Training Log Archive: Jwchter

Short but sweet, legs sore and stiff, right calf tender but better after the massage last night.

3 dogs attached to me, one skateboard under my feet a quiet enough stretch of road and insane speed

Event: Leinster League, Scarr
 

warm up with the master himself

I came here somewhat prepared as I looked at route-gadget off the last event and some controls.
The master told me a few things about the are and that it would be physically challenging.

So, my goal was to navigate cleanly and trust the compass.
That I achieved.

I wanted to run where I felt I could and tried to run faster where I felt I could push myself.

The first 9 control I was very happy that I picked good feature to handrail off and I was surprised that my split uphill to c6 was within range.
I need to be more fluent in the forest though in those sections.

The uphill to c 10 looked very intimidating but I was happy with my progress. I just wished I would be able to be a stronger uphill runner.
Part of my training plan now.
I was surprised again by how well I hit all the control on the hill.
Yet this was hampered by me falling into a bog hole which caused a nasty cramp in my right calf, followed by a sharp pain.
I had to fight very hard to keep going and wiped away my tears.

I stumbled downhill and decided to take a more challenging route to the south of the control. It was very slow going and I should have taken the route I was thinking about first. It turned out Darren took that and was fast with on that one.
I lost about 10 min to c13 as I difficulties to hit that control right.
Made surprisingly good progress to c 14 through to control 17.
I was a little hesitant to make a route choice to 18 and messily bananad through green uphill to the control. Unsurprisingly, this took a long time, I thought I was faster than I actually went.
Good run to 19 & 20. On the way, a girl wanted to know where she was. Too far off her nearest control, map upside down and no compass.

Good compass work and a second confused where I came out on the forest road to 21 clean to 22 through to 24, made a left swing to control 25 even though I felt I should have stayed straight, tired now at this point and 2 hours in the hills. Nearly home my brain thought, one last control it thought, you have it in the bag it thought.
Wasting another at least 10 min to what should have been an easy enough control.

I cried, I cursed, I did better than the last time and I did better than most.

From 15 starting, 5 DNF-ed and I came 5th.
The time really did not matter that day because I am proud that I achieved my objective and did not give up.

Brown - Splits

Arrived for the time trial of the squad. Not sure what to expect, I have been in off form so hopefully, I can keep it together. Warm up on the course and recce . Slippy traverse uphill and I am hoping my footing will hold.
Dropping down to a small stream and back uphill. Seems short enough but only in my warm up my heart rate is already, I hope I survive this in more than one way

It reminded me of my old days of cross country racing. It was tough and I am not sure how I will get my heart rate down at stuff like this.
I might have taken off a tat too fast. caught Zac O on his second lap. I was ok on the uphill sections in lap one but as longer as it went on the more I caved in.
I didn't want to fall so I may not have committed fully either. Downhill running was at nearly 100% capacity.

Overall I know what I have to work on but I knew that before coming here. I guess my hills at home will see me more often.

This afternoon there is sprint training which is nice and it happens on the UCD grounds. Naill put something together. He added extra boundaries so I was trying to be careful and mindful of them.
But as usual, I had a hard time making out these details. So I order a magnifier for my compass and see how this will work out.

Overall this is still new to me so I am very happy to get some training in.
I really enjoy to see others at work and learn. Also, it is really awesome to run fast around the building and it feels like you are floating. Then, you look around and there are other mad people floating around you like yourself

I decided to go to the Irish squad time trial Saturday morning to get an idea where I am at. This going to be interesting, 1min starting interval and I assume I have to punch SI units while try to run fast on an unmarked 1.4km loop.

Got me some spike shoes cheap for XC running and decided to find a pitch to do some sprint laps.

Old school....

So tonight was fitting the bill, semi-dark, misty weather and there I was a nearly perfect circular track in a field nex to the soccer pitch, just for me.

All that was missing was a Black and white film set ...

Anyways I decided to get some feel for speed and my overall condition since I was hackling with something my body couldn't quite shift.
Felt, good and fast. So I want to continue to build that into my weekly routine and hopefully, it will make me stronger and faster.

Warm up followed by 4*200, followed by 2 steady laps, followed by 3*300, followed by warm down.

C • Time trial 3