Posts

Self-reflection in self-isolation

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I have been a military nurse and later an international coach for years. Like, everyone, I read, listen and watch carefully what is going on. I notice an increase of public panic and paranoia. Increase of articles trying to find faults in everything and a way to blame someone. Teachers are criticised for not home-schooling children immediately. Do people didn’t notice we are in an unprecedented emergency? Children will catch up soon enough, a few months won’t harm them. You as a parent are the ones putting that pressure with a deadline to pass exams and compete with other parents.  As a parent, you are responsible to educate them. What a great opportunity to learn more about hygiene, viruses, manners toward vulnerable people or even career options. What more valuable education are you looking for? It reminds me of people trying to be busy at work for the sake of being busy. Rather than looking to make the business more efficient and be creative, innovative they worry to lose the...

Portumna Marathon, a must do.

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This one is not written by myself but does talk about me so thought I would share : Portumna has become a ‘must do’ event for those who know of its magic and what better way to describe it to other runners than from another runners race report. The following is an excerpt from one of Ireland’s best-known ultra marathoners – Gerry Duffy. Gerry has completed 32 marathons in 32 days and 10 full distance Iron Man events in 10 consecutive days. In his own word’s Gerry describes Portumna Forest Marathon…. Mike Curley Cunningham 2015 50k winner “A clue to its attraction is that it is organised by runners. Its founder – Sebastien Locteau – is a French native who lives in these parts. By day Seb runs ‘Sports Ireland’ a high performance coaching company. Indeed, Seb’s sporting CV is longer than some of his endurance events. Along with a great team -in his spare time- he gives back to sport by organising great events. Fr...

2017 coaching results review

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This year I really need to thanks our amazing training centre in Renmore the KingFisher club, and the support of the entire staff and especially Brian Clancy who, without a doubt, made our team a massive success in 2017 : I retired from full time coaching after the Rio Olympic Games in Agust 2016. I left Claremorris and Bluefin Swimming Club head coach positions with the feeling that I let my team down. I certainly cried a lot and wonder if it was the right thing to do, but I knew the people taking over could be trusted and would do a great job with a good legacy. I thought I left enough guidance and knowledge for them to grow and become their own inspiration to the new generations. But my heart was broken to leave my teams, as it happened in the past. But at the end of the day, I reached the best I had in me with the limited resources I had at the time. I also left my business in the trusted hand of my business partner Richie Feeney and my events department to my close friend ...

Improving your long runs

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Going the distance World Marathon Championship in London in 2017,  Picture Sebastien Locteau After Dublin marathon, most coaches review there athletes plans. In 2012, Barbara Sanchez finished 9th and second at the Irish championship in the Dublin Marathon, James Doran Winning the Kerry cross country championship, and my Swimmer Sarah Kelly after the European championship had to improve their weekly long run. Or if you are like me, a occasional runner, improving your long runs is one of the base session to work on and certainly more important than speed work. So this is what I did at the time and still using it with the same success since 2017 and after 10 years still relevant. What distance are you training for?  On road, cross country, Mountain running ? What is your current training volume?  How many sessions do practice every week? What are your goals :  time & distance My suggestions for an improving athlete would be three se...

5km / 10km Training Plan

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A four week build-up to your next 5km or 10km race Tavira, Portugal august 2017 training session, week 1, session 1 with 4x1000m I received a good few emails from people who could not find this article, So I just republished it ! These training schedules are here to help you prepare for your next 5km or 10km race. They cater for runners from 35 min to 55 min 10km finish time. 50 to 55min for 10km - 3 weekly sessions Week 1 Session 1 1h endurance, 8km/h with 2x 10min at 10km/h Session 2 30min warm up 4 x 1000m from 5m30s to 5m with 400m recovery 15min Cool down Session 3 Endurance recovery 1h20m at 8 km/h Week 2 Session 1 1h endurance, 8km/h with 3x 8 min at 10km/h Session 2 30min warm up 3 x 800m  from 4m30s to 4m20s with 400m recovery 15min Cool down Session 3 5 Km test race or time trial (Goal 27m30s) Week 3 Session 1 1h endurance recovery, 8km/h with hills Session 2 30min warm up 10 x 400m from 2m to 1m45s with 400m recovery 15...

Frances Thornton Galway Bay swim memorial

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Trying something different ! Galway Bay swim for Cancer Care West, swimming Sebastien Locteau Some are marathon runners or triathletes with a feeling of being invincible. Try open water marathon swimming. You will feel like a small vulnerable fish in the big big Ocean. Vulnerable is the best word to express my experience with mother Nature, a fragile human being, regardless off 28 marathons and 13 Ironman Triathlon. 18 years ago, I joined the coaching team of Galway swimming Club and played with Corrib Water Polo team. A lot of water went under the bridge since. At that time, I was part of a big picture and was highly involved in developing the west Ireland of running, triathlon and open water community with clubs and events. From Joining the new Athenry AC Senior Club with Mick Rice to the first Connemarathon with Ray O'Connor, Co-founder of Galway Triathlon club and later Predator Triathlon Club. Today we see so many events in the West like Triathlons an...

Influence can save the Global health system

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High Performance Coach Sebastien Locteau Connemarathon Elverys conference   Mental health is influenced by our social environment, biological make up and our emotional self-build. Three factors which can negatively impact our mental health if not, identified, recognised and acted on. Our social environment determines our mental fitness. The most discussed is poverty environment which challenges our mental performances, having an impact on our physical abilities, performing mental tasks, and learning cognitive skills. In a difficult social set-up, perception, sensation, ideas and intuition are challenged.  Self-esteem is also affected by feeling loved, family break up and losses but also by physical illness and or different types of abuse. Personal confidence also depends on how our social surrounding such as community activities. Relationship is another concrete example.  Acquiring knowledge and understanding through tough experiences avoiding a social drift regard...

Trying something different !

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Galway Bay swim for Cancer Care West Some are marathon runners or triathletes with a feeling of being invincible. Try open water marathon swimming. You will feel like a small vulnerable fish in the big big Ocean. Vulnerable is the best word to express my experience with mother Nature, a fragile human being, regardless off 28 marathons and 13 Ironman Triathlon. 18 years ago, I joined the coaching team of Galway swimming Club and played with Corrib Water Polo team. A lot of water went under the bridge since. At that time, I was part of a big picture and was highly involved in developing the west Ireland of running, triathlon and open water community with clubs and events. From Joining the new Athenry AC Senior Club with Mick Rice to the first Connemarathon with Ray O'Connor, Co-founder of Galway Triathlon club and later Predator Triathlon Club. Today we see so many events in the West like Triathlons and running events in Westport, Ballinasloe, Athlone, Portrun, Rosc...