Training Log Archive: Angus

Icebug Acceleritas 4, first year anniversary.
700km and holding up very well. Seems to be broken stitch on inside of both shoes where it flexes, otherwise very good.
Just compared soles to Zoë's pair and there is wear, perhaps 30%+ gone on ball of foot, less on the rest and heel is not worn much (where 100% would be slick) I was feeling that they were not performing quite as well in muddy/leafy conditions and I think they're not quite as grippy on rock, though this is still very good.

So plenty of life in them yet but I'll look out for new pair for use in races where grip needs to be maximised.

Event: Donadea
 

Another fun course with 30 controls!
Dondea always has a few 'distinctive trees' but I don't see these trees for the wood! Clearly PH and myself have different interpretation as I removed quite a few distinctive trees from the Massy's map and even added in a couple!

Vegetation mapping is a bit iffy in places as well.

Back to course, tried to avoid mapped undergrowth to 3 but seem to get caught up, where straight seemed to be fine. Crossed drain after 4 across narrow slippy plank. Dog followed! Checked loads of distinctive trees at 5. These were Lime trees with masses of sucker shoots around trunk. Very distinctive but no control. Went off to relocate and upon returning saw kite in distance at another 'normal' tree. 3 minutes dropped. Took road route to 6. straight was a bit quicker but looked messy from the map.

Hesitant to 11 because it was another distinctive tree. Saw kite before seeing tree.

the control removed from routegadget because of dodgy SI box. Depression. I seem to find this easily when there is no control, but anytime it is used I drop time!

From here I refer to routegadget numbering
15, I went around the dense undergrowth and got control cleanly, but straight was quicker!

Was running fluently till about 18 when groin issue kicked in, so was struggling a little from then on.
Caught Gavan D to 22 but by this stage I wasn't running much quicker. Paced to 25 as I didn't want to overshoot and Gavan was still within site.
Missed the shortcut to 26 but round was possibly still quicker.

27 found the large hide with fence around so headed for correct hide but got distracted by large unmarked rootstock which I assumed was the one to NE on control. Eventually worked it out and Gavan was on my tail again. Managed 28 the pit but roundabout route to the last and I punched it with Gavan and then tried go hard for finish.

Event: Dublin By Night, Massy's Estate
 

Club Miner's road out and back twice. Was very cold, -5C. Ran hard for first 5k to try keep warm and 2nd 5k was a struggle though looking at splits both 5ks were the same except for the last 200 where I eased at end.
Groin a bit sore after.

Lots of fun, Didn't tape ankles so was careful in many sections.
First 7 or so were near line features though I was too low for 4.
Careful with 8 by going in too soon.
Interesting area bounded by high fence. Got 11 perfect but went in wrong direction along drain and dropped a minute at 12 allowing Dave and Killian to catch me up again. I think there is an extra drain in there.
A lot of us overshot 14 inc Dave, myself and Killian, Killian realised first. I wonder if the map needs tweaking.

Groin sore afterwards and could only walk while bringing in controls.

Calf still a little tight but wasn't a bother. Thought I was going to be quite fatigued for circuits, but Zoë had a slip today and hurt her knee, so decided not to go to circuits...didn't need much prompting from me to say I won't go either.

Had kids all day, so couldn't get out. Think calf would have been fine