Training Log Archive: Dooby

Didn't realised I warmed up covering 3.5km. Not all of it moving and some of it includes running in X-Talons after Waveriders got destroyed doing a lap! Very muddy.

Kerry Senior XC (Fieries)

Plan was to survive and have fun, in the end I think I achieved both aims. Time I wanted to run was sub 40 but after seeing field wasn't sure if that was a realistic aim. At the start line there weren't too many lads, hard to gauge as Juniors started at the same time. My plan was to follow the lads I knew.

The course was in a farmers field which recently had some cattle in it, plenty evidence of them on the ground, watch your step. We'd to to 6 laps plus starting half way around. The middle part of the lap was the toughest, pretty wet in places, standing water so that was sloppy. Also muddy on the hill and around the finish where the kids ran earlier. So just after the start and the bottom of the course were the good parts.

Pace started off pretty slow, no one legged it, everyone took it handy. Billy even went into the lead which surprised me. I just tucked in behind (the story of my race. HR was around 175 so underneath my maximum, and I felt comfortable. At the start of the lap, getting the extra bit out of the way, the sound of 6 laps to go didn't feel too encouraging, head was wondering how long body would last. Stuck with Billy for the 1st lap, so I was 6th Ríocht lad being behind Billy. At the bottom of the course on the 2nd lap I went ahead of Billy and tagged onto a Gneeveguilla lad who was just ahead. He brought me up to 2 other Ríocht lads so again I tucked in behind them. Stayed there for a while with the Gneeveguilla lad heading off, but I was happy to keep with my club mates.

Then one of them on the hill slowed a bit so followed the other. At this point I knew that the Farranfore lad who beat me to 3rd in the Intermediates was lurking a few metres back but just concentrated on the laps and finding a good line. Body after the first quarter of the race felt fine and HR was still not at the max or above it. Eventually the lad from Farranfore (George) came up alongside and pushed on past the Ríocht lad so I followed George. George had his fan club along and was getting some support at the finish area. My fan club must have gone to the wrong field or may have been watching the Hunt which was also on in Fieries today!

I knew that George was a good lad to follow as I spotted him in that 10mile race in Killarney the week after the intermediates. I just followed in his footsteps for the remainder of the race, slowing distancing the Ríocht lad behind. Hard to remember exactly but must have spent over 3 laps behind him. Laps were counting down and body was still ok. With around 1.5 laps to go I felt my right toes hurting, something was rubbing, blister, but not something that was going to slow me down. Early in the race I felt my left achilles for a few seconds but pain disappeared as quickly as it appeared.

So now with only 1 lap to go it was a race between myself and George. Everyone else was a good bit ahead, although Donal (Ríocht) seemed to be dropping back a bit, but not fast enough to be caught. I think George slightly increased the pace at the start of the lap but didn't cause me too much stress. A quick glance at the watch said that my HR was increasing. After turning onto the bottom section of the field I went past George for the first time trying to increase the pace. Lasted about 50m before I decided that it was hurting, wimped out a bit, so let George past and then followed him up the hill. Definitely felt like we went up the hill faster. Then it was onto a slippy section with a bend around to the finish. After my failed attempt on the back straight I'd decided a sprint to the line was on the cards, easier than pushing really hard for last 750m.

Once I sprinted coming outside of George I had an easy run to the line, only fear was falling on my face in the mud. I'd a nice kick. George came past me in Kenmare near the end so today it was my turn.

Based on my HR and how I felt I think there had to be more in the tank. But wanted to run for the team. Early on I wanted to get in the first 4 Ríocht lads, and as the race went on this desire increased. Numbers were low in the race and my strategy was based on letting someone else set the pace as I feel running on my own would hurt more. Came 6th today, won a team gold with me being 3rd scorer. Ríocht also got 2nd team so a very good day for the club. Realistically top 3 are very good, but next year if i'm still runnning my aim will be Top 5.

Short jog. Also did a small bit of stretching. Did more stretching once the mud was washed off my legs. Debated going for a swim in one of the pools of water on the course but decided a hot shower would work just as well.

Tralee-Reanagowan-Feale Bridge-Castleisland-Tralee
Avg Cadence = 69rpm

Easy enough start on a chilly morning, particularly cold up on the high ground up around the dump. Legs held up alright overall, glad the distance wasn't too long this morning, everyone pleased with that.

Climb was good up from Feale Bridge to the viewing point. I spent a bit of time on the front of the group but pace was steady. On the descent on the bypass I did try and push a bit, didn't want to waste the climb. Going back then to Tralee it was easy enough for the first few km letting the group regather. After that the pace crept up gradually, a lad had gone off the front. In the end it turns out we wanted to catch him and did, but not before there nearly was a crash.

Rob was leading, then Barry, me and then Donncha. Barry decided to go passed Rob but cut in too soon and bumped into him. Myself and Donncha saw it happen and moved out, Rob wobbled for a bit but managed to stay upright. Good save by Rob but not sure if he did go down would I have avoided him! This upset the rhythm a bit, Donncha most upset so eased up. Rob took the lead again and set the pace. Barry then took over giving Rob a wide birth this time. I just tucked in behind. Near Ballygarry we got the lad (new) who'd gone off on his 2nd solo of the day. Then I pushed hard for a bit with Rob and Barry sticking to my wheel, was seeing if they would. Then handy for the last few 100m to the Town sign.

