Training Log Archive: grilla

Amazingly I had a reasonably good run today. Really enjoyed the chasing start (although there was only 1 M50 near me) I was aware of the potential for people to catch up if I made a mistake. The style of the course was fun. It was probably the most technical of all the days. The map required a fair bit of respect and after making a meal of 3 and 4 I made sure to stop at each control and read the next leg properly. This is something I should put into practice more often as I felt that it did not slow me down and meant I could attack each leg confidently. Ran a fair bit harder than the last couple of days but was feeling pretty tired by the end.

.. am very tired overall, having been working each night as well.

Day 3 Course 3 - Splits

Slow and steady again. Quite a few small time losses - nothing overly bad: 3 (left route not optimal), 5 (poor route and execution), 6 (safe route but big uphill slog), 9 (a bit wobbly), 10 (miscounted marshes), 12 (nervous down cross-slope leg, including traverse down a cliff), 14 (fell and got disoriented, was thinking more about the hole in my map near 15 than continuing to 14), 15 (ended up left of control but got it fine), finish (nervous about finding it).

Day 2 Course 3 - Splits

Event: Shamrock O-Ringen 2011
 

Today was so hot I bought a hat - in Ireland! I had to think hard about going ahead with the purchase fearing it would jinx the weather for the rest of our stay. So far my frantic, unplanned, last-minute packing job of stuffing only winter clothes in a bag has paid off.

Unbelieveably spectacular (but long) hike to the start, up the hill/mountain. The last bit was very steep. Slightly marred by falling into a gorse bush 3/4 of the way up. Lying in a bed of prickles is painful, but forcing yourself to put your hand back down in it to push yourself back up is worse. Prickly Moses is lovely stuff compared to this.

Day 1 of shamrock. Another beautiful day, spectacular views! A couple of mistakes and some small time losses - took it VERY carefully. Mistake on 4 (let the terrain force me low then went too far), slow on 5, 6 and 8. Slower on 12, 13 and 14.

Kept getting pushed higher or lower than I wanted by following the rock. This was still prefereable to trying to tackle the long grass and bogs.

C • Double wins! 6

Day 1 Course 3 - Splits

Day trip to Clear Island - Ireland's southernmost island. I think I may have even gotten a touch sunburnt - amazing!

We made another attempt at swimming, but once again Aoife only made it half way and I reckon that's as good an indicator as any that the water temperature is not sufficient for human immersion.

After an hour trip to the island and 90 minutes into the return trip the captain ran out of commentary. Luckily has was a resourceful fellow and was able to entertain us with a few sea shanties. We were (finally) in sight of our destination when even they ran out. I then presumed that he was playing a music tape over the loud speaker in the couple of minutes before docking... then it dawned on me - he was seriously up there playing his accordian! ...100m from the pier...

C • to be sure to be sure 1

Cobdubh with Eoin & Colm. A bit shaky to start with and continued in fairly the same vein most of the time. It was reassuring that Eoin & Colm weren't really that much more confident than me. Mapping style is very different to what I am used to, let alone the terrain differences. Again, reasonably dry, just a few bog holes and annoying long grass.

Another spectacular day, sunny, no wind and quite warm compared with the previous few.

Along the ridge from Sheep's Head. Had wanted to get a feel for what the weekend's terrain might be like but could not see further than 20m. Nice running, started in my raincoat (apparently its a cagoule - practicing for the weekend's mandatory requirement) and gloves. Took them off after about 15 minutes.

13 degrees and impenetrable mist for the first day of summer!

C • Good old Irish weather! 5

Back to the car along the road. Did not want to kill my legs so just walked and enjoyed the ambience (there was no view).