Training Log Archive: ColmM

Dublin mountain half marathon - 6th

Not totally sure why I was keen to do both these things this weekend, but figured it was another good start to doing some longer weekends, and a bit of panic prep so I don’t bonk really badly at the skyline.
Anyway, here we are.
Started off steady enough, climbing legs certainly stiff. On the descent I was cruisingggg, but maybe not pushing wasn’t enough, maybe I should have actively held back, as I flew past the main pack into 2nd, and prmoptly got caught going up through Massey’s.
Onto some technical trail I was fine, but the group had gone on and I was a bit isolated. Climbed through pine forest, and is it opened up I could see the pack breaking a bit with Jonny in 3rd about 90s ahead.
After tibradden I wanted to work hard and pull time back. Did so whole way through pine forest and back towards tibradden, but was starting to wobble a little through tibradden. Still, coming down through I took 3 of them.
Into cruagh I was struggling up the hill and had one with me again. Held him off, but John Bell who had been behind me the whole way had paced it perfectly and was far too strong.
Worked on the descent in Massey’s to hold off any remaining challenges, and was very glad to see the finish. Wrecked.

great fun, but being all trails, and no big climbs it was a bit unrelenting, as once you’d finished pushing up a little hill, you’d have to push through some flat. Too bloody tough for me, but happy all considered (mainly yesterday). Good final prep for next week.

Smashing run from boyzone besting Conroy, and a very solid performance from jonnyq too 3mins in front of me - that’ll have me nicely worried for next week.

Gorgeous long run with Corbett, and had Jonny for company the first 7km or so.
Started from kippure, and then went over to tonduff & maulin and checked those areas out. The terrain was surprisingly reasonable.
Then down from Maulin through switchbacks to crone, and back the Wicklow way the whole way to Prince Williams seat. We were both doing alright for most of this, but starting to tire a little in curtlestown on probably the biggest climb of the day.
We got up anyway, but suddenly Corbett had run out of a energy a bit, ah sure he’d made it pretty far, I was happy.
Just before knocknagun I cut into the terrain to get up, Corbett was enjoying the downhill on the trail though and cut in later, I lost him here and after some brief pauses to try find him, I ploughed on.
Hit the car feeling alright, somehow avoiding the bonk, but having thought Corbett had taken the road back was slightly concerned not to see him.
Drove back down the road though and found a body meandering off the mountain. He stumbled into our car and all was jolly. Great day out.

commute

Easy lap of the 5k route and home.
Was tired when I got home this evening.

30min grass tempo.

Got out sure and got going. Was surprisingly not feeling too bad at the start. Settled in and was happy enough. We’d said roughly 3:50s we’d be happy, and the splits were fairly on target.
2.5k laps and every time we hit the wind it was tough going. But we made it through and kept it going, and the heavy tailwinds were appreciated.
In the end went on a little more to hit 8k, then just a tad more to get 5 miles.

With Shea & LQ, enjoyed it though must say really quite tired.