Last month, Letterkenny woman Caitriona Jennings was named on the Irish Ladies Marathon team for this Summer’s Olympics in London. Today Caitriona begins a weekly diary in the lead up to the greatest sporting event on earth. 

 

Sixty days remain until I will toe the line in the London Olympic Games 2012. Indeed, the countdown on the official website indicates just 49 days until the official opening ceremony taking place on 27 July.

 

As I endured a two hour hill run in the Phoenix Park in Dublin on Wednesday, the Olympic torch was making its way along the streets of Dublin. Olympic fever is certainly taking hold in the capital, and indeed, throughout the rest of the country.  

 

As race day fast approaches, every training session between now and then is of the utmost importance. My three week intense training block in Portugal has been very successful as I ran a personal best time of 1.15.26 to win the Newry half marathon on Sunday.  

 

While the wet, cold and windy conditions were not ideal for the June bank holiday weekend, it was great “running weather” and didn’t deter the field of over 1000 athletes that took part in the half marathon.  

 

This race gives me a good indication of my current strength and fitness levels so I can build on these over the coming weeks in order to ensure that I am in peak condition on 5 August.  

 

I am in a strength building phase of training at the moment, so I’ve been running long miles and including hill repetitions within these runs. I am also working on my strength and conditioning by including some gym sessions throughout the week. The gym sessions consist mainly of core work with some light weights to increase strength and flexibility.

 

I have been training twice and sometimes three times a day during the past week which leaves little time for other activities, however I was delighted to attend the awards night for the pupils of Coláiste Ailigh in An Grianán Theatre last Thursday evening. 

 

Such an impressive school and talented bunch of students! I’m certain that I met some stars of the future that night!