November 7, 2026

62.4 km. That's what the Garmin logged before I rolled back into the estate at ten past eleven. Longer than last Sunday, easier than it probably should have been by the final third — which either means fitness is arriving or I paced Enniskerry too cautiously. I'll take it either way.

Session log — Sunday ride:

• Route: Dundrum → Enniskerry → Powerscourt → Sandyford → home
• Distance: 62.4 km
• Moving time: 2 hr 19 min
• Avg HR: 134 bpm
• Perceived effort: 6/10
• Elevation: 710 m
• Sleep last night: 7.6 hrs
• Resting HR this morning: 50 bpm

The calves were locked up on the first climb out of Kilternan — that heavy, compressed feeling that usually means Saturday's strength session is still in them. It eased off around the Powerscourt Gate. No sign of the left Achilles today, which I noted in my head and moved on from without ceremony.

Weather: low cloud, 7°C at the base, probably 4°C on the exposed stretch above the reservoir. Wore the arm warmers and kept them on the whole way. The forest road was damp but not slippery. One car passed me in the full 40-minute descent section. Good morning for it.

Fuelling was unremarkable. Banana before leaving. A gel at 32 km near the village. 750 ml in the bottle, finished by Sandyford. No bonking, no fussing.

Rest of the day: lunch at half twelve, an hour correcting literacy assessments, dinner at six, bed before ten. Resting HR by evening had settled to 48. Weekly load across runs and rides sits at 97 km — just under the 100 I've been building toward for a few weeks. That's close enough. No need to squeeze in an extra session to round the number.

Tomorrow is a rest day. I'll keep it that way and ride Tuesday instead.

#trainingjournal #cycling #sundayride #recovery