- How does the GEL-KAYANO 30 differ to GEL-KAYANO 29
So you loved your GEL-KAYANO 29 but its time to upgrade, so what are the changes. Well there are some big changes this time around.
Weight wise the 30 is slightly heavier but it doesn’t feel that way when running with them, for me they feel lighter. There is an increased stack now going from 25-15mm for men to 30-22mm and for women it was 24-14mm now it is 29-21mm.
The midsole material is now made up of FF Blast + ECO. Don’t be worried if you think there is no GEL in there anymore, the GEL is now PUREGEL but is hidden from view, previously you could always see the GEL so its still there and better than ever. One of the biggest enhancements is the 4D Guidance System which you can read about next.
- 4D Guidance System
The new 4D guidance system guides the foot through every step and adapts as your running form changes over distance. This new innovative take on stabilizing the foot is based on biomechanical research. It focuses on adaptive, on-demand stability. The medial foam unit helps return the arch to the ideal position for the next foot strike. I have done a number of longer runs with these over the last couple of weeks and they definitely offer the support I need so there is no compromise from previous versions.
- A lighter footprint for a brighter tomorrow
The new GEL-KAYANO 30 shoe’s carbon footprint is 14% lower than the industry average. ASICS measure the carbon emissions at each stage of a product life cycle. This includes the materials used, how they are manufactured and how they are transported. This is great to see a company put time and research into reducing the carbon footprint of their shoes. You will see the label inside the shoe.
You can find out more details here
ASICS FrontRunner: Running = Team Sport
- Just because its an individual sport doesn’t mean its all on your own. Clubs are a great place to meet people, learn from others and help to make a trip to a race much more entertaining. I have had great support from the clubs I have been a member and on race day they help get the best out of you

