Training Log Archive: Dooby

Lazy day today. Met a friend from college this morning with the intention of having brunch, I just ended up having orange juice!

Then watched the match for the afternoon.

And then welcomed robrunner and joshosh on their return from an epic journey across the Iveragh peninsula back to Killarney from Glenbeigh. Fair play to them, sounded intense. Will be interesting to see their logs when they write them.

Sliabh Luachra Tour 2013

Nice day for it. Very much a rolling type of cycle, up and down for most of the day. Nice controlled pace for the most part though. Hadn't cycled these roads before apart from around Scartaglin once, but definitely knew them from work, spent a lot of time driving around this area a few years ago. A part of Kerry that probably isn't appreciated enough, I like the river valleys and rolling hills landscape of the area.

Pace car kept things together going up the 'Leaps' as it was called, between Kilcumming and Scartaglin. The descent had some dodgy bits but generally alright. Pull up to Scartaglin was grand and then a short water stop. Then it was downhill to Castleisland. A lad got maybe 20m off the front and somehow it was myself, Barry and Brendan out the front so had to do some work at the front. On the flat run in towards Castleisland I was on the front into a headwind with no volunteers to take the front. Wasn't impressed as didn't want to be doing this work before the hills ahead.

Pulled off after we turned at Talbot Grove to leave someone else do the pace setting. A few bikes ahead and I closed the gap on the last short downhill section before Cordal. You could see the hill coming and it wasn't looking easy. I followed behind a Killarney, Sliabh Luachra and Killorglin lad. Decided after a few minutes of hurt that it'd be more sensible to ease off so left the lads go but had a gap to those behind. Went into the easiest gear too, the hill was steep, nearing around the 2/3rds mark the Killorglin lad ahead had blown so went past him and could see more lads closing behind so I pushed on a less steep section closing to the 2 boys in front, so by the time we got to the top of this hill I wasn't that far behind.

Caught up with them on the descent and then we were joined on the 2nd hill by another Killarney lad. I just stuck behind, wasn't working. Again on the 2nd hill up past Newmarket Cross I wasn't too far behind. Then on the last hill towards Knockboul Cross I was with the Sliabh Luachra lad and one of the Killarney lads, the late arrival, with the other Killarney guy having blown. So then it was a nice descent into Ballydesmond for food.

Thought the climb was over with for the day but not quite, plenty more gradual hills to come. Out of Ballydesmond there was one and my legs didn't feel great. But improved as they warmed up again. Nice pace in the group towards Newmarket, and after Newmarket there were a couple of short hills but with a steeper gradient, plus a tricky downhill hairpin to negotiate.

On one of the hills getting close to Boherbue I was keeping close to the front and a split occurred, ended up being myself with 4 more lads on our own, same lad from Killarney and Sliabh Luachra on the hills plus 2 Killorglin lads, not the early blow-out from earlier as his tyre had blown out! Barry was there but legs gave out so it was after that the group formed. So we did a bit of work sharing turns all the way home, really keeping the pace high. But found it much easier to stick this pace than that on Thursday, wasn't on the limit too often. Did think there might be a sprint in Rathmore but thankfully there wasn't.

Very pleased with how my legs performed today, the 4 lads at the end are decent cyclists who would be racers, but I was keeping them company. Great day for it and it was a very well organised cycle. Had a Garda bike out the front the whole time along with another jeep with a siren/flashing lights plus the lead car then.

Very happe

Tralee-Castleisland-Farranfore-Tralee

Avg speed was 36.9kph = enough said!!!

Saucy pace out to Castleisland, group of 10 or so moving fast. The pace didn't slow going to Farranfore but I did have to stop, Tom got a puncture. He'd no spare tube so I gave him mine, but turns out that didn't work. Not sure if it had a hole in it already or if it was the rip in Tom's tyre that did the damage.

Had a bit of work to do then, Mark stopped too, so 3 of us moving back towards Farranfore where the main group had waited. Spotted a bike coming against us after the airport, but as i'd my head down I didn't realise it was Colin coming back to look for us. Only knew something was up when the pace slowed.

The group had decided to head for home, so turned back towards Tralee where the pace just went up and up. Made it up the climbing lane and beyond, but just gave up, had enough. Body and mind wasn't arsed to kill myself on the flat. Something else I don't like, very high speed on the flat, just don't have the weight, legs or the gearing for that pace. Glad I did slow down as nearing Tralee my left quad started to hurt a bit. I was still moving fast enough on my own. Disappointed to not have stuck it out.

Lads went up the bypass but I turned for home at Ballygarry, was on my own. Think the cycling/running combo isn't exactly working out but think quads were better cycling today than they were last Thursday.

Course on statistics starting in a few weeks, would mean 1 Friday month in Dublin, along with a Friday+Saturday in March, followed by an exam in April.
Do I really want to inflict education on myself?

C • No 5

Muckross

Legs not as tired as yesterday so that was a positive but pain started as soon as I started running, sore knee, and right quad was also not great. Calves not too bad. Going to text physio looking for an appointment next week.

Went down low to start, trying to reduce climb and therefore pressure on my quads, but they were sore on the flat. Think by the end i'd become a bit used to the pain. Might consider some form of painkiller/deep heat combo if I run on Friday!

Nice evening out, warm, but cloudy, some sun in places. Plenty of people out and about in the National Park.

An objective of the Kerry County Development Plan 2009-2015

"Promote the appropriate development of sustainable eco-tourism including orienteering, angling, equestrian activities, bird watching, canoeing and kayaking, botany, photography, painting, caving & paragliding in order to diversify the range of tourist experiences available in the County and extend the tourist season."

C • Nice 2

Glenflesk-Barraduff

Legs felt tired today. Bit of a headwind heading in the Muckross Road, so reckoned i'd have to face it coming back from Barraduff later. Traffic lights in Woodlawn, but ignored the light! Traffic was heavy at the junction with the main Cork road, bit annoying having to stop, especially with the hill just after.

Nice pace heading out towards Glenflesk and was happy with the hill up from the Flesk. Despite the tiredness from running yesterday once I got pedalling I wasn't feeling too bad. Some knee pain and quad pain in the usual spots.

Headwind back from Barraduff was grand, so pace was good. Got stopped by the lights in Woodlawn on the way back but once through there I was moving alright home. Avg was 32.5kph which i'm happy with. Not looking forward too much to training for the rest of the week, legs are going to suffer.

Start of another week. Got myself a plan for training, and must definitely do something about Galway, might be an idea to see what maps came in the post, put together final information, and see what needs to be done.

Monday - Running (will try usual loop, test the legs out)
Tuesday - Cycling (Barraduff loop)
Wednesday - Running (see how the legs are)
Thursday - Cycling (Chaing Gang)
Friday - Cycling (this is a maybe, depends on what i'm doing for the evening, Ladies View if I do get out)
Saturday - Cycling (Sliabh Luachra cycle, undulating 100-110k)
Sunday - Rest

Friday Loop

Decided on the usual loop today. Legs felt ok starting off, running better, and kept my form for the run despite the pain. Left knee as usual and right quad a bit on the tight side. Thinking physio next week but I want to wait and see how my legs feel cycling tomorrow.

Nice evening out, met a few tourists around Torc but generally had the forest to myself. Legs actually good to run, notwithstanding the pain, so no tiredness. They are probably in ok shape if it wasn't for the annoying pain.