Training Log Archive: ColmM

OK Nuts Trophy (+13min)

Was pretty keen to get another one on what looked like a solid area - too many tracks but so be it. Had to rock up early and head on quick due to afternoon plans.
Got going alright, mini banana on #1 but settled in and found it fine, and off on a longer leg to #2 - think this went reasonably well, basically straight lined it but used paths along the way because bits of the terrain were tougher than I anticipated. Ticked off 3 alright, but had a wobble coming into #4, thought I'd aimed off left enough to turn in, but nope, so I ended up going the wrong way when I got into the circle, costing ~30sec. 10sec in the circle on #5 too - misunderstood the direction of the contours.
#6 was along a track so I planned ahead, nice control point, but not an inspiring leg.
Got through the net section #7 - #13 all fine mostly, but was just finding the terrain tough work and it was sapping my energy a bit.
I went wide left on #14 to avoid some climb for my poor tired legs, will have to see how that worked out in the end.
Went a bit too high on #15 (~10-15sec), was really feeling that climb. Pretty alright through the next loop #16 - #18, and then tried to work hard to #19 up the hill, but didn't give the navigation enough time and lost at least 30sec in the circle, and it could have been worse to be honest.
Recomposed myself a bit at the road crossing, but didn't take too long and set off on the final loop. Navigating fine and enjoying the better running through most of it, but hit an unmarked track and some changing vegetation on the way into #27 which completely threw me and I must have binned the guts of 2mins by the time I'd relocated and got it which was a right shame so close to the finish.

Not the best day out, I'd gone in planning to focus on getting the detailed navigation right and not lose unnecessary seconds and hoping that the running would mostly take care of itself. Felt a bit flat out there which didn't help the nav, but should have been more focused and my mistakes came at obvious points of less concentration (#19 & #27 coming towards the timed-out road-crossing / finish).
Last few events have seemed to go reasonably well, so probably good for me to have a worse one anyway and evaluate it properly, but plenty more work to do.
That forest seems likely to have tracked up quite a bit and I can imagine the running was a good bit better a few hours later for the late starts, but certainly not enough to explain the large gap! Not going to worry about the physical side too much though, legs probably just a bit tired from yesterday / the week, and not used to running that bit longer in terrain. Would be curious to see if others took more path routes.