RAAM 2012

I have a new blog for the Race Across America in 2012 which will be a personal diary on my training and adventures from now until the race.There is link to the blog here.

Race Around Ireland 2010

Ballyvaughan

This was the second year of the race around Ireland. I don’t know has any of the other riders written about the event. Six finished in the solo division this year, the German winner, a Belgian and Italian, three Irish and four finishers last year of which only the winner was from Northern Ireland. Its a new and unique race and I have concluded that a few people may indeed enjoy reading about what it was like to race on a bike around Ireland. Even so, my story as well as any other riders is unique. I believe some account of such an epic race and challenge is important-certainly for myself and I might as well share it if someone wants to read it.
It is important to note that this story is about my trip and experience in cycling around Ireland and how the race went for me. I am sure that any of the other riders, whether solo or team have compelling and interesting stories to tell. The race and challenge is different for everyone as riders face different challenges throughout the race. The race is easy for nobody where undoubtedly all riders equally suffered low and high points as I did. In fact, many of the racers surely had a much tougher time in the race than me and eventually had to withdraw. The type of athletes that enter the race around Ireland don’t give up easy. I know Wyatt van Wendells (my ultra-cyclist friend from England) and what he must have endured to get as far as he did and I know what it must have took for him to stop and call it a day. The guy is a champion cyclist and person and he inspires because of who he is and due to his philosophy in cycling and in life.



Wyatt van Wendells and me






Philosophy
That’s the great thing about ultra cycling Sure, Im competitive as anyone is, and I like to do well but ultra-cycling is a sport and pastime which humbles you and which keeps you firmly grounded and appreciative in a sport where you are truly up against yourself. I really like that aspect of the sport. You learn to realise and acknowledge that yes you can actually fail, no matter how tough you are, that no, you are not a machine, that yes, you can and will get weak and tired and may feel that you will not be able to or want to go on. If the weather is consistently cold and wet your immune system can go down and you will get sick no matter how tough you are. These are the realities of the challenge. It’s not just about been tough, anyone can be tough. The much tougher task is in implementing and following a long term consistent training strategy that results in been prepared physically for the challenge. Do that and the toughness will be there during the event.
I finished the race within the time limit but with harsher weather in the south it would have been a much different story. I look for races that will really challenge me mentally and physically so that I can learn more about myself and be better. A challenge that I am unsure will I be able to complete where I am fully prepared to accept failure if I am not up to it. Ironically I am actually looking to see if I will fail. If I do, its because I was’nt ready and then I can go away and ensure I am better ready next time. Failure is good if it is accepted and leads to development and constant improvements. Consistent failure which is dealt with correctly is the way forward. To not be able to go on and finish, accepting the outcome and to come back from it again and again is crucially important. Without failure and an acceptance of the concept of it there can never be any personal development, improvement and personal success. I believe its only when one is willing to face challenges wholeheartedly and be fully prepared to accept the outcome of possible failure repeatedly can one truly be capable of moving forward physically and mentally. Entering races which offer a much higher possibility of failure and not been afraid to push those boundaries and see what happens also provide a much higher possibility to learn and improve. Although I have been doing all sorts of endurance training, marathons, triathlons, Ironman’s, adventure races etc. over the last 20 years I learned and incredible amount from the race around Ireland. This information will be used so I can make adjustments and improve for next year. I would certainly like to do better and finish in high a position as possible but the ultimate challenge is against myself in seeing what I can do and giving my best effort.
There were so many questions going into the race around Ireland that tantalized my curiosity. Will I be strong enough over 5-6 days? Have I trained correctly for the race? What will my physically condition be after two days without much sleep? Will I be able to cycle up steep hills after two days-will I be able to cycle up Patricks Hill in Cork after 1000 miles and what will I be like by the time I reach the Wicklow mountains? Will I be able to stay awake? When I hit my lowest points will I be up to the challenge? What key decisions will I make during the race when physically exhausted and tired? When it really comes down to it will I be up for the challenge?
















