Training Log Archive: Dooby

Event: STAG's 30th Anniv Event, Scottish O League 5 & SHI Individual
 

Errochty
SHI 2012

Started off the race a bit on the tentative side. Took the wide ride to 1 before cutting down, and on the ride I found the going on the rough side so thought my pace wasn't great. Then along the ride again before cutting up to 2, then a big climb to 3. Dropped to the ride for 4, followed it for a bit before contouring for a bit. Then a downhill leg to 5, picking up the veg changes before the control after crossing the stream.

7 seemed a strange control, follow the line feature. Didn't think I was moving too fast along here. 8-9 was tough, but easy, road to start before a steep climb straight to the control. Leaving 9 I took a gel as looking ahead I knew that the next few controls had a lot of climb which I reckoned once done would leave only limited climb near the end. But leaving 9 my direction must have been way off, ended up on what looked like a ride but really didn't have a clue what was going on. Pushed on as it was generally the right direction. Hesitant too. Then spotted Allan running across me a bit ahead, so reckoned I was just below 13. I was so then got to 10, around 2 mins lost here. 10-11 was another climb, that's all it was, just run uphill or walk as the case may be. Didn't really enjoy 11-12, just found it scrappy, then got even scrappier going to 13. Direction was a bit off and ended up higher in the large reentrant. Then spotted Welsh lad below me getting the control so I dropped down.

Decided that I wanted to stay with the Welsh guy (Rhys) so tore after him downhill to 14. Then just hung onto him for the rest of the course which really pushed my body, legs were on the verge of cramping i'd say for a lot of it, but they held together, foot came closest to cramping. A few small misses at some controls, and there was still the hill to 19 to do, but would have been a lot slower on my own I reckon.

Not sure what the point of 20-22 was, didn't seem like Black course orienteering, controls adjacent to a line feature. The forest to 24 I didn't like, rough, so dropped back from Wales, although at this point another welsh lad had been picked up, so he was in front of me now. I gained back some of the ground in the fields from 25 to 26. There was a fence on the downhill between 26 to 27 and the other welsh lad just jumped it, I saw this and thought how the hell am I going to get over it, my legs are so tired. But there was a gap between the wire at the top and the mesh below so squeezed through that. Then started to reel in the welsh lad again. Caught him between the 2nd last and last control, went past and then kept on going until the finish.

As it turns out that last bit of push made all the difference to my result. I was 1 second behind Magic at 27, but the last bit of effort resulted in a 13 second difference between us in the end, in my favour for a change:-))))))
It's probably my 1st time beating Magic in a long race.

Didn't think i'd have done what I did today during the week, would have been nice to have beaten Wales but there's always next year. Legs tired after the weekend, but no pain. No pain all weekend which is always a bonus, apart from my chest!

WinSplits
RouteGadget

Event: SHI Relays
 

Craig a Barns
SHI Relay
1st leg

*HR data i'm not sure about, strap was falling down all race so not sure I can trust it*

So was on 1st leg for the 2nd team, with my competition on the other Irish teams being Conor and Allan. Knew that I wasn't in great shape after the last week health wise but 1st leg was probably best leg to run for me as there would be more to push me.

Went low to the 1st control with a few more teams, others went high. Tried to keep track of the hills, and when I did cut up I was a small bit unsure but was right. Others came into the control ahead of me. I again went low to 2 underneath the crag and then across to 3 there were a few teams ahead of me, Conor was around and I think Allan was behind me. Then a climb to 4 where I kept after the leaders. Then into the open for 5. Most people stopped short at a control after the first climb but I knew it wasn't mine, still felt really unsure of what I was doing as I tried to spot the white above the control, then I saw a Scot in front of me so reckoned I was correct.

To 6 there were 2 routes, right or left of the green. I saw there was a path for some of the right route but I went left. Maybe I lost some time but not a massive amount i'd say. Marsh was wet before 6! Entering the green I saw Conor so that confirmed to my head that my route wasn't so bad. Allan and Conor was around now so the Irish were together. I hit the crags below 9 so knew where I was. After 9 there was a long rough run to 10 where I knew I was ahead of Conor/Allan. After 10 I followed the big spur passing the hill with the crags but overshot the control slightly, the lads control was higher so across to 12 we were together. Conor lead us back through the gate and over to 13. We parted slightly to 14 but came together towards 15.

Before 15 there was a slight climb where I felt Conor was feeling it. Decided then that i'd properly attack on the climb to 16. I made my move and got a small gap, not really looking over my shoulder. Then dove into the forest for 17 then onto 18. Hit the line of crags to the right of 18, went right, figured out I was wrong then ran back up to 18. As I saw the boulder I spotted the 2 lads heading down the crag. Sweet, they'd missed it too. Got 18 and then really pushed down the hill to the track, hit that with Conor hot on my heels. Wasn't going to let him pass so kept on pushing, my thoughts were that if I could hit the track then i'd have the speed to get home ahead of him.

Pleased to have been 1st Irish home in the relays, some time lost in the forest today but it was a fun race. Chest was really hurting for a bit after the race but eventually felt more normal. Don't think a doctor would recommend what I did today. HR if anyway correct proves that I was pushing a bit too much.

Last drugs just been taken of this illness. Chest still not feeling too good though. I imagine tomorrows relay will be a matter of clearing the lungs out for the long race on Sunday. Don't really have any ambitions this weekend apart from the usual coming home in one piece, and this would also apply to my lungs. Want to be back to normal next week. The body isn't in a position to compete to the level I would like it to, so just a matter of going and enjoying the Scottish terrain.

Got to give some information to Finn for an article on Ireland for "Inside Orienteering", pretty much where do I see the squad in a few years, what direction is elite orienteering going.

Another day of dossing. Body not right to exercise, no point trying to do something before the weekend.

Did see in the paper today that the Novice Cross Country is in Killarney on October 7th so i'll race that. Gives me 2 weeks to prepare for it after this weekend. Will take me that time to get the body back training comfortably.

Still on the doss with regards to training. Not able anyways, chest is getting better, but body really doesn't like the drugs, know that though after being on this stuff a few times in recent memory.

Might consider doing something tomorrow just to wake the body up before the weekend.

Another day of rest, some improvement in the lungs though. Went to get a blood test done this morning, unrelated to illness, need to get HBA1C checked. Lets just say I wasn't feeling the best afterwards so had to have a lie down. The nurse was offering me a sick note but I finally manned up and went back to work. I don't like needles!

Won't be training this week, at the doctor this morning and on drugs for the week. Finish them on Friday, so that sounds about right, the day before a weekend of racing.

C • That's not the first time... 5