Day 2 Cycle Report...

Destination for Day 2 was Mullingar, where I just had to toast a pint to the great Joe Dolan!

I had great intentions to blog immediately after each of the cycle days, but it became so hectic that I'm nearly a week late with it!  However, here goes the description for Day 2 as best recalled:

Day 2:  We left Carrick on Shannon at around 11 o'clock, some of us were stiff, sore and tired (namely me!) but we were excited and ready for the road.  As was the case on day 1, we split into two groups - one slightly faster than the other, with the slower group going off ten minutes earlier.  I nestled into the faster group this morning as I had spent the first day with them.

From the Landmark Hotel (where we had spent a very comfortable night and ate like kings), we turned out the Longford Road, heading Edgeworthstown direction.  Bums were sore.  Legs were aching slightly!  Our first stop was not due for another 40km so on we went without complaint.  I was finding the pace a little too fast for me this day - the tiredness after day one meant that I was hanging on a little at stages, but still I was enjoying the crack.

Cycling in a group is far different from my solo experience from last year.  It works in a chain-like motion, whereby you pair up on the road and continue to change partners as you either go up or down the chain.  It makes for a very sociable exercise - as I got chatting to all who were participating for a few minutes at least each day.

At our 40km stop my good wife D and Ruth had sandwiches, cakes and you name it ready for us.  We pulled in behind a Texaco garage in Longford Town... the sun was shining and all were feeling good.  I made up my mind at this stage that I would swop over to the other group for the rest of our cycle down to Mullingar.  

The trip to Mullingar was fantastic... we had the hard shoulder all the way and I had the added extra of having 16 new riders to acquaint myself with!  The pace in this group was far more manageable after a day and a half with the Tour de France crew so it was all good for me.

Pulling in to Mullingar Town - our destination for Day 2, was fantastic.  We had a good crew waiting for us there in their orange Jack and Jill t-shirts, collecting money in their plastic buckets.  As for us cyclists- we rushed into Canton Casey's pub in the main square and had a well deserved pint!  Only one day to go now!

First Day of the Big Cycle Done!

Ciarán, Denise and Alan getting, and giving, a three-way massage at Loughglinn (with 130k done and another 30k to go on day 1)

A year on from my solo exploits, it's fantastic to have the first day of the big cycle done, this time with a group of 30 other cyclists!  We split the big group up in to two smaller groups of 15 & 16 and set off from An Cheathrú Rua at 9am yesterday morning, heading for Carrick on Shannon, 168kms away...

Our group was second to go and was marshalled by the great Mark Toner!  This man can cycle - up and down through the group at will, helping those in need of a lift (yes I did at one time) and keeping a tight rein on those who were speeding away from the pack.  

After just 30k - coffee in Keanes

The first section of the cycle brought us out the bog road to Camus, where we were encircled by the wonderful sight of the Maamturk mountains, and following a short incline after Maam Cross we positioned our bikes for a fantastic descent down to Maam Bridge - 30k done and the first of our stops.  After  a quick coffee - thanks to Keane's Pub and a certain someone who picked up the tab - we got onto our bikes again for the wicked ascent up Máimín an Ghabhair (Goat's pass).  This is a very sharp and tough climb but the reward of the descent afterward is worth it - as is the run in to the beautiful village of Cong, our next little stop. 

From Cong we headed onwards into County Mayo, passing Ballinrobe and working our way to Claremorris.  This would bring us to the 90k mark, a little past half way for day 1.  My wife D, and Ruth, had driven on ahead of us and prepared sandwiches and cake for our lunch.  The Garda (police) station was kindly given over by the local gardaí for this purpose.  Everyone was feeling good at this point - we were well on our way.

Following Claremorris we were heading to Knock (site of a Marian apparition in the 19century) and down to Ballyhaunis, then through to the little village of Loughglinn in Roscommon, 120km in.  We stopped again here - our last stop before heading straight for Carrick on Shannon.  At this point, most of us were feeling the pain - but it was close enough now to just plough on.  We readied ourselves for the last leg of the cycle - taking a turn to Fairymount, where there was another severe climb, and then on through Frenchpark, turning right for Carrick on Shannon.

What a feeling when we finally reached our destination!  We were all joined at this stage - tired, sore, but very happy!  

Day 2 today:  a shorter cycle, approx 80km to Mullingar.  It's all for a good cause, the Jack and Jill Foundation that helps families with severely ill children.  www.rosescycle.com

Summer Swimming At Last!

Clam shells on Trá Pháidín (Páidín's Beach)

As my cycle approaches I should be winding down the training with some light sessions - either on bike or on foot, but instead the weather has dictated that I take to the sea for some lovely swims...  Trá Pháidín is a beautiful, secluded beach that can only be accessed through fields by those of us in the know, and it truly is a slice of paradise.  Yesterday I left the house at 7.30pm with a little rucksack containing a towel, a book, and a transistor radio.  When I reached my paraside destination I found two local women there already, basking in the evening sun.  We three were in on the secret of this beach - the rest of the world lived in pure ignorance.  The water was calm and clear, but the funniest thing was that a shoal of mackerel had come to the beachhead and were swimming around us as we waded through the water.  This happened to me in this very same spot four years ago... back then I rushed back to the house to get my fishing rod and proceeded to land two score mackerel, but yesterday I simply swam amongst them for an hour.  

Tomorrow I'll be on hand to help Conor, as part of his crew for the Connemara Ultra 100.  This will be his very first ultra marathon, but more importantly it will be his 100th full marathon.  What an amazing achievement.  As for my preparation for the big cycle that starts next Thursday - rest is probably key now. 

Almost Ready for the Cycle...

