be buying every piece of merchandise she can, plus taking a million pictures….LOL. So either ways I think I will be all set with that end of things. I did get some good pictures and video footage. The merchandise tents were just being set up, so family you better get your shopping heads on. I am very anxious to know if they have little Barni souvenirs. I want to get them for Marcus and Dylan – number one priority.

What can I say but I was completely awe struck. The stadium was still being constructed for this meet when I was there 2 weeks ago so this time around it looked so official. It was amazing to see it all glittered up in ‘Barcelona 2010′ banners. I actually had butterflies when I walked into the stadium. Media, TV trucks, cars, cables, video cameras, officials, police, and tons and tons of the fittest people in the world getting ready to compete in a few days absolutely everywhere …. unreal. Can you tell this is my first time at a major international athletics competition. I haven’t even gone to spectate at one, never mind compete at one. So this is all really exciting for me. It is quite possible I could have another nerves meltdown (as Paul calls them) before I race Wednesday. Anyways after my little tour at the stadium I headed over to the warm-up track, and that too was all flash with banners, tents and big huge TV screens …. this is going to be cool!!!

I ran 45mins easy and did some light stretching and drills this afternoon. The weather is heating up a bit from the first few days.

I am 100 percent positive that I won’t be blogging again until after my race. So tune in Wednesday evening and I will have all the juicy details for you.

Arrived in Barcelona

I have arrived in Barcelona, and before I get into that let me just back track the couple of days I have missed. Training the last couple of days has been fairly easy as I am just winding down now and getting the legs fresh. Yesterday had a very light session. I did a total of 8 miles with the middle 2 miles at tempo pace averaging a 5:40 per mile pace on the track. Felt very easy, and like I had not even done anything at all. Just 3 days to go until showtime.

I flew out of Alicante airport into Barcelona yesterday evening. Flight was around 45 minutes, just a slight delay, nothing major. Once we arrived in Barcelona the BCN officials took over. Escorting our team to the shuttle bus, and from there onto our hotel. We are staying at the Princess Hotel which is located along the beach front – a man made beach. What can I say about the hotel other than FUNKY!!!! Glass walls, black ceilings, powered shades and lounge chairs that look like big huge lips. It is very retro to say the least, pretty cool.

This morning went for a nice easy 50min jog along the beach front. Felt fine and the weather seems a little cooler than the Murcia temperature. I think the rest of the week in Barcelona is supposed to be in the mid to high 70 degree range. Humidity about the same as Murcia.

I am starting to feel like I am in RACE MODE since arriving in Barcelona. It is more real to me now seeing all the other athletes from other countries, and officials everywhere. The training camp was great for resting and running, but now that I am actually in Barcelona I can start to focus more on the task at hand, and racing in a few days.

Live coverage of all the action at the 2010 European Athletics Championships in Barcelona

For those of you in Ireland who would like to watch Steph and the other Irish athletes competing in Barcelona with RTE you can watch a live web-only video feed of each day of the championships, which run from Tuesday, 27 July, until Sunday, 1 August. The web-only video feed will not include commentary.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/livestreaming/athletics.html

For Live TV Coverage check out RTE, BBC 2 & British Eurosport:

Tuesday 27th July

• RTE 2 7am – 8.30am & 7.30pm – 9pm
• BBC 2 9.30am – 12pm & 6pm – 9pm
• British Eurosport 7am – 1.30pm & 5pm – 8.45pm

Wednesday 28th July

• RTE 2 7am – 8.30am & 6pm -9pm
• BBC 2 10am – 12.30pm & 5pm – 9pm
• British Eurosport 7am – 1.30pm & 3.30pm – 9.15pm

Thursday 29th July

• RTE 2 7pm – 9pm
• BBC 2 10am – 12pm & 5.30pm – 9pm
• British Eurosport 7am – 1.30pm & 3.30pm – 9.45pm

Friday 30th July

• RTE 2 6pm – 9.30pm
• BBC2  10am – 12pm & 5.30pm – 9pm
• British Eurosport 7.30am – 2.30pm & 4.30pm – 9pm

Saturday 31st July

• RTE 2 9am – 11.30am & 6pm – 9pm
• BBC 2 10am – 12pm & 5.15pm – 6pm
• British Eurosport 6.30am – 2pm & 3.30pm – 9.15pm

Sunday 1st August

• Details to follow

Barni – Championship Mascot

Barni is the name given to the Barcelona 2010 official mascot. The design was created by the company Dortoka disseny and won the public competition organised by B10 with 39.69% of the votes, against three other finalists.

