Training Log Archive: Dooby

Back touring again today seeing Geysirs and Godafoss, big waterfall. Then back to Reykjavik for its best pizza and hot dogs. Then spent around 3 hours in the swimming pool.

Followed the tapes to the start, but then realised there were no more tapes and no more people. I'd overshot the turn off but not by much and I wasn't late.

ICE-O 2011
Middle
Vífilsstadahlíd

This was a really bad race. Whatever I did I managed to mess up my blood sugar levels, they were low all race. Took what I thought was enough to get me through before I started but when I got going I felt low. Took an energy gel going to 4 but didn't do too much. I still kept going though, probably a stupid plan in hindsight, but I reckoned i'd glucose tablets in reserve if things got really bad. Note to self don't end up in this situation again.

Lost a couple of seconds at 2 and 3. 4-6 were fine but messed up 7. Ended up a small bit off the map. Should have used the depression but only saw it afterwards. My 2 min man who i'd caught going to 4 passed me here and again at 10 when I missed that after passing him at 9.

Didn't like 12, rough. Saw Kieran on the hill above me and he was waving me right. I assumed that I was too far left so headed where he was waving. I got closer and he was still waving. I asked where the control was and he pointed me back in the direction I came. Turns out he was warning me to avoid the hill as it was tough running. Smart orienteering.

The next few controls were easy enough once I got to 13. Long leg then to 19 which I went straight to start. Then ended up in crap before coming onto the path above the forest. Followed it along and then cut down to the control. Saw yellow on the map between 19 and 20 but did have undergrowth mapped too. I started to go up through the yellow but was getting no where. Looked at my map to realise there was a low path that was a lot more straightforward, so back down. Last couple of controls were then alright.

Ended up 3rd today.

Quickroute:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/XH6_9afZoFYg...

ICE-O 2011
Long
Heidmork
Left the start triangle at speed, turned off the track and ended up at a building, stopped to check and discovered I wanted to be at the building. I then headed off to the control which was close to the building but missed it. Went back and tried again but no luck. Then ended up in an open area and thought I was someplace else. Ended up at the open area again and then realised where I was. Stupid mistake cost me 4 minutes. Looking at my quickroute and the direction I left the buildind and the X (assuming it was the flag pole) I'm not convinced the map was right, but that's based on my gps only, not on what I felt when there.

Rest of the course was ok. I pushed hard when I could and felt ok doing that. I took very conservative route choices to 7 and 20. The green on the map was tough but the undergrowth was worse, birch. Lost over a minute getting stuck in some between 5 and 6. I was actually surprised at 6 to see it, thought it was going to be further.

Kieran said it first after the race but I agree with him. On my way from 18 to 19 I heard a beep to my left, sounded very like an SI box. I know I was involved in an april fools joke a few years ago, but it wasn't an SI box making the noise it was a bird.

Lost some time on 19 as wasn't very sure what was going on. Also left 20 the wrong direction but corrected myself in time.

Was 6th today.

Climb is from Garmin Connect, wasn't given on descriptions.

Quickroute:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/TEmUeVpyG2po...

Short warm down with Kieran after the race.

Jog from accommodation to assembly and then from assembly to start. Rain from earlier had dried off:-)

ICE-O
Sprint
Midbaer Reykjavik

Started off ok, pushing hard, maybe lost a couple of second at 3 but was running well. Knew where I was going to 6 from seeing control on way to start. Lost a few seconds crossing the road to 8 due to avoiding roadworks. Then into a more technical section.

Route to 9 was fine and so was 10. Could have gained a second or 2 at 11 but still going ok. Got 12 and 13 ok. Not sure if my speed was good here, felt like it dropped slightly but was trying to concentrate more on getting right route. To 15 I went left but in hindsight right looked better so maybe lost a couple of seconds here. 16 and 17 were straightforward and then back across the road to the city centre controls.

Cut across the park aiming for a street with some purple on it, but the street wasn't blocked on the map. Turned into the street to find a tape across it and works on the street. Hestitated, didn't know what to do, looked at my map for an alternative route. A lad then turned up and decided to go through so I followed. Lost time getting out the other side as the lad knocked over a pallet which I picked back up. Then onto the last few controls. 22 was gone. I checked my description on the way as it was on a black wall (uncrossable). Saw it was foot of so went right. Turned to go into control site but no control. Then noticed one of the officials to the side so I headed towards him but he said the control was gone. I turned around but had lost my flow, exited left instead of right. It turns out this cost me the race as I was beaten by 3 seconds. But I don't think like that, the lad who won could have lost time too and I know I lost 3 seconds in other places too.

Still pleased with the run and the effort I put in.

I don't feel that I did anything wrong in crossing the tape on that blocked street. The map showed the street as being open.

Quickroute:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pZF2-K877WDs...

Jog around some of the course area after the race with Kieran and Magic.

