Training Log Archive: Dooby

Ross Island, Kingdom League
Brown Course

Results:
http://orienteering.ie/results/FullSIResults.php?1...

Happy with how I ran but missed a few controls when I should have been more accurate. Running was ok but legs felt a bit tired at times. Groin still sore today but went ahead and ran, no issues though. Since it is still sore it may be muscular damage, so will see how tomorrow and Tuesday goes, then maybe schedule a physio session.

Went right on the path to 1, then slowed getting into the control. I went the long way round on the track to 2, landed just to the right of it and had to clamber over a few rocks to get the control. 3 didn't go so good, ended up to the right of it so lost a few seconds. Also lost time at 4 with how I got into the control, just in the circle, not an orienteering issue, jsut a matter of climbing over crags and boulders. 5 was fine and so was 6, track running then in. 7 involved climbing over some of the stacked cut rhodo branches, and approaching the control from the top of the crag I saw the control so just had to find a route down. I kinda knew where 8 was from last years controlling. Went out onto path, then cut across, before heading out onto the island part. Bit rocky going around the pond and up into 9, also back out was rocky. 10 was straightforward, attackpoint was big path bend, then follow the contour in. 11 wasn't fantastic, was going right way then drifted left due to contours not matching the map, definitely contour issues in this area. Then I found the green area, or thought it was, but ended up luckily enough at the control, a bit loose here. 12 was used in May event so knew how not to mess it up, different direction for the approach but wasn't going to lose time 2 events in a row, then out onto the path to get to 13. Used the path again to get to 15. More track running to 16, and attacking it I went to the left of it, before copping it must be right. Overshot 17 badly, must have crossed the wall that the control was on the end of without realising, and then got stuck in some green. Back to the control and then onto the path for 18. Used the path bend as an attackpoint and that worked nicely. Took a nice straight route out to the path for 19, and easy control since the hill was visible from the path. Back across country to 20, used the same path in that I used for 1, but from there to the control it was rough going, rocky and trees to climb over.

Had been thinking over my route to the finish from before I got 20, and decided to take the safe path option to the right. Turns out based on splits that the straight line route was 1 minute faster. A bit disappointed to see that but was wary of what could have been tough going on the direct route. Will know better for next time.

Garmin said I covered a distance of 9.37km.

Event: Mounre Mountain Marathon
 

Conor Pass Challenge (110km) but plan was to do Blanket Blast (150km).

At the start I pushed the pace a bit with Brian in tow trying to catch groups ahead, but into a strong 20kph+ headwind which made life very nasty. After a few km of struggling Brian gave me a shout to say there was a group behind, so waited for them, and tucked in with them, which was a decent sized group. This got us to the bottom of the Conor Pass where the plan was for myself and Brian to have a head-to-head battle to the top. But just before things were going to kick off Brian had a mechanical issue, chain got stuck between ring and crank. He couldn't free it so I rang the emergency number. After a couple of minutes a mechanic arrived with tools. Pedal/crank had to be taken off to free the chain. While we were stopped I felt a bit of pain in my right groin area, and tthought it was the beginnings of cramp. Rubbed some deep heat in to see if that would help. After a break of around 20 minutes we were ready to begin cycling again. At this stage i'd no interest in racing up the Conor Pass and if we had it would have been hell into that headwind on the exposed open area for first couple of km, there would have been devastation if we'd raced.

So we took it relatively easy to the top and I descended to Dingle faster than Brian. Into the food stop for some much needed refreshment. My groin was still a bit sore, actually quite sore, so decided to give Slea Head a miss. We waited for the 110km group and headed back with them. After a couple of minutes Brian decided he needed to take off his jacket so stopped. Then when he got going we had a good bit of catching up to do. On the descent from Lispole we caught a few Kilmallock CC lads and a few more randomers. This then ended up becoming a group which set a good pace from Annascaul to Inch. It splintered a bit before Inch but came back together again.

After Inch Brian took up the pace with me at the back of the group. He really set a viscious pace, with speeds mainly in excess of 34/35kph, so good cycling on his part. Made very good time back towards Castlemaine as a result with the help of the wind. Had to push hard after Keel to catch up with group since I kinda stopped at the water stop thinking the group would, but it didn't, so I kept going. Rejoined the group before Castlemaine and flew through the village.

