Training Log Archive: Dooby

Event: Munster League, Rossbeigh Sand Dunes
 

Not much of a warm up before orienteering. Sun shining, wasn't expecting that today, thought there was going to be heavy showers, but maybe I got the forecast wrong as I saw it a few days ago.

Rossbeigh
Munster League

Superman plan didn't happen. Not going to blame myself 100% for that, maybe 66%.

1st control was in the wrong position. Nice open area to the right of it, climbed the hill, ran along and no control on the northwest side. Spent some time faffing about going backwards and forwards, but found it under a bank near the edge of the circle, not where it was supposed to be. So wanted a good start in the dunes but didn't happen.

Lost a few seconds in the circle at 2, tricky one to spot again.

3-5 were a bit on the easy side, distance.

Been to 6 before, grass not fun around there and 7 was just out to the beach and run. 8 was easy to spot too. Went left to 9 and then over the top.

Met Jim O'Donovan before 10 who said the SI box wasn't there. Hit the control spot on anyways and then stopped for a quick look around. No joy.

11 was only difficult as there was a big dune to get over on the way there. Made 12 unpleasant to start with running against the grass. Missed 12 though. Went a bit too far right after crossing the dunes so time lost.

Slightly overshot 13. 14 was easy off the hill to the right. Then back out to the beach, cutting in and then heading around the dune. Some tough sand climbing the hill.

Wasn't expecting 16 to be to the left after going through the gap. Also 17 I wasn't expecting it to be to my left from where I was running. Too far right to 18 and wasn't moving too fast either.

Made another mistake on 19, really should have seen it but missed it, went too far and then saw it behind me.

Wasn't perfect for 20 either, kinda lucky on this one, followed the path (unmarked) and was near 12 but then decided I need to cut across. Another dune to cross on the wat to 21. Then really silly for 22, should have gone out to the beach but stayed in the grass. The pain was pissing me off at this stage. I remembered this area from previous events, not easy, and wasn't enjoying the marram grass.

Big big dune to climb as an option to 23, sand path over it, but went right of it to cross lower. The next couple of controls were ok, just had to find them, but good attackpoints. 26 to the end were straightforward.

I don't like the map. the lidar is a bit jaggedy, and with the scale too it makes the detail I find very hard. Shorter courses, some of them, for 1-7500, that might have helped.

Body feeling ok running.

Results

Jogged back along the beach before cutting in to have a look at 1 again. Stopped there to work out exactly where it was, and yes, I was correct earlier, control in wrong place.

Started in the rain, wasn't too pleasant downhill. Realised at the 1st bend that brakes aren't as good in the wet, been a while since I cycled in the rain! Was dry in Killarney though. Felt a bit tired heading out towards Glenflesk where it was raining too but passed through the rain quickly.

Was heading towards Barraduff, had climbed the hill and was all set for the fast run in towards the village when I heard an explosion of air. So stopped the bike, was it front or back that was in trouble, it was the back wheel which was flat. Didn't hit a hole so not sure why it went.

Anyways pulled off the road and started to change the tube. Took 20 minutes I think, struggled with the tyre, getting it on and off. Anyways got it done and pumped so started back towards home. So this on top of the rain put a real dampener on the spin.

Stopped in Barraduff when I realised at the STOP sign hitting the N72 that I forgot to tighten the rear brakes. Then stopped at the estate on the Killarney side of Barraduff to put more air in the tyre.

From there home it was cycling in the hope that there'd be no more problems. Got home eventually. Cycle slower than normal but was always going to be the case after the flat.

Out for an evening run. Rain today!!! Had forgotten what it looks like after this settled spell. Cleared up in the afternoon so still running in a tshirt. Was a bit on the windy side, but coming off the lake so from some sort of a westerly direction as opposed to the easterlies recently.

Legs feeling ok this evening, nothing of note to report. Happy with how I felt running and the pace, comfortable. But another run not necessarily of any benefit.

Body was feeling tired this afternoon, busy day at work, and maybe the affects of yesterday still lingering. As a result i'm really unsure what I want to do tomorrow, I do know that I won't be doing the 80k cycle, or the cycle some of the Chain Gang lads are doing which I got an invite to, from Killarney too, but south to Glengarriffe with Molls, Caha and Healy Pass thrown in, way too much for me this weekend.

Forecast isn't too bad so might just do a cycle around Killarney, half thinking of doing the Gap for the 1st time, but that's around 60k with a lot of climb, again too much I reckon. Will get up and get out anyways. Got a few hours to mull it over anyways.

Warm up!

Got sunburnt working today, oops.

And yes this walk was for work. Tough day if I may say so, having to be out in the sun taking photos of a track, it was over a mountain to be fair. Not going to complain though, since some of my colleagues are, although I didn't get to go on the Blasket Trip last week.

Shorts would have been ideal if i'd brought them.

Got baked earlier so wasn't feeling the best before I started. Got going though once pedalling.

Did the Ladies View climb in the exact same time as last week so that means I wasn't doing too badly. To be fair I did feel like I was putting in the effort.

Seriously dry mouth cycling this evening. Warm temperature and probably dehydrated from the walk this morning. Did drink around 1.5 litres this afternoon though after the walk.

The descent was rubbish. Knew I was in trouble early on, couldn't get into the technical stuff. Wasn't sure what was up. Figured it out afterwards that BS were a small bit on the low side. Some serious yawning so that should have been a sign. This did my ride time no favours. Lesson learned, I think.

Made a serious pasta bake for dinner, probably cooked too much, needing a 2nd dish for the all the ingredients should have been a sign. But didn't eat it all this evening, saving some for the weekend and will try and freeze the rest and see what happens. Better have a backup dinner that night just in case.

Another beautiful evening, even wondered why I didn't wear the sun glasses running.

Not a bad start to the run up the road. Then into the forest where I'd to keep my eyes open for the swarms of bugs/midge. Once spotted i'd just enough time to make sure my mouth was closed so as to not to take on board unwanted protein.

Up the hill was fun as usual.

Met a couple of lads walking as I headed home from the Upper Torc car park.

On the trail home something fast and red came scurrying across the track. Can only I assume be a squirrel. It looked big for a squirrel but that can only the only explanation.

Track conditions would have to be described as fast, nothing to slow you down, and must save at least a couple of seconds where usually i'd have to avoid some muddy sections on my way home.

Average temperature for the spin according to the Garmin was 20.6 degrees and it's still April!!! Not going to complain though, it was nice to cycle in. Bit of a breeze at times, and was hard to figure out what direction it was coming from.

One thing that was definitely noticeable this evening was the bugs, must have had at least 3 land in my mouth, and 1 in my ear. Others into the face too. So that was kinda annoying. Does the cyclist who hogged my wheel from the Gleneagle (where I coasted past) to my turn off count as a bug too?

Legs were tired to start off with but felt a bit better once warmed up. They moved me nicely back up the short hills coming back from Beaufort Bridge, passed a cyclist there. A good few out and about this evening, with a couple going in my direction for a change.

Body is thanking me today for doing nothing. It is fairly tired. At least the knee pain that I was suffering from last night has gone away. Other aches aren't too bad either, it was a physical race yesterday. And it needs to do nothing. Been a solid 11 days of training in a row, which is a lot for me. No sessions in that block though. Scared of fast stuff with the way the calves have behaved recently. Still did what I planned to do with a nice mix of activity types.

Monday - Rest
Tuesday - Cycling
Wednesday - Running
Thursday - Cycling
Friday - Running
Saturday - Cycling
Sunday - Orienteering (KerryO event, don't know where!)

Will keep up with the cycling/running every other day. Will get some physio next week.