Finally submitted my PhD this week. Quite a journey over the past 5.5 years. Plenty of challenges & stressful periods, but a hugely fulfilling experience! Thanks to my supervisor
@jb_morin
, my
@sscsportsmed
@SSCSantry
colleagues past & present, & my family for all their support
PB in
@MarathonRdam
. Not an easy day. Had to work hard to maintain the pace I set out at. Could have easily lost minutes if I let the guard down. Nice reward for all the work over last few months. Now time to focus on other priorities for the next while!
Very proud to have successfully defended my PhD today. Thanks to the jury panel of
@TaijaFinni
, Antoine Nordez,
@PaulineGerus
&
@AlexandreRambau
for a fair & robust defence process. Huge thank you to my supervisor
@jb_morin
for his help , support & expertise over the last 6 years
2.28.17 in
@dublinmarathon
- a PB by 1 minute. Put in a big shift between 7-22miles and lost a bit of time over last couple of miles. Support was amazing all around the course. Left it all out there!
#DublinMarathon
#TimeToRelax
What an amazing experience having this little lady come into the world this week. Her mother was brilliant throughout! Cannot praise
@RotundaHospital
staff enough for their excellent care and support
#ProudFather
#ProudHusband
A tough 2nd half of
@dublinmarathon
. Suffered bad leg cramping from mile 15 onwards and had to stop several times. Never happened me before. Felt a little off the last 2 days. Anyway, had plenty of motivation to finish. Support around the course was amazing & the volunteers
Another
@dublinmarathon
in the bank - 2.27.14 to finish 22nd overall & 3rd in over 40 category. Legs weren’t feeling good from mile 12 so had to rely on a past experience & a good group to share the work keep it together for as long as possible.
#IrishLifeDublinMarathon
Higher risk of tendon injuries right now with many people running a lot more than normal. Same for team sports who may have a very short and accelerated pre-season when games resume having not been able to train at regular intensity. Tendons don't like holidays or big surprises!
(1/2) Achilles tendon structure & the degree of twisting of the sub fascicles it receives from the 3 calf muscles, varies from person to person. This has an impact on muscle loading, the degree of sliding between tendon fascicles & how stress is distributed throughout the tendon
Hate the term 'punching above our weight' when it comes to population and international success. Are the Borlées and Ingebrigtsens punching above their weight? Culture, environment and application of high performance standards on a daily basis. Bigger impact than population
Extra cushioning in shoes do not reduce impact when running. What the runner does in the shoe matters, as they adjust their mechanics in cushioned shoes resulting in greater impact loading. Wrong to assume ⬆️cushioning = ⬇️ injury risk
Active cool-downs not as beneficial as we were traditionally led to believe. No impact on muscle soreness & can interfere with glycogen resynthesis. Some positive benefits. Perhaps its inclusion depends on what system needs recovery & adaptive response
Some strong verbals from a driver on my run this morning when I used the main road for a small stretch to make way for pedestrians on a narrow footpath. No other cars. Not sure how it could upset his essential journey that much. I guess if you look for a problem you’ll find one
A 🧵on where my head is with Achilles tendon (AT) ruptures.
A rupture likely occurs in a tendon with ⬇️tissue quality. Most often in a region of the AT that is remodelling as it tries to adapt to ⬆️activity levels. A silent tendinopathy, perhaps?
#AchillesTendon
#Rupture
(1/)
We lose 5% of muscle mass per decade after the age of 40, which can be curtailed by regular weight training. Older people who lift weights may actually enjoy it and build it into their weekly routine!
#HealthyAgeing
#UseItOrLoseIt
Runners who rearfoot strike have more fascicle length changes in their calf muscles during ground contact, while runners who forefoot strike produce more force in the calf muscles - either of which increase energy cost. So no difference in economy between strike patterns
#WCB2018
16th overall and 3rd over 40 in
@Marathon_Mcr
today. It doesn’t get any easier with each passing year but great to be still motivated and able to enjoy it!
Most athletes in Olympic sports may lead a professional lifestyle but very few are paid professionals. Many also combine work, study & family and still get tested at home. Inconvenient but necessary for credibility of their performances & their sport
4th place in
@marathonbcm
this morning in 2.26.41. 2nd fast time ever. Great atmosphere & support throughout on a challenging course!
(📸 of start from BBC NI website)
(1/) A cool cadaver study which shows a mechanical and anatomical link between the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia.
Strong and significant correlations found between cross-sectional areas and thickness of AT and PF around their insertions to heel bone
Delighted to finally have our
#SSCAchilles
Study underway. It will be the main study of my PhD and will involve a 12 week rehabilitation program with strength, power & reactive strength testing, and running gait assessments. We are keen to hear from anybody who may be eligible
Soleus is the biggest force contributor to vertical acceleration of the CoM in a countermovement jump. Soleus and vasti muscles work close to their full capacity more-so than other lower limb muscles. Nice work
@MUSportScience
Looking forward to
@dublinmarathon
tomorrow. Extra special occasion this year on its 40th anniversary. My brother, cousin and uncle also competing, as well as several others I’ve worked with over the last few months. Best of luck to everyone competing
#DublinMarathon
#RunThisTown
Interesting new proposal on how to individualise an exercise program to focus more on either muscle or tendon adaptations.
