Re-cap of 2013

My 2013 kicked off with the trials for the Irish XC youth development squad in mid January, I came to these trials having had pretty much a 4 month spell of not cycling so one could be pretty amazed that come the start of February I was selected as Munsters representative in the under 18 category. It was from here I began to put in the work. I started up a diet to bring me down to race weight from 11.5 stone to 10 stone and the mileage really kicked off.
In February I also joined a newly established local club called WCCC, these men gave me a free entry into the club as a member of the XC youth development squad and the clubs only junior rider. It was this group of lad that carried me through 2013 with their regular spins and my own trainer Donncha O'Brien being one of the main men behind pushing these spins. A great group of lads I owe a million thanks to for all the support throughout 2013.

Things get rolling:

As the season continued I kept becoming stronger and faster a rider but still off the pace to what I was riding in 2012, as we went on into march I was feeling pretty good so I decided to race my first ever Enduro race and this was the Atec Munster Enduro, I raced this on board my 100mm Ragley Hardtail which was sponsored to me by Robbies Bike Shop ( http://www.bicycleshop.ie ) and I rode for the day with my friend Jonathan Maunsell a very fast and stylish Enduro rider which eventually lead me to taking the win by 75 seconds over my fellow XC youth development team rider Luke Courtney and a 200 second gap back to third placed John McCarthy. 

 

I hit a wall: By the time May and June came I hit a wall in motivation. There are so many things I would like to blame it on, my leaving cert, stress, money problems, sponsor problems or end of a relationship. But honestly I was just scattered, I just needed some time away from everything and to get away from the leaving cert hassle. It was at this stage in the season I went back to my devotion of the last 6 years and I picked up an oar once again to Row in the Irish Coastal rowing Championships for my beloved club/family Kilmacabea. Its this choice that ended up causing the highlite of my year after a long 6 year wait I finally accomplished my dreams and took home both an All-Ireland and a County under 21 medal which I must say was no easy task as we rowed the 2300m multi turn courses. 

My motivation then kicked up for the XC National Champs held in late July which even though I had a diabolical race (blowing up on lap 1) due to just over training coming into the race, it was one of the best weekends iv had mountain biking. I went to the Champs with the Killarney CC crew and we stayed in an unbelievable BnB just outside Garvagh the race venue where we had a private swimming pool and all.. We rode the course on the saturday (maybe a few too many times) and I instantly fell inlove, it is by far the best XC course I have ever ridden, it has EVERYTHING! from flat fire road sprints to technical climbs, to technical descents to flat out single track. We then raced Sunday and Monday morning we headed off to Rostrevor Co.Down to sample the new trail centre. Well beaten from the day before we hauled around all looking forward to the final 5km descent which did not disappoint! All in all an amazing weekend with the lads. 

 national champs

Rostrevor

Once all the madness ended I began yet another journey, this time a bit bigger than Kerry to Derry, this time I was moving away from home. After 18 years living with my Mam and Dad I finally moved out to attend college in I.T.Tralee where I am now studying for a BA in Adventure Tourism Management (A pretty damn brilliant Course). Thankfully I already had some mountain biking friends in Tralee which I had gained over the years like my great friend Paul Lenihane and Oisin Shanahan both really self motivated racers. It was thanks to Paul I got to race the Irish DH National Champs in October of 2013 as the two of us spent several weeks in his garage assembling a rather rickidy Giant Glory for me to race on (he also drove me there). The champs was a great end to the season as I hadnt ridden a proper DH race in 2 years. I finished up in 4th in sport  just 0.300 of a second off 3rd and 2 seconds off first, I was also ranked 5th Licensed in the Senior Category.

 Race Run Nat Champs.

 Seeding Nat Champs

At the moment on my days off from the gym I am just riding my bike and going as quickly up and down hills as I physically can, I am training in the gym 3 to 4 days a week whilst in college and I get to ride my bike every weekend so I cant really complain, Im really looking forward to next year and I am getting hungrier for racing and podiums with every passing day.