Training Log Archive: Dooby

Tralee-Short Mountain-N70-Short Mountain-Tralee

Felt bad today after a big dinner last night and a massive breakfast in Parknasilla, I ate a lot. Was unsure whether I would get some training done today, did have running gear in the car, but due to the way my stomach felt I decided to go for a cycle driving back to Tralee, and to do the Short Mountain.

Saw pictures last week in the paper of a time trial uphill, 4km, so got the idea from that. For this split I did it in 18.47.

Then my hands ached on the downhill towards Castlemaine I was gripping the brakes so tightly, it is one seriously steep descent. At the bottom I was unsure of whether to climb back up since I was not looking forward to a similar descent, but decided to go for it.

Tougher uphill from the Castlemaine side, shorter and steeper. Took me 19.51 to get from the N70 to the top, a distance of 3.9km, so just shorter than from Tralee side. Managed a faster descent though to Tralee since it's not as steep.

Happy to have made it up and over and back again. Not sure I'll descend towards Castlemaine again, don't like it. Uphill is a challenge though.

From what I can see, the winning time for the uphill time-trial, national championships was 12.05.2, that's serious climbing. My training time wouldn't have come last though, so will try and improve on this time in the coming weeks.

Tonevane-out 5k on Dingle Way to bridge over river and back

After physio yesterday and cycling last night it was running this morning. Weather was ok for a change, bit of a breeze but nothing to cause trouble. Started off at a steady enough pace, not too fast and kept this pace all the way out. On the uphills I felt ok but downhills were slow when stony, last time I ran out here I went over on my ankle.

Turned around at the 5km mark and decided that I needed to keep the pace going. Again the uphills went good, not too much trouble. Near the end I noticed that my pace had picked up but that didn't bother me too much.

Took a lap at the turn and it turns out that I was 13 seconds faster coming back. So that must mean that pace was steady, but it doesn't really since the track is rough in places and means slowing down more at different times. Pleased with the run anyway and how legs are feeling.

Went to the physio today to get my right calf and left achilles looked at. Wasn't expecting anything to be wrong and there wasn't. Legs seem to be in good enough shape.

Tralee-Camp-Tralee

Had gear in the car for running but since weather was ok and i'd physio earlier I felt a cycle would be better for my legs. Windy afternoon so I did realise that was going to cause trouble. Chose Camp since didn't feel like other routes, and it would have wind at my back for the entire spin back.

Trip out was tough, into a headwind, but didn't really find it that much of a struggle. Legs felt in ok shape so that helped. The hill up to Camp from the Castlegregory Road is a tough one, steep but it is short. Definitely got the HR up getting up this.

After that it was plain sailing all the way back to Tralee with a tailwind. I tried to keep the speed up and based on my pace graph the mins/km were definitely faster after the turn. Got a max speed of 43.7kph with a lot of the trip back in mid to high 30s.

Blennerville

Running again tonight, 3rd night in a row! Weather was not good today and the forecast wasn't good. Had no choice but to train since i'd be resting tomorrow due to Killarney Races.

Managed to get changed in dry weather but around a max of 2mins into my run it started to rain. Rain was falling steadily for a good bit of the run and i'd a bit of a headwind out along the canal. Decided not to go all the way to The Spa since it would just have been nasty and exposed along that section. So turned at the end of the fields and headed back. Still raining at this point. I think it eased off back near where my car was parked and it was dry enough heading into the Basin.

Did lose some time along here though since a family of swans decided to cross the path from the canal into the pond/small lake on the other side. Since there were a couple of big enough cygnets mammy or daddy swan didn't take too kindly to my presence. I didn't want to be attacked so I patiently waited until they had crossed, didn't lose much time.

Thought I had it bad getting wet running but on my way home in the car the rain really started falling very heavily and I felt very sorry for the lad heading out for a cycle, but didn't feel too sorry since he was wearing an Astana jersey.

Blennerville plus extra bit to the monument at the spa.

Legs felt a bit sore to start with, so that made my mind up about needing physio, decided to text physio once finished running. After a while the legs felt better after they had warmed up. I ran high along the bank along the sea. Lots of growth since last time I ran along here, don't remember 5foot thistles growing here before!

After I turned I got a nasty shock, there was a pretty strong headwind, hadn't noticed it at my back. So I pushed into this all the way into the Basin. On the way back to the car I increased the pace for a small bit, HR up to 160 before easing off to finish. Legs are feeling good this week but am a bit concerned that too much running will lead to trouble.

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

First run back in Ireland after Scandanavia. Legs felt fit when I started running, slight bit of discomfort in my right calf and left achilles but nothing to stop me running. Kept a nice pace along the path and back. Definitely felt like things were moving nicely. Then up the hill around the loop I didn't feel as bad going uphill. Also descended at a reasonable pace too to do a fairly quick time for this route, not sure if it's a pb but must be close.