Training Log Archive: Billenicus

Connacht Champs - Aghrane Wood, Ballygar - 9.7Km 95m

Well, that was an experience! Flat, but rough wood. Came back scratched to pieces. The map had some relationship to the terrain, but not a great deal.

Lost time at 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 23, 24, 25, mostly due to the map.

Bigger time losses at 1, where the map just wasn't what I expected it, and the depression barely existed. At 12 (7 mins), where I just failed to find the big open area that provide the obvious simple route and got stuck in lots of green before giving up, finding my way back to 11, and then taking the other route without any problem. At 20, where I got fooled by the vegetation mapping. At 24, where vegetation, ditches and earthwalls all seemed weird. Think total time loss was 13-14 mins.

Physically, both calves were pretty much back to normal, though the left one was still a bit sore at times. Struggled a bit physically with the terrain running, though wasn't motivated too much after the big mistake at 12.

Course 1 - Splits

The Glenshelane loop in the opposite direction to usual.

Feeling very zoned out and slow to start with, but gradually got into it and was feeling good by the end. Right calf seems to have improved a bit, but left calf still fairly sore.

Flying to UK then on to Ireland.

Woke up early with the thought of using the treadmill, but calves just too painful.

From the hotel in Thousand Oaks up to the ridge to the south, along and back (pretty much the same as in previous years).

At dawn, so was very atmospheric, but couldn't enjoy it so much as calves were both still very painful, so was basically hobbling. Felt very good otherwise though.

Both calves very sore today.