Training
Although I have been cycling since my mid-20’s and doing a lot of long distance cycling over the years I had been training for the race around Ireland specifically for the last two years. I spent five weeks this earlier this year and four weeks last summer training in Europe, in France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland and Andorra. While in France I cycled many of the climbs of the Tour de France in the French and Swiss Alps and Pyrenees on the morning of the race. I would join the thousands of cyclists who would cycle up the famous Col de Tourmalet and others to watch the race come through in the early afternoon. The climb was absolutely incredible with half a million people on the mountain waiting for the Tour to come through. The climbs from southern France up to the border with Andorra would take me three hours as would the climbs in southern Spain from Granada up to the ski station in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The climbs in Switzerland were equally as tough and it was always nice to be able to stop for lunch at a cafe on top at over 2000 meters. Earlier this year I returned to one of my favourite cycling areas in the Black Forest in Germany to stay with a German family for two weeks whom I had befriended the year before.
Four months before the race I spent a good few weeks cycling 100 miles every day. In mid June I cycled 500km in the Gaelforce 24 hour and in early August I followed the race route around Ireland from Youghal to Kilkee in 5 days covering 190. 190. 160. 160. 150 miles respectively each day. After this I did’nt do any cycle longer than 100 miles for 6 weeks before the race as I reduced the mileage and concentrated on short sharp hill workouts and a midweek local race over 1 hour where I would consistently cycle at the front of the bunch for as long as I could for the duration of the hour. The reduction in mileage along with the increase in intensity allowed me to recover and absorb fully the high mileage I had done in the previous months while at the same time I got much stronger from the mid-week race and increased rest. I was cycling a lot harder and faster but resting more. There was no loss of endurance despite the significant drop in weekly mileage. In fact, my endurance would have increased due to the increase in strength and speed over the shorter distance due to the fact of the often misunderstood concept of a cyclist's endurance been intricately linked to the cyclists overall strength. The increased strength and power would benefit greatly my long distance speed. The last few weeks before the race I cycled no more than 150 miles per week. With the reduction in training I found myself needing very little sleep and did some night time repetitive steep hill workouts keeping my heart rate under 150. As a final test and because I was eager to know my form I did one easy 100 mile cycle with 3,500 feet of climbing at an average of 20 mile an hour in 5 hours one week before the race where my average heart rate was 149 and I felt really good.


The Crew
Considering the driving of the two vehicles, cooking food, map reading, supplying food, etc. crewing was in itself a tough job. Brian had done support for me during the Gaelforce 24 hour in Westport, Co. Mayo in June and Darcy had driven 850 miles with me around most of the course at the beginning of August in 5 days. I had also done the tough section of the route from Limerick to Tralee, through the Kerry mountains and down to Mizen Head a few times with Kila, Brian, Darcy and Joe so although the guys had no experience in crewing over a long period they all had some involvement throughout the summer. Cathal had crewed with me last year for Caroline and he was brilliant. My younger brother Brendan would join us on the Wednesday in Limerick. He was a masseuse and had supported me consistently over the years. Considering I had never done a race longer than 700 miles the whole experience would be new to us all. My attitude was although I had trained well and would like to give a good account of myself I had no idea how the race would pan out but was looking forward to the big adventure. Before the start I enjoyed chatting with friends taking in and appreciating the atmosphere of the great occasion.



Darcy, Kila, Joe, Me, Brian and Cathal









The Race
The 2nd Race Around Ireland began on Sunday 12th Sept at 8pm. In an event which requires extensive crew support for a full week including logistical and financial support it can be a challenge itself in making it to the start line and so I was delighted to be starting and in a very happy and relaxed mood. Many adventure racers have to look after themselves with logistics and support in races abroad as do many of our top mountain bikers who find it hard to even have someone there to supply them with fresh water bottles etc. in long events such as marathon mountain biking. It was compulsory for all riders in the race around Ireland to have crew support as we would be cycling at night up to 23 hours a day. A follow vehicle would follow me around the course, lighting up the road at night and keeping me safe while supplying me with constant food, liquids and support. A campervan would also be used to supply regular hot food and rest for the crew and I during the trip around Ireland. It was great to be able to cycle without having to carry anything unlike adventure racers who carry their food and essential gear with them while on the move. I was delighted to actually have the opportunity to race around Ireland non-stop with a support crew of 5-6 people. It was a big commitment for the crew in taking a week’s holidays from work to support me on my endeavour. I was disappointed not to compete last year but learned a lot from doing crew for the ladies winner and World Cup winner. Caroline van der Bulk.

