Training Log Archive: ColmM

Not sure what the scéal is with my achilles now. Had half-decided yesterday that since it had seized up a lot, that this would be a good time to take a few days off and let my legs rest, and I already have 2016 in the bag, so I'm not too bothered about the running streak anyway.

But today I can't feel anything, and it feels the best it's felt in the last week, so the temptation to get out & get something done, and keep the streak is quite real.

It is with a heavy heart

C • Nooooooo :( :'( 4

Core & exercises

Senior Squad weekend was very enjoyable, and a great 2 days training, big thanks to Hugh & Shane for the work.

Started out on the 9k course, moving well enough early on, bit of an error on 2, but not serious.
Felt the achilles seize up going to 3, couldn't comfortably go on, so hobbled home.
Achilles has been tight the last week since the Macgillycuddy reeks, so yesterday in terrain was probably too much.

gaffled head-to-head with Corbett & eoinmcc

line-o to 2nd start

star head-to-head courses with Eoin & Cillín

control pick, very nice in the sun.

"Downhill" race back to the bottom of the mountain.
Started at a nippy oul pace, but was messy orienteering, and took the 2nd half very easy, but it didn't cut out the mistakes, and got messier towards the end, but thankfully had Eoin to save me once or twice.

30s to 1min lost on 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, each.

Still tricky map & course and avoided big errors, scappiness accepted given it's my first session back since October.

Quick review of 2016:

A solid year's training. Decent mileage at times. Focus for 2016 was to train well and build up a base, having been on/off the previous few years. Mostly successful, decent mileage at times, and I do have a decent base now.

Winter training in Edinburgh has gone relatively well, could probably do with a bit more gym over the last while. I've done relatively few sessions, but this was mostly a conscious decision. Haven't run well in a race which could be related, but not too worried, and I haven't raced much. Will be hoping to get back to more quick-stuff, and start to work on speed in the next few weeks, leading into Spring.

Partway through the year it became a subsidiary goal to run everyday in 2016, and well that was a bit rough at times, but completed in the end, so that's kind of cool.

With regard to the goals I set at the start of the year, here's a brief run down:

Training:
2600km - ran 4077km, fairly smashed a goal which had assumed I'd get some injury. √
52000m climb - 68485m √
300hrs - 406hrs √
2000 controls - 2034c √

Times:
800m - 2:00 x
1500m - 4:30 √ (4:19)
Mile - 4:50 x
3km - 9:30 √ (9:21)
5km - 16:00 x (16:29)
10km - 35:00 √ (34:58)

Racing:
Intervarsity X-C (Top 40) √
JK Overall (Top 20) x
Intervarsity Orienteering (Both golds) √
IOC Long (Gold) x
IOC Relay (Gold) x
WUOC - no spectacular race, but all relatively solid. 42nd in middle & 15th in relay would be highlights (& controversial beer relay gold)

Will have some goals to follow.

Very easy with Clo round Cruagh, and then some extra myself, and met them down by Timber Trove.

with Clo

Easy with jonnyq, in the smaller hills.
The young buck was sticking to certain hr zones, so left him go a bit on a descent or two.
Very nice morning for it.

Easy with Corbett locally.
Legs heavier from yesterday than I realised.

Very easy with Jack McL.
Feeling much better than this morning. Quads a bit tight from yesterday though.

Plan was for a nice Macgillycuddy reeks epic.
Got out and did it, moving well when possible, and a lot of nice summits done.
But scrambly as hell, and caught up in too much tricky stuff and bouldering problems, and didn't get to summit Carrauntoohil with time constraints, but still an adventure very much worth having.