Training Log Archive: blairtrewinIn the 31 days ending May 31, 2011:
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Tuesday May 31, 2011 #
8 AM
Run 1:00:00 [3] 12.3 km (4:53 / km)
Run from North Melbourne (because of post-work logistics), up the Maribyrnong as far as the footbridge that's now open again after having been closed for a couple of years. Took 10 minutes or so to get going but a pretty good run after that - nice to be back to somewhere close to what I'd think of as normal, although quads still a bit weak on the hills (such as they were).
The It's The Thought That Counts award for the day goes to Chris Christie, the (Republican) Governor of New Jersey, who announced recently that there would be no new coal developments in his state. A few spoilsports did take it upon themselves to point out that New Jersey doesn't actually have any known coal reserves.
The It's The Thought That Counts award for the day goes to Chris Christie, the (Republican) Governor of New Jersey, who announced recently that there would be no new coal developments in his state. A few spoilsports did take it upon themselves to point out that New Jersey doesn't actually have any known coal reserves.
7 PM
Run intervals 1:00:00 [4] * 12.2 km (4:55 / km) +135m 4:40 / km
spiked:20/23c
Did the Tuesday night street-O at Moonee Ponds, partly because my commitments tomorrow (even before ABC News Breakfast called) were going to make it challenging to fit in two runs, partly because my grandmother lives just down the road so it was a chance to drop in and see her on the way. In my occasional Tuesday street-O mode of running alternate legs hard/easy after a bit of a warm-up.
The course looked straightforward to clean up but was deceptively challenging - sufficiently so that in the end I didn't quite make the 60-minute cuit, the first time this has happened to me at a street-O score for a while. A little bit of the blame for this can be placed at the feet of some rather erratic control placement (I never found 9), and a bit more at an inopportune railway crossing, but a lot of it was the result of my biggest street-O mistake for a while, going in one street too early and losing a minute or so.
A real mixed bag running - felt really nice on some of the recovery legs, and often spark at the start of sprints but not able to sustain them over a distance. Sometimes slow going in the dark. Longer than I was expecting, which may or may not make its presence felt in the next couple of days.
I also noted the following exchange this morning:
Minister: We've announced a moratorium on live cattle exports.
Journalist: Aren't you going to at least introduce a temporary ban?
Minister: That's what a moratorium is.
(The Minister refrained from adding 'you idiot', or words to that effect, to the end of this sentence).
The course looked straightforward to clean up but was deceptively challenging - sufficiently so that in the end I didn't quite make the 60-minute cuit, the first time this has happened to me at a street-O score for a while. A little bit of the blame for this can be placed at the feet of some rather erratic control placement (I never found 9), and a bit more at an inopportune railway crossing, but a lot of it was the result of my biggest street-O mistake for a while, going in one street too early and losing a minute or so.
A real mixed bag running - felt really nice on some of the recovery legs, and often spark at the start of sprints but not able to sustain them over a distance. Sometimes slow going in the dark. Longer than I was expecting, which may or may not make its presence felt in the next couple of days.
I also noted the following exchange this morning:
Minister: We've announced a moratorium on live cattle exports.
Journalist: Aren't you going to at least introduce a temporary ban?
Minister: That's what a moratorium is.
(The Minister refrained from adding 'you idiot', or words to that effect, to the end of this sentence).
Monday May 30, 2011 #
8 AM
Swimming 36:00 [2] 1.0 km (36:00 / km)
A morning of the character-building variety at Fitzroy ('it's nice once you're in). Felt like I was flailing around uselessly on the first couple of laps but was actually less slow then than I was at the end.
I declined to be outraged over Cate Blanchett's advertising activites - although as far as I can tell, the main outrage was coming from Barnaby Joyce and the permanently-outraged Australian Family Association. Presumably it would have been much more acceptable if she'd followed the lead of certain mining industry identities and campaigned for rich people to pay less tax.
(While on the subject of outrage, the Herald-Sun must have had a space to fill today because they also ran a could-have-been-at-any-time-in-the-last-30-years story on the allegedly luxurious conditions in Victorian prisons, featuring quotes from another prolific dial-O-for-outrage exponent, "crime victims advocate" Noel McNamara).
I declined to be outraged over Cate Blanchett's advertising activites - although as far as I can tell, the main outrage was coming from Barnaby Joyce and the permanently-outraged Australian Family Association. Presumably it would have been much more acceptable if she'd followed the lead of certain mining industry identities and campaigned for rich people to pay less tax.
(While on the subject of outrage, the Herald-Sun must have had a space to fill today because they also ran a could-have-been-at-any-time-in-the-last-30-years story on the allegedly luxurious conditions in Victorian prisons, featuring quotes from another prolific dial-O-for-outrage exponent, "crime victims advocate" Noel McNamara).
