Training Log Archive: Dooby

Ballyward
WOC 2021 Middle Distance Selection Race

Happy with how I ran and my position. Left calf felt a bit sketchy at times warming up but ok racing, the leg from 6-7 would definitely have tested it. Was ok afterwards warming down too.

Bad start. Picked up the 'wrong' map. It was the map that said "Mens", so realised pretty quickly, back for the correct map, some seconds lost though. The 1st control I think was a bit pot luck given the pit that it was in, but there were features to pick up so got it ok.

Next few controls were fine, no issues. But did miss 5, went left of it, plan was to follow the open but don't think I got the felled area corner correctly so overshot, but relocated quickly. Also cut in early for 6. Now I see a drain on the map which I didn't see at the time. So was hesitant.

Chose right to 7, and had a bit of a look at the rest of the course. Short legs so not too much to plan. The road running did hurt, not used to that.

Thought I saw Conall leaving 7 but then when I came back onto the road Mike Long was there in a UCD top, I was right though, he was in the forest in front of me. Passed him out to 10.

Had a fall in the felled area with a bit of a roll on the way down to 11, no damage done. To 12 I was slightly high, Debbie taking photos distracted me, realised it was the clearing above it. Caught Jonny around 14 and passed him up the hill to 15, he went more to my left.

A few more boulders at 15 had me hesitating for a second or so. 16 was ok, as was 17. Went a bit too low for 18 but was using the drains, knew I needed to be parallel to them rather than crossing.

Definitely got helped by Neil and some of the girls in front going to 19. The control didn't look like I imagined it would be. Also didn't get the last control right, it was contouring but I think I climbed a small bit.

I don't think I could have physically run faster but could have saved a minute or so orienteering wise. Given though the lack of orienteering recently I feel I didn't do too badly. The forest was nice to run in and Roar planned a good course to match.

Lough Guitane - Glenflesk - Barraduff

Felt a bit flat starting out so was worried it mightn't be an enjoyable spin, but felt better once warmed up.

Weather alright, some wind coming out of Barraduff, not as strong as yesterday.

Will purchase new cycling shoes next week, need them.

Traffic in Killarney the busiest i've seen it in a long time!

Some wind this afternoon, from the south. So most troublesome up the hill home and around the brewery/distillery. Had shelter on the road in from Fossa.

Legs feeling good today, recovered a lot from last night, they were both very tight last night. Was moving well.

Had a bit of traffic dodging to do in both directions through town. Jarvey on Mission Road on the way out, so cut onto the cycle lane at Beech Road, then traffic jam coming back in, so back onto the cycle lane.

Will do an hour tomorrow too.

Left calf feeling less tight today but both calves tight afterwards. Pace not high either. So some work to do on them. I'm confident they will recover for the weekend, especially as I don't intend to run on them again between now and Sunday, just bike.

Bit cool this evening. Few tourists around by the looks of things. A group of lads walking in the direction of Torc from Muckross House were all in shorts. It wasn't the weather for shorts.

A couple of runners about.

Bonus rest day.
Think i'll cycle on Saturday rather than rest.

Legs, left calf in particular still feeling tight. Had to go into the office today anyways so training would have been hard to fit in.

Calves sore.

Family outing to Tesco and an outing to Kennedy's Pet Farm for the afternoon. Body didn't feel too bad.

Weather not the best for the farm, dryish, and the lads enjoyed it.

Body is trying to tell me something, might be that it's wrecked. Basically sore all over. Main thing is that it's not associated with injury, just with a tough and physical race yesterday, something i'm not used to. So looking like I will make it 2 weekends in a row orienteering.

Monday - Bike (recovery)
Tuesday - Rest
Wednesday - Bike/Rest (depends on the body)
Thursday - Run
Friday - Bike
Saturday - Rest
Sunday - Orienteering

Hope to get the new MTB this week so that might feature in training this week. Waiting for a call.

Lough Guitane - Killarney

Hopefully this helps the legs to recover. Tried to spin them a bit and didn't have too much power on the climbs, definitely not Lough Guitane anyways as legs were cold. Probably coped with the hill up home better as were warmed up.

Bit of a headwind to Lough Guitane and then out the Muckross Road. That meant the main road was easy cycling.