The training regime turning once overweight hurler into top cyclist

The training regime turning once overweight hurler into top cyclist

There’s no secret but hard work when it comes to cycling. And nobody epitomises that better than Limerick man Paul Kennedy of the Newcastle West Knight Cycling Club who rode for a whopping 105 hours in January. Can anyone beat that? (Photo: George Doyle) 

 

By Brian Canty

He’s a rider who has emerged in the last two seasons but especially so in 2017, though we’re not even at St Patrick’s Day yet.

Paul Kennedy from Newcastle West stuck his head above the parapet when he won the Mick Lally Memorial in Summerhill, Co Meath.

And he has followed it up with strong rides around the country in the interim.

He was runner-up to Sean Hahessy (Aqua Blue) in the Lacey Cup in Tralee and amazingly, that marked his two-year anniversary since his first race.

But what’s even more amazing is the training he’s done to get himself into the condition he’s in now.

His Strava profile requires a double-take upon first glance because the big blue bar that tells the story of his January is quite something.

Kennedy racked up a staggering 105 hours on the bike in January – that’s a whopping 26.25 hours a week for four weeks.

December was marginally less, though still a hefty 85 hours while November he must have went away on holidays because he only managed 63 hours.

February was way down around 42 hours as the intensity ramped up as well as the race days reducing his training.

He’s done a fair amount of climbing too; 90,000 feet is his figure. That’s over 27,000 metres or around three and a half times up Mount Everest.

So far this year he has completed 3,361 miles or just under 5,500 kilometres, take a look at his Strava here.

Kennedy believes the one-on-one coaching plans developed by former international rider Ryan Connor, and the constant contact with him, has seen him whipped into top shape over the winter months.

“It’s very personal coaching,” he told stickybottle recently.

“It takes into account things like your family life. He’s ringing you the whole time and emailing you; he’s in constant contact.”

Kennedy, now aged 37 years, is relatively new to cycling having only begun racing two years ago.

Asked why he came to cycling so late and where from, he said: “The GAA; I actually got too heavy for hurling so I took up cycling and I lost 22 kilos.”

He’s made the transition from chunky team player to class act on the bike in no time. And it’s no wonder given his work ethic.

Kennedy is riding the An Post Rás this year, a race that should really bring him on even further as a bike rider.