Training Log Archive: Dooby

Shamrock O Ringen 2015
Day 3
Derrycluvane

Roar and Conor had around 6 minutes of a head start and the only time I saw them was as they headed for 12 as I was going for 9.

My plan was to start hard in the hope of possibly catching them but didn't really happen for a couple of reasons. Lost around 45 seconds to 1 minute early going to number 3 as i did my 1st good deed for the day (control collection being the 2nd) by stopping to help an M10/12. He wasn't too happy as he was having trouble getting/finding his 1st control, but when he met me he was actually looking at it. So made sure he was alright and then I continued on my merry way.

Didn't hit 3 great, knew I was close but lost a few seconds finding the control. Biggest miss of the day was on 4. Stayed on the north side of the mountain and then crossed to the south side to descend into the wind. Even downhill it wasn't easy to run with the wind. But ground was much nicer to run on than yesterday.

Ended up overlooking 5, smart. So bit of running back to get 4.

Going to 7 my left ankle again didn't feel great. Lost track of where I was close to the control, distance estimation issue, but got it ok. Rest of the course was grand. Did find direction heading towards 18 a bit weird but took a bearing.

Nice area but weather was horrific to run in. Noticed that I wasn't really trying hard at all based on my avg HR. Did notice that my HR wasn't great but couldn't push myself. So during the race I was a bit pissed off with myself for that. Analysing this afterwards looking for a solution I came to the conclusion that today was similar to the IOC Classic weather wise so think that the weather impacted on performance due to the conditions. With that conclusion i'm therefore not too concerned. Also didn't really have much to race for based on time differences. Those 3 minutes I lost at the end yesterday made a big difference.

Results
Routegadget

Up from the car to the start, feeling ok after 2 days of physical orienteering. Had a bit of a jacket on/off debate but on was the final decision as it was windy up high. Had to shelter for a few minutes waiting for my start time but not as much as Saturday.

Got map from Brian for control collection and then downhill to the car. Tired and wet/cold. Tough day out.

Volunteered yesterday before I saw the weather forecast for control collection today, least that I can do when my club is organising and i'm racing in the event. So got a map off Brian when I finished, back to the car to eat and try to warm up. Succeeded with the eating part but not with the warming up.

Stopped by the download tent on the way out and someone said I should go get changed, actually i'm heading out rather than back!

Went low along the bottom of the map and then climbed up the spur to the top of the hill. Things got misty up top, but no wind down low. Wasn't really sure where I was climbing but was starting with Control 10 from earlier so knew it was on the right side of the knoll for my approach. Hit the top and control was to my left. Good start. Went to the next control and there was a woman leaving it, went after her to check if she was alright and to get her name for the organisers.

I then went to our 9 from earlier and it was very difficult to get there into the wind, gale force. At least the next control the wind was to my back. But the next couple were in the saddle and wind was even stronger here so had to take off my hat, reluctantly, and put it in my pocket otherwise it was going to be blown away. At each control I stopped and zipped the map into my pocket, safety first.

At least the last control I was getting was sheltered and from there it was downhill all the way home. Legs cramped a bit near the end.

Spoke to Rob at download and then the woman I met up high came back, think she was last finisher, so everyone home.

Went to get changed which was good, started to shiver again. Rob came over and said it would be a good idea to leave as the stream that you'd to drive across to get into the field was rising. Sounded like a good idea to me but then my legs started to cramp as I was trying to get my tracksuit pants on!!! Not badly but enough to see visions of me stuck in the field. Eventually got the pants on, then my socks and shoes, before getting across the stream.

I did notice on approaching the parking field coming back down that the portaloos had blown over but didn't ask Rob about it with being cold and wanting to get the message across about the woman I met still being out.

Sent Robrunner a text soon after.

Dooby: forgot to ask, did the portaloos blow over?
Robrunner: Yes, along with _____ inside. He emerged covered in blue detergent and sh*t

I shouldn't have, but I went home with a smile on my face!

C • noooooo 6

Monday - Orienteering
Tuesday - Rest (DCS appointment after work)
Wednesday - Running
Thursday - Cycling
Friday - Running
Saturday - Cycling
Sunday - Running

Will be taking a break from rough trails and terrain until Scotland I suspect, ankle is a bit too weak at the moment and every time I run on it I can feel it. So to be safe i'll rest it. More road running which probably isn't good, and with no trails probably means less hills.

1 - Splits

Shamrock O Ringen 2015
Day 2
Shrone Hill

Can't say I was particularly looking forward to this race as my memories of Shrone wouldn't be the best. I just remember how physical the area is. Based on the race today it still is as physical as ever, no easy running anywhere out there apart from the last few controls through the forest.

Didn't think I started great, was struggling on the long leg to 2 with the ground conditions, orienteering ok though.

Then approaching 5 uphill I spotted Roar in front of me, so can't have been going that badly. Stayed behind him for a while, hadn't a choice as he ran away from me leaving 6, his downhill pace better than mine, but ankle not feeling fantastic.

Made a right balls of 7. I came at it higher than Roar but still messed it up. Was looking too high. Should have been more sensible using the road as an AP but only used it when everything else failed.

Next few legs were tough going. Spotted Colm going to 11. 9-10 was really hard going.

