Training Log Archive: Dooby

Shannon Classic 2016

Horrible day weather wise, roads were wet, I was wet, everything was wet. Not sure if it actually rained heavy but there was spray everywhere, made following wheels difficult on the damper sections.

Course was good, roads were smooth. Also wide in most places so safer cycling.

Did some work on the 1st lap, then relaxed until the last lap. Pace on the 2nd lap got hot on the 1st downhill but then eased up again. Actually surprised with the average speed for the spin, did feel it would be less.

At the start of the 3rd lap Galway Bay Cycling club launched an attack which the group responded to but one of their lads went up the road on his own. There had been another fella off the front but he came back at some stage, didn't realised. The lad who went off managed to stay away until the finish, really impressive ride.

On the last lap I went to the front at the start and tried to get away with 2 other lads, didn't get far, and then did some more work with a Cork fella, but again got nowhere. I did stay at the front and took a few turns, but only 2 or 3 others were willing to work. I know I was sacrificing my legs but i'm not here for a sprint at the end, i'm here to have fun.

Did actually feel like getting involved in the sprint but need to position myself better, not learned that skill yet. Uphill drag to the line but the bit before that was fast. With around 500m to go, bang, a lad to my right went down, not close to me, and I heard the sound of more carbon hitting the ground too! John Power (CorkO) went down, he was alright, but his bike hurt a small bit. Wasn't his fault, fella in front of him. So again the crash played on my mind, I know the sprint is for minor placings and would mean points but not convinced it's worth it.

Waiting until the last lap won't work for attacks, need to go earlier. Will take note of that for the next race.

Well organised race.

To get my bottle I dumped before the last lap.

From home

Feeling motivated to do something even if it was a lazy day up until now. Weather crap again today so run better option than bike.

Feeling inspired to get out and about after watching WOC sprint this afternoon.

Legs felt mostly ok on the roads. Track in the woods are after getting a bit overgrown.

Ended up having a rest day today, visitors, who mostly brought their own food! Handy.

Weather crap anyways, yellow warning.

Will see what training idea comes to mind for the morning, WOC to distract me.

Shannon on Sunday is a definite trip.

2 laps

County Champs 2016 - Cordal

Only 8 laps of a 4km course so was going to be a fast race. They let A4s and ladies off first followed shortly afterwards by everyone else, think it was a safety issue.

So was in the main group for most of the race, a few lads were up the road, not really sure how many, and our group only worked in spurts, no concerted effort to chase down. Although on the 6/7th laps I did some work on the front with 2 of my team mates but only brought back a few stragglers who were in no mans land.

When it came to the sprint I was badly positioned so got stuck after the corner. Not too bothered though.

Weather turned crap again, drizzle, so roads got damp. The last junction caused trouble, a few lads went down, good fellas too, so that also interrupted the group when they fell. Think those that fell weren't too badly damaged, saw them all up again pedalling afterwards.

Wet after the race so didn't want to do much.

Lough Guitane-Killarney

Plan leaving work was turbo trainer, weather miserable in Tralee, but dry in Killarney, so changed to an outdoor plan. Still took it easy enough, HR nice and low.

Bit of a breeze back from Minish but nothing too strong. Bit cooler this evening so wore a couple of layers.

Legs are tired still after Sunday, but tomorrow will be easier whatever I end up doing. Bit windy again this evening but found it very humid. Lungs struggled with it a small bit.

Just at the bottom of the Ladies View Climb I spotted a green jersey in front of me, that got me up the early part of the climb chasing the jersey down. I see, I want to pass.

Caught him before the bridge, he'd TT bars on his bike. Felt the effort after passing him and reckon the 2nd half of the climb didn't go as smoothly as i'd have liked. 10.28 which is ok.

Enjoyed the descent though, made it my business to pass out a few cars on the way down! Got around a couple at the café and then took another few later on. Gotta keep things interesting.

Also had to do some passing out nearing the turn off for home, jaunting car was slowing traffic, but no problem for me to get by once I got behind. Had been struggling before that, the section before Torc I found hard. Sugars had dropped a bit and I was feeling the affects.

After watching the boxing this afternoon I can be thankful that the various sports I compete in are decided fairly, 1st past the post is the winner, or fastest time over the same course. I found it very frustrating to be a spectator so can't imagine what it must feel like to have been robbed of a semi-final spot. I must agree with his comments after the fight, it is most definitely a corrupt organisation, no other explanation for the winner of the fight to be the loser. It's not the first time boxing decisions have come into question, even in these Olympics the Russians have benefitted from other decisions. Very very unfair.

This week I think I'll focus on the bike. After the small hamstring issues the last couple of weeks i'll leave the legs alone and then test out whether it's the sport crossover causing the issue. Think my physio could be back from holidays this week so might consider seeing her next week after the festival is over.

Monday - Cycling (Barraduff Loop)
Tuesday - Cycling (Ladies View)
Wednesday - Cycling (easy)
Thursday - Cycling (Race-county champs in Currow)
Friday - Rest
Saturday - Cycling
Sunday - Cycling (race in Shannon)

Decided to check my cycling mileage for this year, it's just over 3000km for the year compared to 1800km for the same period last year. Way ahead of every other year i've done too. Only one that's close is 2010 but that was an exception as it includes the 600km of the Tour de Munster.

Bit of a breeze on what was a very nice sunny and warm evening. Breeze coming from same direction as yesterday. So had that into my face out to Glenflesk, but was finding it ok. Legs tired after yesterday. Decided to give the Glenflesk-Barraduff KOM a bash, wind was blowing from the right direction to make it worthwhile, and the road should be in a better condition.

Went hard for that 10 minutes and set a 2nd best PR, 1 second off my best, but 10 seconds off the fastest. Will need a stronger wind to find those 10 seconds I think.

Hill up through Barraduff felt a bit tough then after the effort. Legs were burning. But once the climb was done I was moving better back towards Killarney.

I knew the last section home would be trouble based on the wind direction, and it certainly was, found it very hard going. Was definitely feeling tired so that was the main factor.

So didn't finish the spin well, but middle part was a good effort.