C • Why 2
7 PM
Run 38:00 [3] 7.6 km (5:00 / km)
Monday night with Reuben and Clare from Jo Mitchell's CBD apartment, around Fitzroy Gardens and the Tan. Struggled a bit with this one - my quads were pretty weak after yesterday's long run and when the others decided to push the hills I didn't have anything to go with them. OK downhill and on the flat on a run which was a fair bit faster than Monday nights usually are.
Had a more than usually interesting dinner conversation around the theme of professional registration and using it to stop the likes of the Scientologists offering mental health services. I fantasised about a world where one would need professional registration to be able to make public comment on the accuracy or otherwise of climate change science.
Had a more than usually interesting dinner conversation around the theme of professional registration and using it to stop the likes of the Scientologists offering mental health services. I fantasised about a world where one would need professional registration to be able to make public comment on the accuracy or otherwise of climate change science.
Sunday May 29, 2011 #
8 AM
Run 2:16:00 [3] 28.0 km (4:51 / km)
A pretty decent long run which hopefully heralds an end to a rather challenging month, along the river to Lower Eltham and then back through the top of Greensborough. Hit a nice rhythm along the flat early sections and carried it through for much of the run, also handling the hills across Greensborough with a certain amount of confidence (still not exactly powering, but we'll take not-staggering as progress). Tired a bit in the last 20 minutes, probably through being unused to this sort of thing; it would have been a challenge to get out to 2.30, as I plan to do this time next week.
A couple of brief twinges - left knee at 35 minutes, left hamstring at 90 - but both settled within a few minutes and no sign of further trouble.
A couple of brief twinges - left knee at 35 minutes, left hamstring at 90 - but both settled within a few minutes and no sign of further trouble.
Saturday May 28, 2011 #
8 AM
Run 1:02:00 [3] 12.1 km (5:07 / km)
A fairly unspectacular run around Viewbank and Macleod. Not as weak on the hills as I have been for the last week, which I take to be a positive.
Did this a bit earlier than is sometimes the case on a non-event Saturday, before going up to Ballarat to do some taping for the Victorian Relays (Nerrina, August). Worked out OK although I'm glad the option of making changes to the maps exists these days, otherwise I would have had to change or get rid of about 10 more controls (mostly because of either changes in the green or mountain bike tracks which have disappeared under the growth of a wet summer).
Did this a bit earlier than is sometimes the case on a non-event Saturday, before going up to Ballarat to do some taping for the Victorian Relays (Nerrina, August). Worked out OK although I'm glad the option of making changes to the maps exists these days, otherwise I would have had to change or get rid of about 10 more controls (mostly because of either changes in the green or mountain bike tracks which have disappeared under the growth of a wet summer).
Friday May 27, 2011 #
7 AM
Pool running 45:00 [3] 0.7 km (1:04:17 / km)
Fairly standard Friday session at Fitzroy, after an early morning radio interview.
Thursday May 26, 2011 #
7 AM
Run 1:51:00 [3] 22.4 km (4:57 / km)
Long run from Docklands as a result of having my car serviced today, which meant a later start than usual for this - and a later start than I'd planned on after discovering that these days 6.50 is too late to get a convenient parking spot at Fishermens Bend. Headed out round Albert Park Lake and south as far as the north end of Brighton, returning along the beach. An unexciting but steady run, reasonably encouraging although the degree of difficulty was quite low (shortish, flat and no major sleep deprivation). A little bit of left hamstring tightness in the last 15 minutes but it seems fine now.
The real estate boom obviously isn't dead on Beaconsfield Parade, judging by the sign I saw, outside a place a couple of blocks down from the one I lived in the the mid-1990s, saying '$3 million plus buyers must inspect'.
Having a car serviced at Docklands meant dealing with peak-hour traffic on the way home, all 70 minutes of it. Once every six months is plenty for this; I don't know how (or why) people do it every day.
The real estate boom obviously isn't dead on Beaconsfield Parade, judging by the sign I saw, outside a place a couple of blocks down from the one I lived in the the mid-1990s, saying '$3 million plus buyers must inspect'.
Having a car serviced at Docklands meant dealing with peak-hour traffic on the way home, all 70 minutes of it. Once every six months is plenty for this; I don't know how (or why) people do it every day.
Wednesday May 25, 2011 #
7 AM
Run 1:01:00 [3] 12.0 km (5:05 / km)
Up around La Trobe Uni. A run of two halves - the first half was dreadful, struggling even with two contour hills, but suddenly snapped out of that mode at about 30 minutes and had a decent second half. Hopefully a precursor to better things ahead.