The Boat Inn, in the picturesque village of Oughterard, where I stopped off for a toasted sandwich and coffee, 45k into a 105k cycle.

I'm developing bike legs at last.  This past week has seen me up on the two-wheeler for an 80k, 40k and finally a whopping 105k cycle yesterday!  In between all of this I managed to run a 5 miler and a 3 miler - but the cycling has slowed up my running progress for sure.

Which pursuit do I prefer?  Like asking to choose between strawberries or cheese, it depends on the mood...  Cycling can be very difficult on our Conamara roads - especially the route back from the beautiful village of Oughterard (Uachtar Ard as we say in Irish!), where I took a short break and had a sandwich in the Boat Inn.  This is mountainy country - beautiful, but damn tough.  The wind seems to always swirl against you - no matter what direction you are heading in.  There are times of course when it is just directly in your face and forcing you backwards.  I'm just a novice at this cycling lark of course - I've only recently learned to sit low against the wind - it makes a fair difference but can be difficult to crouch for a very long period of time.

My 105k cycle went okay (believe it or not), but I did begin to tire at the very end.  The first day of our cross Ireland trek will demand a 160k effort, so I still need to acclimatise. 

Beautiful scenery - tough cycling!

The big event is only nine days away now - and the excitement is growing for sure.  I'm well chuffed that a solo effort from last year is  taking on greater significance this time out, with 30 other participants coming along for the three-day cycle to raise some much needed funds for the Jack and Jill Foundation.  The credit for this year's success has to go to Teresa, Enda, Ronan, and all the gang up in Stabannon who are fantastic organisers.  Of course, it's all in memory of a very special little girl, and for all the families who are struggling to cope with the illness of a very young one.  www.rosescycle.com.

60k Cycle, 5 Mile Run.

There are the Maam Turk Mountains - a sight to behold as I cycled out to Peacocks of Maam Cross.

I'm a little weary today, but it's a good kind of weary - that of a man who is beginning to string some serious training together at last!  I had Monday off, so that morning I hopped up on my bike for a 60km cycle from my home in An Cheathrú Rua out the Seanamhach Road to Maam Cross and back.  I'm in high training now for my big cycle in a little over three weeks time, so I really need to start pushing the mileage.  A word about the cycle:  for anyone who has followed my blog progress this past year you may remember that nearly exactly one year ago I decided I would cycle across Ireland in three days to raise a little money for an organisation called the Jack and Jill Foundation (a group which helps parents of severly ill children in their struggle to cope with medicine and care).  I basically did about three weeks of bike training (never having cycled before), threw a rucksack on my back and went off on my merry way.  I was joined for some bits of the way by others but mostly did it on my own.  This year I'll repeat the task, except for one small difference - I'll be joined from the off by 30 other participants!  And we're all collecting money for the Jack and Jill Foundation under the name Rose's Cycle .

Back to Monday:  it was a wet and windy day but somehow it was grand on the Seanamhach Road.  In fact I really put the foot on the gas on the way out and must have averaged around 27k per hour - which is fast for me!  I got to Peacocks, the mid way point, in a little over one hour and stopped for a chocolate!  The wind was slightly more against me on the way back but I maintained a good pace until about the 50k mark, at which point I faded slightly, but I'm happy enough with the effort overall.

Yesterday I got out for a 5 mile run.  The legs were pretty tired after my cycle and so I really couldn't get any kind of pace going, but I gently trotted up and down the village to cover the distance.  I don't know if I should rest today or get out for a short cycle... we'll see!

The Monk is Back.

Stretched out after completing last year's lonely quest to cycle from Conamara to Stabannon.  This year I'll be joined by 30 others for the journey...

He's been away for a year, but the monk has finally returned.  Yes folks, with just about four weeks to go before I get up on my bike to cycle the width of Ireland with 30 other brave souls as we attempt to raise €5k for the Jack and Jill Foundation, I have once again embarked on a journey of 'extreme' clean living!  I started on Friday with a bout of starvation!  Porridge for breakfast, no tea or coffee, a salad at lunch time and then nothing for the rest of the day, except water!  Then at 7pm I drank some warm water with a spoon of epsom salts.  I repeated this at 9pm and then, at 11pm, I drank 100mls of extra virgin olive oil mixed with the juice of a single grapefruit.  This, my friends, is what we call a 'liver clense'!  The salts collect the toxins and the oil and juice help to flush them out!  And flush them out they did...  The next day I eased myself back into some healthy veg and red meat and since then I've been gathering strength.  Today I ran a 7miler with Conor and felt good.  Now the real assault can begin.  As for Conor - he is due to run his 100th marathon in three weeks time... and it will be an ultra one - a full 100miles. Ah... it's challenge season and I love it!  For anyone who is feeling generous, you can donate to our cycle at www.rosescycle.com.  

9 miles, and good week...

My lack of posting is due to an internet problem we've been having at home, but I'm stealing moments now to report on a good(ish) week!  

I'm in serious training for the big cycle at the moment... just a little over a month to go until I cross the country on the Rose's Cycle for the Jack and Jill Foundation, so it's high time to get my backside in gear!  I ran 4 mile repeats on Tuesday, a 40k cycle on Wednesday, a 5 mile tempo run on Thursday, and then a 9 mile run today.  Not  too bad...

Today's run started sluggishly - I could feel dinner bouncing around in my stomach for the first three miles...  However, by the time I had reached the village and started heading for the Coral Strand I was running easily and freely.  Conditions were perfect - bright, and a little breezy, and my pace was just about fair - maybe 8.50ish.  I'll have to up my cycling from next week - get a 60k or two in, but for now it's job well done...