Martyn Irvine on his way to silver in the scratch race at the World Track Championships in Cali, Colombia, three weeks ago. He's in philosophical, but positive, form looking back on 12 months that held great joy, serious injury, bereavement but ultimately gratitude.
Having experienced his best year ever on the bike over the past 12 months, Irish track star Martyn Irvine has also been through serious injuries that have tested him mentally and physically and plummeted to the blackness that grief brings on the death of his father-in-law Joe McNally.
His track season is now over, having won silver at the World Championships three weeks ago. And with his road campaign beginning for pro trade team Unitedhealthcare, he reflects on recent events; thankful to the past for shaping him and to wife Grace for keeping him grateful for all he has.
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I’m typing this from the air. The chair in front of me is up my nose and the guy beside me has his elbow wedged in between my ribs. This is the life!
I’ve just completed the Tour of Taiwan, minus the events of last year. My team mates did well and I did as well as I could. Seriously though, I’m happy.
I’m homeward bound to see Grace and I have all my bones intact, such a different story to 12 months ago.
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I’ve done a lot in 12 months, and a lot has happened.
I’ve learnt a few life lessons and I don’t think I would be in such a good place right now if the past was any different.
I’m generally a more grateful person and I have Grace to thank for that one. If I was left to my own devices I'd probably be popping happy pills and my cheap weighing scales would be reading “error” at the shear horror of my ‘plates of meat’ maxing them out; scary thought!
The leg break really opened my eyes to the fact that you can’t plan anything. Of course you have to plan, but you better have a plan B or be prepared to roll with the punches.
Undoubtedly, 2013 was a twisted year. I had my best year on the bike and a few miserable dips off the bike, in real life.
I was flicking through my photos when I found some photos of Joe McNally. It just keeps hitting me that he’s not around, not on this planet anymore.
I’m on the road a lot and I work off memories and past experiences. There is still a side of me expects to see Joe when I head back to Dublin. I don’t know what to say about that right now.
I’ve won three World Championship medals, a World Cup gold and a European bronze in the year, and I’m still the same dude, doing the same things.
Funny, because if you told me that two years ago that would have been it; retired, adios, au revoir, cia.
Obviously it’s not, I’m still here, living on airline food, energy bars and the odd burrito and I’m grateful doing it.
The miseries I talk about above shaped my life for the better and I’m just happy doing what I’m doing. You never know what’s around the corner, I’m just grateful that I might get to see it.
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