From the you'd think they'd have better things to do department: the SA government is reportedly considering a proposal to ban planking. I wish them the best of luck in trying to define legally what planking is. (As someone from the Greens pointed out, doing it on the top of moving vehicles already breaches numerous traffic laws).
From the you'd think they'd have better things to do department: the SA government is reportedly considering a proposal to ban planking. I wish them the best of luck in trying to define legally what planking is. (As someone from the Greens pointed out, doing it on the top of moving vehicles already breaches numerous traffic laws).
1 PM
Run 44:00 [3] 9.0 km (4:53 / km)
Lunchtime around the Tan, which seems to have even more building work on it than it did last time I was there. Just as well I'm not chasing times at the moment :-). A fair to middling effort without either the lows or highs of this morning. Rather chilly.
I was reassured - I think - to see the map on the website of the Croatian Mine Action Centre and notice that none of the red dots are anywhere near the maps for the Croatia Open in a few weeks' time.
I was reassured - I think - to see the map on the website of the Croatian Mine Action Centre and notice that none of the red dots are anywhere near the maps for the Croatia Open in a few weeks' time.
Tuesday May 24, 2011 #
7 AM
Run intervals ((fartlek)) 41:00 [4] 9.0 km (4:33 / km)
Progressively feeling better but still lacking any upper gears running, which is consistent with a fairly slow if not unpleasant session today. (The mud in places probably slowed things a bit too). It rained throughout, enough - in combination with the area of heavy rain lurking just west of the city on the radar - to convince me to chicken out of riding and get the train instead. (As it turned out, said area of rain moved north rather than east and never reached the CBD, but I would have had a wet trip home).
Got a draft of a big report finished this afternoon, which is nice. Seeing light at the end of the tunnel now.
Got a draft of a big report finished this afternoon, which is nice. Seeing light at the end of the tunnel now.
Monday May 23, 2011 #
7 AM
Swimming 37:00 [2] 1.0 km (37:00 / km)
Feeling somewhat better this morning and headed for a swim at Richmond, having earlier played the game (after getting home at 12.30) of 'how late can I get away with setting the alarm?' (the constraints in this game being wanting to get into work by 9ish, and the fact that the traffic quickly becomes nasty if you leave much after 7). The answer was 6.27. (My alarm times are quite often either 1 or 3 minutes before the half-hour, the former if the plan is to listen to the news on the radio and then get up, the latter if the plan is to get down to start eating before the news).
The swim was fairly relaxed, but the time suggests that that was because I wasn't trying very hard. The ride in was somewhat less relaxed. It's also become a lot harder to find parking spots in the vicinity of the Richmond pool than it used to be, so I'll probably be looking for another plan the next time Monday night's at Kirsten's (which, given forthcoming events for Kirsten, may be a while).
And the world failed to end on the weekend.
The swim was fairly relaxed, but the time suggests that that was because I wasn't trying very hard. The ride in was somewhat less relaxed. It's also become a lot harder to find parking spots in the vicinity of the Richmond pool than it used to be, so I'll probably be looking for another plan the next time Monday night's at Kirsten's (which, given forthcoming events for Kirsten, may be a while).
And the world failed to end on the weekend.
7 PM
Run 42:00 [3] 8.0 km (5:15 / km)
Monday night from Kirsten's in the select company of Reuben and Clare (after a ride there which was no more relaxing than the ride in had been). OK on the flat but still struggling with a not-terribly-extreme Yarra Boulevard hill. Managed to negotiate a stretch of Victoria Street without anyone attempting to sell us heroin.
Sunday May 22, 2011 #
10 AM
Run 43:20 [3] *** 4.8 km (9:02 / km) +180m 7:36 / km
spiked:5/5c
Woke up feeling rather the worse for wear with what seemed like a recurrence of my cold from a couple of weeks ago. In a sense this was reassuring as it meant there was a reason for yesterday's debacle, but it didn't encourage me when it came to my prospects of getting through a long, physical race. The warm-up wasn't any more encouraging, but I thought I'd at least start and see how it went. It wasn't as bad in the terrain as I'd feared, but anything above a jog on the flat was still a major effort - I probably could have got around by walking the big hills and jogging the rest and done something like 130-140, but there didn't seem a lot of point to doing so - my main target race of the next few months is six weeks away and potentially wiping out a week of training in pursuit of a bad result wasn't really worth it (especially as the Nuggets almost certainly weren't going to need me). Cut across from 2 to 21. Was definitely fading by 40 minutes. The area was nicer than I was expecting - will be good to get back sometime on a better day.
My total haul from the weekend: nul points, as they would put it at Eurovision. Can't possibly have another weekend as bad as that this year. My confidence for long races, though, is in a pretty low state at the moment - really need to get a couple of good ones under my belt at some stage.
