Training Log Archive: Dooby

Silver Pail GP, Fermoy, A4

Sun shining but breezy.

Big group of A4s, which I didn't really like, and they were very strict on the white line, which is fair enough. Meant moving up was difficult. Realised I had to do something, so on the 3rd lap I moved up as much as I could, then on the 4th lap I attacked on my own. Got a small gap, but couldn't keep the pace high back towards the small road on the N72. Then on the 5th lap I was at the front again with a couple of other lads turning onto the regional road after the N72. We worked for a bit but didn't get much of a gap.

Then the group was stopped to let the A1/A2 group go by, so that meant the position I had by the front was lost. Wasn't happy about that. But got going again. Approaching the finish to end the pentultimate lap some lads in front bumped, and a guy to my left fell into the grass. So that wasn't pleasant but I avoided it. Then at the line the group was stopped by the Commissaires to let the A3 group go by. We waited and waited for this A3 group, which must have showed up after around 5 minutes. This was farcical, no way they'd have caught that time on the last lap for us.

Meant the last lap was just going to be a sprint for the line, which I wasn't too pushed about as the fast approach to the final drag hadn't worked out well for me on the earlier laps. So I just cruised around at the back of the group to finish safely.

Pissed off that the work I did came to nothing. Enjoyed the attacking, and what might have come after, but the stops broke my momentum. First stop for the A1/A2 group was perfectly acceptable, but the 2nd was completely unnecessary.

Fun day out other than that.

C • Good tactic 5

Out in Dingle with a couple of colleagues, had vouchers we won for Seachtain na Gaelige to spend. Blasket Centre to start, and then did a looped walk which went past the school house from Ryan's Daughter.

Windy day, and misty, so views not great. This wasn't forecasted.

After that we'd a voucher for lunch in Louis Mulcahy Pottery, shame only 3 of us went, others were invited, but we did our best to do a lot of damage to the €100 voucher.

Bray Head Looped Walk

Working today!
Nice day for it too, with stunning views south as far as Dursey, the Skelligs, and north to the Blaskets.

Got some sun burn.

Was down to collect the data cubes from some people counters. Then did some people observation, before finishing the looped walk. Nice walk.

A runner ran by at the top of the hill, Clodagh Moran, small world!!!

C • Tough hike 2

Killarney-Barraduff-Lough Guitane

Started by heading into the bike shop to check out the gear issue I encountered last night, so will see on Sunday if it was a one time only issue, or needs further rectification.

Nice evening out on the bike but some wind blowing, didn't bother me so much,

Feeling tired after last night so didn't feel the most comfortable. Right hamstring is still feeling funny. Will stretch it and see how that works out.

County League - Cordal

Shite evening again. Why bother with Met Eireann when they only do a forecast for Dublin. No rain mentioned on their website but damp and drizzly in Kerry. Also the race started a bit later than scheduled, so had a bit to wait around.

Wasn't prepared in time to start, bit of messing getting my jacket off, and then people started leaving air out of their tyres because of the conditions. So had a small chase to do on the first lap.

After that I moved to the front for a bit. Got a gap with a couple of other lads after a while but I wasn't too bothered about pushing on. It was a short circuit, only around 2.3km, with a short hill to the finish.

Mike and Kenneth went off the front after a while, so relaxed then, wasn't going to chase them down. After that the fast lads caught up and the fun started again. Bike then started to cause trouble coming out of the bends. When trying to push hard out of the bends the gears started jumping a bit so that was annoying. I also lost time in the corners as I wasn't confident in the conditions.

Lost the front group but then chased back on before losing them again. Got caught behind some other lads so that didn't help. We were riding against the clock with extra laps at the end. With 6 laps to go I was in a group of 5. Mike, 2 Sliabh Luachra and a Tralee BC. I was doing more work on the hills. Took a break at the back with 3 laps to go and then on the drag up to the hill on the pentultimate lap I left my small group behind and stayed away until the end.

Caught up with a few A4 lads we were lapping on the line so we were still moving alright.

Another fun night of racing. Good training.

Loo Bridge

Weather in Tralee worse than Killarney. Some drizzle going but decided to go out on the road, 2 days on the turbo trainer in 1 week in August would just be wrong.

Legs and body not feeling too energetic this evening. Not too concerned as this wasn't meant to be a hard session, or even a medium one, racing tomorrow and Sunday. Planning a rest day on Saturday.

Wasn't really sure where I as going starting off, but ended up with the distance I wanted. Plan was to head for Cork and turn around when the distance was around 14km. Then decided to go around by Loo Bridge and along the small road that leads back towards Glenflesk. Looked ok as I went past, but the Kilgarvan side of the road was rough, no holes, but bumpy. Grass in the middle of the road too.

At least I got something done today.

Golf Course

Looks like it was a steady enough run with the max and avg HR being close together.

Legs held together, but were a bit sore at times, particularly after around 6k, improved though. I did try and concentrate on my running style, trying to avoid heel striking. But hole in right sock when I stopped running.

Humid enough this evening with some drizzle at times, didn't get wet though.

At least with the last few days the colours of my activities have been a bit brighter. Less of the black of cycling.

Avg Cadence = 85rpm

Found this tough going. Maybe you get used to it and I've not been on the turbo for a while so cadence is down. Not sure. Legs a bit sore today after yesterday.

Weather today was absolutely rubbish. Wet wet wet.

Bit late in the day but since it's a bank holiday no work today:-)

Monday - Cycling (turned out to be turbo trainer due to the weather)
Tuesday - Running
Wednesday - Cycling
Thursday - Cycling (Race)
Friday - Rest
Saturday - Cycling
Sunday - Cycling (Race)

The idea of a mountain race in the Paps on Wednesday sounds tempting but 2 cycling races this week so not a good idea, wouldn't help the body.

*Entered US Classic Champs. Need some classic training now, time on the bike will have to do!