Training Log Archive: Dooby

Lap of Tralee
Avg Cadence =76rpm

Got back on the bike in the attempt to ease out the muscles in my legs. Wore my recovery Skins to bed last night and I think that helped things. The legs felt ok this morning. On the bike they performed fine but left quad was a bit sore towards the end. Would've gone home via the Bracker O'Regan Road to Mounthawk but too windy, couldn't face into it.

Feeling pretty crappy this evening. I reckon yesterdays 2 hours (!!!) has taken more out of me than I expected after being sick last week.

Plan for this week is running with James in Glanageenty tomorrow followed by circuits on Tuesday. Might rest on Wednesday and cycle Thursday. Friday is undecided, will see how I feel, before doing some o training in Killarney next weekend, including the event in Knockreer on Sunday, been a few years since I raced there.

Other priorities for the week include joining an athletics club.

Blanket Blast 2011
Avg Cadence = 72rpm

Head wind on the way out, stayed with the leading group. Nothing really major to note, had to dig in a few times to stay with them, but the pace was something I could handle. Approaching the bottom of the Conor Pass I spoke to Brian, he wasn't going to race, so I was left with the decision of taking it easy or fighting for the honours of 1st up. In hindsight I chose the wrong option, went for contesting it!

Early on into the start of the climb it was only 3 of us, Sean Williams and a lad in a Discovery jersey. Sean leading with me holding on at the back. About 1km later Sean broke away and I just stuck to the wheel of the Discovery lad. I took a turn leading then before coming to the narrow bit. And then the lad went ahead again but just before the cliffs I went ahead of the lad but the guy stuck to my wheel. As the climb kept on going I kept on pushing. My stomach didn't feel too good, reckon it was the combination of gel plus sports drink that was causing it. But it wasn't so bad that it was slowing me down, just something to think about. With about 1km to go, I had got a gap. Sean was off in front, and I wasn't going to catch him. My focus was now on a Chain Gang 1-2 over the top. With about 750m to go I looked over my shoulder to see the Discovery lad getting closer and someone else nearly with him. Thoughts of coming 2nd now changed to coming 4th. The gradient levelled out so I dropped the gears slightly to try and get more pace. This seemed to work and by the time I crested I was a comfortable 2nd.

Then came the fast descent into Dingle. The wind wasn't too bad higher up but on the stretch into Dingle it felt very strong into my face. Food stop time next. I was buzzing at this stage and my sights were firmly set on completing the 150km.

After the break I set off again, still into the wind, and with the leading group. Brian had to be back in Limerick for a certain time so he did the 100km. The group was in a nice formation, with roll-ups in play. Body felt grand but about 10km out the road, passed Ventry I could feel both quads twinging, warning sign for cramp. They got a bit worse so I slowed down. Too late, BANG, both legs gone starting in my right hamstring and soon followed by both quads in the same place, low and next to the knee. Managed to clip out and stop. Ended up lying against the ditch straddling the bike. All this happening in front of about 5 or 6 American tourists on the other side of the road. They asked if I was alright but nothing could be done for me, I was a goner. Managed to stand up and was leaning over the handlebars, still cramping when the Ambulance pulled up behind me. They pulled in on the far side of the road and I managed to hobble over to them.

Into the ambulance and onto the stretcher. They put me on oxyegen with the hope of that helping and they also put ice packs on my legs. Rested there for a few minutes. Cramps eased so decided to get out and see if I could start cycling again. Got out of the ambulance and right quad cramped. At that stage it was definitely game over so got back into the ambulance and was strapped onto the strecther. We drove back to the road and I got into the broom wagon (van) which was collecting signs as its second job.

Before Ballyferriter we collected another lad off the side of the road, also suffering from cramp. Then near Dingle we transferred into a car to get a lift back to Tralee, not before both hamstrings cramped badly getting out of the van!

Okay, so what was the cause of the cramps, the possible list is as follows:
- body not fit enough after being sick and on anti-biotics for last week
- pushed too hard after being sick
- blood sugars too high (think this one needs further investigation)
- didn't take enough liquids on board
I only cramped after 59km, which isn't that far. I did further 2 weeks ago at a higher average speed, so i'm going to lay the blame on being sick. Probably did push myself too much, racing up the Conor Pass was a stupid move, will I learn from it, unlikely would be my bet.

So felt pretty sorry for myself, but I won't let this beat me.

Will write up my disaster of a cycle today later. Ended up in an Ambulance (not the 1st time) due to severe cramps in both legs, both quads went at the same time along with right hamstring.

Not sure whether to tick rest day or not. Have running gear in the car, if used it would only be for a sub 40min run, easy enough mostly. But trying to decide whether it's a good idea or not regarding my chest, if I run I don't know how my body will react. Took last of the anti-biotics this morning so they'll still be in the system this evening.

Eating a bowl of strawberries now, nice:-)

No training today, saving myself for tomorrow, looking forward to finally getting around Slea Head. As for the little issue of racing Brian to the top of the Conor Pass, he's claiming no bike training in weeks, and i'm playing the sick card. So could be interesting...

And another box of Panadol bites the dust! Been swallowing a lot of them this month.

James texted me about running tomorrow in Glanageenty, tempted, so might do 1 lap. Will see how I feel in the morning.

Still not fully better, but anti-biotics aren't finished until Friday. Thought i'd be better by now!
Was half thinking of training (light) this evening but changed my mind on that.

Won't go to circuits this evening.Chest only slowly improving, not 100% by a long shot. Wouldn't be a good idea to test the chest this soon.

Kerry Novice Cross Country is on October 2nd, in Killarney. Plan on running that, so won't head to NIOC this year.

C • XC over O 7

Not the best nights sleep, improved after I put ear plugs in, bit windy outside.

Chest still feels f**ked. Was going to do circuits tomorrow (easy) but may skip them now.

Maybe not doing anything until Saturday is a more sensible idea. Then take it easy next week, every second day, and then every day the week after.

It just may be possible that 8 days training in a row just after a virus could have been the cause of the chest infection, however unlikely that may sound!