The Start
The riders departed at five minute intervals from Navan and I was the second rider away on Sunday at 8.05pm after Leslie Holton. A garda motorcyclist escort led the riders from the start for the first few hundred meters so as to give us a clear run through the traffic until we crossed the bridge leaving Navan. I followed the escort through the town and down onto the main Navan-Dublin road. When the motorcyclist crossed the junction and me following behind, to my amazement a car immediately pulled off and into my path. I was cycling downhill to the junction and was thus travelling at a fast speed. I swerved to the left as much as possible and the car slowed at the last moment but it was too late and I clipped the corner of the car and went down hitting the ground on my right side. My only concern was the bike and full of adrenaline I jumped to my feet, had a quick look of the bike and re-attached the back light which had become detatched. The bike seemed fine and so did I although Cathal told me later that I said to him I had hurt my chest. Little did I know that the accident would have a huge influence on my performance in the race. I was keen to get moving so remounted the bike and cycled on. At the next immediate junction the motorcyclist this time stopped to block the traffic to my right allowing me safe passage. On the road out of Navan the follow vehicle pulled up alongside to check on me and we all realised how lucky I was. A few hours up the road, I got a puncture on my back wheel close to Drogheda which was just as well as my wheel was buckled since the crash and the brakes had been constantly rubbing against the wheel. I was angry with myself for not checking this when the crash happened. We changed the wheel as Tim Veermans from Belgium passed and asked me were we ok which was nice to hear. With the wheel changed I immediately felt myself moving quicker and was keen to get moving up the road. It was’nt long before I spotted the flashing lights of Tim’s follow vehicle which provided a nice point for me to focus on. I rode up to him just before the Cooley Mountains and we cycled over the mountain road together on a lovely mild night as we chatted away and rode down into Newry. Tim was a very easy going guy and like myself was of the attitude that in such a long distance tough race as this we were only competing against ourselves. As we could only cycle together for 15 mins I gestured for Tim to go ahead and I kept his follow vehicle in sight. Close to Newry Tim took a wrong turn and so I went ahead for a while. He caught me before time station two and we cycled together again for a while. We seemed to be fairly equal and this time Tim indicated for me to go ahead as he was happy to let me lead and do the navigation at this early stage as he got accustomed to the roads in Ireland. At time station two I cycled straight on and as Tim’s crew stopped to go to the toilet he continued with me using my crew as safety support for night time riding. This was fine with me until his crew returned but the marshalls sped up the road and got him to pull in informing him he had to wait for his crew.

Hospital Visit
At about 0330am my right hip and leg started to become very sore from the fall I took after the accident and became increasingly worse. I eventually stopped and informed my crew of the problem. Morale was low as it was really sore and I could not continue unless it improved. Looking back now I was not at all in a positive mood. I was really upset with how events had unfolded since the start and now I had this problem with my leg and just did not see how things could get any better. It was frustrating, my morale was really low and I was contemplating the fact that I may not be able to continue. My crew were very good and ensured that I go to the hospital and not make any rash decisions. They informed Race Hq and we were given a four hour window to get to the hospital and back to where I left the course to continue in the race. I would be refunded the time I lost at the hospital. So we drove to Coleraine hospital 20 mins away. After explaining to the bewildered nurse that I had been in a accident with a car in Navan some 8 hours previous and had just started a 1350 mile race my blood pressure was taken which was fine and I was given some painkillers free of charge. I did’nt get a chest x-ray as my chest seemed fine however thinking back I did feel a sharp pain in my upper chest when I took a deep breath. It was fairly ok though and although I may have had a broken rib as indicated by an x-ray after the race I don’t think it affected me that much and was not too sore. I immediately took the painkillers which did the job and we returned to where I had stopped cycling to continue in the race. I had lost approximately 3 hours and 30 mins due to the trip to the hospital. Race Hq said they would give us 2 hours 30 mins in lieu of time lost which I was happy about. I was now the last rider on the ground in the race and with my leg feeling much better and morale a little higher I was keen to make up lost ground. It didn’t take long until I caught Wyatt van Wendells, my good English friend who had trained with me for a weekend some months back in Cork and Kerry. Wyatt is a great character, full of passion for life, a DJ, author and recently new father. I had a quick chat with Wyatt before moving on, keen to move up the field. It was a nice Monday morning when I went straight by TS 3 at the giants causeway where Leslie Holton had stopped for a brief period. I was now in eight position out of eleven riders and hoping to move up the field. Ivan Park, an adventure racing friend cheered me on from the side of the road as I cycled towards Londonderry.

Bad Weather
The weather turned increasingly bad over the next 30 hours with heavy rain and strong winds up to Malin Head and down to Donegal, Letterkenny and Sligo. Race director Alan Heary decided to extend the time limit for the race by 12 hours giving us 144 hours in total, until Saturday night at 8 p.m. I would also have the extra 2 hours 30 mins for the time I spent at the hospital. I liked cycling in the bad weather as long as I could keep warm. The rain and wind kept you awake and focused and as a big rider I felt strong in tough conditions. Cycling up hills and into strong headwinds suited me fine. I had made good time during the bad weather and by Sligo I had caught up to Valerio Zamboni from Monaco and came close to Tim Veermans again from Belgium. Valerio and I exchanged places several times and his crew cheered me on when I passed him as he slept on the bog road heading for Ballina in Co. Mayo.



