Training Log Archive: ColmM

Very chill recovery in the park with roar, Corbett & joshosh.
Lots to chat about, very enjoyable.

Cycling: Commute 16:59 [3] 5.95 km (21.0 kph) +42m

Pb.

IOC Relay - Gold
Leg 3 with Conall & Ruairí on legs 1 & 2 for UCDO.
Warming up muscles were a little stiff but mostly alright in terms of sore. Just lacking energy really after yesterday.

Bit of controversy leading into the race surrounding my eligibility to run for UCD. Didn't really want to be involved in the process, kind of figured my opinion was irrelevant really anyway, could just supply the ucdo constitution, and others could decide whether I was legitimately allowed to be a member or not. Had been expecting to hear back on this before the race started - in the end never heard anything (which is possibly news in itself?). Anyway, all this was mulling over in my head a little before the start, and in the end I was glad not to hear shortly before starting as it would have been distracting.

Conall did a good job to come from behind to go through the field and finish with a small lead over CorkO. Ruairí did his job and extended this slightly, so I knew going out onto last leg I had about 1min lead over Marcus for Cork, and maybe 3mins to Kev with CNOC, and no idea for Nick, but optimistic it was too much.

Was fairly nervous off the start. I've run this relay many times, and only been in the lead for a grand total of maybe 5mins (in 2015 when myself and darren both blew it to Nick). Anyway, I'd run this relay too many times to think that running-speed was going to be the deciding factor. Particularly after feeling slow in the middle and long and mostly being similar to a lot of the guys - I felt wouldn't need to push to sustain the lead.

So, I set off at a steady pace, not going hard, and focused on being clean, and making the others chase me. If I needed to race hard, I could save it for if I got caught.
I was clean on #1 and was happy enough to get into it. I took a safe (but slow) route through the depressions to #2, and ended up having to come back into it a little, but wasn't worrying about it. Set off to #3 grand oul job, didn't keep much track of where I was, but knew it was halfway up the big hill and could figure out the rest once there. So, climbed up, on a decent line, was a little cautious and took my time to be certain I was correct on top, as the hills were a little less obvious than I expected.
Went down and around to 4, nice little line and moved into it easily. Back out the same way, and no sign of Marcus on what kind of had to be an ungaffled control, good stuff (turns out he was 30s behind).
Down the hill, not paying a whole lot of attention and drifted left on route, but the big fenced off area was obvious, and I could move back in towards the control, cautious entering, but all good.

Saw Marcus behind now, and knew it was less than 1min. Shat myself a little, but regained control, picked the pace up a little, but kept it steady and on the line to 6, picked it off fine. I was too scared to look back, but knew he was still going to have to work hard to reel that in if I was clean, even if he could see me.
Knew I really just had two more controls to get two more technical controls, and the last loop was all running, which I could hopefully suffer out if caught. Figured I should be beating Marcus on pure running, but legs really weren't feeling good, and the thought of that last hill still had me scared.
Anyway, kept on the map, could see the hill before 7 from a good bit, so moved into the control nicely enough, just cruising the entries.
Straight off to 8, and when I saw the big tower, I knew I could try keep the pace solid again. Kept it clean after the last depression, and knew I was now into the running section.

Heard Ruairí say I had a decent gap on the spectator, but also heard people shouting on Marcus and Kev, so didn't get too complacent. The vague-ish re-entrant gave minor worries, so really took my time.
Climbed slowly, but looked back and could see it was a big gap, so cruised in the remainder, double-checking codes and the gap.
Enjoyed getting to run-in with the lads waiting, and appreciated the support, everyone was very sporting afterward. The two lads really set it up nicely and deserved their win.

Would have been nice to get to win it while I was still in UCD with the lads, but really enjoyed being a part of another competitive IOC relay, and of course coming out on top. Have been wanting to win this one for a while.
We were awarded the title anyway, not sure if that's that, or just because nobody protested in the end, and the eligibility is still something to be looked at.
Did very much enjoy my time in UCD, so nice to win it with them, but if in the end this changes, I think I would be tempted to setup an alumni club, think it's good to stay connected. Who knows though.

C • Eligibility 6

IOC Long - 5th
Better. Started steady, expecting to struggle. Did, but was mostly okay after the big early climb, until the last loop which I justness tried to keep it together for.
Content.

Long Course 1 - Splits

Event: Irish Orienteering Championships
 

Shakeout

IOC Middle - 10th Irish I think (incl. 20s)
Ewww.

I started alright (I thought), got 1 grand, and alright up the hill towards 2, contoured round a little high up, but climbed too much and went too far, and ended up past it a little uncertain - 1min lost already (didn’t think it was as big as this at the time).
Grand through 3 - 6, moving decently on the downhills and good splits on 4 & 6, has me back in the general pack.

Got a ground oul line toward 7, but having crossed the river I misread the map and was parallel too low, 30s. Coming out to 8 I got all up in my own head - was worrying about PaulP starting behind and hum catching me, and was starting to get tired.
Took an odd line to 8, too Garner right, realised and didn’t correct, 20-30s. Slow up to 9, slow up to 10 watching my back. Poor.
Down towards 11, I had just stopped reading the map enough and when I did, I wasn’t making sense of it at all, 20-30s.
Paul caught me shortly after 11, tried to sustain an effort and follow him - couldn’t really, but still followed and ended up right on a higher hill - 20s (though Paul has fastest split??).
And absolute mess following him again towards 13 - thought it was too easy to read the map sokept on his line, we overshot and saw him running back towards it, but thought he’d punched, so went onto the hilltop beyond, saw the lake and realised.
Cruised round the end sad at myself.

Many issues here, generally wasn’t fit enough for the terrain. Mentally all over the shop worrying about others. Not reading the map enough. And then no know-how to keep checking the map myself after being caught.
Jaysus a long road ahead, but very keen to get some consistent mileage in, and physical improvements go a long way towards technical ones too.

Middle 1 - Splits

Event: Irish Orienteering Championships
 

IOC Sprint - 8th (+1:03) (incl. M20s).
Very unsurprising having done nothing speed-related, and not a whole lot of work in general, but still disappointing as you like to perform and do well at Irish champs.
Map and course were very very easy. Felt like I never got into that really going-for-it stage and not all that tired once finished, but I never like reading that on other logs cos it feels like an excuse for a poor result so who knows.
Definitely feel I have a bit more strength than speed, so hoping to show that over the next few days.
Either way, still a long road of building ahead before im to be on proper shape.

Sprint Course 1 - Splits

Legs pretty heavy so shortened plans a bit and kept it very chill. Lovely evening, map in hand.

postponed getting out, but thankfully made sure I did. Chill enough run with a few faster strides thrown in at the end to freshen up a bit during the taper.
Body has gotten used to running on no fuel, so a couple hours after a decent dinner could still really feel this in the stomach.
Out with a map of tawnawully, and planning what I could while under streetlights.