Training Log Archive: ColmM

Event: Munster Orienteering Championships, Toureen Wood
 

Big week next week.

Munster Championships 2013 - M21L, 9.7km.
I was going into this race knowing this was another big step up from the last couple of weeks. I'd gotten away with wins at NIOC and CROC (not by much), but probably sue to it being terrain that suited me, and had pretty good running. Today, I entered the Munster territory, which everyone knows is a much tougher affair. Few teams go to Munster and win.
Still, I was confident that I could run hard, and well, and I thought if I did, I would have a good chance at making it a 3rd provincial title in a row.
Here we go.

1 (5:57, +1:18, 3rd || 5:57, +1:18, 3rd)
Not the best start. I ran hard down the track, and planned to cut up after the open with undergrowth and through the rough open. As I cut up, it became apparent that this rough open was indeed rough. Deep, and you couldn't see where your foot was going, tough to get your legs going. I think Darren took one of the other routes and he gained a lot.

2 (2:23, +0:22, 4th || 8:20, +1:40, 3rd)
This was an easy control and I got it fine. took the track and back into it. Further back then I would like on this sort of a leg though.

3 (4:59, +0:17, 2nd || 13:19, +1:57, 3rd)
I went straight to 3. Coming up to the open I figured with the earth-wall it was at least possible there'd be some trail or something, because the open looked bad. Found something, then noticed the forest ride a bit on and took it. Ran nicely through the forest, stayed above the earth-wall near the control and knew I'd see it. Slightly hesitant though, 5-10s.

4 (1:41, +0:01, 2nd || 15:00, +1:58, 2nd)
Straight through the forest to 4, light green was nice, and I enjoyed running through this, nice flow.

5 (4:03, +0:31, 2nd || 19:03, +1:12, 3rd)
Straight through the light green again to 5. Just right of the open stuff, came around and was hesitant on the downhill, had started a bit right so was coming back left and trying to make sure I didn't go above the gully, but I wasn't sure where I was. Hit it a bit low, but came back up. 20-30s.

6 (1:15, +0:16, 2nd || 20:18, +1:28, 2nd)
On my bearing, a small bit left and back around as planned. But maybe a little far left. Also felt I was a little slow as the stuff wasn't the nicest forest, Darren pulling away everywhere.

7 (3:47, -0:40, 1st || 24:05, +0:48, 2nd)
A much better leg than I expected. Straight through the light green, hit the open and had to get through this rough stuff again, running alright so far though, and good as always through the forest. Decided once through the open it was worth it to drop down to the track and come back up. Somehow destroyed this leg?

8 (3:13, +0:15, 3rd || 27:18, +1:03, 2nd)
Downhill through the forest. Bearing was good and got the control fine, but Ruairí and Darren were quick here, the rocky bits had me nervous of my ankles.

9 (2:41, +0:13, 2nd || 29:59, +1:16, 2nd)
Pretty quick through the forest, bit low and almost missed it, but saw it and came up. Half an hour in, and Darren is pretty comfortably in control, especially considering he threw away 1:20 between 5 and 7.

10 (4:16, +1:27, 10th || 34:15, +2:10, 2nd)
Out to the track and running well. Down into it, trying to read the detail. Spotted higher control, looks odd, but pretty close so I punched it, wrong code. Down a little further but the map isn't making sense and there's no control. I don't like blaming the map, but it was quite dodgy here, and the control was in the wrong place. But at the same time, I'm not sure there was a correct place. I stopped and walked to the bottom and there the control was, by the edge of the field at the bottom. (~1:20 missed)

11 (3:25, +0:16, 2nd || 37:40, +2:26, 2nd)
As 10 was so low, I decided to go to the low path which lead back up to the main track. grand, follow track, up and in. Darren running quicker.

12 (3:57, +0:38, 4th || 41:37, +2:43, 2nd)
Uphill. My weak point! Climbed alongside the wall, cut off near the last track. Went in and saw what looked like a single tree, but no pit, so turned left in the direction I originally thought the control would be, yep. (10-15s miss). Eoin climbed this like a madman.

13 (3:30, +0:11, 4th || 45:07, +2:54, 2nd)
I went straight through the forest, and it wasn't the best section of forest, so maybe down would have been better, but I didn't lose much. Down along the wall, but went a bit low in search of nice running and had to climb unnecessarily. (15-20s)

14 (1:53, +0:17, 5th || 47:00, +3:11, 2nd)
Uphill. Battled through it, but slow.

15 (4:35, +0:17, 3rd || 51:35, +3:28, 2nd)
Climbed up / struggled up, but ran fast when I hit the track and still feeling good. Dropped early enough and ran through the forest for a little bit, but spike it. Possible time-loss on up, or going into forest early because I don't think I lost time on that track.

