Coming up to the big event, MF1200

With just two weeks to go it is time to start tapering off. When preparing for an endurance event it is important to let your body recover fully before the big day comes.

For me, I found that I could be feeling the effect of a long cycle up to 2 weeks after it. Everything feels ok but when I go out for a cycle I find that I don’t have the power that I would have if I was fully rested.

That is why it is important to taper off you training.

This week training

I cycled into work 3 days this week. Its only 10km into work but I take in a much bigger loop on the way home. Nothing too big. About 20 – 30 km on the way home. That’s all I had time for as I had to be home to look after the kids.

On the thursday (the third day) I got a bit of a niggle on my left knee. I had issues with this in the past. It would go away back then and I had to stop cycling for a few months for it the heal. So I didn’t cycle into work on Friday for the fear of it flaring up again.

Ideally I would have waited another day for my long cycle but I had a few family commitments so I headed off Saturday morning.

Up at 5am and on the bike by 5.20. I kept my heartbeat low to mimic my effort for the Mile Failte 1200. I also included some hills in the spin.

Leaving from Dundalk, I heading for Newry, Mayobridge, Hilltown and I was at Spelga dam be 7am.

From there, it’s all down hill to Killkeel and then the remainder of the spin was fairly flat through Rostrevor and back to Newry then home.

Just over 100km with 1000m of climbing. I kept my heartbeat under 130 nearly all the way round. I was home by 09.30 and I wasn’t feeling tired at all. It feels great to do a long cycle, still feel fresh and make it home in time to have breakfast with my wife.

No issues with my knee so hopefully I wont have any on the MF1200.