Out towards Curraghmore and the start of the climb the group was of around 8-10, but once the climb started it was 3 Kilmallock lads at the front with myself and Brian tucked in behind, no one else could live with the pace. All the 5km uphill the pace was 25kph, so very fast pace. Effort at this stage was big, but was able to keep pace, and probably had some extra if it was required. Brian dropped back for the descent but I stuck with the 3 lads for some speed, nice. Stopped and waited for Brian at the bottom, he took a lot longer than expected as his chain came off at the top, but nothing serious this time.

Cruised back to the finish then. I thought my groin issue was cramp but still sore the day after so it's possible there may be a muscle issue. Will keep an eye on it for next few days to see if there is any improvement.

For the Dingle-Tralee return we covered 60.9km in a time of 1.54.28 at an average speed of 31.9kph. Given that I stopped for over a minute for Brian waiting we probably had an avg speed of 32kph plus a small bit.

Will I cycle today?
Well not seriously, just go out on the bike for a short spin, either Ardfert or up to Curraghmore and back to check the descent for tomorrow, hmmm.

Muckross, started just past the entrance, then uphill from the junction of the old torc road all the way to the end of the road, past bill cullens house, and well above upper torc car-park. Then descended to upper torc and down the kenmare side of the waterfall before back to the car.

Ran with James Morris, said it was Muckross rowing clubs training run, and that a good time was 15mins. Took us 26 this evening but James isn't the fastest at the moment uphill, I was taking it very easy. So will come back in a few weeks, or next, and attack that time. Just under 4km is the distance, so 15min is a quick time.

Legs are feeling alright afterwards and head is feeling a bit better today. Some paracetemol before bed and things should be 100% (I hope) tomorrow.

Yesterday morning my boss mentioned to me about going to a meeting this evening at 6, so looks like no training today. Plan was to cycle and then run tomorrow. Plan for tomorrow might possibly in Killarney up a hill.

Body is feeling fine after the race in Fota last night. But my head isn't right, think I may have a sinus issue, so plan on going to the chemist to get something to help at lunch time. Was not feeling good last night before bed, bit better this morning, but not improving as the day goes on. Not worth ticking the sick box because I reckon if I could train this evening I would. Will also leave ticking the rest day box until tonight, might get to do something. Option would be to run late and then cycle tomorrow.

No reaction in either calf today after last night which is good news.

3pm - Meeting is starting at 6.30 and my head still isn't right so no training today.

Fota (CorkO Autumn League)

Had to drive the 80 miles from Tralee to get a run in the first event on the new map. Was planning on going to the Summer League in June but that was cancelled.

Was it worth the drive, I think so. Only criticism would be that the map should be 1:5000, difficult to make out the small stuff the way the map was printed.

Messed up leaving the first control, and then the next 2 involved a lot of road running. Felt comfortable running though. Fell down a bank into 4, but 5 and 6 went ok. Got a bit lucky at 7, wasn't too sure where I was when I spotted someone punching the control to my right, just before I was going to head left searching! 8 and 9 were fine and then back onto the road to get to 10.

Felt a bit slower on the road but I tried to keep moving. I checked my control descriptions for the next few controls, numbers only, didn't bother with feature. No loose descritptions which meant map had to be checked. This cost me later in the race as I just ran to the centre of the circle hoping to find the control, very poor orienteering on my part.

The next few controls were all ok, 10-16, nice short legs in an interesting area, semi-open with a grass surface. To 17 I misread the map slightly, hit the path and saw a control in the forest, went in to check and it was my control, lucky a bit. 18 was a disaster. Ended up at a junction above the one I should have been at, then went back to the correct junction but started searching for the control on the wrong side of the path. Crossed the path and searched around for the control but no sign, until I saw someone head into the tree, control was next to it, but my eyesight deserted me. If i'd checked my control descriptions I would have known to look for the odd tree, but I thought it was on a veg change, smart. Probably lost at least 1 minute here faffing about. Then it was the last control and onto the finish.

We had a special visitor at tonights race, other than me, Mr. Simonin decided to turn up at an event in Cork, funny that. And guess what, he got beaten by me:-)
http://orienteering.ie/results/FullSIResults.php?1...

Garmin distance was 5.32km.

Just a short run around the car-park and out on a few paths near the finish. Came across stepping stones across a pond, but not on the map, would have been interesting to have had them in the race, looked slippy though.

Took my planned rest day today. Wasn't feeling that tired but still need to rest, been doing a bit the last few weeks. Calves feeling fine after the weekend which is good.