Training Log Archive: Dooby

Event: Kingdom League, Muckross Abbey
 

2 laps of the track. Bit sticky in places but looking alright. Did 1st lap with Martin and then the rest on my own. Feeling alright leg wise but otherwise very very cold. BALTIC. At the tea stop in Moneygall it was cold, around the 4 degree mark, but in Dublin a cold wind had been added to the equation. Garmin Connect is saying 4 degrees but feels like -1 degree, i'd agree.

Managed a 5 minute stop at The Curragh to get rid of some unwanted gear. Then onwards to Dublin. Lot of traffic, presume heading to the shops and not the Novices!

GloHealth Novice Cross Country Championships 2014, Santry Demesne

Just Tim & Martin with me in the car on the way up so we were a bit disappointed that we wouldn't have a club team, but seconds before the start Niamh came looking for a number for another Ríocht lad, brilliant we had a team.

I reckoned that the first bend was going to be fun, and boy was I right. I didn't get out fast enough, bad starting position so then had to try and get past people heading towards the bend. Everyone having the same idea though. Was messy. Some big lad in blue/white came barelling across from my right in front of me and contributed to some lad going down on the inside. Managed to avoid that mess. Lots of elbows and feet being clipped but no blood drawn, well on or by me anyways. Hectic start. Had seen Tim early on but he managed to extricate himself from the mess I ended up in. But all part of the fun and games that is Novices Cross Country, wouldn't be racing if I wasn't prepared for it.

Moved up then on the first lap using bodies around me. Early on I knew my HR strap was in trouble. Started slipping so was trying to adjust it higher, didn't work and ended up around my waist at the top of the course. Had the agility to take it off and carry it in my hand for a bit. On the hill after the muddy bit down low I spotted Cian to my left spectating. Threw the strap at him which he caught magnificently. Right that's no HR data, got to run this thing on feel now, which for Novices doesn't mean anything as there is no time to feel.

Before the turn to the home straight on the first lap I spotted Keith spectating so shouted a hello at him as I ran past. I must have had some spare breath at that stage, wouldn't have happened later in the race. Guaranteed me some nice support on that section of the track for the rest of the race.

In conversation on the car back down the lads were saying that the 1st lap was different to the others. I had no recollection of this, I was just running. Looking at the gps, the lads were right, we skipped the muddy section down low on the 2nd and remaining laps. In hindsight I suppose we were hitting the hill fast after coming downhill.

As the race went on a few came from behind and went by but others came back to me. Think I am happy enough with my own pacing of the race. Gained time on the hill and lost time on other sections. The start probably caught me a bit but because of getting caught I probably saved some energy for later. This sort of tactic worked well 2 years ago and today's result of 45th was a 1 place improvement on that. Next year I think I will definitely set myself a goal of Top 40. Had no goals today apart from taking part.

The Ennis Track lads were getting some good support out there, but the Kerry supporters were making their voices heard too. Paddy was from Ennis, heard his name a bit but not later in the race as i'd enough of listening to it so moved on, he finished 10 places back. Had some fun with a Leevale lad for a while, he came from behind rather than in front, but managed to stay ahead. Of the guys that went past a lot of them were going by fast, so wasn't really an option to tag along, was happy with my own pace.

The last lap was tough, but felt strong for it, used the hill nicely (not that it really was a hill, more a gradual incline, but it is cross country so you wouldn't want to insult the athletics crew too much by saying it wasn't a hill). Then held it together before the last dash to the line. Hamstrings felt a bit tight on the 1st lap but improved later in the race, and they were certainly used in that last lap. Didn't lose any places on the home straight.

Tim had a brilliant race, 11th, some going. And the club team was 17th, same result as last year! And the Kerry ladies continue to put the lads to shame with 2nd County. Although I know some of them flew up rather than drove.

Worth the 7 hours of driving to run 22 minutes, of course. I could have just stopped at the bottom of the hill this morning and gone orienteering in Muckross. Capanalea crew were starting to put out controls as I drove by to begin my journey to Santry.

