Padraig’ Marrey 2011 Season Review

 It was a great year with All Ireland wins and setting a New World record on Ireland’s favourite mountain. The aim of this piece is to show that with correct training and planning that anyone can have a long successful season.
In January last year we had all the problems associated with snow, this didn’t really stop us training, just the training we did was not typical of my usual routine.
Instead of long road cycling spins I used the mountains for hill walking and mountain biking, this worked to great effect keeping me aerobically fit, in the evening on Mondays I did my usual circuit class which is based on the P90X routines and is really good.
Thursday were spent doing 2hrs of spinning, where I worked on specific efforts for building strength and lactate fitness.
Most weekends were either spent doing long road spins or mountain walks.
Start of the racing
Did training cycle race in Ballinrobe felt strong no result.
Did a training weekend cycling camp back to Clifden, just long steady miles with bit& bit at the end of each spin, good training.

February: 
At the start of the month spent week training in Murcia with 12 others, good solid camp plenty of miles and great weather.
The day after I came home from the camp did a Duathlon in Carlistrane 3rd
The first Reek trial: the aim was 3 climbs inside 5hrs, 2 of us did it in 4hrs 3minutes
Carraroe Duathlon : toward the end of February legs started to come around after camp, result 1st

March:
Start of the road racing season, race in Navan over 70miles finished in the bunch but going strong. No result
Local Mayo league H/cap felt strong, weather very poor.
Paddy’s day: Ras Maigheo another H/cap never caught front group and punctured still finished ahead of the bunch at the end. Result 7th
Connacht league race : cycled to race, did 50 mile race and cycled home, result 5th

April:
2nd Reek trial 6 climbs in 11hrs, did it inside 10 hrs
Adventure races, the WAR 1 Glendalough, result 2nd
Did another week long training camp in Majorca, great group long spins followed by a run and swim everyday.

May:
Connemara challenge, hard short race based around Killary Result 1st had a very strong bike leg.
Last of the Reek trial days, the aim to climb 8 times inside 15hrs we did it inside 13hrs 45minutes
Bog week 2 day cycle race over 3 stages, surprised myself getting 2nd on the first stage, 3rd in the Time Trial and 4th on the last stage to come 2nd overall.
Adventure race Wicklow Roar, hard race died in the runs but still finished 2nd overall.

June:
Connemara Rough Diamond, probably the best adventure race course in the country, result 1st
Day after with sore legs got 2nd in a local 10k running race up and down the Sky road.
WAR 2 Glenmaluire: went pretty well in this race, it was probably the hardest course that i raced over all year Result 1st.

July:
The Reek 24hr challenge (World record) 12 climbs of Croagh Patrick, beat old record by 1065m
Ballina Sprint Tri, was dying ended up 9th
Race 2 Glory, came 3rd here was running on fresh air
Humbert Half Ironman, died on this particular event, still good workout. Result 15th

August:
Ballyhoura Challenge: Was going alright in this event till I got lost, ended up going 12k wrong to be in last position at one stage but ended up about 10th or so at the Finish.
Gaelforce: Trying to retain a title is hard, the form coming into the event was poor with no results since early July, still on the day you can pull something out of the bag, at the bottom of Croagh Patrick I thought I might pull it off with the fastest descent of the day but in the end beaten by 2 stronger men. Result 3rd
Mask challenge (Kayak) Usually I swim this race its 8k across one of the biggest lakes in Ireland, instead a group of us kayaked over and back to give us a 16k trek, made all the harder with a big swell and this is a lake....

September:
Half Ironman Galway: Died on the bike with sore back, but had a great run and was surprised to finish third in my age Category and in top 30 overall, Qualified for World Half Ironman champs in Vegas so was really happy....
Achill Roar: The worst wind imaginable still was a thrill to race in those kinds of conditions, more back problems on the bike. Result 2nd
 Connemara challenge: Great little event with a fun element to it with all the different skill stations, great prize as well, weekend in Edinburgh on St Patrick’s day 2012. Result 1st
 WAR Powerscourt: This race was either going to be the making or breaking of my Adventure race season, win and the MSAI All Ireland league was mine.
As it turned out was on a good day especially on the bike and Kayak. Result 1st plus the overall in the Adventure race series.

October:
Connacht MTB champs, again another savage day, conditions were unreal with the course turning into a Muck bath. Survived to finish 2nd

November:
Body wrecked so had to let it recovery

December
Start back training for the new season, no rest for the wicked...

I would like to thank Marrey Bikes and Planet X and my training buddy and partner Mary for their support throughout the season.
2012 will see me involved in a new project, training 8 guys to be fit for the An Post RAS 2012. See more on this page.