Training Log Archive: Dooby

Blennerville, plus out to Spa.

Due to lunch and tv commitments (to watch sport) I wasn't sure how I was going to fit in a run today, early or late. But on the drive back from Killarney while very tired, it was late (After 1!), I had a brainwave, why not run before breakfast.

So with the alarm set for 9 I woke up a couple of minutes early to start my pre-training routine. Sunny outside, lovely morning for a run. So I drove down to the canal for a run. Decided to take in the extra bit this morning since i'll be resting tomorrow. Achilles on my left leg was sore to start off but ok once warmed up. Had watch set for 5min/km and was well ahead of that pace. Had to herd a few cows out of the way at one point in the fields but they behaved themselves. After turning at the Spa around the monument I felt a bit tired but had a bit of a tailwind which helped matters. Kept on running at the same pace I felt and even for the last stretch from Blennerville into the Basin and back out I kept the same pace, maybe even increased it slighly.

Saw a very disturbing sight on the canal, rowing club were out for a row, 4 girls in the boat with a cox. Felt very sorry for the girls rowing as it couldn't have been easy, the cox was huge. Definitely not your typical cox, she probably equalled 2 people, no need for extra weight in that boat to meet the minimum cox weight required!!!

Tralee-Castleisland-Reanagowan Cross-Tralee

Due to wind conditions decided to do this cycle in reverse, and in future I think i'll go this way in future. Have flat bit to Castleisland to warm-up, then hill, followed by long descent. Better than hill to start. Wind was definitely blowing today so helped push me out to Castleisland. Didn't feel it on the climb apart from near the top which is more exposed. The descent then was difficult, felt like I was going nowhere because of the wind, and it also made things noisy. Legs didn't feel too bad which helped.

White Limo passed me early on, then pulled into hard shoulder, Had to pull onto main road then to get passed him, bit more difficult than passing a car due to the extra length!

Passed two tractors on the descent from the dump into Tralee which was pleasing. First one was easy then the second one almost backfired on me as 500m later there was a bit of hill up passed the Jehovah's Witnesses place, but i'd enough power left and speed to keep ahead of the tractor.

Outside Tralee I covered 41.93km at an avg speed of 27.2kph. Compared to last time I did this spin in opposite direction I was a few minutes slower but i'd put that down to the wind.

Tralee-Farranfore-Castleisland-Tralee.

Knew that this was not going to be the easiest of cycles as breeze had been blowing all day. But the rain that fell for a short spell in the morning had cleared away.

Had the wind at my back to Farranfore so clipped along at a nice pace after what was a very long journey throught Tralee, traffic was heavy and cars were tight to the kerb. After Farranfore the wind came into play, slowing me down a bit. Even got caught in Castleisland too with traffic, but not for long.

The trip back from Castleisland to Tralee was a toughie. Headwind all the way, no respite at any stage. Got passed by a tractor with a digger on a trailer so dropped a few gears and pushed to see if I could tuck in behind, no chance, tractor was doing over 40pkh. Funny thing was that I caught up with the tractor in Tralee, so either he stopped or I really made good time, I think he stopped! Was glad to get home after the windy stretch, checked MET Eireann and it probably was +20kph, annoying this is that it's less than 10kph forecast for tonight.

Cycling again tomorrow in the morning, but wind is going to be a headwind for last bit based on forecast, but at the moment i'm considering doing the cycle in reverse, go to Castleisland first, then up the hill to Reanagowan, hmmm.

Outside Tralee for the split I covered 38.43km at an avg speed of 28.4kph, that'll do.

Arranged physio for mid-day on Monday. Need to get both legs seen to, make sure no problems are lurking in the depths of my muscles. Will run on Sunday so that may help bring things closer to the surface. It'll be a rest day anyway which will suit me.

Tonevane, out and back to the bridge, and then up around the loop to finish.

Legs felt ok after the last few days, and no pain running. Ground is a bit rocky so I didn't push too hard. At the top of the loop it started drizzling but nothing to get worried about since it was near the end. Headwind on the run out which didn't cause too much discomfort. As I ran I was thinking about when I need a physio session next, thinking sooner rather than later as I don't think legs are perfect, might go if I pushed them really hard. Will have a think about it again in the morning.

Blennerville Run.

First training run since before Easter, feels like a long time. Nice sunny evening to be back out so can't complain, and my legs survived too.

Watch was set at 5.15 min/km, last time I did a running session, so I lowered it to 5.00 min/km, felt brave. Ended up running an avg of 4.51 which i'm happy with. Wasn't tha interested while I was running, then one of my headphones stopped working so that was annoying, and a fence that had been down in the fields is now up again so another gap to get through. As pace was steady throughout i'm happy. So training plan for tomorrow is undecided but likely to be Tonevane, then cycle on Friday and Saturday mornings.

Tralee-Ballyroe-Abbeydorney-Tralee

Easy cycle was the plan this evening to try and ease my legs back into training before trying a run tomorrow.

Turned out to be a very scary cycle as i'd to cycle about 2km on loose stone. Council must be about to resurface the road so there was a compacted, not that compacted in places, stone surface. Cycled close to the middle on the bit that traffic had packed down a bit. Was pleased to get onto normal road surface without coming off the bike.

I didn't kill myself this evening, low gears for the hills, but the legs didn't feel too bad. Body feels a bit rundown though so need to keep an eye on things.