Training Log Archive: blairtrewin

First of a pair of sprint races at Yuille Station, an area alongside the Yarrowee River at Ballarat. Off-track running isn't a good option in most of this area - too many blackberries, gorse bushes and thinnings in the pines - but still a bit of fun. Took a few seconds to get the key route choice on the first right, thereafter planning OK but couldn't really make my legs move quickly. Bruce was on me by 7, and I couldn't go close to holding him, although a good route from the last control to the finish limited the damage. Less soreness in the terrain than has been the case in training in the last couple of weeks.

Second race with a reverse-order start, 1-minute intervals, so went out a minute in front of Jim and two in front of Bruce. I expected to hold off Jim but not Bruce, but instead it was the reverse. I started a bit slowly and Jim, who was clearly going for it, gained ground quickly; he was pretty close to me by 5 although took a while to get much more ground. Felt like I was running faster than in the morning (although still not fast enough), and perhaps that showed in the gap to Bruce, who didn't catch me until the last control - and then ended up behind me on the ground at the finish after being a bit unlucky with his line out of the last control.

The field here was small - partly due to the lack of promotion of the event, I suspect - but it was still fun and gave me a bit of harder racing, something I need pretty badly at present.

And the best comment I've seen so far on a certain sorry saga which has been occupying a fair bit of media attention of late was that of someone who remarked that, whatever else happened, you could no longer accuse the Health Services Union of not being able to organise a root in a brothel.