Training Log Archive: ColmM

+ maybe 20mins of exciting tip, culminating in a Sexton-esque wrap around move which Jonny finished in the corner.

IOC Middle - Magilligan - 1st

Rather pleasant return to racing, this weekend has been.
Scrappier race than the day before, not running the best out there at times too, but generally running better than yesterday, so no complaints.

Started off steady, knew others would be going faster, but that was okay.
Made a mess of 3, and ran right by it to the next hill (~20s).
Fine through the next section, keeping on top of the navigation fine, but it really wasn't too tricky, although I was still having scale issues.
Took a winding route to 6, but coming off the path near the control, I had overrun it slightly and ended up at a parallel re-entrant and depression just past. Realised quickly, but still ~40s on this one.

Clean mostly from here on in, got more into the running from this stage on, and hoped a bit for glances of Ruairi.
Hadn't planned enough for the long leg 12 and took probably the most miserable route available (right of the line and hashed green, yet through the dunes, and then followed the path back to left of the line and came in the large depression / re-entrant leading into the control). Lost 50s to Darren here, interested to know his route, probably more like a 30s loss really, and Darren might have just killed it.

Leaving 12 I caught sight of Roar (2mins) in the distance, knew I needed to pick it up here coming into the last section, and this was good motivation. Almost made an error on 13, but ended up coming across the control.
Leaving this I could see 14, and roar on his way to 15, so really pushed on, took a straighter line to 15, and came in from a different side which was probably worth it because now I was right behind Roar, for the last few running controls, and saw James ahead.

Similarly to yesterday, I knew it hadn't been great, but alright, so if there was a chance of me winning, I didn't want to lose it on the running at the end. I put a lot into the last few controls.

Another successful result. I came into the weekend without expectations, but still hopeful of orienteering well. In that sense, it was mostly successful, and results-wise it was even more so.

Not the strongest field, but at least not the weakest either, an Irish Championship is an Irish Championship, so I'm just happy to win.

IOC Sprint win in 2014, Middle in 2015. Long would be nice in 2016 (lol)

C • Tight 2

Course 1 - Splits

Event: Junior Home Internationals / NI Championships
 

NIOC M21 - Magilligan - 1st

Good race technically.
Fluid through the first section, a little right on 5, which might have cost some time from a nicer line, but a little off the pace, and level with Corbett at 6, despite him making a 50sec error on 6.
Probably got into the running a bit more from here on, as it got a little less technical, doing fine mostly.
Some time loss (~15s) on 12 getting stuck in a fence, and similarly (~30s) in green on the way to 18, and maybe another 15s on taking a sub-optimal path in the 2nd half of the long leg 18 too.

Began to feel it in the last km or two, and wasn't as strong as would be nice but I kept it together for the last loop, and picked it up for the last 500m or so because I knew it had been good, and if there was a chance of me winning, I didn't want to lose it on running.
Nipped Darren by 8sec, although he was significantly less error-free than I.

3rd NIOC win in 4 years.
Actually undefeated in NIOC M21. That's a fun fact.

Course 1 - Splits

Another day I should really have been able to find time for a run.

Skipped running for Circuit Theory.
That's just painful.

Wednesday evening 90mins
Cillín, Ben, Róisín, Niamh, Aoife.
Lamb Doyle's - fairy castle via Ticknock forest, and back via Wicklow way + Ticknock road.
Slow, but nice.

Noice one.
Relaxed.

Runs mostly still quite short at the moment, but we'll get there.