My total haul from the weekend: nul points, as they would put it at Eurovision. Can't possibly have another weekend as bad as that this year. My confidence for long races, though, is in a pretty low state at the moment - really need to get a couple of good ones under my belt at some stage.
10 PM
Note
The trip back was a bit less eventful than the trip there (the plane was only 15 minutes late, for a start). We went back round the north coast and dropped into the cafe at Barnbougle Dunes golf course - with the bonus that they had showers. (The course itself, as those with an interest in golf will know, is widely rated in the world's top 50, and is one of the few in that bracket that can be played by common mortals with a spare $100 - it's a pity that its remoteness means there almost certainly won't ever be a significant tournament played there).
One for the glad it's them and not me department: behind me on the plane from Launceston was a woman travelling with five children under 10. Melbourne wasn't the end of the line for her, though - they were connecting onto the 1.45am flight to Darwin.
And today set records in both Hobart (22.0) and Canberra (20.8) for the warmest days ever so late in autumn.
One for the glad it's them and not me department: behind me on the plane from Launceston was a woman travelling with five children under 10. Melbourne wasn't the end of the line for her, though - they were connecting onto the 1.45am flight to Darwin.
And today set records in both Hobart (22.0) and Canberra (20.8) for the warmest days ever so late in autumn.
Saturday May 21, 2011 #
9 AM
Note
I won't add any more detail to Bruce's extended write-up of our meteorological issues in attempting to get to Launceston. Instead, I'll relate the story of an exchange some years ago between our Launceston Airport observing office and our main Tasmanian office in Hobart, after Launceston had reported fog:
Hobart: Do you really have fog? There's a 20-knot wind and the humidity is only 60%.
Launceston: Visibility is below 1000 metres - I can't see the lights of Evandale.
(a few minutes later)
Hobart: It's not surprising you can't see the lights of Evandale - there's been a power failure.
Hobart: Do you really have fog? There's a 20-knot wind and the humidity is only 60%.
Launceston: Visibility is below 1000 metres - I can't see the lights of Evandale.
(a few minutes later)
Hobart: It's not surprising you can't see the lights of Evandale - there's been a power failure.
11 AM
Run race ((orienteering)) 19:46 [4] *** 3.2 km (6:11 / km)
spiked:28/29c
NOL Sprint at UTas Launceston. I had one of the later starts so had more preparation time than many (i.e. I arrived at the event a whole 20 minutes before my start). Once I started running I was navigating OK in some of the more intricate buildings and didn't really do anything wrong, except perhaps my route to 7, but couldn't make my legs move - something I put down at the time to the limited preparation, but it turned out to be a foretaste of things to come. Failed to trouble the NOL scorers.
I was somewhat surprised to ask the locals and discover that the building at control 16 was not known locally as the Pac-Man building.
I was somewhat surprised to ask the locals and discover that the building at control 16 was not known locally as the Pac-Man building.
3 PM
Run race ((orienteering)) 45:30 [4] *** 6.0 km (7:35 / km) +230m 6:22 / km
spiked:19/22c
NOL Middle at Diddleum. I thought this was my best chance for the weekend but it turned out to be a shocker, one of the worst physical races I've run for a very long time. Felt weak and light-headed throughout, dismal up hills and not too fluent on the flats either - couldn't even attempt to stay with Murray and Prong as they went through me. Was struggling with concentration too, and was probably lucky to get out of it with only three 30-second errors. The result was truly embarrassing - came third-last in M21E, which is at least an improvement on the stone motherless that my time would have got me in the juniors.
I thought something had to be wrong, and within a few hours following it became apparent that something was wrong.
I thought something had to be wrong, and within a few hours following it became apparent that something was wrong.
Friday May 20, 2011 #
7 AM
Pool running 45:00 [3] 0.7 km (1:04:17 / km)
A fairly relaxed session in Fitzroy, working fairly well by the end (or so the fellow occupant of the lane told me, although she did have the significant disadvantage of only having one leg). Trying to prepare my mind for the challenges ahead this weekend, at least when I wasn't cursing the National Australia Bank, having thought that they'd blocked my credit card without telling me because I'd booked flight tickets earlier this week with TDH in Hong Kong. (A couple of phone calls later, it turned out that the problem was an airline website with problems which was throwing up misleading error messages).
One thing it won't be in Tasmania is excessively cold; in fact a few latest-ever-20-in-autumn records might go tomorrow.
And, against stiff competition, I think the campaign in certain quarters of the media against the carbon tax has reached new heights (or perhaps depths):
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/purepoison/2011/05/19/o...