Group Training
- I do a lot of training on my own but having club training sessions, long runs with others and even recovery runs with friends helps pass away the miles
Race day
- Many times I have set a goal for a race and a team mate has helped me reach that goal. Working as a team on the day will keep you focused and when things get hard there will be someone there to push you.
Team events
- When it comes to local, regional and national championships there is always club prizes as well as individual. This means if you know you are not going to be in the running for individual medals there is always the team goal of medals.
Relay Events
- A good was to turn an individual sport into a team sport is taking part in a relay. As a club St Catherines have performed extremely well in Cork City Marathon as a relay team. We all were working towards the same goal and didn’t want to leave anyone down
Supporting on race day
- What better feeling than running through crowds getting cheered on to the finish line. Club support on race days drives you to the finish line
Friendship
- I am lucky to be part of many clubs and I have made great friends with similar interests. Its doesn’t have to be all about running but running has brought us together.
The ASICS FrontRunner team bring a diverse team together. It has helped me meet so many people I’d have never had a chance to meet. So next time you think running is an individual sport remember there are so many ways where teamwork in running is extremely important
2022 Year in Review
I look back at 2022 with both delight and disappointment. I’m strictly talking from a sports view, I have an extremly supportive family around me and 2022 would have been a lot rougher without them by my side.
I can split the year into four segments
- January to May – The improvements
- June to November – The injury
- Late Nov / Early Dec – The return
- December – The new injury
I will split this into those segments but also overall review of goals, mileage and what 2023 might bring.
January to May
I set myself a few running goals for this year as well as some tri related goals.
- PBs at 5 km, 4 mile, 5 mile, 10 km, 10 mile, Half Marathon, Full Marathon
- PB over Lost Sheep course and Sub 20 min 5km run in sprint tri.
Training started well in January and early target was Dungarvan 10 mile in Feb. On the day I wasn’t feeling it and almost decided not to do the race but Martha kicked me out the door. The goal was a PB and that was acheievd. It was a tough day out with the wind and found myself caught in a tough section on my own but struggled through when a group helped pull me along to finish in a time of 65:35. It was a huge improvement on my previous PB so delighted with that.
I found myself taking on more trail running and I feel this had helped my progress. I decided at start or March to take on the Knockmealdowns course of 24km/1100m elevation. It was an eye opener but great experience.
Next race was the Cork Road Championships over 4 mile. Race is usually hosted close to home which is good as its usually held around St Patricks Day so I don’t have to travel far. A time of 24:22 meant a 25 second PB.
Only a few weeks later it was Brighton 10km with the ASICS team and again goal was sub 39 mins. And a consistent run cheered on by the team meant it was a successful run and managed 38:29. The weekend with the team was time well spent and missed those oppurtunities with not being able to travel for 2 years.
2 weeks later it was on to the 5 mile East Cork Road Championships. A course that you definitely wouldn’t be looking for a PB on but I did do my fastest time on the course as our team secured bronze.
May came and another PB this time over 5km and I finally broke 18 mins. After orginally setting my PB at 18:20 I found it hard to break even 19 for some time but things clicked on the day and an offical time of 17:56 meant training was going well.
Just a few days later I took on my hardest challenge to date, The Galtee Challenge race — 32km with 1500m elevation. Now this was an experience like no other and with the help of Blackwater team mate Adrian I got it finished and was definitely proud to tick that off the list. But that is where things came to a halt. A fall during that race which only flared up about a week later after my body loosened out meant it was a rough few months to follow.
June to November
I’m not going to go into every part of this injury but after I thought this could be a minor issue I was still doing a small bit but the discomfort became too much. My shoulder was in bits. It was months of rest, scans, and exercise. I still haven’t found a root cause for it and it still at me now but I can run a lot more comfortably.
During this time I did a bit of hiking with family to keep active.
Late Nov / Early Dec
With so many races I decided I’d take on the short Cloyne 4km race to ease my way back in late November. My plan was to run consistently which I managed to do, I felt great after and delighted to be out running a race again. I was getting the miles in and also putting a lot of work into our club hosting the National Novice Cross Country. The week before while we were all setting up the course I ran it to get a video and after doing this I got the mad idea to want to run it the following week. So I signed up and away we go. So my next race was a National XC, I’d never get a chance to really do one so I had to it when its so close to home. On our feet all day and with our race being the last it did mean we were on tired legs but damn I loved that race. It was a challenge, as tough of XC course that you are going to get but that is what is to love about it.
And mid December
The simple things seem to cause the most pain. Getting out of the car and my back felt a twinge. Didn’t think too much of it until I went in shopping and within 10 mins I could barely walk. Was almost crawling back to the car. I went home and lay down and next thing I know its end of December and I’m still only a fraction better. Doing my best to try keep positivie but the truth be told its been a bad year for injuries. 6 months wiped out as I was starting to make real progress. As I start a new road to recovery the only goal I have for 2023 is to get through it in one piece.
So with no triathlons this year my PBs acheived were
- 5 km, 4 mile, 10 km, 10 mile
Longer hikes and trail/mountain running were new things that were tried.
Below you can see how my stats looked for the year and the big drop off from May. It is really disappointing to see but hopefully with hard work things will go better in 2023. Happy New Year all.
Some podcasts to listen with an Irish twist
It took me a long time to get me into podcasts. I don’t listen to music while running but I have turned to podcasts on the commute to and from work to help me to get through the journey. It gives me the chance to catch up on the weeks podcasts and news in the sporting world. There are so many out there and no doubt many lists but I have narrowed my list down to ones with an Irish and in some cases Cork connection.
The Runners Diary Cork
I’m starting this one with a disclaimer, my brother teamed up with the original founder of the original Runners Diary but that would be more of a reason for me not to listen in, I have listened to him long enough. But Brian and Damian found a gap in the Cork running scene and filled it with a much needed reporting, a good bit of craic and some great interviews along the way. Weekly episodes review the results for the week, upcoming fixtures, the strava leaderboard (some day I will get on that) and interviews with all different people from Cork running scene. This is very much Cork based right now and follows Cork runners both at home and abroad. As they find their feet the quality continues to improve and looking forward to seeing what is to come. Even if you are not from Cork it is worth listening in to hear what is going on in the Real Capital 😉
Podcast link – here
Social Media – Website Instagram Facebook Twitter
Tri Talking Sport
Most in triathlon has come across Joanne Murphy at some point by now, she has annouced at Ironman UK, Ireland and was part of the annouceing team in Kona this year (WOW). I actually got to know Joanne during many battles on Zwift as virtual races became the thing to do in 2020. Triathlon Ireland set up a series of races and it really did keep people motivated. From interviewing some of the greats from the sports, from most recently Craig Alexander, the voice of Ironman the soon to be retired Mike Reilly to Age Groupers in Ireland and abroad. There are legends of the triathlon world scattered throughout her long list of podcasts. And its not all about triathletes either, there are runners, cyclists, Olympian and many more from other sports to listen in on. If you haven’t listened before its definitely worth taking time out or while on the turbo to catch up on close to 100 episodes now (that will be plenty of time of the turbo), even during their Monday Social sessions on Zwift.
Podcast link – here
Social Media – Website Instagram Facebook Twitter
Trail Running Podcast
2022 is when I got introduced to trail and mountain running. Mountain running didn’t end well for me but I will be back. With so many trails close to home I have found myself with a lot more interest in all things trail running and IMRA organise some superb races and for great value. Eoin Flynn presents this show and if you want to find out what is happening and what has happened in all things mountain and trail this it the place to go. With some great interviews, news, fixtures and results it is perfect to listen to keep up to date.
Podcast link – here
Social Media – Website Instagram Facebook
An Irishman Abroad
My search for more podcasts brought me to An Irishman Abroad. Jarlath has had great Interviews with some of Irelands best runners, and the best thing about it is that he speaks to them about all aspects of their lives and as he doesn’t know much about running he asks the simple but relatable questions that way it makes it easier for the listener to relate. Sonia O’Sullivan is a regular contributer on the show as well.
Podcast link – here
Social Media – Website Instagram
Big Red Bench
This is keeping it local to Cork but has a huge following. Big Red Bench can be found on Cork’s RedFM every Saturday and Sunday from 6pm presented by Ruairi O’Hagan. It is an extremly popular podcast with wide range of sport covered. It is a great resource to get the latest news from all things local. If you don’t catch it on the radio its easy to catch up via podcasts. With interviews, reviews of local events, results and fixtures it has a mix of everything. If you are not local to Cork we can always help you with translating.
Podcast link – here
Social Media – Website Instagram Facebook Twitter
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 29 are finally here here
First Impressions
As always I look forward to seeing what the colourway is and I definitely wasn’t disappointed

