Training Log Archive: Dooby

Slept very soundly last night, and probably will again tonight.

Back to work this morning, and since i'm in work on a Monday i'd better do a training plan for the week.

Monday - Rest or maybe a short spin on the bike, 30-45mins, see how tired I feel later
Tuesday - Physio
Wednesday - Running (maybe intervals depending on how legs are after physio or else maybe a recce of some of Mangerton)
Thursday - Bike
Friday - Rest
Saturday - Adventure Race (maybe)
Sunday - ? (rest if I race)

Will decide on Rás na Ríochta after physio, deadline for entries is Wednesday so got time to work on it.

Inch Beach

Got a phone call from Colm O'Halloran after lunch asking how WOC went, and he wondered it I was interested in going for a run on the beach. Sure why not, an excuse wasn't readily available to not run!

So off we went, didn't favour the topless option that Colm went for, or the shoeless, but he did at least wear shorts. Tailwind headind down the beach and the pace was manageable, but legs felt sore, particularly knees.

Then the turn around and back home into the wind, Colm was feeling good, and my HR kept on increasing in order to keep pace! A man in his 50s feeling comfortable to my discomfort, that's not right. Made it back to the start, and from there it was straight into the sea for a swim.

My garmin said I climbed 84m on this run when elevation is corrected on Garmin Connect and Garmin Training Centre says 71m. Still putting 0 in for climb on this run since we stayed at sea level the whole time, it was only metres away.

I must admit that the sea was fantastic, not that different in temperature to the lakes in Finland, it was really nice.

Made it to Helsinki Aiport, 580ish km of driving in about 6hrs40mins. Went home early from the banquet to get some sleep but failed to fall asleep! Nick was ready to go for 7 when I called but a very hungover Kevin took a bit of effort and threats to get him moving.

My passengers slept for the first 2 hours, with Kevin asleep for most of the trip.

WOC is over for another year. Have improved, was hoping for more from the middle but didn't happen. BUT a 21st place in the WOC 2013 relay is a result that I'm very happy to have achieved:-)
Ran a safe race which was important, mistakes cost teams places, just look at France. Really good end to the competition.

WOC 2013
Relay - 2nd Leg
Vuokatti Koulurinne

Nick had a good run out 1st and handed over to me. I'd a couple of lads in front going up the hill leaving the arena but lost sight of them soon enough. Pleased with this run. Maybe some time lost at number 5, took the track to be safe and then cut in too soon. Not a big mistake though.

Great arena and great support.

Enjoyed the course and handed over to Neil. He maintained our position and Ireland finished in 21st place. Our bib was 26 so that was an improvement of 5 places on last year. Really happy to have finished WOC with a 21st place in the relay. Also does our chances of getting 2 places for WOC 2015 in the middle and long some good. We also beat teams who are definitely better orienteering countries than us, so punched well above our weight.

:-)))))))

Results
GPS

I've moved on somewhat from my rant on Wednesday, can't run that race again so no point dwelling on it, relay needs to be raced tomorrow and it's a new race.

Looking forward to a tough and challenging race. The higher the starting position, the better, not scared of the pros.

Kevin gave my legs a refreshing massage this afternoon, funny how no one else on the team is availing of the team physio/masseuse?

Body can take one more round of Finnish forest, this time i'll be more careful as got to let Neil out so he can finish before the women start.

WOC 2013
Middle Qualification - Heat 3
Vuokatti Koljola

07/06/2014 - took a while to write this up.

So this was the race I wanted to do well in, maybe even qualify. And made a right balls of things. Messed up 1 but got back on track for a few controls. Then made a mistake at 6, too far left and missed the control, should've done better. 7 was a criminal error which I'm very upset about. Was complacent and thought this was going to be easy, short leg, no compass and missed the control. Time loss was big and stupid.

Ran grand from there until the end. Overall some good but the bad was really bad. Very upset with myself and rightly so.

Results
GPS Tracking

Again, like the Sprint, I gave it everything. But unlike the Sprint my brain failed me. Improved result but can't forgive myself for 7, thought it'd be an easy control. Qualification would've been my goal but a good race would have satisfied me. All the time/energy/money I've invested, for nothing. Someone told me before WOC that what I needed was some luck, well I've got to face it I'll never get any, shit year hasn't got any better.