Valerio Zamboni and me before the race




















Tailwinds to Galway
From Clifden we had the wind with us for the first time all the way into Oranmore as the weather cleared up. I put on my time trial helmet and made great time down the main Lettefrack-Oranmore rd with the wind at my back. I passed Tim Veermans on the road into Oranmore as he was taking a sleep break and I was now in 5th position. My aim was to finish the race but similar to other riders I was obviously naturally competitive and concentrating on other riders provided a great focus and incentive in moving forward in achieving that goal of finishing. I was unsure of my ability during this race but wanted to do my very best in achieving as best a place as I could in the race. It’s a balance between been realistic and conservative in achieving what you feel you are capable of and pushing the boundaries of your physical and mental limits and believing you can and will do it. It was important to maintain that subtle balance. I was enjoying the race at this stage and happy with how things were going despite the initial setback. I was enjoying the rivalry and on the road friendship with Valerio and Tim and morale was high at this stage. However, my situation was about to deteriorate again.

Diet
I generally stopped at each time station for a few minutes where my crew had hot food prepared, noodles, pasta, rice, chicken, soup, potatoes, cereals etc. I ate regular food, no gels or high energy bars, food that was easy to eat and not too dry. I just kept eating a constant supply of good food. On the bike I ate ham and cheese sandwiches, cakes, soups and coffee while riding at night. If the follow car seen me wobble on the road they would pull up alongside and give me a shot of coffee from a flask, soup, sandwich, the odd mars bar, buns etc. On route it was good to stop at a restaurant on the side of the road where the crew would have a dinner ordered or me.




Brian, Brendan and Kila








Problems
After Galway my situation deteriorated badly. Im not sure when but I started to feel what felt like a blockage in the middle of my chest. It was very sore to swallow food or water and when I did I got a terrible pain in the middle of my chest. I could’nt drink any isotonic or protein or I would get sick so I stayed on water.I did'nt realise I was suffering from gastroenteritis which is an inflammation of the pathway responsible for digestion. It was’nt too bad but the constant pain when I swallowed was annoying especially since I had no clue what it was. I thought I may have got something stuck in my windpipe while maybe eating too fast. I was still taking painkillers for my leg which can be heavy on the stomach and with all the food I was taking and my broken rib it must not have been good. As I cycled down the coast of Co. Clare in the very early hours of Wednesday morning my right leg which was injured in the accident became increasingly sore and my hamstring swelled out. My speed slowed and I had to go into the middle chain ring as my leg movement became more restricted. I eventually pulled in close to the sea at Ballyvaughan deciding that unless I treated my leg it would only get worse with a long way to go in the race and I would seriously lesson my chances of finishing. I told my crew and decided to treat my leg by immersing it in the cold sea water for 5 minutes and then reheat it in the campervan and massage it. We did this consistently over the next 3 hours, immersing my leg in the cold sea water and then heating and massage. I must have been some sight wading out into the sea repetitively and shivering in the early hours of that cold, wet and windy morning. To my dismay I seen Tim Veermans pass me by which was demoralising as I had worked hard over 30 hours to make up the time.















Dipping my legs near Ballyvaughan

Moving again
I took an hour sleep break to complete the recovery process and got back on the bike as it got bright and headed towards Kilkee. We reckoned I lost approx 6 hours from the time I stopped at Ballyvaughan until the time I got underway again. After such a long break along with the effects of the sea water it took me 2-3 hours before my legs got going again. During those few hours my morale was low, after working hard to make up time I had lost I was now back down the field, hours behind Tim and Valerio again. However, the swelling had gone down significantly and once my legs got going I felt good and was moving well again. It was a good decision we made to stop. The swelling continued to go down and my right leg never bothered me for the rest of the race. Thinking positively I said to myself that it was still early in the race and I could make up the time again. After Kilkee it was good to be moving towards Limerick. It was a nice cycle into Limerick with a nice long climb before the descent into Limerick. I was joined outside Limerick by Conor, one of the many local cyclists who cycled with me throughout the trip around Ireland. Reaching Limerick was a nice milestone as we were now entering familiar territory close to my home town of Cork. We headed down the coast to Tralee and over the tough Slieve Mish climb on Wednesday night. I spent the night cycling nonstop towards Killarney arriving at the entrance to the gap of Dunloe early on Thursday morning. I felt good and although it was sore to swallow and I was suffering from heartburn, indigestion and chest pains I was used to it at this stage and it wasn’t that bad.


Great weather down South
The weather down south was good. The winds in the Blackvalley in the Gap of Dunloe can be strong and in your face and with the climbs the going can be very slow but throughout Thursday the winds were very kind, the weather sunny and other than the tough climbs and passes the ride was good. I never listen to music when cycling but the guys in the follow vehicle boomed out some great sounds as I began the climb up Molls Gap from the Black Valley. It got me going and with the wind behind me I put the gear into the big chain ring and sprinted to the top like a man possessed. In such a long race over many days there are always highs and lows of varying degrees. I had a lot of lows since the start of the race but sprinting up Molls Gap I felt powerful and was on a high and the guys enjoyed it. I got sunburnt a little during the day and enjoyed the climb out of Waterville. After a long hot day my feet were burning and I felt I would soon get blisters so I got the guys to put flat pedals on the bike and I cycled in a pair of joggers for the next 24hours to give my feet a break. We were diverted out of Sneem onto the Kenmare road and onto the Caha pass and down into Glengarriff, Co. Cork. Onto Bantry and a right turn down to Mizen Head at night with no winds I moved along at a very brisk pace as the first of the four man teams passed me approaching Mizen Head and gave a roar of support. I arrived at Mizen Head at 0100am in the early hours of Friday morning feeling good.



