Training Log Archive: Dooby

Over to the start with Colm and Conor. Along the road then up, and onto the model map. 1:15 is different. Pits are big! Weather not the best.

JK 2014 Day 3 - Long
Llangynidr

Hadn't planned on racing this as i'm not into long distance at the moment. But after running poorly yesterday I felt I had to at least try. Was happy with controls 1 and 2, got them nicely.

But then for 3 I have no idea what happened and will never have! Tons of time lost here. Eventually got it. 4-6 were also fine.

Got really dark around this point and there was thunder/lightning, a bit freaky.

Lost time on 7 too somehow.

8 and 9 were grand.

10, god knows how I ballsed this one up. Shocking orienteering again.

Then the long legs happened, and the body had enough of running, lack of endurance really showed. So after this it was just a matter of keeping moving.

Fell on the way to 14 but my brain was switched on enough to keep my legs straight when falling to avoid cramping. Gerard passed me at 10 and I caught up with him going to 13 but on the flatter ground he ran away from me again.

Rest of the course wasn't any trouble since I was moving slowly.

Another disappointing race to compliment yesterdays. Don't mind the lack of endurance, it's the mistakes I made early in the race when I wasn't tired that are the problem. Pissed.

Had 1 cramp while changing, not too bad. And had to take a short driving break on the way back to the caravan to avoid a 2nd cramp!

Easy jog to the start of the JK Middle. Along a trail. Got to the start to remember there was a model map so only had a chance to look at it before going to the start to be called up. Guessing distance, no Garmins allowed.

JK 2014 Day 2 - Middle
Merthyr Common

Plan was to attack this race and give it everything. I'm happy with the effort that I put into my race running wise but my orienteering was a whole different story.

Started good with controls 1-3, then did shite on 4. No excuses, just ballsed it up, direction was off to start, then didn't stop and pick up the obvious features, hit control 5, and then still wandered around looking for 4, hit it when my 2 minute man caught up with me.

Ran away from him, was running faster, but got caught again around control 10. Direction again was off, saw a hill and thought it was the hill close to the control, it wasn't! Then uphill to 11. 12 didn't go well, my 2 minute man caught me up again. Thought the depressions to 13 were hills, my map reading not working. 16 I lost time on again. And after that I was ok to the finish.

Reckon at least 6 minutes of mistakes, appalling. Very disappointed with my race.

Short warm-down after the middle with Magic. Guessing distance. Not feeling impressed with myself after a shite run.

Event: JK 2014
 

Relaxed enough warm-up before the sprint. Lovely day for running. Some on the paths and on the grass before starting. Tried a few strides but not too many.

JK 2014 Sprint
Singleton Park

Had sussed out the route to Control 1 from hanging around the start so went off fast but got to the right level only to confuse myself looking at the control site, some sort of fountain. But maybe the seconds I lost I gained on the run to the start.

Was going to go left to 2 but decided on right, worked out fine. Tried to keep the pace high. Around to the right of the trees for 4. Probably lost some time on 5 and 6, very little, just due to direction issues. Spectator was easy and then around the buildings, very straightforward.

Out of the buildings and there was a tough hill to 15, ouch. Pushed. Then went right for 16, didn't want to lose the height i'd gained. On the way to 16 I spotted Nick Barrable heading to 17, my 1 minute man, so reckoned I'd gained on him, so that was a boost. Put the effort in then going to 18, longish leg but downhill. And then back into the green area for a few more controls. Slightly hesitant finding the way into 19. Went left inside the unversity again to 21. Reckon right would have saved me a few seconds to 22, but I went left! 22 wasn't exactly where I expected it to be, the map was right not me.

Then open the legs to the finish.

The Shorts had put me under pressure on the way to the start saying I had to beat C.Hill, don't they realise how many WOCs that chap has run!

When I finished they were talking about Nick Barrable and his time so i'd no idea how my run rated. Downloaded and my splits said 1st of the finishers at that stage, nice to see that.

Ended up 6th, didn't see that happening, but a nice confidence boost.

Results
RouteGadget

On the grass with Joshosh for a lap of the area near the start and then a 2nd lap with Kev. Legs not feeling too bad, but they were happy with their race.

M21E - Splits

Waiting for my Bristol flight at cork airport. Should be a good weekend, simple goal for the weekend, run well.

Physio booked for Tuesday evening, just to help get the body back training after the weekend as only 2 weeks to IOC.

Back home to cork this evening as off to wales for jk tomorrow. So no training on the agenda, rest, and more rest again tomorrow.

An early night would be good I reckon.

Ballyseedy Woods

Handy jog around Ballyseedy checking the area for the scouts event i'm doing on May 9th, a friday evening. I was informed it was 90% open. Will have a few map corrections to do, some of the undergrowth is now gone, but then again so are a lot of trees!!!

3 paths are closed so if they don't re-open in the next couple of weeks then it limits things, but probably not enough to make the area unusable for a introductory event. 1 is passable the other 2 are pretty well blocked.

Lovely evening for a jog, day was great so was looking forward to getting out for an easy run.

Sleep last night was interrupted by EOC, nice of the organisers to text me at around 3am telling me the middle distance start list was now available. I'm sure they have Hellsac's number!!! I decided to be kind and not forward the text to him until morning.

So plan for this week is JK preparation, so easy easy easy. Probably could do with the rest. Glad I missed the 5k yesterday, looked very fast, Laura Crowe ran 16.28 and was 4th overall.

Monday - Cycling
Tuesday - Running/orienteering (checking out Ballyseedy for scouts event i'm organising after IOC, supposedly paths are 90% open!)
Wednesday - rest
Thursday - rest (travelling)
Friday - JK (Sprint)
Saturday - JK (Middle)
Sunday - JK (Long)

Killarney area

Plan would have been turbo but sun was seriously shining so couldn't say no to some road biking. Thought 20k would be a nice spin, around the 40 minute cycling mark and not too far off, happy with 45 in the saddle. No tights needed, temperature ok for shorts.

Into town, was thinking Aghadoe but just went bypass to Woodlawn and then the long way home. Worked out nicely distance wise. Didn't push too hard at any stage, just to avoid traffic or amber-red lights. Bit of a breeze in places.

Came home via the Gortagullane Wall. Had gone up it last August on a KOM bagging ride but missed out that day by at least 15 seconds which is a lot on a sub 1 minute climb. So must have been tired as I got equal 1st this evening, so if I actually tried i'm sure I could go sub 40 seconds! Maybe in a few weeks when i've done some climbing. Surprised. Felt ok though up the hill, did try, but didn't expect it.

Into Killarney later to Mary's, Brian had left An Post gear, handy having a post office connection. So got a new An Post Chain Reactions jersey, bib shorts and cycling cap, free kit, sweet.