Blog entries

It’s a hot one in the Bosch!!

Administrator — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0100

So here I am in my last week of a training camp in Stellenbosch, South Africa. I have been here now for three and half weeks, and we are down to just one of my training partners Graham Hedman and myself. The rest of my group headed back to the UK on Tuesday. The plan was always for us two to stay out a week longer. With the weather poor back in England and Ireland, we said we’d stay a little longer here in the sun.

The camp has gone well, I have had some tough session over ...

The plane always takes off into the Wind

Administrator — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0100

I haven’t written a blog in a long time, but I feel now is that time of the year when one can look back over the last 12 months. As we approach Christmas, I just cant believe how fast the last year has gone. For me personally it hasn’t been a vintage year for the Gillo, but it has been a year that I have learnt a massive amount about myself and indeed my sport. Obviously my year was filled with massive disappointment, been hit with injury and then illness just didn’t leave me with a lot to ...

Nutrition! What's all the fuss??

Administrator — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100

I have been working with my personal nutritionist, Martin MacDonald (www.Mac-Nutrition.com), for just over a year now and wanted to write a little bit about how he has helped me.

Martin has an immense knowledge and experience of performance nutrition, which I very quickly learned, would help me in achieving my body composition goals. Martin is based in Loughborough, which has been really helpful as he has been able to measure my body fat levels using skinfold calipers. Havin...

Blog 47

Administrator — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100

My last few days of my break were spent in the city of Dubai. One of best mates, who has come to nearly all my races all over the world, is living and working out in the U.A.E., so I decided its time to visit him.

So off I went on Wednesday, flying direct to Dubai, Mark picked me up in his little rent a car, and I was on top of a massive tower having a beer in no time. The views were amazing, overlooking Dubai marina and the desert, complete opposites really. I have heard a ...

Blog 46

Administrator — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100

I spent the last week in my hometown of Dublin. Actually as im writing this I am sitting on the Johnny Swift to Holyhead, its funny you'd swear im on Polish Ferries, not sure if there is any Irish working on board...anyway, she's flying along and as I look back, Dublin is now a little dot!

Its always a bit hard to leave home, I could always spend longer. The week has gone quick, I try to pack in as much as I can, meeting friends, family and also catching up with sponsors.......

Blog 45

Administrator — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100

There I was laughing at Charlotte because she had a sick stomach.....Murphy's Law! I woke up on Monday, and had to rush to the toilet, spent the next 30 minutes talking to god down the big white telephone!! Don't think it was anything to do with food or anything; I put it down to the heat of Egypt....40 degrees every day, and not drinking enough, well of the right stuff anyway.

Got myself together anyway, and headed off to spend the day on a boat. We organized a snorkeling t...

Blog 43

Administrator — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100

My last week of my month long break has being spent in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt with my girlfriend charlotte For a holiday at the end of the season, all I wanted to do was sit on a beach with the sun in the sky. I'm only out here for 10 days, all I could really fit in as I want to spent some time at home in Dublin before I really get stuck back into training.

So, Sharm....after our flights been cancelled, getting news ones sorted, we eventually got here and everything turned o...

Blog 42

Administrator — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100

At this time of the year I start my break. I take about 4 weeks off and basically eat and drink what ever I want and don't feel guilty about it! I completely switch off from athletics for about 2/3 weeks and just do whatever I want and im not being dictated about training session and diet. I put a lot into my training and diet over the year, so now its time to chill out!!

It's a crucial period mentally. I have had 11 months of hard training, 6 days a week and then the pressu...

Blog 41

Administrator — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100

I decided that Zurich on Thursday night would be my last race of the season. I was due to race in Lille next week, but to be honest I am really tired and im simply just ready to call it a season.

It has been really hard since Barcelona to get myself up for my last few races, I suppose the feeling is that they don't really matter, the one that mattered was Barcelona. I also have a few issues that have been annoying me for a while and its time to put them straight.

Blog 40

Administrator — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Arrived back to Loughborough from Zurich on Monday morning. I was shattered! Its always hard to sleep after a race and then I had to be up at 4am to be brought to the airport at 5am and dumped there until my flight at 10 am.

I think I must of got about 2 hours sleep max. It was funny though, as I was rooming with an American sprinter who told me he never has problems sleeping after a race. When I feel asleep about 2 am he was awake, and when I got up at 4am, he was awake, he...