I feel bad, but I suppose the Finnish guy who I beat has to feel worse!

Hoping to make the relay team as I've a lot to prove to myself.

C • All the time/energy/money I've invested, for nothing. 8

Another rest day. Legs and body feeling a small bit better. Plenty of stretching. Headed into Kajaani after lunch to get banquet gear, classy pink and green combo.

Vuokatti Vaaranklya

WOC middle/relay model area. Early start to the day as the long final was on later. First control in green was uphill from the car, control was grand but the green after it was nasty. Hoping nothing like that in the quallie.

Body was on strike today, legs not feeling at all good. No interest in running. So just tried to keep moving. The area was nice but just never got going, not a positive feeling.

Went on the middle model earlier. Green wasn't nice but white ok.

No navigation issues, but that may have been due to the fact I was walking. Legs are tired and sore, a bad combination. Not helping my motivation then to run. Pretty disappointed about the situation but all I can do is rest and get Kevin to give me a massage. Taken the decision to stay in the accommodation rather than go support Nick but it's the sensible one.

Katinkulta
WOC 2013 Sprint Qualification - Men 2

Plan was to run hard and try and navigate accurately. Felt a small bit of pressure before the race, having 10 years on Josh and Kev, didn't want to be shown up by the young guys, a paronia i'm starting to suffer more from! I definitely started hard, and the controls were coming nicely. Got caught between 4-5, wasn't expecting uncrossable features on the qualification map! So that threw me a small bit, headed south from 4 but had to go an extra bridge. Not too much different than going north but hesitation.

Through the spectator area ok, some more fences there but knew what to expect. Wasn't too quick deciding on routes. For the next few controls I was under a bit of pressure physically. Especially towards 15, legs were starting to die. Felt better on the way back and got to the finish alright.

Still haven't looked at the GPS.

Results wise I was 23rd in my heat, a PB. Sprint is a tough race to qualify in, all WOC races are. Considering my lack of focus on this discipline over the years, just running random events, and only deciding to try for Sprint in February and not training specifically for it, i'm happy with how I ran. Shows the physical shape i've gotten myself into by being less than a minute off qualifying and 2.18 down on the heat winner. Considering the way WOC is going i'm going to have to improve on my running for next year, an achievable goal. After running how I did, gave the race everything I had, I have a desire to do it again.

Results

Didn't make the final but best WOC result so far, and at probably my weakest o discipline.

Know I physically put everything into the race. I enjoyed the experience. Definitely a few hesitations, i'm sure I'll look at the GPS at some stage too.

949 WRE points in the bag too, happy. Confused as to whether it's 22nd or 23rd I ended up, IOF differs to WOC, and to those on display in the arena. Either way, still a pb.

Sun was out this morning at the long qualification race which I spectated at. Looking like I may have got some sunburn! But sure nothing wrong with a bit of colour.

Model areas yesterday were fine but my legs really didn't feel like moving, too sore. They are feeling better today, so taking that as a positive. Reckon deep heat should help and a decent warm-up.

Not really thought much about tomorrow, trying a low key approach, trying to minimise pressure on myself. In saying that my race plan is simple, put everything I have into the race. And if I'm happy with how i've raced then i'll be satisfied.

Event: WOC 2013 Vuokatti, Finland
 

Katinkulta

Qualification model area. Very wet. Tried to jog but legs weren't feeling it. Mapping was strange, particularly the use of sem-open and then mapping individual trees within the semi-open. But overall map was grand and controls were straightforward.

Sotkamo

Legs didn't feel at all like running so wandered around the Sprint final model. Nothing of interest. Again some interesting mapping interpretation but not something you'd lose too much sleep over.

Moving into WOC accommodation today. Rooms look good, and the buffet also has to be complemented.

Legs need a day off, not tired, but with the Achilles starting to niggle I need to give them a breather.

Sprint model in the morning, and another rest on Sunday while the long qualification race is on.