Training Log Archive: Clara

Beechworth. Epic. Couldn't really read the map until 7. Then things started to make a little more sense. Didn't really enjoy the climb and the race seemed to go on forever. Stopped for a drink and a chat at the run through but Aislinn wasn't keen to take my SI for a warmdown so headed off down the hill again. Brutal day out.

Rowdy Flat. Best race of the carnival. Clearly swimming through a dark tunnel of cold water the night before is good race preparation. Didn't do very well at Rowdy at Vic Champs, so was happy to have a better run this time. Lost it a little coming into 4 when things stopped making sense close to the circle, but relocated off a patch of blackberries. Out and around to 9, mistakenly going through the creek. Fell over trying to take the ford at speed the first time and was thankful for waterproof maps. Squelched around the rest of the course. Took the wrong track from a junction to 14 - rookie error. Got bitten by a bull ant on the way to the last control. Mustn't have been moving that quickly! Felt pretty good running and enjoyed the feeling :)

Kangaroo Crossing. Had heard someone say earlier in the week over the loudspeaker that the green and steep parts of the map hadn't been used - then picked up the map to find the entire thing green. Missed on 2 but relocated. Searching too far up the gully for 4 and just stumbled upon it. Went up and over and around the track to 8 (same as I did on a similar route at Vic Champs - maybe I need to HTFU).

Barambogie North. Must have been a bit dehydrated and woke up in the night with a killer headache. Wasn't feeling too great in the morning so took it very easy. Mostly walked the long legs. Went out right to 1 (past 2). Going slowly so navigation was pretty clean. Slight miss on 8, and went too far right on 12.

Event: 2012 Christmas 5 Days
 

Magenta. Feeling the heat. Didn't quite read the detail at 5. Then took the long route around to 6. OK until I went 13-15 (got distracted by a line of people heading there and thought my compass must have been off - oops).

It's a Christmas miracle - I actually overtook someone! Reverse juvey. Took advantage of some guy cracking as we turned into Diamond Hill Rd at the end. Pushed a bit harder at the end to keep in front of him and his mate. I hope he wasn't too upset at being passed by a girl on an antique Dodsun.

Home > Edwardes Lake via the crazy bridge that I've never tackled before. Lake > home via the Merri Creek, home > supermarket > home. Unfortunately you can't buy rum at 10 to 9 in the morning.

Already too hot. Felt a bit like the dog that gave up walking and sprawled itself on the grass refusing to move.

Easy jog around the lake. Legs felt pretty stiff to start with but loosened up a bit.

Had planned to go for a run, but was a bit tired after playing cricket at work.

Warm up/down, drills.

1 km time trial - 4:24

6 x 50m float, 150m faster

1 km handicapped - 4:07

Pretty hot. Glad it was a shorter session. Club break-up afterwards (not that I'm a member...).

C • I'm not a member 1

Clydesdale > Castlemaine.

Southern Cross > home.

Awesome ride with lovely people, whose touring experience ranged from 2 people on their first tour, to 2 people who've ridden around Australia. Definitely want to ride around Australia some time :) And the weather held out perfectly (apart from rizzle the first day) despite the forecast.

Thanks to Jim and Ezy and my parents and Christoph and Bunnings for making sure I had everything I needed and that my gears worked :)

Creswick > Clydesdale via lunch at the Smeaton Pub.

After being told that my bike tour wasn't far enough, I decided to add a little bit of orienteering training at Creswick Diggings. Did some of an old middle distance course, but kept seeing pink tapes out from last weekend's training. Navigation was pretty good - I think I pretty much found the control sites, an echidna and an AMAZING pink spotty orchid.

Rode from home to Southern Cross, then Ballarat > Creswick.

Warm up in the park, drills, 2 x laps of track.
Warm down.

1200m, slightly increasing pace each lap. Very slow, legs felt massively heavy. 2:22, 2:12, 2:04.

2 sets of 8 mins. 200m relay with a partner, cutting across the track in the recovery. 5 x 200m each time.

Felt better towards the end of the session. Legs felt massively heavy during the warm up.

13 mins to Edwardes Lake straight up Newlands Rd with a tail wind. 20 mins back along the Merri Crk.

From the track at Edwardes Lake, lap of the lake, further up Edgars Crk to Glasgow St, right along Glasgow and then back along a grassy easement. Fairly pleasant out.

About 40 mins there, 50 mins back from Albert Park, picking up a jar of powder from Jim.

7 x hills circuit at the track. Thought it was time to do some training again after a slack/busy/not quite feeling all there week. Not feeling 100% tonight - not sure whether it's hayfever or a cold or smoke from work today and general tiredness. Still nice to get off the track for intervals for a change.

Warm up/down and drills. A bit shorter than normal.

Bit lacking in motivation so only headed out Tanners and back past the trotting track. Seemed to have a headwind for a lot of it. Roadkill: 2 parrots and 1 tortoise.