Blog 39

Administrator — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100

I arrived back to Loughborough late on Monday night. I was shattered and ready to fall into my bed. With everything still so fresh in my head, I woke up on Tuesday morning and just wanted to get away from athletics for a bit. Loughbourgh is a bubble of athletics and some times it can all be too much! So Charlotte and I headed north to her parents house in Sunderland.

I was just so tired of talking about athletics and telling my side of the whole issue about the 4x400 relay T...

Irish Times 7th Aug 2010

Administrator — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100

David Gillick knows at age 27 he still has time. He's not going to sit around feeling sorry for himself. He'll race in Lucerne tomorrow, London next week, and Zurich the week after, writes IAN O'RIORDAN

He knows because he used to be among that crowd. A teenager, playing Gaelic football above in Marley Park, all the crap, all the abuse, came from the sidelines. He tries to ignore them. He just wishes they could stand in his shoes, just for one moment, to feel the open wounds like he...

Blog 38

Administrator — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Well, lets be honest. I am really down about coming away from the European Championships without a medal.

I went into the champs full of confidence. I had everything right in the lead up and I had put in some good performances prior to Barcelona. Unfortunately I came home empty handed.

The week got off to a good start when winning my heat on Tuesday morning. I was delighted to get the early start out of the way and get the championships under way. The early start is always h...

AAI Statement

Administrator — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100

I wish to state / clarify in very clear terms that the non participation of David Gillick in the 4x4 relay event was due to his exceptional performances in reaching his first ever European final and the impact of 3 400m races in 4 days ,he therefore felt unable to perform to his best in the opening round of the 4 x 4 the following morning .

It has been clear over many years that this athlete has an absolute committment to the Irish athletics team as proven on numerous occassions co...

Blog 37

Administrator — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100

As it is the week before the European Championships, it is all about keeping things simple and relaxed. Training is mainly light, with one or two bigger sessions thrown in. The early part of the week I didn't have too much to do, mainly light fast work, drills and fast sprints.

All the hard work is done by this stage, not much you can do in the last few days before a championship. Some athletes go crazy at this time, working extra hard thinking that they need to push the boat out in...

Barcelona

Administrator — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100

With a week to go, all is going well. My training is going good and im happy with where im currently at. Not much more can be done at this stage.

Im looking forward to getting the championships started, it is what it is.

I have worked hard over the winter, focusing on the process and now I will let the outcome look after itself.

My main aim is to run well of course, and if that's good enough to win or get a medal so be it.

We have a strong team heading out, with a good mix...

Blog 36

Administrator — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100

After the national Championships I decided to stay on at home for a few days before flying back to Loughborough. I wanted to catch up with a few mates and spend time with the family. I haven't been home since May and I wont be home again until my break in September.

Due to the niggle I had in my foot, the Athletics Ireland doctor sent me for an MRI scan on Monday. We both knew it wasn't anything serious, but while I was at home we may as well check it out and take no risks. Everythi...

Blog 35

Administrator — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Arrived back from Switzerland on Monday and I was tired!! Didn't sleep well Sunday night and was up early to get a flight from Geneva. It is always hard to get to sleep after a race.

My next race is on Friday so the few days I had back in Loughborough were all about recovery and of course wash my kit and repack.

Training was light during the week, and I got treatment from my physio Jo and massage therapist Mark

My 4th race of the summer took place on my birthday in t...

Blog 34

Administrator — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100

My week was all about gearing up to my third race of the summer, which was taking place in the Swiss town of La Chaux De Fonds up in the mountains. I don't know what mountains, but they were high and they were not called the Alps. I know them, they have snow!!

It's a small meet, but I was happy to travel there, as it can be a fast place if you get the weather. Also, the new IAAF diamond league is turning into a bit of a mess with hardly any 400m races around, so you got to take what...

Race 4 - Barcelona, Spain

Administrator — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100

1st - 44.95: My 4th race of the summer took me to the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona. It is the same stadium that will host the European Championships at the end of July, so it was a great opportunity for me to check it out and actually race in the Stadium

The race went really well, drawn in lane 5, I had the next quickest guys outside me in lanes 6 and 7. Both athletes were in the World indoor final in Doha back in March, so it was time for a little bit of revenge.

I got out well f...