Provisional results:
http://www.athleticsireland.ie/downloads/other/Nov...

2 more laps of the track to warm down. Was joined by the legend that is Keith Daly for this, and Martin for the 2nd lap. Legs feeling ok afterwards so pleased with that. Didn't feel as cold but probably used to it at this stage. Was quick to get gear on afterwards.

Anyone missing shoe tape (green/yellow), was cleaning the car and found it under the passenger seat?

C • shoe tape 7

Lazy day as planned. Put my thinking cap on after lunch making a list of who needs to be bought Christmas presents. Then went into town to start on the list but started off buying myself stuff. Will try again next weekend.

Saw Susan had booked flights so decided i'd better book flights too. Bergen Sprint Camp at the end of January, brrrr. Something to look forward to though as it'll be an action packed few days.

Did some form filling this morning, TUE.

Also noticed yesterday evening that there are no Ríocht lads on the start list for Sunday, which would include me! I've begun enquiries into the matter.

Dark by the time I got started, but all runs during the week are dark at the moment. Can't leave work early these days as want to work up a day to take at Christmas.

Legs felt grand this evening, no pain really. Calves that were sore and knee didn't really do much. Maybe some feeling in my achilles but nothing that I noticed for any length.

There were around 20 cars parked in the Muckross House car park, bit late for a visit to the Park, dark, but maybe something was on in the restaurant or House.

Serious amount of deer out and about, particularly between the House and Molly Darcys on my way back.

Still feeling liking i've got a slight cold, but again training was done and wasn't an issue. Did text physio looking for an appointment next week, few things need to be looked at to keep me training. Looking forward to a couple of days off now before Sunday.

Avg Cadence = 92rpm

Cadence back to what it was and slightly better. Will set myself a target for the New Year of achieving 100!

GOT S04 E07 out of the way. Finding the last few weeks interesting, stuff is happening in some story lines but others have gone a bit quiet.

Legs felt grand pedalling, no issues. Was sweating by the end, but more realistically i'm sweating buckets after 5 minutes.

Felt like i'd some sort of a cold this morning but decided taking it easy wasn't worth it. No ill affects afterwards.

Cold evening out. Frosty grass and on the trees. Looked cool in the head torch seeing the frost on the spruce trees. Was around the 4 degree mark. Legs feeling ok, some soreness in right knee due to quad and left lower calf later on. But felt better later in the run.

Was feeling a bit tired early in the run but less tired later in the run.

Looking forward to a couple of days off before Sunday.

Should've mentioned earlier, 2 plates of HAM & CABBAGE for dinner.

C • Apostrophes 2

Will relax a bit this week considering the race next Sunday, then get a couple of good weeks in before Christmas racing. I was pleased to break 50km running last week, could have done more if it wasn't for running into a rock on Thursday. That's a good week of running by my standards and one I don't have ambitions to increase on, happy with that number, just need to get back into more quality sessions. Legs are ok today though, toes definitely improving, a lot more movement in them. Foam roller with me to work again, so must use it during the day.

Monday - Turbo Trainer (20-30 minutes)
Tuesday - Running
Wednesday - Turbo Trainer
Thursday - Running
Friday - Turbo Trainer (20-30 minutes)
Saturday - Rest
Sunday - Running (National Novices Cross Country, Santry)

Running last Saturday i'd time to do some thinking, and one thing that came to mind is that I have now lived longer with Diabetes than I have without, 16/17 years. That was thought of after I was thinking that the TUE process is unfair on people with medical conditions, they are at a disadvantage already and then they've to jump through bureaucratic hoops to compete with healthy people.

Avg Cadence = 91rpm

Just watched The Simpsons on telly. RTE2 are shoing newer episodes these days:-)

Cycled for the length of the episode. Dropped a gear to make it easier, just spinning the legs. Did work up a small bit of a sweat by the end.