Training block

16 December, 2008 | 02:12

One day into the Olympics and the older bodies are beginning to feel the burn.

This may actually be the only picture on record of physio Andy Ireland receiving treatment from someone else. Fortunately, Miles fancies himself as something of a healer, clicking out AI's back before Monday's first event, the 200 metre sprint.

Treatment over, attentions turned to who would be running in which lanes. The headed paper is from their US Open base in New York, an indication of just how long they've been thinking about the Olympics.

Andy led after day one, and remained in front after coming second in the 200 metres behind Ross Hutchins. Andy's time (below) an indication that they were trying to conserve energy for the next event, the 'mile.'

The thought of four laps of the track after pushing hard in the 200 metres didn't exactly fill any of them with seasonal joy, and they were a contemplative bunch as the warmed up for the second time.

Not one of the guys had ever run a competitive mile, so even how to start the thing took some working out.

Andy needn't have worried, as he and Miles pushed well ahead of the pack to finish in 5 minutes 21, and five minutes 24 seconds respectively. Andy pretty much jogged the last 200 metres, and now wants to get his time down to five minutes.

The pro US athletes sharing the track were impressed with how hard everyone pushed.

The morning over, the leader board remained the same: Andy in first, then Ross, Treacle, Jez, Miles and Andy Ireland.

The afternoon session was all about the tennis. And with the University of Miami courts all being used for the Orange Bowl, Miles pulled a few strings to get them a hit on an exclusive residential development in Coral Gables. The property prices there are all in the 5 million dollars+ bracket.

That all went over the head off Jez Green who was feeling worse for wear after the morning's running. Once again, Andy Ireland was called into action to sort out the aches and pains.

Miles, Andy and Ross hit for three hours as the light went down, and the mossies came out in force. You can tell they're getting withdrawal symptoms from proper tennis by the amount of forfeits that are sneaking into the drills. Anything, it seems, to raise the stakes.

Anyone who netted the ball had to push out five press ups (see Andy, above), but in the end they were saved by the insects: it became impossible to stay on court any longer.