Training Log Archive: Angus

The morning chores with the animals eased my calves into the day and there wasn't much issue by the time I was getting to start.

Late decision to put on baselayer under O-top and windproof layers. Good decision!

WET, very wet, windy and cold on top.

Today was about getting around and back in one piece. Felt I really had to mind my glass ankles which I had not taped. So was quite slow on downhills and along the hard tracks.

Succeeded in that and had a fairly clean run, with 8 being main issue. Missed it on direct route but picked up gulley but the depression, when I eventually got to it seemed further from gulley than indicated and I did an extra loop to try from different attack point. I reckon about 3 minutes dropped.

Went directly up and over to 7. Perhaps quicker to go round a bit but I had easier navigation.

Probably lucky at 14 not to drop a heap of time. I was expecting the green beyond to be trees and by time I realised it was gorse I had passed the control. Headed back and stumbled across control. Thought it was re-entrant and not boulder and so was running past it, but close enough to see code which I checked.....to see in descriptions same code beside 14. I actually checked again to make sure!

Will see if there were other issues when results are up.

Feet ended up quite numb with the cold. Was quite surprised by the numbers out without cagoules.

But with the exertions of day before I was not 100% and I started to feel hungry going up to 12 and I was tired at end.

Really enjoyable though. Got to embrace this weather!!

Brown - Splits

First IMRA race of year.

Was supposed to be 11.5 and 480 climb. I felt it wasn't near that much at end and confirmed later to be the case because one of the loops didn't descend near far enough.

With orienteering in afternoon and next day, I never went 100%. Was passed by many during first half of climb. Lots of heavy breathing! But I continued on at my even pace and passed most of them by the top of first climb! 270m and a quarter way.

Never went flat out but probably not much slower than if I did. Got passed by a couple on downhill and had luxury of coasting in the final 500m as I seemed to have a healthy gap to next person behind.

Results not up, but I reckon top 15.

Made a very hasty departure to get home to pick up the kids and head to city centre.

Not much of a warmup! But had to get back to accompany Tivon could get out

First sprint of year.

Legs were a little heavy from the exertions just 3 hours previous, but probably dropped 2 minutes on the course.

Dropped time at start.....orientated map but then turned the corner to reach start flag, but didn't turn map and took me 15 secs for everything to make sense.
Did this at JK last year, so something to be mindful of.

I struggle where detail gets really tight such as no.3 but didn't drop much here.
Basic error at 5. Had in mind to go round building and then go up steps...but did this about 2 buildings too soon....recovered fairly quick, but perhaps 20secs....

7, 8 & 9 were bad.
Failed to see long flat route to 7, just the one corner and no steps...instead went between buildings and went slightly astray as well.

For 8 went down steps as I thought was a way through and had to go back up and then for some reason did not go direct route to 9, even though I had come in this way to 7 & 8. Zoe beat me on this leg!

Less technical after that and went as hard as my tired legs would carry me. Will see how much time lost on those 5 and if there were issues at other controls once results go up.

Edit,
Having looked at results, as mentioned above, 1, 5, 7, 8 & 9 were the 5 that I lost time at, total time dropped, a little under 2 minutes.

Not really a warmdown as its a bit slow going round with Tivon.

Helped him on the tricky ones as he's never had to deal with a sprint course. But his basics are good now and he's capable of doing simple courses if he has the confidence to deal with start finish and download.

We took dart from Greystones, but trains only run on the hour, no better than a Sunday service. I'm sure they used to be every 30 minutes on Sat, and so in all we waited more than a hour. Darts every 15mins to Bray.

Will have to rethink public transport to Dublin on a Saturday

So spent an hour in the Trailroc 235. 0mm heal to toe drop, but its too big a jump from the 6mm that most of my other running is done at and I can feel my calves talking to me. Will have to restrict the wearing of these.

10x500m 60 secs jog rest

Wind slightly against for first 5 and with for latter 5, particularly final 2.
1:56
58
58
58
58
53
53
54
46
47
Delighted with the session and much faster pace than the 10X 400 last Fri.
Had to push 2nd half of no.8 to get back on pace. Really attacked no.9 and concentrated on form for the final one and just about matched pace of no.9 though the last 100 was tough.