Training Log Archive: ColmM

That was a good 6-week block of big weeks in the mountains mostly.

Weekly averages (running / orienteering):
Time: 14.1hrs
Mileage: 107km
Climb: 4,015m

Will be taking it easy this week and re-evaluate what to do next. Optimistic fitness should be good, certainly endurance & strength, though speed probably still lacking.
Hard to know what to go for next as there are likely to be so many cancellations & postponements.
Anyway, considering options, firstly deciding whether it is worth departing NZ for a country on lockdown.

C • Block 2

Evening lake swim, feeling relatively alright

Running a race this morning, starts at 5pm Friday Irish time for anyone interested - tracking link here:

https://macpacmotatapuultrarun-2020.maprogress.com...

Motatapu ultra - 9th

Oi oi oi. That was long. Had a good old time out there though.
Started off at 6am, and I had underestimated what time it got bright at, my wee head torch was worthless but tucked in around 7th or 8th up first long climb and tried to steal other people’s light on the way up to the first hut.
At the first hut we had another kit check which was not ideal as my pick was tightly packed. Got the stuff out but lost a few mins spending a while trying to fit it all in again.
Still, got into a rhythm, and chased down Ben plus a couple others on the first descent which went quite alright. It was tricky trying to balance trying to catch up vs my cut on my toe run in on the steep descents & obeying the first rule of ultras (don’t overcook your legs on the descents), but it seemed to work out alright.
We had another climb here which I Hadn’t expected and seemed too small to be one of the 4 in my head, but too big not to have noticed. Eventually I warmed to the idea that it was climb 2.
I ran just off the back of Ben into hut 2, but got ahead there as he had issues with his bottle.
Plugged away up the long climb, and got up a bit between Ben and yellowface (he needed a nickname). There was some gorgeous single track hillside traverse here - most the mountain was stunning single track really, and it was hard not to be in awe at your surroundings. worked alright on the descent to gain back time on yellowface and 2 others that I reckoned were 5th & 6th.
One of them was honking early and slowly made my way by him on the climb. Ben came storming through the climb though and I settled to chase.
I asked around and was informed this was not the 4th big climb, but the 3rd. Very sad news that, but made sense cos the distance seemed off.
I slowly got back to Ben on the descent and came into hut 3 with him again. I was starting to struggle and took my time here to get some coke and snacks in (as well as professing my love for a volunteer) but there were a good few around the hut and it looked 3rd & 4th had left just before our arrival, with others handing around so there was a lot to play for.
I set off in chase and slugged up the last big one. I could see the crowd in front packing and started to think people were bonking / though in fact I think it was just steeper.
Dan (friend of Ben’s) came by me, I was moving a bit slowly, but I had rejuvenated my energy a bit and was content to get up at a reasonable pace and think about the long road home.
Got by Dan on the descent and the into the dreaded river I had not seen coming. The next 5-6km were just running through deep river, freezing your feet and expending energy. It stunted all my momentum and I was just trying to get it done, but still managed to pass one fellow and nobody came from behind.

Finally I reached the vehicle track - which still endlessly crossed the river - and could move a bit better for some sections. I reckoned I was 9th and on some open cliff sections I could see a fellow a ways ahead, but realised there were 2 lads chasing me. Started working in hope of that top 10, but the 2 behind did eventually catch me - and it turned out to be 3 of them - with about 6km to go.
Knew it was a fight now but I was able to tuck in and decided we’d have to back the sprint finish. We caught the fella in front too though which brought the group to 5 with a couple km to go.

We got into the last 2km and once again we hit rivers and the lad doing most the work kicked on which seemed fair enough. We battled between the rest of us but I was fading. Managed to hold not too far off, and made a big late comeback to get 2 lads on the 200m kickdown, bringing back into 9th, just missing out on catching the guy who had moved away a km earlier. Good stuff though.

What a stunning track (apart from the somewhat grim rivers section), such beautiful single track through a huge area of stunning open mountain.
Delighted to have done it, and pretty happy with how it went all in all, as there was no major bonking at least.
Legs fairly battered and reckon it will be a few lovely days off now. Good times.

Planned a rest day but I’ve been doing quite a bit of driving and the hamstrings & quads were stiff so felt a shakeout was in order.
Ran in swimming shorts to accommodate a dip after and legs feeling better for it.

Pulled into the cathedral caves car park as she was closing the gate, but she let me in for 1hr during high tide which was actually plenty time to get around while running. Saw pretty much all the caves, though had to get the feet a little wet.
Came back up and changed before she had fully locked up.

From the site in Dunedin, came back along the golf course for a bit but there were some golfers about so hopped off after a little.

Nice one from campsite in Te Anau before a day tour

Out some dark road that looked quiet on the map.
It was not quiet, in the middle of nowhere but still getting a car a minute sorta job and despite my head torch was still getting many beeps.
Turned back at a house with some aggressive dogs.
On the way back I could see some funny business happening at the side of the road ahead. Turns out someone had gone off into the ditch in the 15mins I’d passed this spot.
Another car stopped behind and 3-4 lads standing round having a beer. Looked suspiciously like the lads who had been chucking back tinnies at the boules marching happening beside my campsite.
I said a quick hello and left me to it anyway.

Originally thought I might do the Kepler in 2 days, but as with yesterday, just trying to rest the legs a bit so settled for a taste of it on this afternoon run.
Was just what I wanted (at least the little bit I did), lovely lakeside track through forest, a few nice bays to stop at, good surface, and flat. Felt almost like a quieter version of the Abel-Tasman but without the weather.
It started to go uphill not long before I turned back, the legs were feeling pretty good so I enjoyed it. A pleasant afternoon run.

Had originally been looking at doing the routeburn, but logistics were difficult being a 1-way track, and as it turns out I am now wanting to rest the legs a little so it was a no.
Still, people recommended coming round to Glenorchy, and it was pretty & much quieter than Queenstown. Mt. Alfred was also tempting but didn’t exactly fit the resting criteria, so just did an easy flat run along the road or kinloch.
This was nice & easy, all muscles feeling fine, but a little lethargy meaning it was very slow, not helped by the big head-wind on return that I hadn’t anticipated to be that strong.