Next I took them for a ride to see how they compared to previous versions and even though there have been some changes (find out more below) it hasn’t affected the support and infact feels better. It actually felt like there was more of a bounce with them. It definitely made my run easier and smoother which is what you want in a new show. Losing the few grams of weight is noticable but having moved to light shoes (Metaspeed) for racing the wieght is noticable at first but soon once you are into your run you forget about that and the support and comfort make for a great run. I have done all my marathons in Kayanos and they offered the support I needed and I’d have no problem with doing a marthong in these.
Specifications (Male shoe)
- Weight – 299grms
- Midsole heigh – 25-15MM
- Drop – 10mm
- Midesole Material – FF Blast Plus / Flytefoam
- GEL – Rearfoot Visible
- Ground Contact – Full Ground Contact
- Upper – Engineered Knit
GEL-KAYANO 29 vs GEL-KAYANO 28
The 29 are lighter and have new Litetruss construction which helps deliver a smooth, stable ride. There is new FF BLAST PLUS foam with adds positive energy with every step. There is new soft, recycled, engineered stretch-knit upper which provides breathability and comfort. It is also great to see 75% of the shoe’s main upper material is made with recycled content and more than 50% of all polyester materials are recycled.
Pros
- The use of recycled material
- The stability
- Comfortable ride especially on long runs
- Lighter than previous versions
- Long lasting
Cons
- They are premium shoe so are at high end price wise
- Even with reduced weight they are still heavier than other options
Final Thoughts
When needing support there always feels like there is that compromise where there is going to be that extra weight. ASICS are reducing the weight in the 29s compared to other versions so the compromise doesn’t seem as much now. I’m really happy with how the 29s have so far felt and they will be the shoe of choice for my long runs and slow shorter training runs going forward. I just can’t wait to get back to full training to bring them further. If you are looking for a shoe with top class support and comfort then there is no better shoe (in my opinion) out there.
Something new in 2022
How it all started
Watching some of the ASICS Frontrunners taking on the trails got me thinking and after a chat with Alan I decided I’d buy a pair of trail runners and went with a pair of ASICS Fuji Lite 2. Now I knew I’d have to use them.

Let the adventure begin
Luckily there are some nice trails around me. Some I got to know while walking with George and I knew I’d have to try them out at some time myself. Corrin Woods which overlooks Fermoy in Cork, Knockakeo Woods and many other smaller challenging routes was where I started to spend more time. I had targeted a race in Corrin but missed it due to a niggling injury but I ran the course a number times. In my head I was no thinking should I try something even more so I looked up some races close by. I saw Knockmealdowns half marathon and it peaked my interest. I felt I wasn’t fully ready for it as a race so I decided I’d give it a go the next time I got a chance

Knockmealdowns
The Knockmealdown mountain range is not too far from my, I can see them from my kitchen window. I was thinking of doing it one Saturday morning but after looking out I saw the cloud cover so I left it all. 2 weeks later I decided I’d try again and this time there were clear skies. Luckily I had all my kit ready. When I started the car it was -3 degrees on the dash. I’m glad I packed some warm kit. I was ready to go at 7am, I had the course loaded on to my watch and off I went. 24km and 1100m of elevation. The first 10km would be seen as relatively fast with some fast downhills, flat running through woods and good fire roads to run on. The ground was frozen in parts and slippy in parts. It was after what is know as the Liam Lynch Monument things got really tough and the climbing began. Hitting several peaks (Crohan West 521m, Knocknagnauv 655m) before going back down the other side only to see I had to go back up again made me think in my head what I was up to but the views all around made it worth it. Hitting the last peak was a slog and at times I wondered if I could do it but I pushed through and when I got up to the top of Knockmealdown (792m) it was the 1st time the clouds came in and the snow could be seen at the top. After a bit of a rest at the top it was time to head back down. One thing I learned is that tired legs can leave to some falls. A couple of falls in the last 2km downhill shows that you always need to be careful and pay attention

