Training Log Archive: ColmM

Cycling: Training 2:13:14 [3] 48.63 km (21.9 kph) +841m

Another beautiful day, up at a reasonable hour, off not that much sleep to get a good cycle in with Quinn & Corbett again.
Unfortunately lost Quinn jr. to work so he had do his own shorter loop.
Many attacks, made my intentions clear and comfortable green jersey winner, taking almost every sprint. Question marks over one where the finish line wasn’t clear - I gave it to Corbett and his road wheels, but I think he knows I was reeling him in long before the real finish line.
Also took a long dragging cat 5 in the breakaway just to confirm myself as the most aggressive rider too. That was a real tussle that with Quinn reeling the breakaway in over 5km or so, with little knowledge of the gap, but in the end the gap just about held clear.
Most enjoyable morning. Completely bypassed the hangover, and back in time for 1 o’clock lunch date.

Little leg-stretcher with Hugh, nothing in the knee really so happy enough. Bitta bushy.

Event: Northern Ireland Sprint / Middle Distance Championships
 

Another lovely run. Great route suggested by Quinn, Wicklow Way Relay leg 4, out and back. Decent trails, rolling hills and a respectable amount of climb.
Good for the legs, but right knee got very tight all of a sudden near the end, didn’t last long, but didn’t enjoy it. So will cycle tomorrow and make sure to keep a bit of the cross training in.

Lovely little post-work run in bushy.
Summer has been out for a while, but it’s just so lovely, and I really appreciated this evening in particular.

giving the legs a full-day of chill

ITW

IMRA Bray Head - 4th maybe?
Was maybe 40th at the first summit and passed all the punters who went too hard (in reality just me not able to climb) - worked through the crowds anyway and was maybe 20th at the next summit. Kept working hard on the way back.
Caught onto the back of a group of 5 coming up the final little climb to the cross. Was struggling, but suddenly was going past them - except Fortune had broke off the front.
Got fortune early on the descent but he kept the pressure on the whole way down, which worked out cos I ended up taking 2 more on the steps at the end.

A lot of work to do uphill but the other strength is probably better than I would have hoped for.
A good minute off Ruairi.

Very chill recovery in the park with roar, Corbett & joshosh.
Lots to chat about, very enjoyable.

Cycling: Commute 16:59 [3] 5.95 km (21.0 kph) +42m

Pb.

IOC Relay - Gold
Leg 3 with Conall & Ruairí on legs 1 & 2 for UCDO.
Warming up muscles were a little stiff but mostly alright in terms of sore. Just lacking energy really after yesterday.

Bit of controversy leading into the race surrounding my eligibility to run for UCD. Didn't really want to be involved in the process, kind of figured my opinion was irrelevant really anyway, could just supply the ucdo constitution, and others could decide whether I was legitimately allowed to be a member or not. Had been expecting to hear back on this before the race started - in the end never heard anything (which is possibly news in itself?). Anyway, all this was mulling over in my head a little before the start, and in the end I was glad not to hear shortly before starting as it would have been distracting.

Conall did a good job to come from behind to go through the field and finish with a small lead over CorkO. Ruairí did his job and extended this slightly, so I knew going out onto last leg I had about 1min lead over Marcus for Cork, and maybe 3mins to Kev with CNOC, and no idea for Nick, but optimistic it was too much.

Was fairly nervous off the start. I've run this relay many times, and only been in the lead for a grand total of maybe 5mins (in 2015 when myself and darren both blew it to Nick). Anyway, I'd run this relay too many times to think that running-speed was going to be the deciding factor. Particularly after feeling slow in the middle and long and mostly being similar to a lot of the guys - I felt wouldn't need to push to sustain the lead.

So, I set off at a steady pace, not going hard, and focused on being clean, and making the others chase me. If I needed to race hard, I could save it for if I got caught.
I was clean on #1 and was happy enough to get into it. I took a safe (but slow) route through the depressions to #2, and ended up having to come back into it a little, but wasn't worrying about it. Set off to #3 grand oul job, didn't keep much track of where I was, but knew it was halfway up the big hill and could figure out the rest once there. So, climbed up, on a decent line, was a little cautious and took my time to be certain I was correct on top, as the hills were a little less obvious than I expected.
Went down and around to 4, nice little line and moved into it easily. Back out the same way, and no sign of Marcus on what kind of had to be an ungaffled control, good stuff (turns out he was 30s behind).
Down the hill, not paying a whole lot of attention and drifted left on route, but the big fenced off area was obvious, and I could move back in towards the control, cautious entering, but all good.

Saw Marcus behind now, and knew it was less than 1min. Shat myself a little, but regained control, picked the pace up a little, but kept it steady and on the line to 6, picked it off fine. I was too scared to look back, but knew he was still going to have to work hard to reel that in if I was clean, even if he could see me.
Knew I really just had two more controls to get two more technical controls, and the last loop was all running, which I could hopefully suffer out if caught. Figured I should be beating Marcus on pure running, but legs really weren't feeling good, and the thought of that last hill still had me scared.
Anyway, kept on the map, could see the hill before 7 from a good bit, so moved into the control nicely enough, just cruising the entries.
Straight off to 8, and when I saw the big tower, I knew I could try keep the pace solid again. Kept it clean after the last depression, and knew I was now into the running section.

Heard Ruairí say I had a decent gap on the spectator, but also heard people shouting on Marcus and Kev, so didn't get too complacent. The vague-ish re-entrant gave minor worries, so really took my time.
Climbed slowly, but looked back and could see it was a big gap, so cruised in the remainder, double-checking codes and the gap.
Enjoyed getting to run-in with the lads waiting, and appreciated the support, everyone was very sporting afterward. The two lads really set it up nicely and deserved their win.

Would have been nice to get to win it while I was still in UCD with the lads, but really enjoyed being a part of another competitive IOC relay, and of course coming out on top. Have been wanting to win this one for a while.
We were awarded the title anyway, not sure if that's that, or just because nobody protested in the end, and the eligibility is still something to be looked at.
Did very much enjoy my time in UCD, so nice to win it with them, but if in the end this changes, I think I would be tempted to setup an alumni club, think it's good to stay connected. Who knows though.

C • Eligibility 6