An Cosantóir

28 | BY CAPT ANDREW SHINNICK (2 E BDE HQ) PHOTOS CPL NOEL COSS & ARM NEVILLE COUGHLAN Triathlon Associations calendar, follows months of prepa- ration on behalf of both the Triathlon committee and the athletes who take part in the sport. Triathlon which is still relatively a new sport to the DF has seen its membership steadily grow over the past few years with the introduction of the cycle to work scheme and also due to the increasing popularity of the sport itself which has now a 70.3 IRON- MAN event which takes place in Galway. Many serving members have taken to the sport as it of- DEFENCE FORCES O All Army Triathlon 2012 n Friday 10 Aug 2012 the 4th Annual DF Triathlon took place in Lilliput, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. The event, which is the highlight of the Defence Forces fers a multi discipline approach towards training. The added benefit to the DF is that it promotes fitness, team building and esprit des corps amongst its members whilst it also has the added benefit of portraying the DF in a highly positive light amongst members of the public. Many members of the DF can be seen regularly every weekend taking part in the many races both nationally and internationally all of which highlights the positives of sport within the DF. DF Members can then avail of all what the DFTA has to offer by means of coaching and advice etc. along with the monthly training sessions which take place in the DFTC. These club training sessions take members regardless of experience and categorise them according to ability. This is so that people get the right sort of training and attention in order to improve themselves so that they can reach the goals which they have set for themselves for the year ahead. The training sessions begin normally with a coached swim session in the morning followed by a spin Turbo session or bike ride. After lunch then sees the athletes complete a run or interval speed session. Lots of experience and structure is brought to each session and the coaches are always on hand to give instant feedback so as to help each athlete improve whatever their level or capability. Most of the triathlon training takes place indoors over the long autumn, winter and spring period whereby athletes will be put through various sessions which are used to improve cardio fitness, endurance and speed whilst they also focus on technique in the pool and also in the transition phases. Towards the end of winter the sessions will move outdoors to avail of the lon- ger days and slightly warmer weather. The spring training sessions step up in their intensity in April/May prior to the Triathlon season kicking off and members will complete shorter bike sessions with more emphasis be- ing placed on speed to help acclimatize athletes to the pace An Cosantóir October 2012 www.dfmagazine.ie

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