Under max voluntary contraction, if max tendon strain is <4.5% - focus on muscle; if >10% - focus on tendon stiffness
Now to celebrate our 5 year wedding anniversary with a lovely take-away meal from
@bonappmalahide
and have been looking forward to a drop of this for the last few months!
Final touches to my prep for next week’s
@dublinmarathon
. 15 miles this morning with last 6 around marathon pace. Great to have the event back after a 2 year absence. 🤞for the weather!
#DublinMarathon
Evidence to date suggests that the timing of hamstring injuries occur during the late swing phase of high speed running - where the muscles are most activated and the muscle-tendon units rapidly lengthen under highest forces.
#Hamstrings
#Injury
#Running
Great to make it home today. Long time since my parents have seen their grandchild. Been a strange year but still a lot to be thankful for. Hope everyone is making the best of their day
#HappyChristmas
(1/2) Saw 2 plantar heel pain running patients in the clinic today. Both had relative calf peak torque values barely hitting 100% bodyweight in an isokinetic test at 30ºdeg/sec (typically see uninjured/end of rehab runners achieve >200% bodyweight).
This Russian gymnast competed yesterday just 3 months after Achilles surgery after a complete rupture. That’s impressive! Most people are barely out of a boot with half their calf missing at the 3 month mark.
#AchillesRehab
#Tokyo2020
All set for
@dublinmarathon
tomorrow. Best of luck to everyone else taking part. Hopefully will be a good day! The race will be streamed live here from 08.30:
#DublinMarathon
#ICanIWill
Back on the track today for
@irishathletics
national senior championships in the 10,000m. Happy with 32.31 in warm conditions. 20 years since I did my first national senior championships and 7 years since my last one in the 10,000m walk!
#ILHSC19
First Half Marathon in 2.5 years
@irishathletics
National Championships hosted & well organised by
@RatoathAC
. 7th overall & 1st in over 40 category. Slowly getting fitness back after a long layoff earlier in year with a radiculopathy. Next stop
@dublinmarathon
📸
@myrunresults
Boyce doing really well lying in 11th at 40km just 36 sec off chasing group battling for 2nd/3rd. Already picking off a few immediately ahead. A minute is nothing with 10km to go in these conditions!
#50kmwalk
#Tokyo2020
#TeamIreland
Nice to dip under 70min for the first time with a PB in
@RnRDublinHalf
this morning. A hilly second half through the Phoenix Park. Build-up to
@dublinmarathon
begins!
Hard to believe he’s gone but had some great memories with Ray over the years. He gave his life to athletics as an athlete, coach, official, administrator and fan. He was a great friend and a positive presence everywhere we went. A huge loss
#RIPRay
1 leg bodyweight heel raises (or 200 heel drops per day) is not enough to prepare the Achilles for the demands of running after injury. If you can handle 1 leg forward hops you can handle running!
#WatchThisSpace
#SSCAchilles
I'm still recruiting for my Achilles rehab study
@sscsportsmed
as part of my PhD. If anybody (or you know of somebody) has Achilles pain, meets the criteria and can commit to a 12-week program incl 3 lab testing sessions, feel free to contact me
#AchillesTendinopathy
#SSCAchilles
That big engine muscle that can produce very high forces but can sustain very high workrates (±80% slow twitch fibers). Commonly neglected in most S&C programs until the athlete is injured
#Soleus
A 4 minute PB and negative splits (1.15.15 at half way). Thanks to the
@marathonbcm
organisers and volunteers for a great event and the support around the course
I’m obviously completely biased but what a shame this is the last 50km at the Olympics. For those following it, the battle for the medals over the last 2km lap was exciting to watch. Plenty of drama and entertainment early on too!
Biggest crowd I’ve ever seen at
@irishathletics
national senior championships today despite a busy weekend of sport and concerts in Dublin. Some brilliant races this afternoon - most notably
@rhasidatadeleke
’s 11.13 100m Irish record.
Huge congrats to
@Kevrunning
on his 2.10.10 performance and Olympic qualification in Seville Marathon. Fastest Irish qualifier so far. Big PB too for Hugh Armstrong in 2.12.26 in only his second marathon.
#ZurichMaratonSevilla20
Absolutely fantastic 10th place performance by
@brendanboyce
. Out of all the others he was probably closest to his PB in those conditions. Got his tactics spot on. Congrats to coach
@RM_Heffernan
too!