16 (2:02, +0:12, 3rd || 53:37, +3:40, 2nd)
Straight through the forest, running nicely. Bearing good, but a little hesitant on distance.

17 (4:47, +0:15, 2nd || 58:24, +3:55, 2nd)
Ran along the stream then left it to straighten up but go up to the track. Took a few strides to get into it on the track but was running freaking fast again. Cut in early-ish again, but nailed it.

18 (2:59, +0:05, 2nd || 61:23, +4:00, 2nd)
Ran straight. Tried to stay a bit high so I'd have a nice place to cross the river, and I hit an alright spot. From here in I mainly watched the road below for position, and hit the control fine.

19 (2:12, -0:00, 1st || 63:35, +3:37, 2nd)
Went straight across the track. Thought the steep bit could be slow, as steep sidehills usually are, so I tried to drop early and when I hit the flatter stuff I ran along in search of the control. Joint fastest with Laurence.

20 (4:16, +0:42, 5th || 67:51, +3:57, 2nd)
Little slow up the steepest bit, but running alright then. Wasn't totally sure of my position on the track and I ran along looking for the small trail but didn't see it. Climbed up but no idea where I was, I was slightly bewildered. kept climbing in hope, and stumbled across the small trail, came back and there it was. (30s miss)

21 (3:05, +0:26, 2nd || 70:56, +4:23, 2nd)
Through one of the rougher patches of the forest, struggled with my footing and was slow in the rocky bit, and it showed as Darren took us all well down.

22 (1:35, -0:01, 1st || 72:31, +4:22, 2nd)
Downhill leg, some lads heading away right, but I was confident, and got it fine.

23 (0:28, +0:04, 4th || 72:59, +4:25, 2nd)
Short easy leg.

Finish (0:27, -0:00, 1st || 73:26, +4:23, 2nd)
Fast on track.

Well, my race really wasn't that bad. I was orienteering pretty well the whole way around and some small things, but probably less overall than I originally thought. Darren was just in a different class, running faster all over the place. That extra push. Even without my mistakes I wouldn't have got him, fair play, no better way to complete the 5 in a row.
I'll remember for future that Munster men are hard to beat in Thomond Park.

Splitsbrowser
Routegadget/Map

I've let myself get carried away over the last couple of weeks, but at least today was a reality check. I've got to get going seriously on training if I want to compete at our level, never mind international.

Overall with the race I was consistent, and generally just that little bit behind Darren, and that's why I got 2nd place, the others had more time-losses. But I had a severe lack of fastest splits. So I guess I'll just have to work harder.
Also - I like this new race anlaysis, but it takes a while so we'll see if I keep it up.

with joshosh from the finish back up to the cars.

Course 1 - Splits

Pretty poor week's training. Big week to come next week.
At least I got to rest a bit for the Munster Champs, but as much as I'd love to say that's why I didn't train, it's more likely to do with the 4 nights of alcohol.

Where men are made.
Orienteering middle planned by lorrieq. Parked on the West side of Glendoo, course was on the East side, didn't know how much of the other side was private. Jogged over, and back (20mins over, 27 back or something). Over the top of Glendoo to start.
Ran the middle, pretty nice, cool area and I haven't been on this side. Some tricky bits, but we were reading the detail well, and eoinmcc and myself fairly nailed all of them. Good shtuff.
The weather however... Bad enough as we started, but certainly manageable. As we finished the middle distance and turned to go back over the mountain, the winds were manic, the rain was being fired at us on the uphill, and hailstones shooting around. It was the worst weather I've had in a long time. We struggled to tell where we were for a while at the top of Glendoo. But we figured it out. Was nearly hypothermic when I got back (exaggerating, but seriously cold).

C • Nights 2

Hellfire hellreps.

Started out the first thinking I could have a go at the record. Then chilled the next 2, but was way slower than I realised.
Times: 3:00 (record), 4:36, 4:05

C • Record 5

Ran to drinks, as a zombie-runner thingy, but it meant I got to run there and home, having not trained that day yet.

home (~ 2am)

2 sets of 5 *300m, with a 5min jog in between. 45sec rests. UCDAC

The short rests really hit me pretty hard in the chest. Was just getting my breath back and we were gone. Fast reps. Supposed to be a short and sharp session to get fast twitch muscles going again after longer reps most of the time. In no-man's land between both the fast lads and the slower ones for the most part.
Times:
Set 1- 0:49, 0:48, 0:51, 0:49, 0:52.
Set 2- 0:51, 0:48, 0:50, 0:50, 0:51.
Windy out.

There was no reason for this rest day and I feel guilty. Easy - medium week to come.