Training Log Archive: Dooby

Bit later than I normally exercise on a weekend but got out which is the main thing. Time to get some hills in and head to Ladies View. Also served a dual purpose, see what burned.

Fire by the road near the Long Range, after the parking by the lake. Could see burning higher up to which was where one of the helicopter bombing images was of.

Felt ok starting off, some tiredness after last couple of days, but got into it.

Strava is good for comparing attempts on the same segment, nice graph showing each effort relative to the average. Today was spot on the average for the Ladies View climb. Wasn't sure what to expect from it, definitely better than Christmas anyways.

Got a small bit held up on the descent after Galweys Bridge, tried for a pass just after the bridge but no joy.

Once off the descent my stomach felt a bit off so think that affected me for a bit. Got back into a rhtyhm on the flat bit and was wondering if I could get a 30kph average. I'd 46 minutes done at that stage and had around 7km to home which includes some fast bits but also the slowest part of the cycle, the ramps up Mangerton Road. As it turns out I hit 30 on the nose.

Nice evening after a damp in parts morning, very windy overnight. So the later start was definitely to my advantage when it came to the weather.

Crohane

Planned a course, 7.4km straight line but I knew with the climb that it was going to take me this long, and that I wasn't going to be running fast.

Orienteered ok. Some times a bit off line but got the features ok. Last contol was one I probably was most hesitant on coming down the hill. But this was more deliberate as I went the tougher route rather than the easier one. So as a result lost some time trying to figure out the crags on the way down the hill.

It snowed at the highest point on the course!

Enjoyable morning though. Not sure if the orienteering will be of benefit but at least terrain running will. Still good to get out.

Think right foot got a blister which was sore for the last bit.

Sun was still shining, rain supposed to come but didn't arrive to spoil me evening's training. Knew there was going to be a breeze blowing but think I made best use of it.

Legs felt much better this evening, so hopefully they've recovered. Knee wasn't sore pedalling, but was very stiff later on as I was standing up for a good bit at a work night out, maybe 3 hours standing.

Put in a solid effort between Glenflesk and Barraduff, with a tailwind, but still was pushing on the small hills.

Took it a bit easy after Barraduff for a while but was into the wind, still going alright though.

Not a bad spin for only a few cycles this year. Must go face Ladies View soon. Today wouldn't have been an option with an Air Corp helicopter water bombing the area.

New shoes, and no complaints, so good start. Left hamstring biggest issue with the run, started to be noticeable at the road junction after the initial climb after Killegy House. No idea what's wrong, just felt a bit tight. Eventually stopped at the barrier above Torc car park on the road for home to stretch it. Felt a bit better after the stretching. Not something I was expecting to happen, funnily enough the calves felt alright.

Just in a tshirt and shorts this evening, pre summer fine spell, but ending for the weekend. So lovely for running.

Felt a bit tired early on but that improved to feeling comfortable towards the end, so happy.

Had planned on running low this evening but on my way to work I realised that my gear back that was ready to put put in the car was still on the floor of the kitchen. And then the news on the radio said my local fire had been extinguished overnight, Mangerton was on fire for a bit. So could do my usual run. The fire was higher than I thought it was, on the left of the stream above the start of the walk, not where the path is, before that crosses the stream. More smoke rising this evening on the far side of Mangerton so farmers are obviously burning there too. But will they be prosecuted for blatantly breaking the law and putting lives, property and habitats at risk, NO!!!

Killarney

Out for a recovery spin around town so a lot of traffic dodging in places, particularly around Lidl.

Was wondering why I was moving so fast coming in Muckross Road, but figured it out later on the bypass, wind! So that wasn't fun into the wind, and coming back home Muckross Road. Sun was out.

Legs feeling ok tiredness wise, but left knee sore at times pedalling, particularly when out of the saddle up the hill home.

Tired today. Legs and just generally tired, early start to get back to Kerry.

Fantastic day so a shame to be missing out on doing something but body wouldn't have thanked me if I did. Forecast good for tomorrow so will try and get out on the bike for a few minutes. Got an invite for a bacon & cabbage dinner tomorrow too, so will fit that in ahead of the car's 1st NCT.

Bit later than I thought i'd be running due to delayed starts, but no matter, still up for this run. Didn't manage much though in the end. Body very tired.

This race could go well or badly, but will need company out there in order to maximise performance.

JK 2015
The Colonel's Drive (Graythwaite)
Relay

Running Leg 3 today for a change, with Boyzone out 1st for babysitting reasons with Cillin on the slightly shorter leg 2. Good to run other legs though for practice.

Solid pack run from Boyzone with the other Irish on the 1st leg and Cillin also ran a good 2nd leg to come in not that far down on Shea. So that left me chasing Roar with Colm Moran running for UCDO behind me somewhere.

Was a bit uncertain going to 1 so didn't get an ideal route, but got there in the end. Struggled up the hill but knowing Roar was out in front of me to be caught helped a small bit. Moved ok where it wasn't steep.

Between 1 and 3 I caught and passed Roar so now I was the leading Irish runner, a position I wanted to hold.

Hill to 4 wasn't fun but got there in the end. Loads more climb to 5, went a right route here hitting the wall and then around the hill rather than over, had had enough of climbing by now.

Not really sure how I managed what i did to 6 but Routegadget outlines how badly I was off line for this control. Thought I was at the crossing point close to the fenced light green, I wasn't, crossed by the eastern edge of the marsh. And from there things were always going to be wrong. Passed close to 9, oops.

As I approached 6 Magic had appeared on the scene, I started before him. And then on the way to 7 I saw Roar ahead of me, my plan to keep the lead had taken a turn for the worse. Both Roar and Magic had a shorter gaffle on 7 but I punched 8 just behind Magic, so used him for direction to 9.

8-11 was really nice running, lovely forest.

Was behind Magic and other FVO lad to 11, right of the pond so saw 14 on the other side. Then i'd a longer gaffle on 12 and with 14 on the pond compared to the crag further west I was maybe 20 metres behind the FVO pair going to 15.

15 was barely afloat, sticky marsh only getting worse with everyone visiting this control. Don't think i'd gained much back getting to 15 but on the steep descent to 16 I just let it go, didn't have to orienteer as knew it was the spectator so just aimed to where the 2 FVO tops were going. This reckless descent actually worked out and I punched the spectator with Magic and his FVO team mate.

The race to the finish line was back on. Got past the other FVO going to 17, and then got ahead of Magic going to 19. Struggled a bit through these controls to keep map contact.

Once i'd punched 19 (last control) ahead of Magic I was confident that i'd have the pace to get me over the line, and that's how it worked out.

Enjoyable area, might have been even more enjoyable if it was flatter! But still a great way to end JK 2015.

Nice double from CorkO today too, top Irish team in Men's and Women's relay (the IJS team wasn't all Irish), so something to repeat at IOC relay in a few weeks.

Results
Routegadget

Really slow warm down which was interrupted with a few conversations, time might include some of them.

Home from JK. Feeling really bad this evening, wrecked, not looking forward to an early alarm tomorrow in order to get to work in Tralee.

Monday - Orienteering
Tuesday - Rest
Wednesday - Turbo/bike (NCT later)
Thursday - running (break in new shoes)
Friday - ?
Saturday - Cycling if weather ok
Sunday - O training