The championship’s mascot, which moves away from the animal mascots used previously for this competition, is a young boy who is a keen sports fan and who will grow and develop as the Barcelona Championships 2010 approach. At this moment he has a big head, lanky limbs and skinny muscles, but he has promised to become fit for the special day.

Barni is a creation of Quim Guixá, author of famous mascots such as Cobi (Olympic Games of Barcelona), Cecilio (Alpine World Ski Championships, Sierra Nevada), Giraldillo (Word Athletics Championships, Sevilla), Clam (FC Barcelona’s 100th anniversary), and Indalete (Mediterranean games, Almería). Guixá also created the Sevilla Expo 1992 mascot, Curro, plus the more recent Expo Zaragoza mascot, Fluvi.

Here’s Steeple Barni…

2010 European Athletics Championships, Barcelona – Official Website

For regular updates and news on the European Athletics Championships check out the Official Website below….

http://www.bcn2010.org/

A Quiet Day

Today was a very quiet day. A few of us headed out to the mall for a little change of scenery. I had a nice stroll around but didn’t do much shopping.

Training
Today I ran a total of 8 miles which included: 4 miles running; threw on the spikes and did 4 by 300m with 3 hurdles – times 57, 57, 56, 56 seconds with a slow 100m walk/jog recovery between them; finished with 3 miles running. Felt pretty good. Had an ice-bath afterwards. That was it for today.

I have eaten a ton of fresh fruit the last week. Platters are served up at every meal here, and it is delightful.

Today’s Fact – Los Alcazares History: The site of healing spas during the Roman occupation of the Iberian Peninsular, Los Alcazares became an established settlement when the Moors arrived in the area, the name of the town derives from the Arabic for “the palaces”, and it was the Arabs who established agriculture in the area, building irrigation systems to enable previously barren land to be used for growing fruit and vegetables. The Moors also developed some unique fishing methods which were perfect for the conditions experienced in the Mar Menor, methods which are still used today.

A New Training Spot

I was up bright and early today. Meeting with a small group of Irish athletes to drive to a spot to run. This place looked to me like it was an exclusive neighborhood and/or holiday resort in the works. Roads were finished but completely deserted, apartments and hotels empty and unoccupied. And to beat it all, a gorgeous golf course plonked right in the middle of it all. This was the first bit of grass I had seen since being here, and it was green, and a lot of green. It stood out like a sore thumb. I don’t think I saw a single golfer and I was so tempted to jump on, but knowing my luck I would have been run off there and embarassed the entire team. It was a very quiet, peaceful run and I enjoyed it thoroughly. This development had a 5.1km loop with bike track, and markings every 100m on the ground. Even as I was running I had some of the Irish team coaches handing out water, and throwing it over me, completely spoiled, crazy. You know me I am just a low key plug away myself type of person so this is all very strange to me. I guess everyone can enjoy a bit of pampering now and then.

Training
I ran 70mins nice and relaxed today. The day after a track session I like to run dead easy. Felt pretty good. The legs were a little tired and lazy from yesterday’s session. This afternoon I did a core session and had another stretch out by the physio, as well as a light massage to loosen out the legs.

Todays little fact about Murcia – but firstly, I would like to point out that I am not actually in Murcia. However, I am in a small town that is part of Murcia called Las Alcazares. Part of the Murcia region of south-eastern Spain, Los Alcazares has a permanent population of around 15,000 though this increases to something like 150,000 during the busy summer season. Las Alcazares is half way along the inland coast Mar Menor. The Mar Menor is a salt-water lagoon of 128km sq with a sea temperature of 5 degrees above the Mediterranean. It is quite unknown to a lot of people and probably “Spains best kept secret”. The area enjoys an average of 320 days sunshine a year. The mineral-rich water of the Mar Menor is revered for its health-giving properties and is listed by the World Health Organisation as one of the healthiest places on earth.

So I found my explanation for the warm and ridiculously salty water at the local beach. And now I am going to go and be healthy and take a swim.