Training Log Archive: Dooby

Bit of a warm-up before the race. Was chatting to the Power Brothers at the shop and they'd 2 water bottles so checked that i'd enough time and went home for a 2nd bottle. To be fair it was a warm day.

St Finbarr's GP
Lap 1 of 6

Fast start downhill, and I started a bit too far back, not a huge group racing though.

After around 1.5km we passed a crash that had happened in the A2/A3 race. All standing but 1 lad was being aided to stand. Went around them ok. Then after that I tried to make up ground on the outside. Was towards the front by the four cross roads.

Pace back then to Whitechurch wasn't great. Wouldn't have minded it being a tiny bit faster. 2 lads had a bit of a go but didn't get far.

At the finish line we were stopped. The A2/A3 group had been stopped. After a while we were called back to the start line to be told that the race was being cancelled. The ambulance was needed to take the chap to hospital (broken femur), so would take an hour to get another ambulance (or most likely the same ambulance to come back), so without medical cover the organisers had to cancel the race.

Unfortunate.

C • Femur 3

Whitechurch-Bottlehill-Grenagh-Courtbrack-Vicarstown-Tower-Blarney-Whitechurch

Headed off towards Bottlehill with the intention of coming back along the old mallow road but got tempted to go over to Grenagh. Got my phone out and looked at road options and ended up doing what I did. Worked out nicely distance wise.

Passed a few Tralee lads and others between Grenagh and Courtbrack, think they were cycling the Blarney League lap.

The climb around Matehy was steep! 1km in total, steep section went better than the final bit to the top.

Came back to Tower along the Butter Road. Met a vintage tractor run here. TRACTOR.

Blarney to home was a slog uphill, but coming up Lisduff was easier than I thought it might be.

Volunteered at parkrun this morning, lovely day for it.

Cut the grass when I got back.

But a relaxing enough day ahead of race tomorrow.

Left work early since dinner out tonight in Jack's (well worth a visit if ever in Cromane). So timing worked nicely to get an hour in.

Some traffic getting through Killarney.

Great weather today. Short sleeves. It was summer!

Legs happy with the cycle, in good shape.

Saw a couple of bikes in front on my way home just after the Lake Hotel, so that was a nice incentive to push the last bit of the main road, caught them on the hill before the car park.

Pretty low intensity of a class this evening. Think he was missing gear. So suited my achilles.

Started off with some excercises for the back, to help all the office based people, myself included.
Then he showed us a foam roller thing for the back.

After that we did around 12 minutes of a body weight circuit, push-ups, burpees, etc.
Followed by Core.

So a low intensity session.

Nice evening, short sleeves for a change.
Did pack a rain jacket and arm warmers in the pockets as I wasn't convinced regarding the weather but didn't need them.

Happy enough with the legs this evening.

Wanted to give Ladies View a decent attempt today and did just that. Big improvement over last attempt, 10.05 this evening, so nearly at the 9 mark which would be a nice time. Didn't feel too much under pressure on the climb. Passed Paul from the cycling club between Derrycunnihy Church and the shop, spotted him as I came over the bridge so that was nice motivation for the next section. He was on a MTB though.

2 lambs resting on the road after the shop! They moved when I came along but were there again when I came back down.

Got slowed by a jeep with a horsebox on the way down.

Good spin.

To work

Early start but woke up before my alarm so wasn't that upset when it went off. The weather was better than I thought it might be, dry.

First 30 minutes were a struggle, didn't feel like I was moving too fast, and head wasn't there. That changed once into Brennans Glen, started to feel better and as a consequence moved better too. Just in time for the main hill of the day, so nice timing.

Plenty of traffic out and about but gave me space.

Did start looking at my average closer to Tralee but it was on target.

Nice morning for a cycle to work. Dry and not cold.
Wasn't too pleased with the HR, looked high, but average around the 150 mark. Sluggish start with a belly of porridge on me, but felt better once into Brennan's Glen.

7 hours and 24 minutes before I have to do it all over again.

Trip home from work.

Went the same way home apart from through Killarney, High Street is one way so an alternative route must be taken!

One of my colleagues was looking at my bike in the office at around 3.45, she pointed out that my rear tyre was a bit soft!!! FFS, another puncture. Found this one a few cm from the valve, so a different spot to my recent troubles. Couldn't find any tyre issues so at least that was something. Changed the tube, so would be doing the return with no spare. I rang around a few of my cycling colleague to see if I could source a decent pump, but no one answered my distress call. So used my small pump and did what I could.

I really don't like cycling after a puncture, paranoia. But got home. Pleased with my effort home. And somehow it stayed dry for the return trip too, strange day, humid with lots of cloud. There was a lot of rain at around 3 but some parts of the road home were dry. Got wet later on too. So think i'd a lucky day on the bike.

Checked the tyre when I got home, around 50psi in it, so 50% of what there normally is using the small pump. Wondering about investing in those CO2 cannisters, might be better, also slightly more portable.

Did set my alarm this morning to get up and do something on the turbo trainer but instead of getting up I reset my alarm for later. Not a good start to the week!

Monday - Rest (Physio)
Tuesday - Cycling (to and from work)
Wednesday - Cycling (Molls Gap or Ladies View)
Thursday - Circuits
Friday - Cycling (Kilcummin)
Saturday - Rest
Sunday - Cycling (race)

I brought clothes with me to work this morning for tomorrow. Weather forecast isn't the best but when will it ever be???
Will stick to the plan and participate in the Strava Global Commute to Work Day tomorrow.

Another fun session. Need to keep up the stretching of the calves. And can start heat/ice in a few days.

Asked about Circuits, which is ok to do, but no hopping. Will take it exercise by exercise.

More physio booked for next week.

Iced achilles when I got home, 2nd gel pack I put on later was frozen a bit more solid than the 1st. Burnt the skin around my achilles and lower calf, smart!