Dear Conor Murphys Dad,

Conor was pleased to read in Ger Hartmanns book that the first Triathlon in Ireland was indeed the one in Craigavon in which you told Conor you helped to organise … “I thought he was talking shit all these years”. However I always thought the first Triathlon was in Greystones a year later in 1983 ? Conor is looking into it further. We are just back from some hill repeats. Half way up one of the 40 second efforts Conor remarked “This would be a great place to propose to a girl”

Don’t get me wrong Mr Murphy, the sun was setting over the Castle and we could look down over the City, but there is a time and a place for that sort of stuff ! I didn’t respond as .. well . . we were running hill reps. Everything else is well.

Dear Sports Psychologist,

I am having a weird dream at the moment. I am last to be called to the pontoon for the start. But I notice on my jog down that there is no water. I take a position to the right of Supanov from Ukraine, he looks psyched up and ready to go. The Pirates of the Caribbean music is still playing and there is a lot of urine running down the inside of the athletes leg on my left – I assume he cant see any water either ? or maybe it is the music that’s doing it ? My head is screaming WTF but when the gun goes I have no choice . . just before I dive onto a rock I wake up . . . please explain. All is not well.

Dear Martina

I hope all is well in the gym. Our circuits are going well out here in Spain. We do not have the use of any tyres though nor is it raining. I tried to incorporate some hurdles but my training buddy was having none of it. I hope all is well and that the Dublin footballers are not leaving the gym in a state. I was observing them one day before Christmas and there doesn’t seem to be much difference in how they prepare for their sport compared to other athletes, some potential Olympians in there that’s for sure. They just left a mess was all. Anway, hope to see you soon.

Dear Bryan,

I emailed the authorities and they told me unofficially that there are moves to impose 15 second penalties in all short course racing if anyone is thought to be using 5 finger technology. So be careful, those things could end up costing you time as well as making you look like a bit of a tit. I hope all else is well.

Dear Sir,

I have updated my whereabouts so everyone should be able to see where I am for an hour a day until the end of March. Did I tell you I had my first ever blood test recently ? Blood went everywhere. I wasn’t too impressed as you can imagine. The Doctor got nervous on his second attempt and the needle left a bit of a bruise. I wasn’t too impressed. It then took me 3hrs to be able to go to the toilet. In that time my breakfast had digested so the tester had to accompany me as I went to sit down in the bathroom. I wasn’t too impressed. The indignity of it all. I guess he wasn’t enjoying it either. That’s all I have to say about that.

Dear Mum and Dad,

Although I am on a ‘training camp’ it is acutally saving me money to be in Spain. For example coffee is only 1 Euro and I am not having to buy any Vitamin D. I am looking into Spanish lessons. I was walking along the front and a guy said to me

‘have you a euro for a sandwich ?’

to which I replied “show me the sandwich” ?

We both became confused.

One more week and we are off down to Granada – or should that be up to Granada ? All else is well.