Name: Fergal Murphy
Age:
47
When did you do your first triathlon?
May 2017 - Carlow triathlon in the company of Eamonn Grace and Alan Mahon who kept me calm before the start.
How many triathlons have you done in total?
Only six including Dublin 70.3 in 2017 when the cycle route was nice and flat and Bolton Ironman 2018 alongside Captain Travel Agent himself, Tom Britton. Not enough !!
Is this your first Ironman?
Bolton 2018 was the first and only so far.
What is your weakest discipline?
The first 3 minutes of every triathlon swim that I’ve ever been in have resulted in me suffering what can only be described as panic attacks. Heart rate spikes and I have to fight my brain telling me to get the hell out of the water. Once I settle, I get in to a rhythm but I’m in no way fast. I’ve always been comfortable enough running but I think the bike is probably my weakest. I don’t do enough outdoor training on it and as my strava buddies will know a lot of my bike time happens on zwift on a turbo trainer in the garage at home late in the evening. Not being able to draft and consequently not being able to have a chat during the long ride gives me too much time to think about how tired my legs are getting.
What made you sign up for the Cork Ironman?
20km into the run last year in Bolton I swore to myself that I would never do another Ironman.....but ultimately peer pressure.....primarily from Louise Ruane.
What is your training program like?
Unorthodox..I simply don’t follow one...no discipline and probably involved in too many other pursuits. My preparation last year did not follow a plan either (by the way I’m not recommending this) but even then it was interrupted by work trips or bugs. I try to gradually increase the amount I’m doing in all disciplines as the weeks progress up to an amount that I’m not in danger of injuring myself, simple as that. I try to do a bit 4 days a week but I have to stress I’m not an elite triathlete. We were blessed last year with gorgeous weather which meant I was in the Barrow river 3 times a week, I’d try and complete my own private Olympic triathlon every fortnight after a swim. I’m in the pool at the moment only once a week with Eoin’s class but getting in 1k beforehand to put myself under pressure during the class and then 1k more after usually. This year I’m not putting in as much effort into running due to knee problems. The run is a slog and once a bit of time is made up on the swim and cycle, there’s plenty of time to get through it. With the evenings getting longer I’m going to be hitting Mt Leinster with a vengeance on the bike....quality not quantity. I use a road bike. I’m not in the business of getting a fast time, completion is the prize for me. Trying to do it on the least amount of training is the challenge.
How do you balance work/home life and training?
We have a busy house. I have 3 boys 16, 14 and 12 and a very understanding wife. I’m a mentor with u15 and minor hurling and football teams in Mount Leinster Rangers so I suppose I get to see the lads quite a lot anyway as they’re involved with those teams. I’m lucky, I live less than 5 minutes away from work so that’s a huge time saver for me. I don’t go to bed earlier than midnight so that helps me get some extra hours catching up with Mrs Murphy or out in the garage on the bike. Mrs Murphy is also a KTC member so that helps.
Any tips for triathletes thinking about doing an Ironman?
Don’t set yourself a time the first time. It’s pressure you don’t need. Aim to finish and you won’t be disappointed. Listen to all the nuggets of wisdom, when offered, by fellow triathletes, they do help (I still don’t know where Dinny Brennan stores the fig rolls on the bike though). Even after doing Dublin 70.3 I thought that I’d never manage a full Ironman but if the mind is willing the body will follow.