What I Did On My Holiday Vacation: Kevin Doyle

By Brian Jennings

With the bitter end to a grueling MLS season hitting Commerce City CO in November, Rapids players scattered for what would be one of the shorter off-seasons for the club in recent memory.  Knowing players would have to report in mid-January, Colorado forward Kevin Doyle wasted no time in starting his vacation by playing catch up with his family.

“I went home to Ireland 2 days after the Seattle game and did not budge until I flew back last Saturday,” said Doyle, who reunited with his young family already on the Emerald Isle.  “I enjoyed it, it was great.  I just wanted to relax.”

Although, from the sounds of his checklist Kevin probably had to fight to find some downtime.  From family trips to out-of-town visitors, it sounds like the Doyle crew kept busy.  “Weather was good-Christmas, kids, Santa, family, local bar-what more do you want?” 

“I went to England to see a few friends/teammates I hadn’t seen in a while.”  And, being a good professional, Doyle admitted he did keep up on his exercise routine throughout the holidays even with what was surely one influence not to do so.  “(Rapids defender) Bobby (Burling) visited me, his sister is working in Dublin, so we did all our fitness work together.” 

One thing Kevin noticed a bit different being back in Europe this time was the awareness his neighbors had of their local lad in MLS the past season.  That wasn’t always the case after the previous challenging campaigns in Colorado.   

“It’s nice for me to go home to Ireland and be happy for a good season and be happy that we finished well and everyone know that at home,” Doyle told The Voice of C38.  “The year before no one knows where we finished, which was fine, but this season we were on TV in Ireland and people know.”

Another interesting tidbit is that upon his return to the Rocky Mountain region Doyle says he’s not struggling with effort at altitude the way he has in the past.   “I didn’t notice it much this year.  Because we didn’t have as long away, and I had a whole year here, (it’s) easier coming back to that so I haven’t felt it one bit.”

That should help the veteran striker as he and the Rapids hit the bubble running in Boulder for week one of preseason training.  There was no light jogging then straight to the hot tub or ice bath for this bunch.  Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni had them into full-field action within the first few days. 

Now comes another difficult patch, according to Doyle, as the team travels back and forth to warmer climates in California and Arizona in order to get more intensive outdoor training on a regular basis.  It isn’t easy leaving your family that you’ve just gotten accustomed to being around constantly again, but Kevin knows it will go sooner than everyone thinks.

“You’re here, there, everywhere, living out of a bag for the next 5 of the 6 weeks we’re away so missing wife and the kids again. But the first game of the season comes so quickly.”