Optimal Fitness-Michael Black

08/11/2022

Excited to launch Optimal Fitness Coaching. Optimal Fitness's mission is to make each athlete we work with fitter, stronger and faster. We specialise in Running, cycling and triathlon events. Our goal is to both improve on your finish position and how quickly you do that.
The training principles used are centred around over 25 years of coaching experience, evidence-based physiology and an athlete centred approach, proven to give results.

Approaching winter is a perfect time to reassess your current training schedule and making sure you're getting the optimal return from the effort you put in.

If you're looking to maximise your current training regime, take the guess work away and work towards your goal in confidence, then we can help.
Get in touch through DM to find out more.
Our new website and other features will be launching soon.

29/01/2015

Check out this article I wrote for Jumping the Gun on perfecting your warm up. Fantastic website from a dedicated few, providing up to date news on athletics in Ireland and around the world.

Michael Black talks us through a warm-up protocol that should lead to better racing and training. Warm-up protocol Have you ever thought about the effectiveness of your warm up and how this affects your workout or race? How many of us have prepared for a race or intense workout with

12/01/2015

Get Mixing!!

29/12/2014

We all know how to go "hard" when we run or train but how should our "easy" days look...and more importantly are you following the correct protocol to achieve your goal of having an EASY DAY!!! Read on and start doing:)

Anatomy of an Easy Day Note: This went out to newsletter subscribers a few weeks ago. Click here to join the newsletter and get great content each week. Most runners know that they can’t run hard every day; they need to recover from workouts and long runs with easy days. But what should an easy da…

22/12/2014

En route home from High Performance Training Camp with Triathlon Ireland. First time in Aguilas and what a place for training. Epic views and cycle routes, fantastic trails and cabbage fields (yes fields of cabbage:) and all the swimming you want. Thanks to all the coaching staff and off course the hard working athletes for making it an enjoyable 8 days. Enjoy the return trip to all you lucky dogs.

20/12/2014

Bit of rain on the way this morning I think. :)

18/12/2014

Run Tech this morning...

16/12/2014

Day 3 complete in Aguilas Spain with Triathlon Ireland. Athletes working hard and looking forward to a few clearer skies in the days to come.

11/12/2014

Well we left our big house on the hill yesterday and yes it was a sad day,week and couple of months. We would loved to have stayed but unfortunately this was not our choice. But this is not the end, just a slight change.
Optimal Fitness still goes on. Time to recharge over the holidays and plan for next year. I'll keep you updated on future plans during the next few weeks.
Please continue training over the holidays. Big thanks to Adam Speer who contributed so much to making me realise my dream of having one of the best facilities in the country. Without him I couldn't have achieved what I wanted. We worked hard and loved every minute of it and as I said this is not the end.

03/12/2014

It really is OK...not to be OK....It will pass..

So many of us put so much emphasis on physical fitness but seem to ignore the importance of our mental or emotional fitness. The evidence surrounding the correlation between positive mental and physical health has never been more profound yet there is so much misinformation that only serves to confu…

02/12/2014