What is next?
I plan to continue to aim to hit the trails at least once a week but also I have some interesting challenges ahead that I’m excited about. When I settle on those I will share more.

My thoughts on trail and mountain running
- Be prepared and have the right kit for the challenge you are taking on
- Its great to be off the road and feel safe with no traffic around
- It has help my overall running. I feel stronger when I do road races
- Its so peaceful and you can leave you worries once you put on your trail runners
- The scenery distracts you from the hill
- There is no shame in walking up those hills
- Go out and enjoy

It’s not all about mileage, goals and PBs
Goals can be changed
I started the year with clear goals
- 120km of swimming
- 4000km of cycling
- 1000 miles of running
- 5km open water swim
- PB at 10km, half and full marathon
The year started off strong and I was well on my way to my goals. In April I managed a virtual half marathon PB and distance goals were all on track. But soon a foot injury meant I had limited cycling and running for almost 4 months. And the excitement of the birth of our 2nd baby in June meant I had to change goals to be more realistic. With limited running and cycling I increased my swimming and soon found myself doing 5km open water training sessions. This led me to complete a 10km open water swim, something I never thought I’d do. With help from training partners I smashed that goal. I scratched my mileage targets, marathon goal went out the window but I did manage a 10km PB. It is important to know that you should change your goals if needed, you can’t predict what is to come.

Be flexible
I was always a morning person for runs, did the majority of my swimming in the pool and bike work was mixed. But over the last 2 years we have all had to be flexible. This included limits on traveling, closures of pools and change in work schedule. I now do the majority of my swimming in open water with roughly only 10 sessions this year happening in the pool. With change in personal circumstances I need to be flexible when I do train, a baby could be up all night, a project in work could be due or house work may need to be done
- Be open to changing the time/day of a session to better fit your schedule
- Fit in your session when possible, maybe a meeting finished early or kids are napping
- Have the kit ready so when time allows you are ready to go

Don’t be afraid to take a break
There are days I wake up and I’m extra tired. In the past I’d push through and do a session but soon I’d find myself picking up injuries. Maybe a break would have helped
- There are days when a rest is better don’t feel bad if you need that break
- Don’t try to make up the missed session, just continue with your plan when ready
- After a tough run of training / racing some time off is always welcomed

Try something new
In 2021 to help motivate me when times were tough I decided to try something new. A great way to spend more time with family but stay active was to hit the trails and mountains. My son loved being out in the open air and taking on new challenges. He is getting to an age where he wants to try new things and it has led me to also now running trails, something I had never done.
- Cross training is extremely helpful, why not have a look at what other activities are out there, it could be swimming, cycling, chess or anything that helps

Enjoy yourself
Key thing is you need to enjoy what you are doing. If it feels like torture everyday then maybe its time to change it up so you are doing it with a smile. Of course it may not be fun when you are chasing down a target race but the build up and after crossing the line should put a smile on your face. I will sit down and write up my goals for 2022 but now I will be more conscious that personal life will dictate some of those goals.

Time to test out Gel-Kayano 28
With this being my go to shoe for stability I couldn’t wait to try these out. The day they arrived I went for an extra run just to check them out. It was only a short run to begin with but I felt comfortable in them from the start. There was a nice bounce to them when I set off and as always I felt the support under my feet from the go. With the Gel-Kayano being such a high quality shoe you know you are always going to get a good ride. The small changes (talked about below) make the ride even more comfortable without sacrificing the quality. I will be doing plenty of long runs in these in the coming months.

Specifications
Weight – 310gr
Midsole Height – 23-13MM
Drop – 10MM
Midsole Material – FF Blast top / FF bottom
Support – Trusstic / Dynamic Duomax
Surface – Road
Pronation Type – Overpronator
Gel-Kayano 28 vs Gel-Kayano 27
The 28 has a new external heel cradle that reduces stiffness and heel irritation while mainting its full adpative stability. There is now full contact outsole with Dynamic Duomax for a more seamless and stable transition. The midsole material is now Flytefoam Blast changing from the Flytefoam Propel. The Flytefoam Blast is springy and lightweight cushioning material that generates a soft landin thats followed by a energetic rebound. in the 28s the Trusstic is covered and perfectly blends in with the Dynamic Duomax. The Plus 3 midsole design is specifically integrated into the women’s model, which features 3mm of additional height in the heel to improve support.