Body feeling ok afterwards, was going to have a recovery shake but don't think it's necessary, only'll fill me up anyway, would prefer to enjoy my lunch.

There was nice break at Feale Bridge, few of the lads has sausage rolls, but I forgot to bring money with me!

Cycle race (80km) on December 11th or orienteering in Muckross. Race was mentioned as being on by 1 of the lads earlier, cycle race is something on the to-do list but it does clash with orienteering, we'll have to think about that one.

XC tomorrow afternoon, looking forward to the hurt I think, something different and will maybe help for next Saturday, or maybe it won't. Experience of running hard surely will help doing the 5k next week.

Got stuff on this evening after work so won't be training, unless I get a few minutes on the turbo trainer in late. Do plan on going out with the club cycling in the morning and got the XC on Sunday, so won't be inactive over the weekend.

Went to see a house in Killarney this evening with a view to renting it. Wasn't sure what the house would be like, no pics of interior on Daft but turned out ok. So hopefully the owner will take less than what he's looking per month.

House is next door to a house that's on the 1:15000 scale Muckross map. So probably closest i'll get to living on a map in this country if I rent it.

C • Commute 2

C • map update 3

Glanageenty (1 lap)
With James from work. Ran with head torches, mine being stronger, so had to wait for James a bit as he wasn't going anywhere very fast in the dark. Bit slippy in places but must say i'm really liking the x-talons, not a bother on them. Times is guesstimated as watch issues, tried to follow a course but that seemed to fail. Think need to start stopwatch along with following a course.

Heard a rattle in the torch after around 3/4 of the way around, but light still working. Also it was a bit loose on my head. Decided that i'd do a 2nd lap so stopped at the end of lap 1 to give James his car key and fix the rattle. Couldn't fix it, wasn't a loose bulb, so decided to call it a day, no way my head would have listened to that rattle for another lap. So will have to wait until next week to see what sort of time I can do a lap in darkness.

Took torch apart while cooking dinner, so know now what the problem is. Some bits of plastic that are used to hold the bulb holders and control unit (my word) had broken off on one side. Got glue to it but not sure that'll hold. May have a look on Ebay.

Few small niggles in my legs today, right knee and left achilles the main ones. Maybe can feel right achilles too. Nothing serious though, just body letting me know that it ran on a road last night. It's been a while since my last road training run, I imagine on holidays in January was the last time I trained on a road. Will give it a go again next week and see how that feels afterwards.

Avg Cadence = 80rpm

Finshed off watching the A-Team.

I thought my cadence would have been lower, didn't feel like I was spinning the legs too fast. Do need to increase it more though over the coming weeks and increase the resistance, make my legs stronger. Session involved a few gear shifts, raising and lowering depending on how the legs were feeling. Did drop them down once the legs got used to the easier cycling.

Discovered a thorn in my leg, dug a hole, and now 1 less thorn in my leg. Probably more need recovering but that'll happen when they're ready unless I spot them first.

Not sure yet what i'm doing today!
(1pm edit: Running tonight at 7pm with Ríocht lads, on roads so will see how the body responds to that, fingers crossed it agrees with them.)

Got a call from the Ríocht secretary, wanted to know if I was running on Sunday. They've definitely got 1 team, so think he's trying to get 2. 10km XC will be a shock to the system but system is in better shape than it was for the 8km XC a few weeks ago so I imagine i'll survive. I know it's not great but my target would be to run sub 40, I don't think the other 10km XC races I did years ago were ever done in less than 40.

If weather is good on Saturday I'll probably cycle so won't rest the day before like I normally would for a race. Definitely running in some shape or form tomorrow, turbo trainer on Thursday and run again on Friday. Head torch is charged and new bulbs in so all ready for a winter of running in the dark.

Then plan for Saturday week would be 5km in Killarney, try for a pb, orienteering on the Sunday too in Muckross.

Week after that it's Munster League in Glengarra and that leads up to Connacht Champs. So something on every weekend this month race-wise.

Ran with Jerry from O'Riadas. On the road of all places! Up past Glanageenty and then around through Cloger village and onto Ballymac PO before onto the main road for the last bit. Tough start to the loop but only after a nice flat warm-up. Then a nice gradual descent and some level running to finish.

Nice pace which was even enough, slow on the uphill, increased on the downhill and steady on the flat.

Had head torch on and used my old running high-vis, think I might invest in a new one.

Main concern was would my legs hold out running on the road. Achilles did start to let itself be known with maybe 1km to go. Bit sore afterwards after sitting down for a while, and put some ice on it before dinner. Should be alright though. Will chance this run again especially if the group gets bigger as expected.

Hopped up on my dad's exercise bike. Saddle being low didn't help but this was meant to be recovery. Found a couple of joke books to read, Bunny Suicides one had some good way's of killing bunnies. Legs felt ok spinning fairly fast but not the safest pedals to do so on.

Avg Cadence = 76rpm

Cold start, had to put on HR strap which had just come out of a bag of soaking wet gear!!!

Decided in the car coming back down that more training today was needed in case I don't do anything tomorrow. Took it easy enough though, would have gone for longer but got tired and decided enough was enough. Body felt good until then, it suddenly decided it wasn't good.

Started watching A-Team, have the DVD but saw it in the cinema.