Where to start the story of the long day? Where to find the reason why I wasn't able to finish the whole Wicklow Way in 1 day as I planned? Wasn't I prepared enough? Wasn't I strong enough mentally? These are good questions indeed...
But lets go from the start! Yesterday I had my first attempt to ride the Wicklow Way and after all the preparation and intense racing season I was pretty sure I can do it, the question was only how long will it take? I had everything ready: the bike, the gear and all the nutrition.
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| Outside the Marly Park at 6:45 am |
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| Ready to go at 7 am |
I started from the back gate of the Marlay Park 'cause it was still quiet early in the morning and the park wasn't open yet at that time. Got changed and I was ready to go and left the park at 7 am sharp. The weather was absolutelly great: nice and warm day with no rain or wind. After the start I settled into a nice and manageable pace. This was one of my main plan: don't kill myself too early with too high pace, just take it easy and get the kilometers in with steady pace.
After I crossed Two Rock and descented to Glencullen river the sun came out and the day started to be quiet hot. I loved every minute of the ride so far! The trails were a bit muddy from the previous rain but the whole thing was still ok. After the long climb towards the Powerscourt Waterfall and Djouce I hit the boardwalks and started my descent towards Lough Tay. This was my first checkpoint, I got there after 2 hours and 40 minutes. My good friend Jani was already there waiting for me.
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| Lough Tay |
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| Just got the the first meeting point |
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| Straching my legs a little bit... |
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| ...and searching for food!!! :) |
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| After the short break I was on my way again |
Once I left the meeting point I was on my own again. I countinued my journey and I still felt nice and fresh. Climbed fire roads, enjoyed some technical descents, crossed fields and climbed over fences, I passed the first official shelter house and kept going towards Oldbridge and Glendalough.
In this sector of the Wicklow Way the mud started to get serious and sometimes it has caused some trouble. Especially where I crossed some fields 'cause the the bike picked up all the grass and mud. It was still ok though. At least I was able to ride the bike still...
After some sweet descent I have arrived to the second meeting point in the carpark of the Glendalugh Visitor Centre to have a short break and have some food. I have arrived here after 3 hours and 45 minutes after I left Marlay Park.
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| Havin' lunch |
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| Leaving Glendalough |
But after I left Glendalough and started to climb up towards Glenmalure and Slieve Maan the first low point has really hit me. I started to feel tired and even I've had food and drink during the ride and at the meeting points, I felt I have no power to push along the way I wanted. The climb was steep enough and it seemed like it never ends...at that point I did not enjoy what I was doing.
After the savage climb and some super fast fire road downhill I got to the point that marks the half distance along the way. Now, maybe the fact I got to the half point or perhaps the fast descent helped a bit, but I certenly got some boost!
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| Seeing The HalfWay point helped me a little |
After I passed the halfway point I hit a very long fire road climb again but I started to feel better and I was able to manage the climb pretty well, even was able to restore some energy for later on. Turned out it was well needed 'cause the real challenge was still ahead of me.
I left the higher mountains behind I got to the part where I had to cross lot of fields and farm lands. The mud just started to be deeper and thicker in every meter and it has reached the point when I was no longer able to ride the bike. I pushed the bike or lifted it up to cross some of the crazy sectors and everytime I got back on the bike and started to feel reliefed there was a new crazy muddy sector just around the bend...
This was only one part of the issue. The second thing that has caused me some trouble was finding the signposts along the way. I think in the second half of the Wicklow Way the signposting isn't as good as it is in the first half. I took wrong turns and got lost about 3 or 4 times in the second half. This was mentally very challenging...
I was literally fighting my way towards our next meeting point which was in Tinahely but by the time I got to Moyne I wasn't in a good shape anymore.
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| Town centre of Tinahely |
I got to Tinahely 7 hours and 38 minutes after I started and I was glad I did: I was very-very tired and wrecked. Had pain in nearly every part of my body, had no energy left at all and the motivation has gone long ago during the fight against the mud and getting lost... With a bad taste in my mouth I decided to give up and get home... It was one of the worst feeling for long time 'cause I really wanted to finish what I started but I felt it just wasn't going to happen.
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| I am not happy to admit, but this time the Wickow Way broke me... |
So, I have planned large this time and it has turned out I wasn't prepared for it. I did everything I could but next time I need a little bit more to get to Clonegal. I am dissapointed 'cause I didn't finish but on the other hand if I look back I can say I had one of the most exciting and fantastic endurance mountain bike spin in my life! I will give it a go again and I recommend to everyone to give it shot too 'cause it is an excellent bike ride.
Some interesting datas of the ride:
Distance: 93,5 km
Riding time: 7:38:53
Total elevation gain: 3300 m
Calories burned: 3560 cal
Nutrition : 3 bottles of High5, 3 banana,
3 PowerGels, 1 sandwich,
1 PowerBar Performance bar,
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| Elevation graph Check out the full ride on Strava. Even if I did not finish but still set some sweet records for myself: longest mountain bike spin, longest time spent on the mountain bike in one day, most elevation gain in one day I'd like to say a huge thank you for my friend Jani for all the help on the day, without him I couldn't do it! Thanks man! :) |
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