Training Log Archive: Dooby

Beaufort

Decided I would go for a spin. Nice tempo on the way out but on the way back it felt like there was a slight headwind. Decided to ease up out the Muckross Road in advance of an attempt on the Strava segment up my road, getting a bit addicted but then again i've been cycling a lot in the last couple of weeks, tan line on the legs is getting more noticeable.

Mission accomplished, KOM on my road.

Beaufort-Moll's-Blackwater-Ballaghbeama-Glencar-Caragh Lake-Beaufort
Ring of the Reeks

Started off dry so that was good but jacket went on at the top of Moll's gap in view of impending rain and stayed on for the rest of the spin, did dry up at times, never very heavy, but damp.

Lead vehicle was a pain in the hole. Very slow pace for the start, which is fair enough, but it was stated that he'd keep the group together until Torc, then it'd pull ahead. Well that didn't happen. Someone went up to him at some stage but didn't do much good. He let us go on the start of the climb proper, got a bit caught out. 2 lads stuck with me and a few more a tiny bit back. I pushed on and so did a Killorglin lad, also a Tralee lad there too. I think the jeep slowed again though as we bunched up again so 6 of us over Ladies View together. Jeep then killed the speed completely, allowing those behind to catch up, less than 20kph was ridiculous pace. Kept it together until Moll's Gap where there was a bit of a burst just before the turn off for Sneem.

Stopped to put on my jacket then, saw the clouds/rain coming, and also the pace behind the jeep was going to be slow downhill. Good decision. Didn't kill myself on the gradual descent to the foodstop in Blackwater.

Took on some provisions there, those in my pocket. Then we set off again, still damp so put the sunglasses in my pocket. This may not have been a good idea. Took a bee/stinging insect into the face not long after the restart. Top of the cheek, below the eye. Ouch. Hurt for a bit but climbing to Ballaghbeama started soon after so used that to distract me. Single file all the way up, rough road at times too. Was 5th over the top, could maybe have done better but legs ran out of gas on the last steep bit, happy enough with the position as no one close behind me but the lads in front were close enough.

Then the descent, surface ok, road narrow with gravel in the middle. The killorglin lad from Moll's Gap came past me early on, but then I went by him on a flatter bit, he was then ahead on a tight bend where he slid and did a summersault. I stopped and so did the Tralee guy (John, met him after). The lad had a few scrapes on his elbow and knee, plus some damage to the bike, brake/gear lever. He took off again but stopped a few hundred metres later so I slowed down to check, he'd lost his bike computer in the fall so was turning back to get it.

Didn't kill myself for the rest of the descent and caught up with the jeep as we hit the main road to Glencar. The jeep didn't stop so kept on going, not very fast though. Turned back towards Glencar church then and due to the low speed a few lads went past so I followed them. Was single file at this stage, jeep sped up as it wasn't that far behind. After the pitch there was a slight rise and I got out of the saddle to discover that my quads were fecked. Also felt a funny twinge, cramp like in my hamstring. So killed the speed completely and started to mind myself.

Started going backwards, but was on a survival mission as still around 25km to go. The pulls along by the lake were nasty but didn't feel too bad once the first one was done. Felt better heading towards Killorglin after passing Caragh Lake, met a guy from work so slowed to talk to him for a while. Through the outskirts of Killorglin I knew there was only 10km to go so started to move a bit faster. 2 lads passed me so I stuck to their wheels for a bit, took a turn but then decided i'd had enough, tired. Eased off but kept the pace high, just under or over 30 for the rest of the spin.

Tired when I finished but no cramps, yet! Early start didn't help but what I think caused the most trouble was the slowing down and speeding up, don't think my legs like that on the bike, I know I feel better when the speed is constant, whether that be slow or fast. Average turned out to be 27.8kph, didn't think it'd be that high the way I felt things were going. My efforts of the last 2 days might not have helped either.

Day off tomorrow or might go for a short spin, an hour on the bike maybe if the weather is suitable and if i've time.

Glenflesk-Barraduff

Nice evening for cycling. Felt ok starting off and headed into Killarney. Pushed on the hill out of town and then after that through Lissyvigeen it felt like there was a headwind. Had seen flags in Dingle earlier when I was out that direction and it looked like a southwesterly, so different wind direction when on the bike. Didn't seem as strong after Minish so didn't really think about it after that.

