MMmmm food.
I like food. In order to consume more foodage i went for a spin this morning on the CX bike with Frank. Nice little spin, very very easy spin, out along the coast and up over Howth. Fantastic weather. Frosty, but enough sun to go out without gloves! Madness. Only did about 15km or so but it was nice.
Went home and cooked the Christmas dinner. MMM food. Just sitting down watching telly and having a few beers. Going to head for a quick run in the morning, make some breaky, pack my stuff then after meeting Wag's head off to Cavan for a bit of an aul party and some foodage. Then up in Donegal for the next week until New Years day!
I'll post when i get back, or when i get a chance before then. Who knows the wastes of Donegal may have interweb. Planning to get some good training in, then get my plan for the year sorted, pick out my races...ohh and do some paddling too!
Tuesday, December 25
Sunday, December 23
Cross-tastic weekend
Finally got my Cyclocross bike fully built this weekend. After a shitty week. Ankle was still borked all week. Needed to do some final work on my lit survey. Got it finished on Wed afternoon. Took Thursday off completely. Basically played games on my PC all day. I know i could have exercised blah blah blah, but i was not in the mood at all. Friday was a quick check on the lit survey and the starting of the bike manufacturing.
It is a thing of beauty. Light, fast, and nippy. Nice.
Went out for a quick spin on Saturday in St Anne's. Did a quick shake down on the bike, fast slow fast. Then started to do a few laps on the course that shall become a cyclocross race in Feburary. But more on that later. The bike is class! Out for an hour half, nice easy spin with a bit of speed work. Spent the time working out where to run the race to get the best course possible. Then Kerbdog! Best gig of the season. As per normal an amazing performance, great music, great crowd. Pretty much played both of their albums bar a song or two. Great. Pity about the lack of a decent drinking spot after. Everywhere was packed!
Sunday was a different story. After finally persuading Mike and Waggers to go mountain biking (they were whining about it being cold, pfth, just a bit of frost/ice) we racked the bikes and headed to Ballinistoe Forest. Gave Mike my mountain bike and took the CX bike on the trails. So that made for a fun day. I had brakes of a sort... but no suspension and loads of speed to manage to try to keep up with the lads! Great day was had by all, but i need to get my brakes sorted. We were out for 2hrs 30mins. Good spin, quite tired after, combined with the gig last night i have sore everywhere. Especially with the beating i took with the lack of suspension. i could have gone slower.....but where's the fun in that. Nice work out. 2,000 odd Kcal and a fair amount of work on the legs. Lowest gear was 42x26 so the climbs we painful for sections at a time. But no pain no gain!
Meeting Mum for dinner tomorrow, then going to try for a short run on some soft soft grass, maybe some swimming if not. Then it is feasting day!
It is a thing of beauty. Light, fast, and nippy. Nice.
Went out for a quick spin on Saturday in St Anne's. Did a quick shake down on the bike, fast slow fast. Then started to do a few laps on the course that shall become a cyclocross race in Feburary. But more on that later. The bike is class! Out for an hour half, nice easy spin with a bit of speed work. Spent the time working out where to run the race to get the best course possible. Then Kerbdog! Best gig of the season. As per normal an amazing performance, great music, great crowd. Pretty much played both of their albums bar a song or two. Great. Pity about the lack of a decent drinking spot after. Everywhere was packed!
Sunday was a different story. After finally persuading Mike and Waggers to go mountain biking (they were whining about it being cold, pfth, just a bit of frost/ice) we racked the bikes and headed to Ballinistoe Forest. Gave Mike my mountain bike and took the CX bike on the trails. So that made for a fun day. I had brakes of a sort... but no suspension and loads of speed to manage to try to keep up with the lads! Great day was had by all, but i need to get my brakes sorted. We were out for 2hrs 30mins. Good spin, quite tired after, combined with the gig last night i have sore everywhere. Especially with the beating i took with the lack of suspension. i could have gone slower.....but where's the fun in that. Nice work out. 2,000 odd Kcal and a fair amount of work on the legs. Lowest gear was 42x26 so the climbs we painful for sections at a time. But no pain no gain!
Meeting Mum for dinner tomorrow, then going to try for a short run on some soft soft grass, maybe some swimming if not. Then it is feasting day!
Wednesday, December 19
Stupid ankle
Well i did hurt my ankle, it was sore on Friday last when i went for a spin, so even though i was in Manchester i decided not to go to the track. I was wrecked anyway and just felt like chilling out and doing my Christmas shopping/coffee drinking.
However in the name if chilling out, we went skiing! Man i haven't ski'd in so long. I was nervous as hell, forgot most of what i used to know, and once again i felt like a beginner. The place we went to was cool, no pun intended. Indoor ski slope about 180m long and at about 45 degrees, so it looked scarier than it actually was. First question we were asked 'Can you ski? No really can you ski?'
