Training Log Archive: ColmM

Wanted to test the knee, but still not great after various stretching and exercises. Got a physio appointment for the morning anyway, so will see how that goes.
Maurice Mullins this weekend might be in doubt.

Got a late call up from euoc 5 to Oxford 1.
Meant I had Jamie Parkinson on leg 1, so a pretty real possibility of starting at the front. And Harrison on leg 3, so a pretty solid team all round if I ran alright.
Had the start time 10mins later in my head so was a bit late into the pen, but still a few mins early. Bigger issue was I didn’t really know what Jamie looks like, or he was wearing.
Anyway, decided to just move to the front when I saw the lead pack come in, and Jamie was in that, so was a few sec late for him but nothing serious.
Though, did mean I didn’t have Jonny & that group to follow to 1 which would have been nice.

Orienteering-wise; getting on alright at the start, hit the wrong gaffle on 5 though, too low, and cost 20s or so. Grand on 6, but too low on 7 again, maybe 15s. Had seen Tim coming towards 1 when I was leaving it so knew he must be close now - tbh was surprised he hadn’t caught me. But he did on the path to 9, he punched a little ahead, but a small miss from both (bigger for him) on 10, meant I was ahead for 10-11-12 again.
Was double checking the code to 12 on the way to 13 and lost the elephant track, which meant I was behind a couple of lads all of a sudden, and now it was all running up the hill.
Getting through the hill grand, but got a bit confused with the uncrossable marsh to 15 and lost a little more time. Annoying.
Got up the hill and handed over.
Not great, having lost around 90s technically anyway, and not really pushing as I probably should have been, but it was nice to get out.
Middle section of the course was nice, all a bit muddy but sure fair play to them for getting the event on.

R knee started niggling during Middle yesterday, felt it through evening, and throughout long distance.
Sore to move up and down - just movement in general.
Not bad, could run on pretty fine, and never worsened despite distance today.
Just one to watch.

JK Long

Started steady, but with a little pace. Pretty unsure how this would pan out.
Clean enough & planning ahead grand through easy enough first section. Took a little more time on #4 as it was clearly a bit trickier, but was grand with your head up spotting the features.
Going pretty much fine, noticing the hills as early as 12, but got through it. Took a rogue (/ poor) route to 13, dropping out 12 to the road, and then cutting through the white, and along the trail.

Still grand, grand, grand so far. Terrain was rough and messy to 17, but got through it alright-ish. Had a poor miss on 18, was much too low after a poor line to the right that I never corrected, maybe 45s. Then hesitant on 19, but split seems to have gone alright, so must have been vaguely tricky.

Missed a right shortcut on the track to 21 and Took a poor-ish route to 21 overall I think going up the spur with the track. Barrable put a good bit into me, going further around, and just climbing up the forest & re-entrant control was in (granted he was moving a lot quicker than me).

Leaving 22, I took a quick glance and made an effort to get on Barrable’s back. Control was mostly grand and was able to keep up and still read enough. Looked like he maybe started heading to 28, cos I was was ahead at 24, and he came back through, Andrew I kept sight up until 27 or so, but he was a good bit ahead so I was having to read the circles. Missed 28 slightly.

Went left to 29, think it was a grand oul route, but clearly starting to feel the distance as I was slow down the track, and walked the final climb. Walking most of 30 & 31, but keeping some jogs, and it was steep, could have been slower.

Moving alright downhill to 33, but after that it was all slow. I’ve had worse bonks, but very clearly leaking time on the remainder still.

Anyway, good physical test. Not the trickiest o, but quite enjoyable. A lot of work to do, as it seems there always is.
Still, have some endurance, could be in a worse place, and confident about getting stronger soon.

Event: JK 2018 - Days 2-4
 

Shakeout

JK middle - 38th (+9:23)

Feeling alright on the warm up. Had a late start and had heard it was fun enough, even if not the most difficult, still a bit of navigation involved anyway.
Got going alright. Possibly a bit wide on the rc to #5. Bit of a mistake on 8, both rc & entering the circle, I think. Having gone wide left on the track, and not really being able to make sense of the veg coming in.
Thought I was getting on alright through next section, but felt a bit tired and in reality it was quite easy.
Dropped time on #13 going straight down to the fence, in my head having read the bottom of that re-entrant as much closer to the fence corner.
Came up to #14 and saw Barrable which got my hopes up a little bit, but was quite tired and struggled through the next section physically, despite getting the controls okay. Questionable route to #17 going straight to the road and along.
Spongey came past me walking up the hill to 21, and held sight for most of 22 & 23, but that was that.
Going alright on the downhill again, but was far too low on 27 and lost 30s, which was a poor way to end the course.

Sure look, certainly more time lost than I should have, but disappointing result feels like it more reflects the physical shape.
Anyway, good bit of work to do before IOC, but I look forward to that.

Event: JK 2018 - Day 1 - Sprint
 

Shakeout

JK Sprint - 29th (+2:40)

Wasn’t mad looking forward to it. Looked like it would be very easy & a runner’s course.
Still, went out to race and see how the shape is etc.
Turns out that’s what it was - a very easy runner’s course. Poor area, but not spectacular planning either, sure look.
Got going, and tried to keep the intensity high. Planned ahead and checked my codes, but not much to do.
Still, was fun to be racing, so no complaints, and it served its purpose - to get an idea of shape. Grand, not fast anyway, but could be worse after a month back training.
Looking forward to the middle.

A wee shakeout. Very chill pace with Clo, but legs a bit heavy.
Also 5 strides.

Easy laps of bushy and terenure to stretch the legs. All grass.
Ankle still not a bother, but quad still a bit aggravated. Will need to stretch.

An easy tempo round the permanent orienteering course in Masseys.
Basically something to get the head in the map and the processes, as I've had very little o prep.
Not ideal when the weather changed from sun to hail and map started disintegrating, but got through.
Skipped last two and warm down as was rather late.