Day 1 Berlin

Day one. Here we go. I have 15 minutes and its hit the road to the bus to the Brandenburg Gate with Robert Heffernan to the walk . Roisin (pictured) has gone some hours ago her race 11 04am so she caught the 8am bus to warm up where she will meet up with her coach Ray Treacy . Had breakfast with Thomas Chamney he really is a positive young man has a tough task later this evening to qualify for semis . Robert was up early went for a 10k walk back chilled out as i hit the keys on this computer he is now doing a stretching session with our physio and that will be that . WE hit the road at 11am start time 1pm and its 20 minutes to walk warm up . JUst checked on phone all okay with Roisin at stadium so its about to begin minutes /hours / days away and doesn't it always come down to a minute in time all the training the effort the frustration the expectation . We are at the edge now here in Berlin how far are we as individuals and as a team going to jump . Lets see when i return to this pc tonight the story of Berlin 09 will have begun .

Well I am back in my room 11-30pm now. Hung on at the stadium to see a class shot putt men and of course to watch Jessica Ennis really produce the goods on the first day of her heptathlon . Hope she can maintain it tomorrow as this psychology graduate from Sheffield, whose sister is a local hairdresser and is a really nice girl, is on course to become world champion . THe Irish day was poor Roisin Mc Gettigan as i suggested was not in great form, did poorly was seriously disappointed down to a period of over training and a period at altitude that may not have worked out for her . THis event (the steeple) has moved on .Robert Heffernan was so disgusted that i had bother settling him to talk to the Irish Press . HE just had no answers on the day . Haven't seen him since we left the Brandeburg Gate an excellent course in a class area . Thomas Chamney did not qualify for semi did everything wrong, down to inexperience and he was involved in a dog eat dog heat . He definately had the potential to progress but one hopes he has learned . I ended up laying down my thoughts to not only Thomas but his Mum and Dad .
I was on the way back from stadium to Warm up when I met up with Stephen Maguire Head Coach (pictured) here and we engaged with the family well worth it cause sometimes you have thoughts about a performance and for various different reasons you hold back not on this occassion . A mighty 10,000m women race won by a Kenyan named Masai who hadn't a hope 50m out but she had the desire and will to go all the way to the line outdoing two Ethiopians by the narrowest of margins . What a finish what a lesson for young athletes . Finished the night talking to Roisin Mc Gettigan until it got dark and myself and Stephen hit the bus back .

ON the subject of young athletes its back to school back to training shortly . Schools and club competition to look forward to . I enjoy this aspect of the sport the team element the enthusiasm of the children and the visits to places like Killybegs as we invariably the lot of us jump in the sea and a great day is had by all its like a day out families with their children and there is an innocence about it that dosent really exist in these complicated times . Looking forward to that and to see how the teams etc shape up .

Met Richard at the warm up track we exchanged a few words both of us busy he with his world class athletes from many countries and myself with the team .I am proud of Richard and his progress and the manner he displays its a long way from the time he came along with other members of his family to compete for Finn Valley he developed that interest but has never forgotten his roots and at P A C E Sports Management with Marian and Grainne and more recently Enda he has established himself as a world lead agent. Long may it coninue. He will be biting the nails tomorrow night round 8pm Irish time as his main man Usain Bolt faces the starter in the final of the 100m . Lets wish them luck . Ireland has Olive Loughnane a mother of one wee girl in action tomorrow we need a performance from her to carry us into the week ahead so fingers crossed cause I am a little down tonight and the best response is a strong performance to rally the troops . Chat to you tomorrow .Lights out as its just after midnight and my roomate is asleep

Patsy mc Gonagle
Team manager
Berlin 2009

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