Uh yeah....didn't mention that it had been 2 years since i had ski'd but sure, it wasn't totally a lie. Ski's we had were good, nice floaty ski's easy to turn, but he boots didn't fit me right, need to go smaller next time. Excuses excuses, the fact is that i forgot most of my skills. Even though the first 30 min's sucked, the last 30 min's of the session were class, the middle were ok. Need to go back again, but at £22 a session, i think it'll be one for when i have cash again!
Rest of the weekend was just relaxing, and trying to get warm. It was freezing in the UK, much much colder than at home. Came back on Monday, faffed around yesterday, but took part in a dehydration study for one of the girls in my class. But got two 10km spins in, one easy one interval.
Sitting in a sauna for X amount of time until we had dehydrated by 3% of our body weight. Not the most fun i have ever had, and Grainne decided to call a halt to the experiment when one of the lads started getting nose bleeds 40mins in! Not so good. I did loose 2kg in that time though. Water nothing else. Had a headache till about 8pm last night, the study started at 11:30! Spent the day hydrating and peeing. Watched the new BSG last night (i am a nerd) can't wait for the new season!!
Distracting myself from my lit review at the moment, its due for Friday and i have a little more to do, just not in the mood at all. well the sooner i get this all done the sooner i get too relax for the eating season! Going to go for a light run tonight, on the grass, hopefully the ankle will be fine.
However in the name if chilling out, we went skiing! Man i haven't ski'd in so long. I was nervous as hell, forgot most of what i used to know, and once again i felt like a beginner. The place we went to was cool, no pun intended. Indoor ski slope about 180m long and at about 45 degrees, so it looked scarier than it actually was. First question we were asked 'Can you ski? No really can you ski?'
Uh yeah....didn't mention that it had been 2 years since i had ski'd but sure, it wasn't totally a lie. Ski's we had were good, nice floaty ski's easy to turn, but he boots didn't fit me right, need to go smaller next time. Excuses excuses, the fact is that i forgot most of my skills. Even though the first 30 min's sucked, the last 30 min's of the session were class, the middle were ok. Need to go back again, but at £22 a session, i think it'll be one for when i have cash again!
Rest of the weekend was just relaxing, and trying to get warm. It was freezing in the UK, much much colder than at home. Came back on Monday, faffed around yesterday, but took part in a dehydration study for one of the girls in my class. But got two 10km spins in, one easy one interval.
Sitting in a sauna for X amount of time until we had dehydrated by 3% of our body weight. Not the most fun i have ever had, and Grainne decided to call a halt to the experiment when one of the lads started getting nose bleeds 40mins in! Not so good. I did loose 2kg in that time though. Water nothing else. Had a headache till about 8pm last night, the study started at 11:30! Spent the day hydrating and peeing. Watched the new BSG last night (i am a nerd) can't wait for the new season!!
Distracting myself from my lit review at the moment, its due for Friday and i have a little more to do, just not in the mood at all. well the sooner i get this all done the sooner i get too relax for the eating season! Going to go for a light run tonight, on the grass, hopefully the ankle will be fine.
Wednesday, December 12
Dang, i have owwies
Stupid ankle, stupid trail running in the dark, stupid me.
Hurt my ankle on the run on Monday, sore when i roll to the outside on it. Ice time.
Oh apparently 4 degrees ain't cold. Thanks Amanda, yes -22 is cold, yes Canada is an icebox, and yes cougars are not your friend's. Sheesh all i have to contend with is drunken scumbags
back to my review of literature.
Which sucks by the way. We got an extension though. This i may advantage take of.
Yoda speaking week this is, yes.
Picking up my cyclo-cross frame tonight!!!
Hurt my ankle on the run on Monday, sore when i roll to the outside on it. Ice time.
Oh apparently 4 degrees ain't cold. Thanks Amanda, yes -22 is cold, yes Canada is an icebox, and yes cougars are not your friend's. Sheesh all i have to contend with is drunken scumbags
back to my review of literature.
Which sucks by the way. We got an extension though. This i may advantage take of.
Yoda speaking week this is, yes.
Picking up my cyclo-cross frame tonight!!!
Monday, December 10
Runity run run run
It's 4 degrees outside. What a nice evening for a run methinks.
And it was. CCCCCcold makes me not stop running. Did a nice little session. 6x(6mins on, 1 min off). Hr had to stay between 140bpm and 170 bpm for the whole session. Active recovery type stuff. First set was a warm up, last was a cool down. Middle 4 at race pace, 1/2 IM race pace anyway.
Nice session, covered 8km. Felt good, but may have tweaked my ankle a bit running on the trail by the rugby pitch in the dark. Doa'h.
Fun anyways!