One thing it won't be in Tasmania is excessively cold; in fact a few latest-ever-20-in-autumn records might go tomorrow.
And, against stiff competition, I think the campaign in certain quarters of the media against the carbon tax has reached new heights (or perhaps depths):
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/purepoison/2011/05/19/o...
Thursday May 19, 2011 #
6 AM
Run 1:47:00 [3] 21.2 km (5:03 / km)
First long(ish) run since Easter, and first taste of starting in proper darkness since then. Headed east as far as Ruffeys Lake before returning along Koonung Creek. Not a run to get too excited about and found the hilly second quarter hard going at times, but did manage to last the distance. Sunday certainly won't be any easier. Bruising from the weekend, which had been troubling me a little on steep downhills, seems to be settling down.
Traffic on Bulleen Road seems to be getting heavier every month. A few truck horns were in action this morning, at least one of them entirely justified (directed at someone who took advantage of said truck's lack of uphill acceleration to jump in front of a kilometre-long queue).
Traffic on Bulleen Road seems to be getting heavier every month. A few truck horns were in action this morning, at least one of them entirely justified (directed at someone who took advantage of said truck's lack of uphill acceleration to jump in front of a kilometre-long queue).
Wednesday May 18, 2011 #
7 AM
Run 58:00 [3] 11.3 km (5:08 / km)
Started out very promisingly in the first 10 minutes. Didn't continue as strongly as that, but mostly fairly smooth - a little shorter than planned as I was running late for an appointment at 8.
7 PM
Run ((street-O)) 56:50 [3] * 10.9 km (5:13 / km) +230m 4:43 / km
spiked:18/18c
Went to Wednesday night street-O as a training run, something I occasionally do in the winter. On the Tunstall Junction map at Doncaster East, a hilly map cut in two by the freeway which means a 60-minute score usually is a real score event and not just a get-all-20-as-efficiently-as-possible. As it was a training run, though, I just set about collecting controls until I looked like running out of time and didn't worry too much about strategy (had I done so I could have got a couple of extra points by dropping lower-scoring controls). Probably needed another 3-4 minutes to get them all.
A reasonably smooth run once early back stiffness disappeared; a bit of rough stuff which was a challenge in the dark (with no torch). Not great uphill but reasonable otherwise.
A reasonably smooth run once early back stiffness disappeared; a bit of rough stuff which was a challenge in the dark (with no torch). Not great uphill but reasonable otherwise.
Tuesday May 17, 2011 #
7 AM
Run intervals ((fartlek)) 40:00 [4] 9.0 km (4:27 / km)
Seem to have taken a bit of a turn for the worse again - coughing a fair bit this morning (although not deeply) and felt a bit lethargic when starting out. Not a disastrous session, though, with broadly similar times to those I was doing in the lead-up to Easter.
Saw something in the paper today about how Optus was going to improve its coverage in Tasmania. This wouldn't be hard. (For those unversed in the ways of St. Helens, the only thing non-Telstra mobiles are useful for in that part of the world is as an alarm clock).
Saw something in the paper today about how Optus was going to improve its coverage in Tasmania. This wouldn't be hard. (For those unversed in the ways of St. Helens, the only thing non-Telstra mobiles are useful for in that part of the world is as an alarm clock).
Monday May 16, 2011 #
8 AM
Swimming 35:00 [2] 1.0 km (35:00 / km)
First swim for a while, at Fitzroy. Didn't feel especially awake (perhaps the product of a latish night last night, finalising the results for the VOA newsletter and watching Eurovision) but not the worst session I've ever done.
I've also noted that there are apparently predictions getting some publicity in US religious circles that the Rapture is coming on 21 May 2011. I'm not sure what the implications of this are for the Tasmanian NOL event, although I doubt if any of us will be uplifted - presumably regularly competing on the Sabbath is sufficiently blasphemous to ensure this. (Someone in Washington D.C. apparently has a thriving business promising, in exchange for a small fee, to look after your pets in the event of your being uplifted).
I've also noted that there are apparently predictions getting some publicity in US religious circles that the Rapture is coming on 21 May 2011. I'm not sure what the implications of this are for the Tasmanian NOL event, although I doubt if any of us will be uplifted - presumably regularly competing on the Sabbath is sufficiently blasphemous to ensure this. (Someone in Washington D.C. apparently has a thriving business promising, in exchange for a small fee, to look after your pets in the event of your being uplifted).
7 PM
Run 41:00 [2] 8.0 km (5:08 / km)
MFR Monday night from the latest abode of the nomadic Clare, currently housesitting at Nicola's parents place. Nice group to run with, although I felt flat as a tack - presumably left over from the weekend, although there wasn't a lot of stiffness there. (Maybe it was just left over from spending the day crunching out several thousand words of reasonably turgid prose). Also left over from the weekend was a fairly spectacular bruise, although it doesn't feel as bad as it looks.