Ring of Kerry











From the lowest to highest
After checking with race HQ at Mizen Head I was only two to three hours behind Valerio at this stage but was about to hit my lowest point in the entire race. It was very cold in the early hours of Friday morning cycling towards West Cork. I was really cold and my chest was getting worse. I was also extremely tired and was struggling to stay awake not having slept longer than an hour since Ballyvaughan in Co. Clare. I was miserable and felt really bad and morale was low. It was my lowest point in the race. Cathal suggested I take some caffine tablets but I decided to take a 90 minute sleep break in Skibereen. I went into an immediate coma of a sleep and when my brother called me it took me a while to figure out what I was doing. My brother helped me get ready as only a loving brother can and I was very happy to have him there. It was amazing as I felt like I had been asleep for 12 hours as I felt incredibly rejuvenated and recovered after a mere 90 mins sleep. My chest felt much better and it was now much easier to swallow. I left Skibereen on a cold but beautiful Friday morning feeling I was finally recovering from my ills and I felt I was getting stronger physically. I had been on the road four and a half days and a lot had happened in that time. I was increasingly frustrated and dismayed with my situation since the start of the race and it undoubtedly had affected my mental state more than I had probably realised. The accident, the hospital, starting over and working hard to make up lost time, the bad weather, the constant cycling, the lack of sleep, my leg swelling up and losing time again, the constant pain in my chest and not knowing what the problem was and the combination of everything happening together since the start. Heading out from Skibereen I felt an incredible urge to release the emotional tension which I felt at that point. I’m not one to hold back what comes naturally and so relenting to the urge I let myself cry for a while as I reminisced on the race since the start in Navan. It was a really strange feeling as I was’nt crying out of sadness or because I was in despair. It felt like a mere acceptance and acknowledgement of what had happened since the start before a transition into a stage where I felt I had recovered somewhat and was capable of moving on, and so I did. I did’nt see it as a big deal but definitely a needed emotional requirement for me to express. So as I sobbed to myself I began to feel increasingly better and stronger and my speed increased in tandem. In a period of two hours I had gone from feeling really low and dejected on a cold and miserable dark morning to feeling strong and positive departing Skibereen and cycling towards Kinsale on a chilly but bright and sunny Friday morning.

The Road to Cork and Patrick's Hill.
I continued onto Clonakilty and turned right onto the rough coast road from Timoleague to Kinsale, the road surface nagging at every blister and sore spot in the body. This is a popular route among Cork cyclists and triathletes who stop in Kinsale for coffee and a scone before heading back to Cork on their Sunday morning spin. Out the back road from Kinsale and onto Ballincollig, Sean O Leary a popular Cork cyclist was waiting eagerly for me at the Ballincollig roundabout. Sean guided me up Kerry Pike and into Cork City as he rang other local cyclists I often cycled with on Sunday’s in Cork who were also keen to cycle with me for a while. It was nice that the guys would want to come out and cycle with me and it was great to be going through my home city on a lovely Friday early afternoon. As I cycled through the city and towards Patricks Hill nobody knew that I had cycled 1,000 miles in a race over the last few days which I chuffed at. I liked the fact that the race was a low key event but more exposure would have been beneficial in raising money for our charity The Jack and Jill Foundation. However, I was delighted that we had raised nearly 2,500 euros so far. Cycling through Cork I felt great and was on a high. My older brother Jim was waiting to cheer me on as I took the left turn onto Patricks Hill, dropped into the lowest gear and sprinted as hard as I could up Ireland’s steppest hill. I never would have imagined I would be able to cycle in a straight line up the hill and it felt brilliant to be able to do so. We passed Collins Bks and onto Old Youghal Rd. As the route passes my house in Mayfield my mother and the neighbours were all out to cheer me on which was brilliant. My mother had a big stew prepared for us which we scoffed before a big hug from my mother and we headed for Youghal.