Just kept moving along, but after Glenflesk I felt a pain in my left foot, and not long after my left achilles felt sore. Both of these issues went away again so not worried. Nice speed going back from Barraduff.

Think blood sugars started to get a bit low around Lissyvigeen on my return but not low enough to address or not low enough that I wasn't bothered to address, poor attitude I know.

Average speed of 32.5kph, and that was all on my lonesome, not a hilly route though. Set a fastest time on Strava between Glenflesk and Barraduff, 1st of 29:-)
Hope i've something left in the legs for tomorrow.

Tralee-Castleisland Bypass-Hedleys Bridge-Tralee

Thursday spin with the Chain Gang. Nice group of 8 this evening for the 'fast' spin. Some faces I hadn't seen, but then I haven't been there often enough to see them.

Started off at a nice pace out to Castleisland and then it opened up on the climb. I did a bit of pace setting early on but then had trouble figuring out how to get myself out of that situation. Finally managed to drop back. Then just let the lads do some of the work but near the top of the climb I moved forward. Colin made a break and I went after him. Just about got to him at the top. Did some pace setting before he made his move so was there at the start and the end of the climb. Definitely climbing better today.

Then downhill towards Knocknagoshel, wet roads so not too pleasant to ride in, then off the main road and up the kicker to Knocknagoshel before turning for home. Then the RAIN came, and boy did it pour, really heavy and not pleasant. Everyone got soaked. But then just before Reanagowan it eased off and it was back to dry roads. An isolated shower up in the wilds of the Stacks Mountains. After Reanagowan there was the climb to the dump. Pace again was high. I didn't do much work here as it's not too long a climb. Colin and Chalkey went off with around 750m to go so I went after them just before that. Went past chalkey and at around 500m to go I was on my own. Kept on pushing but there was a small gap. Then with around 200 to go (there were markings on the road for some cycling race) I could see someone gaining, so put another bit of effort in but at 100 I could see I was safe so rolled handily across the line. Very pleased with that effort, my climbing legs I think are back.

Then the mad dash downhill to Tralee. The lads really move going down and it's something I struggle with to keep the same pace. Hung on till the end. There was a nice bit of new road too around the Jehovahs Witness place before the IT.

My average speed was 32.9kph, and it was easy to do that, only felt like we were pushing on the hills, and I suppose on the descent, but that was downhill anyways. 5th on the climb up from the bypass (Ahaneboy) according to Strava but a good bit of time, 45secs to find to move up another place.

Avg Cadence = 88rpm

By the time I got home from work it was nearly 6, had to collect o gear for next week on the way and also had a spin around north kerry for work.

Thought I might get out on the road for a quick spin but just started to drizzle as I got home so decided on the turbo trainer.

Felt grand pedalling away, watching some tv, didn't plan on spending too long, and hadn't seen the episode of the simpsons before. Also got some Come dine with me but didn't stay watching the end of that.

For some reason there's a HR spike of 198 after 15mins pedalling, not right.

Another excrutiating session at times, seeing the physio leaning on my calf with both elbows isn't a happy thought.

Left achilles is now worse than the right, but quads have improved. Another session needed next week. Didn't factor in 3 physio sessions into my WOC budget, not that I ever had one.

Won't run again this week so no Mangerton again this year.

Don't really need/want to rest today but it's a matter of not enough days in the week. Lots of options seem to be surfacing with regards to next weekend, but will see what physio says tomorrow.

Monday - Rest, some map updates to do in Ballyseedy
Tuesday - Physio
Wednesday - Cycling
Thursday - Cycling (Chain Gang)
Friday - Cycling
Saturday - Cycling (Ring of the Reeks, 110km)
Sunday - ???
So options for Sunday include:
a) Rest
b) Mangerton Hill Race (depends on what physio says, unlikely i'll be told it'll be a good idea)
c) Munster Road Cycling Champs, on in Whitechurch, would be nice to race in Whitechurch, something i've never done.
But if I do b or c then I won't do the cycle Saturday, will rest and take Friday spin more seriously.

Ballyseedy Woods

Spent a bit of time wandering around the paths and doing some map corrections, the map i'll give back to Rory will look a bit different than the one I got!

Nice evening, humid. A few drops of rain just as I was leaving so good result.