Sunday May 15, 2011 #
10 AM
Run race ((orienteering)) 1:45:31 [4] *** 14.3 km (7:23 / km) +600m 6:06 / km
spiked:20/23c
Long States Series at Glenluce North - oddly enough the first time I've run a normal race here, depsite having covered the area comprehensively in the WMOC 2002 preparations. It's greened up a fair bit since 2002, particularly on the east side that we went to early on the course, and after the long fourth leg, where I was having trouble coming to terms with the terrain physically and picked up a bruise after altercating with a stray stump, I was thinking that this was going to be a very long day. It gradually picked up after that on a course that was kinder than it could have been, and while I always felt like I was enduring rather than racing, the second half wans't too bad and gave me some confidence for the tougher things to come this time next week. Annoyingly sloppy when we went back into the mining at the end.
Out of the woodwork department today: Andrew Scott, once a member of the ACT schools team (who would have been a member of the team a few more times had he not been a similar age to a couple of Walters, Tom Quayle, Paul Heiskanen and William Hawkins).
Out of the woodwork department today: Andrew Scott, once a member of the ACT schools team (who would have been a member of the team a few more times had he not been a similar age to a couple of Walters, Tom Quayle, Paul Heiskanen and William Hawkins).
Saturday May 14, 2011 #
11 AM
Run race ((orienteering)) 46:47 [4] **** 4.9 km (9:33 / km) +185m 8:02 / km
spiked:10/16c
Middle distance on Deadman's Flat. This is a very technical area and my technical skills weren't up to the job today - a shocker of a middle distance not repeated since, oh, the middle Saturday of May last year? Two significant errors, 1.5 minutes at 2 and 3 minutes at 6, and generally struggling for concentration. Also struggling for strength with hills still weak.
Jenny started a minute in front of me, and it says something about my run that I passed her four times, not finally getting clear until after 11 (a leg where I really knew it wasn't my day when having to divert twice around flooded erosion gullies).
Jenny started a minute in front of me, and it says something about my run that I passed her four times, not finally getting clear until after 11 (a leg where I really knew it wasn't my day when having to divert twice around flooded erosion gullies).
2 PM
Run race ((orienteering)) 21:31 [4] *** 2.9 km (7:25 / km)
spiked:18/19c
Sprint at Irishtown. Much better technically than this morning (which isn't saying much), although still battling as soon as I saw a contour, and consequently well off the pace in a decent field (one of the consequences of the current level of depth in Victoria is that there's usually a decent field). Certainly finding the detail a lot easier at 1:5000 (I hope that doesn't mean I'm getting old).
This weekend has brought a few out of the woodwork that I haven't seen for a while, one being former Victorian schools team member Alex Sinickas who's visiting from Canada (part of the Calgary Yarra Valley outpost). She's following a career line which is limited in Australian employment opportunities - avalanche research.
This weekend has brought a few out of the woodwork that I haven't seen for a while, one being former Victorian schools team member Alex Sinickas who's visiting from Canada (part of the Calgary Yarra Valley outpost). She's following a career line which is limited in Australian employment opportunities - avalanche research.
Friday May 13, 2011 #
7 AM
Run 44:00 [3] 9.0 km (4:53 / km)
Through Eaglemont, shorter but hillier than the last few runs. Still not entirely well and it showed in weakness on the hills, but continuing fine on the injury front.
More budget news: in the unlikely event that I ever become a dependent spouse, I'm out of luck - the dependent spouse rebate has been abolished for those born after 1 July 1971 and my birthday's on the 8th.
More budget news: in the unlikely event that I ever become a dependent spouse, I'm out of luck - the dependent spouse rebate has been abolished for those born after 1 July 1971 and my birthday's on the 8th.
Thursday May 12, 2011 #
7 AM
Run 1:02:00 [3] 12.3 km (5:02 / km)
Starting to return to a semblance of normality, on a morning of sleety rain. A run from Clifton Hill which looked like it would catch alight a couple of times early on, but settled into a bit of a grind. Still quite a respectable effort. Again no sign of soreness so hopefully I can consign this most recent injury to history.
As is usually the case, the Ivanhoe ALP's monthly meeting coincided with the Budget. Somewhat cheekily we passed a resolution congratulating the Government on adopting a measure called for in a 2006 resolution of ours (namely altering the fringe benefits tax on company cars so there is no longer a tax incentive to drive them further).
(While on the subject of the Budget, I'm not convinced that being at the 85th percentile of household income (which is about where $150K places you) qualifies as being a "battler".
