Training Log Archive: Dooby

Event: Carrauntoohil
 

Warm-up for Carrauntohill race. Walked/jogged along the road with my left achilles causing trouble as usual. Then walked up the fields to the start and over the stiles in the way. Once I got the start i'd a bit to wait so did a bit of talking and stretching.

C • good work! 7

Carrauntohill IMRA Race

Sun was shining this morning with a few clouds in the sky. Plan was to survive and funnily enough I managed to achieve that goal. Time wise I wanted to finish within 20 minutes of Mr. Hill and maybe come top 20 if I could. But things actually turned out a bit better than that.

Race started with a mixed pack and quickly turned out to be single file along the road. Kept a nice pace and legs felt good. Passed out a few people and then a few people passed me. Then came the 1st fence and I went over the stile, don't like fences! Instructions at the start said that we could find our own route and when I saw the runners in front come back against me after a switch back I cut the corner. Cut another couple of corners on the way up so gained and then lost a few places again. Legs still felt ok and the leading group had opened a few metres gap at the 2nd fence and the turn for the Curraghmore Ridge.

I immediately stuck to the fence after the crossing and sped up slightly. This turned out to be a good move and I made a lot of ground up, not sure if I took the lead but definitely got up to 2nd or 3rd. Felt very funny to be in this sort of position after around 12mins of racing uphill. Stuck to the fence all the way and was running in 3rd place. At this point I was wondering what the hell I was doing so far up and how much would I suffer later in the race. I knew Colm was behind me, a few places back, so I felt that if Colm followed me he'd get through this section right since I had done a recce. Came to where the fence goes left then right. 2 lads in front crossed the fence to cut the corner but I followed fence with the rest of the pack on my tail, as I said I don't like fences so the couple of metres I lost was worth it in my book. Then after a while I was passed again and was 4th and then after Curragmore I was 4th/5th. On way up to Caher I was 5th but 4th was just in front of me. On the last steep section I took my energy gel to be sure it was in the system before the climb back up Caher on the descent. By this stage i'd done a fair share of running mixed in with some walking. At the top of Caher I was 5th but passed 4th for a couple of metres before I left the guy get ahead of me since he was faster downhill. Then I was passed by another quick lad going down so was 6th on the ridge going across to Carrauntohill. Don't think I was on the best path at times but did my best. Then walked up to the top of Carrauntohill.

Summited in 6th place so definitely pleased with that. At this point I'd resolved after my experiences along the ridge that I was going to lose places on the descent. On the way down from the top I even said this thought to Colm who was on his way up, nearly at the top. Then off across the ridge back to Caher. 7th gained on me but on the steep bit up to Caher where I was nearly on my hands and knees I kept 7th at a distance. I think I even gained some time just off the top of Caher. 5th had pulled a good bit away at this stage but on the flattish area around the top of Curragmore I used him to get the best direction. At the top of the fence I was caught by 7th and let him pass me. I then used him to pace me down this ridge to the turning point. Was pleased with the line we took and I did steer the lad a bit. At the bottom of this ridge my right hamstring started to ache a bit and felt like cramping. Another quick drink while descending hoping that it would help. I started to worry that my experience at the Mourne Mountain Marathon in 1997, my 1st one, would happen again and that i'd cramp getting over the stile. When I got there it was ok, still in 7th but with the guy in 6th. Some lad (possibly paul mahon) shouted to follow the zig-zags or whatever route we wanted so I followed the path for a bit but saw the lad in 5th take a direct route so I went a bit further and then went straight down. Lad with me kept on going and when I hit the path below there was no sign of him, so was well pleased with this move. Continued back across the mountain on the path and at the next set of switch-backs I again went straight but lost sight of the path until I saw it below me, was worried for a second but knew I was going in the right direction. Did check back up the hill for pursuers but no sign. Was taking it easy at this stage, no point in killing myself for no gain. Got across the stile on the fence under no pressure and I could see people at the finish. Took a direct line to the finish and cruised in. I was 5th but thought I was 6th, reason for uncertainty is that one of the lads ahead, in 3rd early on, seems to have gone badly wrong between the fence crossing and the finish, either way it's a fantastic result for me, someone who hasn't run a hill race in a few years.