Cycling up Patrick's hill with my brother Jim running






The Last Night
As I cycled through Youghal I got a big roar from my good friend Harry Keating. Onto Dungarvan and the climb at Mahon Falls, team Youghal passed me just before the climb and I could see the headlights of the follow car flashing ahead as it got dark on Friday night. We spent Friday night cycling down to and through Wexford where the climbs were not too steep but long and boring. My crew were great supplying me with constant coffee, soup, sandwiches and snacks throughout the last night. It was a beautiful mild night. I felt good mentally knowing there was only a few hundred miles left. My brother Brendan was in the follow vehicle and now and again the car would pull up alongside when I was dozing off or wobbling on the road and just chat to me for a few minutes and give me some strong coffee to keep me awake. I felt great going into Saturday morning knowing I was on the last day and the final run in. After the tough but really enjoyable climb at Mount Leinster it was a straight run up to Aughrim in Co. Wicklow. It was now Saturday early evening and although I had until 22:30 to finish the race due to the time lost going to the hospital the crew wanted to get me in before 20:00. With only 64miles to the finish from Aughrim I was on a high and feeling strong.









Mount Leinster







The Last Climb with Brendan and Joe in support

















Friendly Support in The Wicklow Mountains
Shortly after Aughrim there were four more climbs at Aughavanagh, Shay Elliot, Sally Gap and Blessington before a flat ride onto Navan. I climbed them all as fast and as hard as I could and was surprised at how easy I found the climbs. Sean Murray, a good friend from Blessington drove passed me before turning around and passing me again. He went on to gather up a group of good adventure racing friends including Chris Caulfield and Brian Keogh and they all took turns in riding with me until I crossed the main Dublin-Blessington road giving me a big cheer as I passed. At this stage it was raining but I was warm as I was working hard and going fast. I was averaging 20-25mph crossing Kildare on the road to Navan. Another good friend Richard Nunan joined me in Kildare and was happy to stay with me as long as possible. When he pulled off I still had 30 mile to go and although this might seem like a small distance in a 1350 mile trip it was still nearly another two hours on the bike. I had been pushing myself very hard through the Wicklow mountains for the previous few hours as I was on a high, envisaging the finish and cycling with friends enabling me to cycle faster. Now, back on my own again and as the weather got worse and it got dark,it also got colder and I slowed as the tiredness of the near six days on the bike was apparent. I was soaked and getting colder and still had 20 odd mile to go. I pulled over shivering and miserable. I told the guys I knew there was’nt long to go but I had been punishing myself over the last few hours up and down big climbs at a ridiculous pace considering I had cycled 1300 miles and I was absolutely shattered and I had to slow down and get some warm gear on. I put on extra gear and the guys gave me some pizza before moving on, counting down the miles. At this stage the race organisers were driving up and down the route on the Trim road into Navan cheering me and I thanked them as I passed. I finally entered Navan and the finish 11 minutes before 10p.m. finishing with only 40 minutes to spare as the sixth of six official solo finishers and qualifying for the race across America. I and the crew were congratulated, Alan Heary presented me with my medal and some pictures were taken. I then went to the campervan and slept.




Cycling with Chris Caulfield and Sean Murray in Wicklow








Joe, Brian, me, Brendan and Kila









It was an amazing adventure, one I was delighted to be able to undertake and complete. I learned a lot and look forward to preparing for and competing in the third cycle race around Ireland next year. Raising money for the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation was a great incentive in training for and doing the race. I love kids and it is a charity I will continue to support in the future. You can still donate to the charity where any contribution is greatly appreciated at www.mycharity.ie/events/capperman which is easy to use and very safe.




At the finish







Thanks to everyone who has donated to the Jack and Jill Foundation.









Final Thoughts
The race across america beckons, a 3000 mile adventure. Its a big step up from the race around Ireland especially the logistical and financial challenge. I would love to do it next June for the 30th anniversary but its nearly too late for that already as I would need to commit now and get training. With no finance and overall professional management support team its not possible at the moment. Getting an excellent crew would not be easy either. Nothing is easy I suppose,I have to make it happen.I have some ideas but I dunno-someday !





The organisers, Emmet who did the route, Lorraine and Alan Heary.


You can see some of the route on the map in the backround.