And it was. CCCCCcold makes me not stop running. Did a nice little session. 6x(6mins on, 1 min off). Hr had to stay between 140bpm and 170 bpm for the whole session. Active recovery type stuff. First set was a warm up, last was a cool down. Middle 4 at race pace, 1/2 IM race pace anyway.
Nice session, covered 8km. Felt good, but may have tweaked my ankle a bit running on the trail by the rugby pitch in the dark. Doa'h.
Fun anyways!
A long day in the saddle
Yes it was. The weekend looked terrible, rain wind and freezing temperatures were predicted. But we only got the one. Cold.
Left the house at 9.30am, went over to DCU to collect a few people. First few KM were cold, but i was warming up when i got to college. Picked up 4 lads in college and the spin began.
Went out towards Meath, ended up in Rathoath after an hour and a half. traffic out there was mental, people were going to a Sunday market out in Fairyhouse so were mentally driving down the roads. one of the lads nearly got creamed, tbh he wast even looking where he was cycling when he moved out. His own fault. Went out to Dunboyne to get some coffee, then the group split as Louis and Donogh went off towards home and Lexlip as we went on back to DCU.
By the time i had got home i had been 3hrs 45mins in the saddle and 4hrs 30mins from my front door and back. I did a total of 75km in the day, and at a nice easy average HR of 136bpm. Felt good during the evening. A little tired but not too bad, threw the compression tights on anyway, just to be safe, and had a nice evening watching films. Looking forward to a good week now!
Left the house at 9.30am, went over to DCU to collect a few people. First few KM were cold, but i was warming up when i got to college. Picked up 4 lads in college and the spin began.
Went out towards Meath, ended up in Rathoath after an hour and a half. traffic out there was mental, people were going to a Sunday market out in Fairyhouse so were mentally driving down the roads. one of the lads nearly got creamed, tbh he wast even looking where he was cycling when he moved out. His own fault. Went out to Dunboyne to get some coffee, then the group split as Louis and Donogh went off towards home and Lexlip as we went on back to DCU.
By the time i had got home i had been 3hrs 45mins in the saddle and 4hrs 30mins from my front door and back. I did a total of 75km in the day, and at a nice easy average HR of 136bpm. Felt good during the evening. A little tired but not too bad, threw the compression tights on anyway, just to be safe, and had a nice evening watching films. Looking forward to a good week now!
Friday, December 7
'It's cycling Greg, not science'
Or so said one of the lads over dinner the other day. How very very wrong they are.
Its been a good week training. Very good. Felt quite motivated all week.
Met with Sharon the Nutritionalist on Monday evening. Did a bit of work on my nutrition and worked on a few new things. Took the day off training to relax from the weekend.
Did two swims on Tuesday, in and out to college, the wind was unbelievable. Took the road bike in so i wouldn't destroy my legs. Wed was a nice weights session, got back into the gym and did some new exercises i haven't done in years. Lunges make my ass hurt. DOMS for the two days afterwards. Stuck the compression gear on straight after the session to see how they help! It feels weird to say the least, its very very tight. Odd to get on but not warm when its on. Strange. Kept it on for a few hours to see if it helps with the DOMS. Deffo didn't feel as bad as i have before but it will take a few sessions to check if it helps. Went out with the lads from the cycling club for a christmas dinner. Wagamama's. Tasty.
Thursday was a little sore after the session in the gym so decided to hit the pool. Took a while to warm up but once i got going felt good in the pool. Just did some work on my technique and a few slow-mo 50's. Felt great after, nice and loose. But by the time i got home was getting tight again. Friday was a boring boring day working on my presentation for my FYP proposal. But by 5pm i'd had enough so decided for some coffee, and then a run! Went out in the freezing wind and ran a nice fast 5km. Took about 19mins, but i felt great! No major pains in the legs, breathing was great, knee was fine. And i could have pushed much much harder. WOW maybe this compression gear is worth something!
Didn't try the gear on the run itself, just using it for recovery at the moment. Threw the gear on after the run again just see if it helps more. Legs weren't sore much today. Which is odd. Normally i get 2-3 days of BAD DOMS. But pretty good today after day and a half! Planning a swim in the morning before work. If i wake up!
Its been a good week training. Very good. Felt quite motivated all week.
Met with Sharon the Nutritionalist on Monday evening. Did a bit of work on my nutrition and worked on a few new things. Took the day off training to relax from the weekend.
Did two swims on Tuesday, in and out to college, the wind was unbelievable. Took the road bike in so i wouldn't destroy my legs. Wed was a nice weights session, got back into the gym and did some new exercises i haven't done in years. Lunges make my ass hurt. DOMS for the two days afterwards. Stuck the compression gear on straight after the session to see how they help! It feels weird to say the least, its very very tight. Odd to get on but not warm when its on. Strange. Kept it on for a few hours to see if it helps with the DOMS. Deffo didn't feel as bad as i have before but it will take a few sessions to check if it helps. Went out with the lads from the cycling club for a christmas dinner. Wagamama's. Tasty.
