European 400m indoor champion David Gillick is revelling in the pressure free atmosphere of warm weather training in Portugal.
Gillick and his Ireland teammates Derval O'Rourke, Paul Hession and Joanne Cuddihy are in Monte Gordo for some fine-tuning ahead of this summers Beijing Olympics.
"I have been out here since Saturday and it has been great. There is a good buzz around and it's very relaxed around the place as it's not often we get a chance to go away as a group and not have the pressure of competition," said Gillick today.
The Dubliner who has recently returned from training in Los Angeles has not lost focus on the Olympics.
"Everything is going well for Beijing so far. I was in LA with my Loughborough training group for five weeks and I will be going back to the UK after this to keep up the preparations.
"After that I should hopefully get back into competition around early June and then it's the final run into the Olympics."
Gillick has the luxury of knowing his place in Beijing is safe but for middle distance runners Liam Reale and David Campbell qualification is still the target.
Olympic team manager Patsy McGonagle believes the training camp will stand them in good stead.
"The likes of Liam Reale and David Campbell are two athletes who should have a good chance of making the A standard for China in what is a tough qualifying time," said McGonagle today. "They are two hugely dedicated athletes and this couple of weeks will be of great benefit to them both."