Training Log Archive: ColmM

IOC Relay - 3rd

Out of energy, and not in the best of shape, but clean for a lot of the race.
Cillín and Laurence both unhappy with their races, but we were still within shouting distance (1:30 - 2mins?) because of others' shortcomings.

Had absolutely no idea where Nick was, but I assumed quite close.

Started pretty fine, questionable route to 2, but hit it which was the main thing. Clean through the next section, and careful enough in the tricky section.
Got to 9, holy shit that's Darren, right we're back level, cool.
Through 10 and 11 pretty well, so I knew I was in the lead coming through the spectator.
Got heaps of support here, so it was really a great atmosphere and a great feeling that I don't think I'll really forget.
Heard Laurence shouting at the end that I had 30s.

Tried not to let that effect me and just got into the next one clean, which was crucial cos I knew others' might have a trickier gaffle.
Went into 15 a bit off, and missed 30sec, but still knew I was ahead with nobody else around, but a crucial miss nonetheless.
Through 16, and 17 I was able to keep it clean-ish, but knew that I was running fluidly, but not quickly.

Leaving 17, I could tell 18 and 19 were going to be the last two tricky ones, and if I could hold it together there, I'd be pretty safe.
Didn't alter the pace, kept the fluidity, but maybe not safe enough, was confident and clean on 18, but 19, I didn't really check my compass, or my exit, and was offline and trying to make the features fit knowing they weren't fitting.
Came back, no luck, and back again, no luck, saw Darren, Nick, Conor and Eoin in this time, and saw Nick go straight by, but ran on as if I had a chance if Nick missed or something. Finished, a bit deflated, knew I had lost it, and then realised that Darren had beaten me too.

Killer really, really was not supposed to end like that in my head.

So many different ways to look at it.

1. I had it in the bad and threw it away (my immediate thought).


2. We all ran badly, and it's a good sign that we were right in the mix despite that.


3. It was comforting to hear the lads saw it as I had actually brought us back into it, and given us hope, as opposed to throwing it away.


4. Everyone had a chance, and to be honest Darren surely has the worst feeling, so I can't complain too much.


5. This is a team with a lot of potential, and I'm optimistic about the future.


6. I can't believe we let BOC win it. Wow.


7. Let's all hope Nick doesn't come back for IOC next year.


8. Fuck engineering.

IOC Long

Plan was to start hard, and keep it up. Started solidly, weak on 8, and 20-30s loss on 4, but solid start.
Was unsure going into 13 exactly what was happening, found the right spot, but didn't go far enough and didn't see the control, went to relocate, lost 2mins, then found it. Silly, but a little vague here, still with more confidence it would have been fine, others had similar issue.
Still kept the pace alright, and despite the bad miss, I was around the same as eoinmcc and Magic at 17 / 18, I think I was 20s down.
That's where I would have liked to have finished, in the front group (aside from Nick of course), even if just off it.

But thing's go as they do, I was getting cold and tired and there was nobody around give my late start, and I let it slip a bit, didn't feel like I was racing as much, and I don't know why I felt like that, 'cos it was awfully silly.

Scrapped around 19, 20, 21, 22, losing about 3-4mins and then also couldn't find the last control or finish, and blew away another minute, which put me in behind Conor, rather silly really. But I can learn from it because I've had mistakes late on in the races recently. But I also haven't got the same breaks as others as to who I am with - that will turn around long term, and isn't a reasonable excuse, the best are best on their own.

Event: Irish Orienteering Championships
 

No training for the last 4 weeks, but confidence is sky high.