Training Log Archive: Dooby

Event: Leinster Orienteering Championships
 

Leinster Champs - Glencree

What a heap of SHITE. Area was rubbish, well that's my opinion. Started off with the intention of trying but after a couple of controls I just gave up, had no interest in fighting my way through heather for the day. Too many holes, and the fact that I fell in one and hurt my hip didn't help my head. All I was thinking was that I was on Crohane last week which was fantastic, and then i'm in heather in Wicklow today, no comparison between the two, they are worlds apart in quality of terrain.

Might have taken a rougher route to 1 but both options looked dodge, took the first gap, rough out. Messed up 2 big time. Lost a nice few minutes. Looking at quickroute I wa way off coming down to the control, was to the left and looking at things below me it didn't make sense, still doesn't when I compare what I saw to map!!! It was rough getting back to 3 but was slightly below it, then missed 4, again below it. 5 was a tough uphill but no navigation required. 6 was just a stupid slog and it was heading to this control that I gave up trying, relaxed and jogged. Bit high for 8 but spotted it. 11 was just pure bingo but was going off area around 12 beyond it to as an attack point. After that it was just downhill. I was surprised at 14, crag didn't look as big as I thought it would but used boulders to lead me in. 15 and 16 were easy. Then into the forest. Got all of them grand but wasn't moving too fast, jogging. Smashed my knee off a branch going into 21 but no damage done, but wasn't happy about it.

Overall it was not worth my while travelling. My next job is to go onto tripadvisor and slate the hotel I stayed in. Was in Limerick for the match. Despite 2 floors of bedrooms beneath us, we could clearly hear the band, then the dj below us, so no sleep until the music stopped. Not idea preparation and didn't make me want to run this race any more.

Garmin said I ran 12.48km.

warm up before the race. Includes the jog up the hill followed by some stretching before I started.

Not going to be writing up today until tomorrow, way too tired and maybe still a bit bitter after the hotel last night.

At least Bus Eireann had me back in Tralee on schedule, and my driver from Limerick-Wicklow-Limerick put in a good effort too, thanks.

1 - Splits

Having a rest today but body not feeling too bad. Heading to Limerick this afternoon to the rugby so will get a bit of walking in from Thomond Park back to hotel after, will also be standing on the terrace for a couple of hours.

Early start tomorrow for Wicklow so will miss breakfast in the hotel. Got a couple of ideas to solve this problem but won't be the best pre-race meal ever or maybe it will, i'll let the result answer that one.

Avg Cadence = 85rpm

Happy with the cadence. Legs not feeling the best, sore in places, so need to stretch them good this evening and tomorrow. Considering when to get a physio appointment...

Finished Bourne Identity.

April 17th is a day of decisions, there's a ML event on Banna and in the evening there's a hill race up Clara Mountain near Millstreet (10km with 400m climb).
Now it would be nice to do both but there's the small matter of the JK the following weekend...so a decision will have to be made.

Glanageenty

Did a short loop while waiting for my training partner this evening. Up the road to the mast then right into the forest before descending back to the car. Underfoot conditions have changed since Tuesday. Seriously slippy on the descent.

Glanageenty

1 long lap with James from work. Lets just say that his timekeeping wouldn't be the best, only 30mins or so late, hence the warm-up. Easy run for me, but did have to stop to stretch left quad, not feeling good at all. Also wore calf support on left, needed but it behaved when running, still sore after Tuesday.

Warm up and warm down. Indoors this evening so back to gay aerobics to warm up! At least there was no Enya for the warm down of stretching.

Circuits

Some new exercises this evening. A couple of tough ones but some handy ones to rest in between. More strength tonight than aerobic. The tricep dips were fun, especially as it was the last exercise for me on my circuit and on the last one it was 1min instead of 30secs, just for the last exercise. The V curls were also very tough.

3 circuits with 30 secs at each station.

Avg Cadence = 84rpm

Hopped up on the bike for a bit when I got in from circuits, could have done more but not wearing cycling shorts helped to encourage me to get off the bike, also had a second top off which I needed to lose.
Did some more reading.

Had an interesting breakfast this morning, had a roll with nutella in it among other things, was hungry.
Also Milano's have a new dessert, Dough Balls with Nutella.

Glanageenty

Plan was to run 2 laps but ended up doing 3, oops!!!

Nice evening so shorts and tshirt again. Went for runners this week after last weeks blisters due to sand in the Inov8s. Been dry so grip wasn't going to be an issue this week. Body didn't have circuits hanging over it so that made a big difference too.

Felt comfortable on the first lap, no real issues, strong on the uphills, particularly the ones coming back along the river, the little kicks. Some lad in a jeep parked inside the gate when I was getting read to go, so when I ran past his jeep he had started off walking or running. I reckoned he was running so the plan was to catch up with him, but no sign of him, and his jeep was gone when I finished the lap. He must have done the short lap, otherwise I would have had to see him at some stage, if not catch him! Felt really short of breath on the second big hill for some reason.

Onto the second lap and i'd the forest to myself. Kept a nice pace going. Met a man jogging against me in the felled area. At this stage my head had decided that 2 laps wasn't enough and that i'd do a short lap as extra. Into the woods by the road and I spotted 2 lads coming down the road parallel to me, no way was I letting lads on a road get to the forest entrance before me so had a decent pace on the descent, no slips this time. Got there before them. I should also note that my left calf and right knee were not too happy with themselves near the phone mast.

So hit the lap on the watch and headed off for a short lap, I noticed the 2 lads stopped to stretch as I kept going. Changed my mind again and decided to do a long lap, a first for me to do 3. Body actually was feeling alright, no real tiredness to speak of. Maybe I calmed down on the hills and increased some of the flat speed on this lap. Met the 2 lads coming against me just below the road after I crossed it from the left side. So my target was to get back to my car before they did. Again nice pace along the river. Bit slower up the big hill after the river, had a sneaky stop to see if I could see the lads across on the far side, no sign, so I reckoned they were on the climb in the forest or past it. Onto the open and down the hill towards the car, and a bit more calmly this time. Got to the car and hit the lap, no sign of the lads.

Did a couple of minutes of a warmdown back along the track before getting some extra gear on for the drive home, still no sign of the lads. Left calf is now quite sore this evening.

And for the interesting part, the lap times:
1- 32.21
2- 32.44
3- 32.12

All laps in the same minutes, 30 seconds between the times, consistent, and the last lap was the fastest, reckoned it was going to be a 34. So very happy with my evenings run, and to be honest I think it's probably one of the longest training runs i've ever done.

C • Colon and a P 3

Cycling is the plan for this evening, feeling a bit lazy to go outdoors, but can't really go on the turbo trainer when the sun is shining outside. Now where am I going to find some motivation in the next hour or so...

Avg Cadence = 83rpm

Wanted to go outdoors but leaving work I thought it felt a bit on the cold side so wasn't in the mood to be cold for an hour or so out on the road, and I felt turbo would be better training.

Read some more of Ronan O'Garas autobiography, seems to be honest in what he's saying, not holding anything back.