Thursday was a little sore after the session in the gym so decided to hit the pool. Took a while to warm up but once i got going felt good in the pool. Just did some work on my technique and a few slow-mo 50's. Felt great after, nice and loose. But by the time i got home was getting tight again. Friday was a boring boring day working on my presentation for my FYP proposal. But by 5pm i'd had enough so decided for some coffee, and then a run! Went out in the freezing wind and ran a nice fast 5km. Took about 19mins, but i felt great! No major pains in the legs, breathing was great, knee was fine. And i could have pushed much much harder. WOW maybe this compression gear is worth something!
Didn't try the gear on the run itself, just using it for recovery at the moment. Threw the gear on after the run again just see if it helps more. Legs weren't sore much today. Which is odd. Normally i get 2-3 days of BAD DOMS. But pretty good today after day and a half! Planning a swim in the morning before work. If i wake up!
Monday, December 3
Training go now!
So yeah back to training proper now.
Thanks to Pauline for the pics!
Had a good week last week, got a few spins in and a run. Didn't make the pool, had to much actual college work to do. But i should be better this week so i can get back in the pool. Bring it on.
Went over to Manchester on Thursday last week. Nice to get a long break from home and college and to just have a bit of fun and training. Didn't do much on Thurs evening. Friday was great, had a nice aul sleep, did a bit of study, met up with Pauline's mates and had some curry for dinner, then just chilled out for the evening after wandering about town for a bit.
Saturday was a training day, 15km or so spin to the velodrome, 2hours on the track (i nearly died, great session, nice and hard), then a 20km spin home...we may have got lost. Session was good, new coach i'd never trained with. hard session, nice mix between sprint session and an endurance session. Session HR graph thingy below. Nice peak HR of 189 after my 3 way sprint at the end, i wasn't even maxing on it! Felt like i had allot more to give, nice. I enjoyed it. Kate and Brian were there too. Ate more food that evening and wandered to the local outdoors store.
Sunday was a shopping day. DECATHALON!! Best shop ever. So much to buy, thanks Mr. Visa card. The ferries we cancelled so had a panikey hour or two trying to get incontact with Stenna, in the end said 'fuck it, nothing i can do' then went into town to the Christmas market. What can i say, Bratwurst and Beer. Stroopwaffles and Gluhwien. Nice.
Much food was consumed as was a few beverages. Slept like a Greg shaped log. 5.30 alarm, rang Stenna, boats are go now! Drove to Hollyhead straight away and got the boat home. Then the Burgerking on the HSS went on fire. Nice. So crazy mad panicked staff moment on the PA, lock-down to my seat, then a period of floating about the harbor, then its ok, and we came home.
Bought me some compression gear in Decathlon, going to go for a weights session and a run tomorrow, will wear the gear on the run to see if it helps after the weights session in the morning. Time to get beasted!
Thanks to Pauline for the pics!
Had a good week last week, got a few spins in and a run. Didn't make the pool, had to much actual college work to do. But i should be better this week so i can get back in the pool. Bring it on.
Went over to Manchester on Thursday last week. Nice to get a long break from home and college and to just have a bit of fun and training. Didn't do much on Thurs evening. Friday was great, had a nice aul sleep, did a bit of study, met up with Pauline's mates and had some curry for dinner, then just chilled out for the evening after wandering about town for a bit.
Saturday was a training day, 15km or so spin to the velodrome, 2hours on the track (i nearly died, great session, nice and hard), then a 20km spin home...we may have got lost. Session was good, new coach i'd never trained with. hard session, nice mix between sprint session and an endurance session. Session HR graph thingy below. Nice peak HR of 189 after my 3 way sprint at the end, i wasn't even maxing on it! Felt like i had allot more to give, nice. I enjoyed it. Kate and Brian were there too. Ate more food that evening and wandered to the local outdoors store.
Sunday was a shopping day. DECATHALON!! Best shop ever. So much to buy, thanks Mr. Visa card. The ferries we cancelled so had a panikey hour or two trying to get incontact with Stenna, in the end said 'fuck it, nothing i can do' then went into town to the Christmas market. What can i say, Bratwurst and Beer. Stroopwaffles and Gluhwien. Nice.
Much food was consumed as was a few beverages. Slept like a Greg shaped log. 5.30 alarm, rang Stenna, boats are go now! Drove to Hollyhead straight away and got the boat home. Then the Burgerking on the HSS went on fire. Nice. So crazy mad panicked staff moment on the PA, lock-down to my seat, then a period of floating about the harbor, then its ok, and we came home.Bought me some compression gear in Decathlon, going to go for a weights session and a run tomorrow, will wear the gear on the run to see if it helps after the weights session in the morning. Time to get beasted!
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