Training Log Archive: Dooby

Mountleader Wood & Claragh Mountain

No idea the last BOC event I went to that wasn't MOC/IOC, maybe a decade or more!

But decided to do some orienteering on an unfamiliar map. I had run here once before, map originally done in 1997 so possibly was there before 2000. My only memory of the open mountain is bad weather and I don't think I finished.

The forest starting out was lovely, proper runnable white. The light green forest was ok to but the darker green where a few controls were not so runnable.

Got 1 ok and was happy approaching 2 when I passed between the solid green areas. Used the gate as an attackpoint for 3 and just ducked into and out of the green for 4. Went around the path to 5. Slightly high on 7. 8 I found a tough slog when I started climbing, and more of that to come.

10 was another tough climb, had Dan McDonnell in front of me up the hill so a target to help locate the control. More climb to 11 and then onto the mountain proper.

Got 12 more or less spot on, contoured around through the heather after leaving the path. Not the most runnable so went up to come back down then for 13. Very vague in the area, found, not accurately though so some time lost. Leaving 14 I cut across to the lower path, heather maybe slightly more runnable than the other side of the hill but I did have gravity on my side here.

Had worked out 15 when climbing the mountain earlier. The map in the centre of the circle for 16 had rubbed in the plastic bag so missing a bit of detail. Got the control ok.

Then 17 was my worst control. Didn't read the contours correctly so maybe 30 seconds lost initially once i'd figured out the lay of the land, then found the crag but didn't see the control hanging on the other side of a tree from the direction I was looking, training kites. So moved off before coming back and finally seeing it. Probably 2-3 minutes in total here.

18 i'd been to already and came back around the path to 19. Wasn't that accurate to 20 but map might be slightly different in terms of vegetation, thought I was at the corner of the white but based on the GPS I wasn't. Maybe 1 minute here.

Was ok to the finish then, straightforward enough. Should probably change the total controls to 23 rather than 22 as the last control was definitely a navigate to finish.

Good to run somewhere different. A good bit of climb on the course which I didn't feel great on, ok maybe up to 12, but to 8, 10 and 11 I found it tougher.

I probably won't leave it another decade before my next BOC event.

QuickRoute

Waited a few minutes to try and let the fog clear a bit so was a chillier morning than I'd hoped for. Was nice up around Molls Gap and on the way home. Happy with clothing choice but maybe 1 layer too many.

Think main climb was aided by seeing a couple of bikes in front of me, definitely towards the end of Ladies View. Was very concerned that time would be bad but actually alright.

Nearing Molls Gap I saw another bike in front of me so was focused on that. Didn't notice a couple of Chain Gang lads catch up with me. But stuck to their wheel and outkicked them to the top. Couldn't help myself.

Didn't kill myself on the way home, didn't have the legs. They ran out of juice near the end. First time climbing this year and felt it.

Did 4km of walking this evening around my back garden cutting the grass! After a trip to Cork. But main reason for lack of training is tiredness, bad night last night with sleep.

Lovely evening for a spin with a bit of wind to make life harder.

Thought my arm would be feeling a bit better today but maybe needs a bit longer. Taped it again as sensor position doesn't quite fit under sleeve. Got very sore at one point but better nearing home.

Left knee a bit iffy at times but not too bad pedaling. More less the same pace as last spin. Traffic in town busy in both directions.

Starting to form a plan for the weekend.

Poulnaderka & short road loop

Got home reasonably early from Cork and despite feeling tired I felt I wanted some fresh air. Feeling 100% better too. So on with the runners and up to the local wood.

Arm not feeling too comfortable, trying out a Freestyle Libre for a couple of weeks and put a bit of tape over it to be safe in the trees.

Did a couple of loops around the wood, some taking longer than others as I tried some of the smaller connecting paths on the big loop.

After that it was an extended road run home, downhill first and then back up to home. Legs feeling ok but don’t think calves were too happy.

Noticed a For Sale sign on the forestry that Elvis spends a lot of his time in. No price online but there are 12 acres with the first approx 30 years old. Maybe he’d like a present of a forest?

C • Forest 2

Giving my body a chance to recover from the bug. Did do a lot of walking around Killorglin in the sun for the afternoon, so not completely idle. Felt tired on the couch watching the football later, avoiding training for another day or so.

Bureaucracy is a pain in the ass, particularly when it comes to TUEs. How does an organisation award a TUE for medication to treat a condition in 2015 come back in 2019 when the TUE is applied for again to ask for information on the diagnosis of the condition???

Not sure how this week will work out. I basically have no plan for it. Will take each day as it comes. I do know i've physio this evening for starters. Wednesday i've an appointment in Cork in the afternoon so that's a rest day and on Friday Mary has an appointment in Cork, it's in the afternoon so may get something done in the morning since no work.

Left quad took a beating and it also felt like the calves did too. Thankfully how I was feeling improved during the day as I wasn't looking forward to this as didn't think i'd have the energy to take the pain.