12 hours before the race

Its 12 hours now to the start of the race around Ireland.Im the second rider off at 20:05. The crew and I are all staying at Cathal's house in Celbridge. The crew consists of Cathal, Brian, Killa, Joe and Darcy.We will have a 4 berth camper van and the follow car.Two in the car and three up ahead in the camper van at the next time station resting and cooking food etc. We registered yesterday morning and did a load of shopping afterwards.The buzz and crack all day with the team has been great and everyone is looking forward to this big adventure.
Im delighted to be here and taking part in such an awesome event and challenge.To have the opportunity to cycle around the country with a support crew and friends is fabulous.And to be doing it for charity is brilliant.We have raised over 1500 euros and with the sponsorship cards yet to come in we are hoping we can make 2500 euros for the Jack and Jill foundation.
I really have no idea how I will do in the race.I will do my very best and of course it would be nice to finish but the race has been such a hugh success for me already.I have learned so much in training for this race over the last two years and I have had such an amazing time in doing so while training on the route and roads around Ireland,training in the Alps and Pyrenees in France and Andorra,the Sierra Nevadas in Spain,the Black Forest in Germany and Switzerland. I have met some wonderful people and made many new friends in training for this race both at home and in Europe.And I have been inspired by people's generosity,kindness and support.
I have no fears of the course as I have done my best to prepare.I would be delighted to do well in finishing the race.However,not finishing would be a humbling experience,character building and offer a chance to reflect on the experience.It would take nothing away from the amazing 2 years training for the event.In a sport like ultra cycling it is really about the journey along the way and not just the race itself.
I went for an hour cycle last nite when it got dark from Celbridge to Kilteel and back and felt really good.Im gonna have some breakfast now and go out for a spin for an hour from 0830-0930.When I come back I will help the guys load up and organise gear in the car and campervan.Most of the crew will go up to Navan in the car for the crew meeting at 14:30.I will go back to bed until 1700 and Cathal will drive me up in the campervan at 17:00 for the start at 20:05. Really looking forward ot it.Thanks to everyone who has donated to the charity and for everyone who has been so nice,friendly and supportive along the way :)
Our charity page is www.mycharity.ie/events/capperman and the race can be followed on www.racearoundireland.com

Final Fitness Test

I have'nt done much training since last Saturday.Ive been out everyday and did an hour or two cycling at night but just short spins of 20-30 mile some repeated climbs.Im down to about 80 kilos and with the new bike I am going well up the hills.
I decided to do a final fitness test this morning as Im unsure where I am.I see no need to do the power test I usually do over 4 minutes.I know where I am there and although useful is too short a test to give me an appreciation of where I stand for the 1350 mile race.I can do about 400 watts at now 80 kilos which Im happy with.However,the key is to be able to produce as high as wattage as possible aerobically over 1350 miles.Doing a 10 mile time trial is a bit too short also and I dont want to go too high intensity with only a week to the race.So I decided to do a 100 mile out and back route which I mapped out on ridewithgps on the Youghal to Dungarvan road.The aim was not to go all out but to stay aerobic for most of the ride except for the few longish climbs on the far side of Youghal and before Dungarvan. This would give me a good appreciation of what speed I can maintain over a longer distance aerobically and be a much more appropriate test considering the distance Im racing.I was also eager to do a last longish spin before the race.
I did the 100 miles in 5 hours,my average heart rate was 139 so I was riding well within my limit averaging 20 miles an hour.There was 3400 feet of climbing.Im very happy with the result and it puts me more at ease before the race although I know no matter how fit I am this race is going to be very tough.My heart rate rose to 150-160on the climbs but I wont allow that to happen during the race as it burns to much calories and glucose which I will pay for over a long distance.I will be keeping my heart rate under 145 for the whole race.This way I will burn less calories and save my leg muscles.I believe after a few hundred miles it will be difficult anyway to get my heart rate over 140bpm my legs won't be strong enough over the distance to go harder.The limiter is ones legs and not lungs.I am interested to see what my average heart rate will be over the whole race.It could be well under 130bpm. Im just continuing to rest now.Will write a last post before the race and that will be it.The Dungarvan 100 miler I did today is below which has gradient, heart rate, distance,graphs etc.throughout the whole route.Just click on view details.The great thing about the gps 705 is others can view and download my routes,follow them and compare data. This is a test I look forward to doing again in the future.

Killavullen Loop

Highest heartrate reached was 186bpm racing up Killavullen hill.It is recorded as 211bpm on the garmin log which is obviously incorrect.I could probably reach just over 190bpm.My resting heart rate is really high at the moment-well over 50.Raced hard last Thursday doing 24 miles in 55 mins and did a time trial the day before also.With two weeks to go I will probably just do maybe one more time trial mid week next week and also test my power output against my weight doing my usual test on the indoor bike over 4 minutes.Other than that I will be doing mostly easy aerobic work to bring down my resting heart rate and rest.Ive lost another few pounds and am really getting lean now.Im very happy with my progress,really looking forward to the race.Did the spin below with two very fit young friends today,Kevin-a jockey and Cathal a secondary school teacher.Two great guys in their early twenties-great company.