As is usually the case, the Ivanhoe ALP's monthly meeting coincided with the Budget. Somewhat cheekily we passed a resolution congratulating the Government on adopting a measure called for in a 2006 resolution of ours (namely altering the fringe benefits tax on company cars so there is no longer a tax incentive to drive them further).
(While on the subject of the Budget, I'm not convinced that being at the 85th percentile of household income (which is about where $150K places you) qualifies as being a "battler".
Wednesday May 11, 2011 #
Note
Just started working on the results for the next Victorian newsletter. Two things to note:
(a) Henry Post (who, among other things, went to WMOC in 1999 to be officially certified as the worst M50 in the world) actually won something. In fact he won two things - Division 3 of C Course in the Western Summer Series and the C Course at the Macedon Ranges Series.
(b) After a bit of a hiatus we have a new nomination for the occasionally-bestowed title of most-frequently-misspelt name in the results list (previous winners include Morten Neve and Matthew Schepisi, whose name had almost as many different spellings as he ran events in his first year). I wouldn't have thought Mark Hennessy's name was too challenging but both series results got it wrong, in two different ways.
(a) Henry Post (who, among other things, went to WMOC in 1999 to be officially certified as the worst M50 in the world) actually won something. In fact he won two things - Division 3 of C Course in the Western Summer Series and the C Course at the Macedon Ranges Series.
(b) After a bit of a hiatus we have a new nomination for the occasionally-bestowed title of most-frequently-misspelt name in the results list (previous winners include Morten Neve and Matthew Schepisi, whose name had almost as many different spellings as he ran events in his first year). I wouldn't have thought Mark Hennessy's name was too challenging but both series results got it wrong, in two different ways.
7 AM
Run 48:00 [3] 10.0 km (4:48 / km)
A loop around the Yarra Flats to Ivanhoe which was a little longer than I'd planned on. Never flowed but faster than I've become accustomed to of late for this type of run, and more importantly no sign of any meaningful trouble with the ankle.
An ominous black wall was looming on the southern horizon throughout, but I'd seen enough of the radar beforehand to be confident it would stay south of me, and so it proved. It was fairly icy even without any moisture.
An ominous black wall was looming on the southern horizon throughout, but I'd seen enough of the radar beforehand to be confident it would stay south of me, and so it proved. It was fairly icy even without any moisture.
Tuesday May 10, 2011 #
7 AM
Run 29:00 [3] 6.0 km (4:50 / km)
First run back, on just about the flattest course that you can do from my place, a loop through Heidelberg Heights (no, that's not a contradiction - I'm already fairly high up). Still too clogged up for this to be a great run but managed OK once warmed up. No real indications on the run of trouble from ankle, just a twinge or two around halfway, but was a little sore in the afternoon/evening - will see what it's like tomorrow.
First frost of the season, but not heavy enough to get any entertainment from watching people struggling to cope with car windscreens.
First frost of the season, but not heavy enough to get any entertainment from watching people struggling to cope with car windscreens.
Monday May 9, 2011 #
7 AM
Pool running 45:00 [3] 0.7 km (1:04:17 / km)
Felt a bit better, although not entirely comfortable, on both the illness and injury front so decided to take the next step and try some pool running at Ivanhoe. Quite sore for the first five minutes and I was starting to wonder whether I should keep going, but it warmed up nicely after that with only a couple of slight twinges. Even more encouragingly, it seems to have improved substantially through the day - not even any real soreness driving across town tonight, which is the activity which has been aggravating it the most. All in all, encouraging enough for me to have a go at starting running again tomorrow.
Sunday May 8, 2011 #
8 AM
Cycling 1:11:00 [3] 28.0 km (2:32 / km)
Actually had some training to record; the cold is feeling a good deal better (apart from having to get rid of a bit of gunk occasionally) so decided to head out on the bike on the fairly traditional 'injury loop' along the Eastern Freeway trail up to Springvale Road and back through Doncaster. Felt good to be doing some solid exercise again - only annoyance was right-hand-turn arrows which can't detect bikes.
A significant life milestone today: for the first time ever I succeeded in getting my parents (who came down this afternoon for a couple of days) to let me pay for a Mother's Day meal.
A significant life milestone today: for the first time ever I succeeded in getting my parents (who came down this afternoon for a couple of days) to let me pay for a Mother's Day meal.
Saturday May 7, 2011 #
Note
(injured) (sick)
At the feeling-not-as-bad-but-sounding-worse stage. Not a lot of sign of improvement in the ankle either, although, given what causes and doesn't cause it trouble, I think there's a half-chance it might cope OK with running - will test it out once I'm a bit less unhealthy.
