Training Log Archive: Dooby

UL Sprint Race

Men - Splits

Lough Guitane-County Bounds-Glenflesk-Barraduff-Killarney

Wasn't sure whether i'd actually go out this morning, stomach not right last night before bed and still feeling a bit funny this morning. Thought I might be in trouble after Glenflesk but it got better. I did eat a lot in Sol y Sombra last night but reckon it wasn't right before that.

Starting out I wasn't too interested, could see Mangerton to my right and was missing running.

Tried to keep the intensity of the spin in Zone 3, with HR around the 140-150 mark. Was over 160 on the long climb so that was fine. Went a bit beyond the top, once across the border I was enjoying being in Cork. Should have turned sooner as it wasn't easy to come back towards the border, uphill and into the wind. Descent was also into the wind but made nice pace. Was getting close to an hour on the bike at Loo Bridge and I was wondering if it'd get 30km covered in the hour, I did.

New surface over to Barraduff certainly enhances that road, instead of avoiding it, it's definitely back on the route list.

Back from Barraduff to Killarney wasn't easy, tough headwind. Took a 2nd gel after Barraduff, apple and unusual for me it was a no caffeine gel, have picked up a few of them so decided to use one.

Had the help of the wind home so that was something. Must definitely get the bike looked at soon, gears are in trouble, but voucher on the way for bike week so will use that and explore options of improving the bike for racing at the same time.

Legs feeling alright this morning, was tired last night.

Day off today as planned, but will be going for a walk later on, heading to Rossbeigh after work.

Followed by tapas in Sol y Sombra, nice.

County League
Gneeveguilla

6 laps

Weather not very nice this evening, some drizzle going, bad on 2nd lap, with 1 chap skidding on one of the corners. It did dry up again and so did the roads. Garmin also says average temperature was 13 degrees, where is the summer?

Tough course, either up or down, and I liked it.

A small A4 group this evening, think around 10 to start, then 9 for a lot of the race. Worked ok together, a few of the lads doing more work than the others. With 3 laps completed we were given a 2 minute gap warning, that sounded good to me. Reckoned that would be hard to catch, but 1 lap later 2 lads caught us up. That caused trouble in the group. A few lads bridged across to stick with them, and I needed to work hard to do likewise. Got there. But the 2 lads went again but this time none of us responded. Back to working as a group again, but a smaller one.

Then on the start of the last lap, or was it 2nd last, Conor caught up with us, he stayed with us for a while before getting ahead. On the big descent on the last night on the back straight Micheal came by. He dragged us along but again left us on the 2nd drop back to the main road. A few of the A3/A2s caught us there, and that was the group for the finish. Reckoned I wasn't in a great position starting out with around 500 to go, but at the back of the group I just picked off the slower lads, not 100% gas, but at least 80%. Didn't matter anyways.

Enjoyed this race. Smaller group I found safer and more manageable. Race was well marshalled too.

10.42
11.09
11.21
11.20
11.04
10.53

Fastest lap was the 1st lap. Thought that might have been the last lap considering there was help during it.

Shoes have now done over 10000km, so that must mean the bike has gotten over that figure too.

On my own to start out with, took a phone call, and then cycled the rest with the race winner. Just finished 5th year in school, but a very good cyclist. He was looking for his water bottle that he discarded on the last lap to save weight! His mother isn't going to be happy.

Was looking at Strava there, at the Flybys to see who I might have passed out cycling.

Lad on Monday his activity has been flagged. So obviously had the app (it was the app rather than a Garmin) running in the car whilst driving.

According to the data his max speed was 128.9kph. So that puts him nearly 30kph over the speed limit as it was in Kerry he was cycling/driving. Hope the gardaí aren't checking his ride on Strava!

Killarney-Glenflesk

Traffic chaos on Muckross Road so that slowed me, and then decided to take a detour towards Deerpark, more traffic on Park Road then.

On the open road I was moving along fine. Legs not feeling too bad. Saw a couple of lads in the club out on their own probably tuning up for tomorrow!

What's with the weight? Need to think about my diet, although will check on Friday what this June has been like compared to last. Reckon lack of running might be having an impact.

Windy again this evening, think more of a crosswind this evening, coming from the west, so not the worst route for wind. Although bound to be exposed to it at times.

Legs are still tired but was pleased with effort on the ascent, only 10 seconds faster than last week, need to get it into the 10s consistently.

Had a good start to the descent, but then it faded out when I caught a couple of cars. That kind of killed my effort, lost motivation for some reason, think I needed food. Rest of the spin home wasn't too energetic, effort was there on the hills, but didn't have the push. Average speed is where I want it to be.

Wasn't in a great mental state either. Very much on the bitter side this afternoon after work, so need to see if I can ease that at work tomorrow. Got some questions that need answering. Sitting on the bike for an hour doesn't help. Won't be able to sleep otherwise!

Best come up with a plan for the week. Factoring in a rest day before the weekend is the plan but not sure exactly what day, probably Friday. Legs are feeling tired this morning but will press on. Weather forecast isn't fantastic for the middle of the week so could end up being on the turbo trainer. Been a while since I was last on that.

Monday - Cycling (Beaufort, recovery)
Tuesday - Cycling
Wednesday - Cycling
Thursday - Cycling (Race)
Friday - Rest
Saturday - Cycling (on my own I suspect, it is Ring of Kerry day, have an idea though of a route)
Sunday - Orienteering (UL Sprint Race)

Amended the time to reflect moving time, there were a couple of stops due to traffic.

Not a bad evening but a headwind out to Beaufort. Didn't find it too bad though. Legs felt tired when I started out from home but improved once warmed up. Kept the HR below 140 as much as I could. A couple of early spikes on the ramps on the way into town.

This cycle was I supposed a recovery spin. Hopefully legs recover enough for Thursday. Think there could be some turbo on the cards if the weather forecast is true to form. There's a yellow rainfall warning with Kerry on the list of affected counties from 3 tonight until 3 tomorrow afternoon. That is finishing before training time so I might be in luck. Mary also needs to be in luck as she's got tickets for an outdoor play tomorrow evening!