Taking it Easy

Ive had a rethink as I often do.Ive done enough training,After doing the 850 miles in 5 and a half days I obviously have no problem with endurance.My strength is also good and Im grand on hills especially with the new bike.Ive been tired mentally and physically over the last few days.Sunday I was going to cycle to Killarney,do the Mangerton hill run and cycle home.A session like this is usually no big deal as I do it often.On Sunday morning I was tired and so drove down with the bike in the boot.I was going ok at the start of the hill run in third position but around half way up I didnt feel good.My chest felt really bad and I was getting really weak.I stopped and walked back down and drove home after the presentation.It was good to see a few friends there anyway.Ive done nothing since Sunday.Last Thursday it was raining throughout the race and I got cold afterwards as I stopped for a while.I was a little bit sniffly and chesty since then.I feel fine now.I aslo went to the sports doctor again today.I had my testosterone levels checked twice and both times they were very low so I wanted to have a good chat with the doctor.He said my levels were low but he has seen Munster rugby players with lower levels due to their training also and he's not concerned.I will get them checked again after the race and again a month later.He checked my blood pressure etc. and said I was in great condition.Ive been tired physically and mentally the last few days with no interest in getting on the bike.All the training has certainly been mentally draining especially. Ive probably peaked a bit soon and it would have been a good time for me to do the race a few weeks ago.Im not gonna do anymore serious training sessions but just rest,keep down the weight,do a few short sharp sessions to keep up my strength and and few 4-6 hour easy spins in the next few weeks.
I booked a camper van today for the race.I lost 500euro last year on the campervan as I withdrew from the race but I got the credit back for this year which is great.A few of my friends have been doing some good work for us in trying to get companies to donate some money for Jack and Jill and two good friends and their family in Newbridge gave me 100euros last weekend which is really inspiring.

22 days left to the Race

Everything is going very well in preparation for the race both with the training and the crew.My longest spin has been 115 mile in the last few weeks.I have been out most days on the bike but have taken a day off here and there when I felt tired.I started doing a bit of running again a few weeks ago and have been getting out regular enough just doing 4-6 miles on grass mostly.I burn a lot more calories when running and Im trying to lose another two kilos before the race.I have got aerobically fitter since I started running as Im able to keep my heart rate at a constant 142-80% for me,something which is much harder to do on the bike with undulating roads,winds etc.The running also allows me some time off the bike as I want to lessen the chance of getting injured at this stage.
Im running a mile at 6 mins 55 secs at 142bpm which Im happy with.My best has been 6mins 20 secs which hopefully I can come closer to in the next few weeks as I lose more weight.My aerobic capicity won't be a huge issue during the race anyway as after a 2 days when Im getting tired it won't be physically possible to get my heart rate up to 140bpm consistently-my average heart rate will be very low which cuts down on the amount of calories I burn which is vital so its important in that sense alright.The abilitly of my muscles to maintain strength over the 1350 miles is the much more important physical factor and the ability to keep my muscles fueled correctly and the ability to keep moving despite fatique and sleep deprivation.
My resting heart rate has been around 50-55 over the last few months which is somewhat higher than my usual resting heart when training a lot.However,after the runs at the higher aerobic level and one very hard 2.5 mile run specifically my resting heart rate suddenly dropped to 38-42 in the last week and has levelled off at that which is great.
I purchased a new carbon fibre Lapiere bike and a good set of wheels.I got a great deal at Hennessy's bike shop in Fermoy where I always go and used the bike to work scheme also.It has a triple chainring which will be great for the steep hills.
I raced in the Glounthane circuit this evening to get in a good fast workout and test out the new bike.It was three laps of a 8.5 mile circuit.I have been doing no racing but want to do a few in the next few weeks to really beast myself while backing off on the mileage.This will ensure I maintain if not increase my strength and power slightly but lose no endurance while also having more time for rest.The high intensity is great for burning calories too.The race was under an hour but very hard and fast throughout.I was only interested in beasting myself so I went to the front of the pack from the start and pushed it hard.It was a flat course with only a few gradual inclines which suited me.I stayed up the front for most of the race taking a minute or two break now and again in the pack when needed before driving it on at the front again.It was a great workout,I really enjoyed it and felt really fresh afterwards.
My last main workout will be on the Conor Pass in Co. Kerry early next week.I will spend three seperate days going up and down both sides so I can cover as much climbing as is possible in the three days that is close to the 70,000 feet of climbing in the race.It's a nice longish climb from both sides with some nice steepish bits.I won't be pushing this workout to the limit.I will cycle approx 12 hours a day for the 3 days but will stay well within my limits and resting every night.I want to get as close as is possible to the 70,000ft in the 3 days in the easiest way possible-mad and all that may sound.
Crew prepartion is going well.The 5 guys are enthusiastic and looking forward to the race.Hopefully we will have a campervan for the race.So much depends on the crew and I told them so much depends on them getting me around the course.
The fundraising is slow as always but we are keeping at it.The guys all have cards and I have given a few to friends also who volunteered to take them.Hopefully as the race approaches and if there is any media on the event it might help people donate.The Jack and Jill have advertised it also.