Spotted a Queensland tourism ad the other day along the lines of it's never been a better time to go to north Queensland, and one of the places they mentioned it being a good time to go to was the Savannah Way. Unless you're in a boat this is debatable - long stretches of it are still flooded.
And a 'nearest the pin' question from a quiz I organised last night: what position does Prince Frederik of Denmark occupy in the line of succession to the British throne? (It's higher than 100 but lower than 1000, once all those who are papists or married to papists are eliminated).
Spotted a Queensland tourism ad the other day along the lines of it's never been a better time to go to north Queensland, and one of the places they mentioned it being a good time to go to was the Savannah Way. Unless you're in a boat this is debatable - long stretches of it are still flooded.
And a 'nearest the pin' question from a quiz I organised last night: what position does Prince Frederik of Denmark occupy in the line of succession to the British throne? (It's higher than 100 but lower than 1000, once all those who are papists or married to papists are eliminated).
Friday May 6, 2011 #
Note
(injured) (sick)
Sometime in the next couple of days my log is going to reach 100,000 hits (the first non-North American one to do so). It's a pity I can't provide reading that's any more interesting at the moment. I haven't had a sick day from work/school/uni for illness for nearly 30 years but might have been tempted today had I not had an important meeting scheduled.
Wednesday May 4, 2011 #
Note
(injured) (sick)
Getting a cold. At least it's all happening at once.
Tuesday May 3, 2011 #
Note
Improved a bit today but I think it's still at least a couple of days away. I suspect I could run on it if I had to, but I'm not going to while it still hurts to walk (especially in a post-race week). It's fine on the bike, which does give me options if this drags on.
If I had been doing a run this morning I would have been pretty pumped for it, with Norwich City's promotion to the Premier League being confirmed at 6.35 or thereabouts.
If I had been doing a run this morning I would have been pretty pumped for it, with Norwich City's promotion to the Premier League being confirmed at 6.35 or thereabouts.
Monday May 2, 2011 #
Note
(injured)
Pulled up with fairly severe soreness at the front of the right ankle (having it at an awkward angle for four hours on the plane didn't help). Didn't consider running, did attempt to swim but it was still hurting trying to kick so just stood in the water for a while. This does seem to have loosened it a bit (and it does seem to have improved a bit over the course of the day).
Not sure how serious the problem is. It's more severe than the last time I had the same problem (on the Birdsville Track a couple of years ago), which didn't cost me any days of training, but I find it hard to believe I can do anything really serious to myself just by leaving a foot on an accelerator pedal. It does feel vaguely similar in location and severity to an injury I had at the end of 1996 (the one which ended my six-year training streak), which ended up being a one-weeker.
Not sure how serious the problem is. It's more severe than the last time I had the same problem (on the Birdsville Track a couple of years ago), which didn't cost me any days of training, but I find it hard to believe I can do anything really serious to myself just by leaving a foot on an accelerator pedal. It does feel vaguely similar in location and severity to an injury I had at the end of 1996 (the one which ended my six-year training streak), which ended up being a one-weeker.
Sunday May 1, 2011 #
10 AM
Run race ((orienteering)) 44:47 [4] *** 6.0 km (7:28 / km) +245m 6:12 / km
spiked:14/17c
Australian Middle Championships at Marginata, the day 2 area from Easter 2003, which means I haven't run on it because I didn't do the long day at Easter 2003 (being in the early stages of a comeback). A bit slow to 1 but hit it well, and also nailed the potentially dangerous 2 before drifting a bit en route to 3, without a lot of time loss. Caught sight of Grant there but he suffered from this week's curse whereby the big guns make mistakes as soon as they catch sight of me (Rob at the prologue, Bruce yesterday); he blasted past me a couple of controls later. Continued to run fairly steadily through the spectator, a bit unsure of myself on 11 but picked it up without major trouble, and then made an annoying 45-seconder at 13, the last technical control. Still a decent run, and my fifth successive top-10 in this event.
My running wasn't too bad, but the front of my right ankle got worse rather than better through the run, unusual for this injury. Not sure I would have finished had it been a long race. Hopefully it sorts itself out reasonably quickly.
And I had a once-a-decade experience afterwards: a drug test. Just as well I didn't have an early plane to catch. (Predictably, as soon as I'd managed to produce enough for a sample, I then produced a lot more as the 2.4 litres I'd drunk made its way through).
My running wasn't too bad, but the front of my right ankle got worse rather than better through the run, unusual for this injury. Not sure I would have finished had it been a long race. Hopefully it sorts itself out reasonably quickly.
And I had a once-a-decade experience afterwards: a drug test. Just as well I didn't have an early plane to catch. (Predictably, as soon as I'd managed to produce enough for a sample, I then produced a lot more as the 2.4 litres I'd drunk made its way through).