Only got some of the jog back to the accommodation on the watch.

More driving again today.

Myvatn

Started in a park with a run on trails through a lava field, class looking area. Heading for a volcano crater. Got to the bottom of the volcano and it was straight up for a while, keeping pace with Magic, so put myself under pressure not to get dropped. The last bit was zig zags so that was slightly easier.

Onto the rim of the crater and waited for Kieran to catch up. We could see all the way around and in the bottom of the crater there was a small hill but couldn't tempt Magic into going down!

We did a lap of the crater along the top and around half way around I went over on my ankle, smart. Hurt a bit but kept going. The descent was tough as there was a bit of pain at times. When we got back to the lava field we did a lap of it on trails.

A very enjoyable run and my issues from earlier in the week didn't surface. Afterwards we went to natural baths and spent a while there soaking in the hot water, would be nice to have baths like these after every training session.

Body was tired today and my right hamstring was sore still. We started our round Iceland road trip today so spent a long day sitting in the car. Scenery was astonishing at times. Also spent a lot of time playing TRACTOR.

Fimmvörðuháls - Thórsmörk to Skógar

Long trek today and my body was not happy for the last hour. Felt good on the climb up to the pass between Eyjafjallajökull and another volcano/glacier to the east of it. Nice walk up along a ridge with good views and then onto snow for the last bit. I was surprised that the pass was very long, was expecting it to be narrow, like Irish passes!

We stopped at a rough hut for lunch (emergency shelter), and then started the long descent across snow and sandy areas. We eventually crossed a bridge and had a river on our right along with the first of the waterfalls. Followed the river down to the last waterfall, Skogarfoss, passing a load of waterfalls and some gorges on the way.

I wasn't in good enough shape to appreciate the waterfalls as much as I would have liked to. The rucksack had been putting pressure on my psyiatic nerve so my right hamstring hurt. Opened the waist strap and took the rucksack weight on my shoulders for the last bit. Was tired and sore afterwards.

Laugavegur - Day 3
Emstrur to Thorsmork

Walked across a gorge to start off with, had to use a chain to descend a short distance too. Then we'd a bit of up and down along a sandy area. The wind was behind us all the way which was good. I would not have enjoyed walking into it like the people we met this morning had to.

We had a river to cross today, Kieran said it was a tough one when he did the walk before. But we were glad to find the river smaller than it was for Kieran before. I put on my Inov8s for the crossing, didn't like doing the rivers in bare feet yesterday. So got across handily enough.

After the river we entered a forested section before a final short climb and descent through forest to the last hut of the trip.

Laugavegur - Day 2
Hranfntinnusker to Emstrur

Long day today. Had a walk across snow to start off with including a few snow bridges across gullies, they all held thankfully. Then near the end of the morning walk I was crossing off a bank onto some snow and went a bit too fast. Ended up on the ground banging my knee on the way down. It hurt for a while and cut my knee. Looked impressive with the blood but when I cleaned it later there wasn't much to talk about.

Stopped for lunch at a hut. Then in the afternoon there were 3 streams/rivers to cross which were very cold. Can't say I enjoyed those crossings. Then we had some long flat walking through a sandy area. Small bit of climb to finish.

After dinner we went for a couple of km walk to see a gorge. Very impressive.

Laugacegvur - Day 1
Landmannalaugar to Hrafntinnusker

Had a rucksack with gear and provisions for next 3 days so that was a new situation for me. Started off through a lava field, then passed some steaming rocks as we climbed. We then had more climb on snow and finally a long trudge across snow to get to the hut.

We did another walk after dinner up to two nearby peaks. Got misty on the 2nd one so headed back from there.

Travelled to Iceland today from London.

Had a taxi booked to get me from the Travelodge to Gatwick but it never showed. So had to get a bus instead which worked out better for me, saved £6.

Long flight and then had to wait for a bus into Reykjavik which dropped us at the hostel. After we got provisions for the trek and ate dinner, we went on a stroll around the city for a small bit. Was weird for it to be very bright with the sun up after 11.

Event: North Atlantic Orienteering
 

Off to London tonight for my Iceland flight tomorrow. No training as a result. Will get some stretching done today though.

Got through my physio appointment. Calf is quite tight, particularly the lower part. The physio stressed that this needs to be worked on by way of stretching, otherwise I could get myself into trouble. I'll heed her words and start more stretching of the area she pointed out, in line with other stretches.

May get on the turbo trainer again this evening, and watch the Sprint coverage from Sweden at the same time. I hope it works. Otherwise I could end up being very bored on the bike.
Edit - calf sore so will just watch the o and skip the training at the same time part. Training tonight might push the calf too far.

Finish out the packing this evening, gear ready to go into bag. Then it's off to Iceland via a night in London tomorrow. So no AP I imagine until July. Will have a busy time when I get back writing up all the shit I get up to:-)