#Tokyo2020
#TeamIreland
Really interesting findings here from the one of the leading foot biomechanics research teams. Foot intrinsic muscles seem to contribute more to the rigid lever function for toe-off and not so much to providing arch support during stance
Great presentation by
@GlenLichtwark
. During prolonged running - Achilles tendon length increases (creep - not a good thing) with reduced stiffness causing calf muscle fascicles to shorten more which increase energy cost
#Bar
çaMedicine
Excited to be starting out on my PhD journey & fortunate to work under the supervision of
@jb_morin
&
@afranklynmiller
registered to
@Univ_Nice
collaborating with
@sscsportsmed
. My study will focus on runners with Achilles tendinopathy, ankle biomechanics & exercise interventions
Recent systematic review on biomechanical risk factors associated with running injuries.
- No 'one size fits all' model
- Certain biomechanical features associated with certain injuries and populations (hip mechanics in female recreational runners)
Good read. Pre-adolescent children have a strong aerobic metabolism that doesn't need to be abused with excessive endurance training. Other athletic qualities are more important to develop at that age. Aerobic development best saved for late-adolescence+
(1/) A couple of key slides from my pres today
@Kinesport75
conference. Deficits in calf strength persist for several months after an Achilles tendon rupture - with even greater deficits in toe-off positions. Peak torque occurs at more dorsiflexed angles compared to uninjured leg
Shaved a minute off my half marathon PB in
@charlevillehalf
today finishing in 68.52. Great event as always with a new course record this year. Looking forward to
@dublinmarathon
in 6 weeks
Watching back over some of the presentations from
@sscsportsmed
#SSCconf2021
which are still available on . This pres by
@rwilly2003
on bone loading during running was top class. Muscles load bone far more than initial impact. Not what we used to believe
Another good outing today winning
@trim10mile
. Would have been nice to finish the lower side of 53mins! Well organised race and great community support around the course
Excellent article by
@StephLaz_
on
@SportsmithHQ
on training tendons for performance. Resistance training under isometric or eccentric conditions with heavy loads, are long enough and slow enough with enough strain, for the tendon to adapt (⬆️ stiffness)
This table generated penty of interest & good discussion in my
@AthleticsNI
#RunNI
webinar last night.
The same distance run at slower pace on tired legs means ⬆️accumulated load. Distance does not give us a complete picture of training load on the body
October bank holiday Sunday is not the same without
@dublinmarathon
. Hopefully we can get back on the streets of Dublin again next year and enjoy the atmosphere. Well done to everybody who completed their
#KBCVirtualDublinMarathon
over the weekend!
My daughter’s first St Patrick’s Day. One that she won’t remember but that the rest of the world won’t forget. Stay safe and healthy!
#HappyStPatricksDay
#LetsBeatThisVirus
Time to supercharge your workouts ⚡
USATF partner
@KTtape
’s Pro Oxygen combines the durability of KT Tape Pro with the power of Celliant Infrared Technology. This combo is designed to help make oxygen more available to your cells to unleash your potential.
#CrushEveryWorkout
My poster is on display today in The Forum on the ground floor
@WCB2018
. My abstract investigated the reliability of a single leg hurdle hop exercise test. Happy to chat during the breaks!
#WCB2018
#performance
#InjuryRehabilitation
“It’s not complicated” (championship racing). What a quote from Cian McPhillips. That is some mindset for an 18yo competing in his first senior major championships. He looked very much like he belonged there.
#EuropeanIndoors
What a photo this is from today’s Lisburn Festival of Running 5k
12 year old Emer McKee ran 16:27 (taking 13 seconds off her own world record) and 61 year old Tommy Hughes ran 16:32. Incredible
Nice pres from
@SteffenDanielle
yesterday
@ALTIS
#ThornevACP
showing that isometric loading increases expression of an important gene for tendon regeneration as the 'stress-relaxation' response directs load to the injured tissue. This was done on an injury-induced rodent tendon!
How often do we hear some coaches who regard fast twitch athletes as ‘lazy’ and ‘don’t train hard enough’? They are just wired differently and need to be managed more carefully
Muscle fiber type is associated with overreaching response to overload training
Runners⬆️type-I fibers able to better cope with⬆️training volume & achieve superior performance adaptations
Type ll dominance – higher risk of overreaching/delayed recovery
We know that the soleus has a knee extensor function due to its posterior pull on the tibia during ground contact with knee flexion. In fact the soleus has a stronger neural relationship with the quads than it does with the medial gastroc in certain tasks
Here's how Ireland won a truly magnificent gold at the European Athletics Championships. A superb performance from Chris O'Donnell, Rhasidat Adeleke, Thomas Barr & Sharlene Mawdsley 🥇☘️☘️☘️
#RTEsport
Tough but important viewing for anyone who thinks they have been inconvenienced by covid restrictions over last couple of months. Another top quality
#RTEInvestigates
documentary.
Now on
@RTEOne
#RTEInvestigates
: Inside Ireland's Covid Battle goes behind the scenes at St James's Hospital, Dublin as healthcare staff across the hospital fight to keep Covid patients alive