Was stronger than Roar up to 12 but I lost some time downhill, he then went around the hill to 14 but I went straighter. My route better but didn't get the control so lost time. Caught Colm here. Next couple of legs were uphill, not easy. Nice to be in a train though, been a while since i've been in one of them on a long course.

Then into the forest near the end. Missed 24 and ended up losing around 3 minutes to Roar from here to the end. Body wrecked. Also lost time to 25 and 27.

Happy enough with how I ran but orienteering letting me down on occasion.
Despite the physicality of the area I enjoyed it which is the most important thing for me at the shamrock.

Bit more climb on my Garmin, 510, compared to the 300 on the descriptions!

Results

Along the road from the house before changing into my orienteering shoes. Caught up with Roar along the way.

Midges where I changed into my o shoes were annoying.

Nice day today. Woke up early and couldn't get back to sleep, not what I wanted since i'd sleep to catch up on.

Back from the finish with Roar and Conor. Had some energy left surprisingly.

1 - Splits

Event: Shamrock O-Ringen, Glengarriff Area
 

Bit of a walk uphill from the bus to the finish, and from there to the start. Had a bit of time at the start so jogged up and down the hill for a small bit. Cold and misty on the mountain.

Wasn't the fastest of drives down, some frustration with traffic. So got to Glengarriffe with not a massive amount of time to spare.

Not feeling too bad all things considered.

Shamrock O Ringen 2015
Day 1
Cobdubh South

Ran a really good race in the conditions for 15 of the 16 controls, but the 1 control I got wrong I got really wrong. Did lose some time on a couple of other controls but only a few seconds. Time lost on Control 7 could be measured in tens of minutes.

Really ran 7 badly. Started well over the top of the hill, on a bearing, and then descended. Probably ended up slightly right of where I wanted to be, was aiming for the hill with the crags. Then things just didn't match up for me, both features and also the direction of the slope. Eventually decided to bail downhill to relocate off the pylons, just didn't have a clue in the conditions which had limited visibility.

Relocated low, then went along by 11 before getting 7.

Enjoyed the course nonetheless.

Results
Routegadget

From the finish to the car along the road. Legs feeling alright but definitely wet. Glad of the GAA dressing rooms to get changed in, made life easier than getting changed out of the boot of the car.

Noticed that one of the car tyres was flat.

1 - Splits

Off to Dublin from Limerick for a wedding.

Usual wedding malarky, eating, drinking and dancing, plenty of dancing. So late to bed too.

2nd of the pre-Shamrock rest days. Body could do with the break anyways, I feel the month has gone to plan since IOC, haven't lost days training due to illness and only 1 day to injury.

Got the match tonight to look forward to, should be good to see what tricks the BaBas pull out of their sleeves.

Legs feeling good this morning walking around, yesterday they didn't like climbing the stairs to work.

Day off, felt tired when I woke up, and was definitely feeling tired on my way home after work but dinner addressed that. Legs feeling fine, just probably lacking in some sleep, training and eating late yesterday didn't help.

Did some packing before dinner, Shamrock stuff since my weekend starts tomorrow at lunch time when I head for Limerick.

Killarney-Anablaha-Scart direction-Kilsarcon-Masts-Kilcummin-Killarney

Decided to give the club spin a go this week, Hilly Tuesdays is what the session is known as, and it lived up to its name. A few issues with the concept is the 730 start which is an old problem for me, and secondly it's a bit stop start with a lot of slow pedalling as the group splits on the climbs. Still good to get out with a group nonethless. Lovely evening too, very sunny, but still a bit on the cool side.

Strong headwind heading into Killarney which wasn't pleasant and the legs were feeling a small bit tired, did think they'd improve once warmed up, and they did. Had a few minutes to wait around before we started off. Handy start and slow enough up Tiernaboul, and the group split.

Didn't have to do too much work on the front this evening given the nature of the spin, but didn't mind the bit I did do. Another stop after Anablaha to gather the gang together before a nice descent towards Scartaglin. I didn't push this too hard.

Then over towards Currow turning left for the Masts. Had driven this road a few times for mainly work reasons so knew that it wasn't going to be easy. Reckoned the initial dig from the low road would've been worse than it actually turned out to be. I went to the front and got a gap, wasn't pushing but no one came with me. A few of the lads caught up with me on the short descent before the left turn, road was narrow, gravelly and twisty so I was taking it handy. I put in a dig immediately afterwards on a bit of a ramp so lost the lads here. Sat back down and pushed on from here.

The last bit is straight so you can see what's ahead. I was definitely feeling the hurt now, HR was high, although had more to give, but it was the lungs that were struggling the most, puffing a bit. Good training. Time is bad either for a first attempt at it.

Really need to head Kilcummin direction more for training, some great climbs.

The descent was fast too back towards Kilcummin. Better road on the Killarney side. Thought we might go right and head towards Coolcoran but we went left and up the hill to the top of kilcummin before back down to Killarney then. Was hoping it'd be a shorter run home but Mike added in that extra climb which was fine really.

Cool on the spin home and also a bit dark for my liking, safe, but really don't like training this late. After passing the Lake Hotel there was a car in front of me which a car took a risky move to pass out. I was gaining on this car as I went up the hill to the National Park car-park, and then I decided to pass it out on the straight stretch before the Lough Guitane turn off. That's what I like, passing cars on a National Secondary Road and not going downhill that much.

Now to make a decision on whether to train tomorrow or not. Tired this evening but legs are probably fine.