Was very surprised with how I performed today, must be in ok shape to do what I did. A lad finished soon after me but not the guy who was ahead of me, then came Colm sprinting for the line (winning the sprint) with the lad who was 6th at the fence at top of Kerry Way. Looking back if i'd stuck to the path I would have lost big time. Colm's distance on his GPS was around 20m less than me so my direct route down was what he did too.

I don't think I tried 100% today, didn't feel like I did for some reason, but nonetheless it was a good run, think I feel this way since I havn't done a hill race in years. Wouldn't have done anything differently I think. Recce definitely helped.

Following the fence on the descent did have one big repercussion, my shorts are in bits. Rubbed off the fence and shorts caught and ripped very badly. No damage done underneath but shorts will have to be binned, I liked these shorts too:-(

http://www.imra.ie/events/view/id/734/tab/results?...

Tonevane, out to 1st bridge, then back and up around the loop.

Felt tired today but a run was the plan. Once I got going my legs felt fine, achilles (left) took a few minutes to warm-up but once it did the slight discomfort eased. Weather was good, sunny and warm, so it was a nice evening for a run. Had no real trouble running, pace varied depending on the terrain. Rocky as usual underfoot and hard, no rain recently. Felt ok getting up the hill at the start of the loop so pleased with that.

Now it's rest until Sunday's race. Tapas to look forward to for dinner tonight in Killorglin.

Tralee-Derrymore-Tralee

After fixing missing chain ring bolt on the bike I headed off for a cycle. Also bought a pliers today, trying to get a screw out of front bottle cage which is broken as it has worn on the inside so can't get allen key to turn. Pliers didn't work so will have to formulate a new plan.

Very windy this evening and I wasn't feeling too motivated which turned out to be a bad combination. Kept a pretty low gear all the way apart from the downhills! Treated it as an easy session after last two days before running again tomorrow.

Milltown-Castlemaine-Tralee

Alarm went off at 7 this morning, painful, but got onto the bike on schedule for 730. Did have one problem departing, water. Before going to bed last night I tried to get a glass of water from the tap but it came out all white, same thing when I tried later, and again this morning the problem hadn't resolved itself. So i'd to stop in the shop in Milltown on the way down the hill to get water. Didn't delay me that much and I stopped the watch.

It was a cold start but near Milltown the sun started to burn off the low cloud/mist and by the time I was half way up the hill it was plenty warm for cycling. This mornings cycle was only around 30 seconds faster than the trip here yesterday evening, so that could be down to any number of factors.

Eyes feel like closing but still focused on getting a second training session in after work. First time in a long time that that's going to be the case.
Havn't logged session this morning yet, but alarm went off at 7!

C • nice 1

Blennerville

First issue was would the body hold up after cycling earlier, mind you it wasn't a long cycle. Felt tired during the day, but not my legs, more lack of sleep, or perceived lack of sleep. Also my achilles is still a concern. Once it got warmed up it ceased to be an issue and legs felt fine running. Very warm out there this evening, but breeze cooled things slightly. Watch still set to 5min/km and was a good bit ahead of it early on in the run which surprised me a bit. Probably ran slower for second half.

Tralee-Castlemaine-Milltown-Listry-Killorglin-Milltown

Came up with this plan last night, since I was going to be spending the night in Millrown anyways. Cycled to Milltown with rucksack, then dumped it in house, before doing another 20km or so. Nice evening with a bit of a breeze blowing which didn't really bother me today.

Pushed it nice and steady up the hill, been a while since i climbed it from the Tralee side, slightly shorter than from the Castlemaine side. Then a nice long descent before the straight which was also a nice fast section.

Road to Listry was ok, mainly downhill, but small road south to the Killarney/Killorglin road was a bit bumpy, and so was first part of main road. Had a chain incident then, and when I was putting it back on I realised there was one of those screws missing of the chain ring, 3rd one to go, have spares but possibly not the tool.

Last bit back to Milltown from Killorglin was a nice evenish road. Tried to keep a decent pace going this evening and based on the avg speed for the trip i'm happy.

Lap to Milltown was 22.5km in 48.01mins.

Second rest day in a row but today's one was planned. Had a physio session at 5. Had the achilles and the left leg in general worked on. She wasn't that bothered about the achilles. Ice massage is one course of action needed, but I had been doing a small bit of it before hand, and manipulate it myself. Not a course of action that i'm looking forward to. Left leg felt fine, that was looked at too.

Quads are still complaining after Saturday morning!