Training Log Archive: grilla

Walk up Errigal. Quite challenging but there were many walkers far less qualified than us! Most were taking it all in good humour. We made it up and down the scree fine but I had a stack in the bogs about 400m from the car park. Had to get pulled out as was well and truly stuck with my good leg and could not exert enough force through the bad one to move myself.

Injured thumb in the landing.

Aoife is keen to collect a few particular kinds of geocaches and one was located relatively nearby. We set out after returning from dinner on a pleasant evening. Got to the site fine but spent 30 min hunting and getting g bitten by midges before we declared it a lost cause and walked back. A bit sad after long walk on an already long day.

Views made it worthwhile.

Zip lines at the Grenoble Bastille. These were fun, but a bit windy on the last one. Some pretty challenging climbing/traversing from the first to the second.

This was after the Speleobox caving simulator. Working at my limits in that one. I would not have done it if they hadn’t made me accompany Aoife. Was fun in the end but am very sore next day.

C • Speleobox caving simulator 3

A much better day again :) Things were off to a hairy start after the 20 min chairlift ride to the start took 30 minutes... It was then quite a hike down to the actual start and we had to run most of it. In the end Nea and I abandoned Aoife who was struggling to keep up in one section. She eventually caught us just as we arrived at the start, and just in time. Nea had to fight through to the front boxes while I was 30 sec behind. Struggled on 1, went a different way to anyone else I saw, but would go that way again based on the map. It was steep and I got slowed by blueberry bushes so I suspect I was caught by the lady 30 sec behind me. There was another who punched a little ahead but I got the second control first of the three of us. From the splits, it looks like one of them was just behind me for the rest of the race but I was oblivious to that. I think I saw her on way to 9. I was a bit off going to 3 (didn’t climb enough), 5 (climbed too much), 6 (didn’t climb enough) and 7 (stayed too high and had to contour on really steep slope). I worked out there that my shoelace was undone (did not have time to tape at start). From 8 it was a slog to 9 and then easy down to the finish. I was happy enough with the run. Lost some time but not significant.

Enjoyed the event - mainly for the scenery. Courses were not always my favourite, but it was tough with the terrain. French were very welcoming and friendly again. Finished 8th overall. Place is OK but I should not have lost so much time in first couple of days.

She appears to be outrunning both of us... managed the chaos of the chasing start with no support and kept her head during the race. Results have her finishing 4th on the day and 7th overall. I think this is based on the first control not being included in the time. On true time she made it to 6th overall and improved every day.

C • Well done Aoife 2

A better day today - it was an easy course but that did not stop me doing dumb things the past few days. Still 5+ minutes behind but that is really just strength and fitness and not too much to do with navigation.

Appreciated having far better stability and grip with my shoes today! First time I’ve worn studded shoes since hip operation (7 years) and no regrets!

Another utterly spectacular day and more insanely steep terrain. Today started a bit higher up the valley and we were bussed up to the start, well ahead of schedule so plenty of time to sit and contemplate the view. Sitting there for 45 min I did not in the least expect to be running up the mountain out of the start but that’s exactly what we did! There was a lot of walking from me again today! Even contouring was at a walk due to precarious situation on steep slopes... still I took time to enjoy the views at various times. 1 and 2 were incredibly easy. 3 and 4 were too but I messed up both big time! Misread ups as downs to 3 and misread contours and vegetation to 4, should have used track for it.... All ok through to 8 except I came into 7 high and could not get down (steep). Was too high on 9 and 10 despite relatively easy legs/ controls- my brain just could not comprehend just how far I needed to descend. Then pretty simple to the finish. Was not happy with my run but better than previous day.

Exstatic to buy new shoes to cope with next 2 days, made a very bad choice in the very old pair I’d brought with me. They are not coming home :).

Bad weather and thunderstorms were forecast for the event site today and late yesterday the organisers deferred the event by a day (the following day was scheduled as a rest day). We had not pre-booked anything and in the circumstances, rafting seemed like a fair option - rain would not ruin things too much. It was a great idea - the river was certainly fun but not overly difficult for the girls. We had a great guide who was happy for Aoife and Nea to jump out and swim in the quieter sections. He also had a portion where we parked the boat and went back to swim down ourselves. Wet suits worked well and was only briefly cold during the swim part. Rain held off in our side of the mountains too. Just a few sprinkles now and then.

Hmm, so much for pretty, rolling meadows! This was spectacular, but as I now know the alps are steep, steeper and insanely steep. I thought I was going to break my leg going to the first control! A bit off going to 2, again due to steepness and avoiding it, but also misreading control descriptions - was looking for a spur not a gully. Once I read it properly I went back to where I had been and low and behold - control below! Went well on the couple of short legs and mostly did 5 well but again lost the plot near the control and panicked, ran down instead of up and around the corner.. similar to 6 and 7. Was dead on height for 7 but got nervous 20m from control and nearly plunged stupidly 100m back down the cliff i’d Just crawled up! Luckily I saw Eoin and he saved me from that stupidity. Ok through to 10 and most of the way to 11 where once again I saw something lower that looked a bit like what I was looking for so careered down. I can’t believe I did that. So glad to finish but annoyed that an ok run was made so poor due to not finishing legs properly. On top of that just really struggling with the hills and altitude.