Pros
- You can get into a brand new pair and they always feel the same
- New tech makes them even more comfortable to run in
- Supportive on long runs
- Pefect for people who over pronate
- Long lasting (In my experience)
Cons
- I will put cost here but you do get what you pay for. They are a high end shoe but for people who may not want to spend this then you can always look at the GT-2000
- Heavy for speed sessions / fast runs

Final Thoughts
If you need a shoe that offers support then this is the shoe for you. When you are getting out for those long runs and you want that reassurance that you have a shoe that is going to last the distance then again this is a shoe for you. These will be used for my training runs as I build back up my distance. I will use different shoes depending on the session as these can be a bit heavy if you are doing a speed session. But I won’t be turning my back on them and Gel-Kayano continues to be my shoe of choice
Going from team sport to individual sports
Over the next 25 years all I knew was team sport. I was part of some hugely successful teams winning many championships, cups and leagues. I had the privilege of captaining teams during that time as well as coaching teams along the way. But one evening in June 2011 things changed. As I went up to catch a ball I got a push on the back which had me off balance, I went crashing onto the floor and that is when my shoulder popped out. Recovery was slow and I needed a way to try keep fit so I bought a bike and my mindset changed. I now found myself heading out on cycles and in a moment of madness my brother in law Robert convinced me to sign up for an adventure race in Killarney in October. Because of that I had to take up running , averaging about 20km a month from September to December.
Suddenly I found myself not just using these as recovery activities but doing it for the enjoyment. My brother Damian and I then signed up for a 10 mile road race and from there both of us were hooked. After I did my 1st triathlon in July 2013 where I did that in the morning and played a football game that night I knew something would have to give. And it was then I decided to walk away from a sport that consumed my life for so many years to a sport I was still learning. I did return twice more to help out teams but they were brief appearances. I was now out of team sports and on the road to individual sports. I have learned a lot in the last few years and here are some things I found
Individual sport doesn’t always mean you are on your own

- Clubs
- Just because its an individual sport doesn’t mean its all on your own. Clubs are a great place to meet people, learn from others and help to make a trip to a race much more entertaining. I have had great support from the clubs I have been a member and on race day they help get the best out of you
- Training
- I do a lot of training on my own but having club training sessions, long runs with others and even recovery runs with friends helps pass away the miles
- Relay
- A good was to turn an individual sport into a team sport is taking part in a relay. As a club St Catherines have performed extremely well in Cork City Marathon as a relay team. We all were working towards the same goal and didn’t want to leave anyone down
- Team events
- Cross country events, and club championship races mean you are running for yourself and your team to get as many points as possible
- Pacing
- On race day someone may have a goal in mind and sometimes its easier to work with someone for that goal. I have been paced and paced people to PBs. It is a great feeling
- Race day support
- What better feeling than running through crowds getting cheered on to the finish line

What I enjoy most about individual sports
- Freedom & flexibility
- With family and work I always can’t commit to a certain time. I can move my schedule when needed to work around my life. Team sports meant you had to make the training when it was set
- Personal goals
- Your goals are your own goals and not affected by how other perform
- Off days
- If you have an off day its only yourself that you need to worry about, an off day in team sports means you could leave your team down
- Trying new things
- If you feel like doing something different on a day you can, maybe a different type of speed session, or trail instead of road.
What I miss about team sports

- The celebrations
- Winning a big game and celebrating with your team can’t be beat. Everyone had the same goal and when it was achieved the work made it all worthwhile
- Teamwork
- Working together to achieve a goal set out. Helping others in the team improve and when someone is having a bad day, doing your best to have everyone rally around to make the goal
- Player of the match
- Its still a team of individuals and there is always that stand out performance. Knowing you were a major part of that success is a great feeling
- Physicality
- This is definitely something I really miss. Trying to be 1st to the ball, a strong shoulder or a tackle to stop a certain goal, breaking through challenges all made it worth while. Some say the start of a swim in a triathlon is the closest I will get
- Discipline
- Making sure you are at training on time, listening to a coach or making sure you don’t get yellow card discipline is key to team sport so you don’t let down yourself or the team
Summary
I truly believe team support has helped shape the way I go about sports these days. On a summer evening when I run past a football field I wish I was out there kicking a ball again but then realise I better leave it to the younger people now and continue my running and triathlon goals
