Training Log Archive: blairtrewinIn the 31 days ending May 31, 2017:
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Wednesday May 31, 2017 #
7 PM
Pool running 45:00 [3] 0.7 km (1:04:17 / km)
Hip still painful this morning and didn't like a brief attempt to run in the morning. By then I'd left it too late to do anything else this morning, so headed for the pool (Northcote this time) after work instead. A fairly mundane session which seemed to drag on for a while, trying to avoid being swamped by the backwash from the squad training in the next lane (Northcote pool is a busy place in the evenings).
Felt considerably better as the day went on and am hoping to be right to run tomorrow.
And it looks like the World Orienteering Day fundraiser has brought in $900 or thereabouts. If we need to raise some more money, perhaps we could follow football's lead and start fining organisers who don't provide lobster for officials.
Felt considerably better as the day went on and am hoping to be right to run tomorrow.
And it looks like the World Orienteering Day fundraiser has brought in $900 or thereabouts. If we need to raise some more money, perhaps we could follow football's lead and start fining organisers who don't provide lobster for officials.
Tuesday May 30, 2017 #
7 AM
Run 1:00:00 [3] 10.4 km (5:46 / km)
The morning's heaviest band of showers cleared out a few minutes before I started which can probably be taken as a good omen. Quads not as much of a mess as yesterday, but this was still fairly hard work for the most part, on a hillier course than most I've done for training runs lately. Started to improve a bit over the last 15 minutes or so.
This route took me past my grandparents' old place in Ivanhoe East. I used to go past it occasionally when living in Heidelberg, but this was the first time that I've done so that someone has been outside, so I took the opportunity to stop briefly and introduce myself. The people who bought it from my grandparents when they downsized (late 1980s) are still there, and nothing much on the outside seems to have changed (in a street where old houses are beginning to be replaced by new ones).
Whilst it didn't trouble me on the run, my hip was a bit sorer this afternoon than it's been in the last week. Yesterday's verdict was that it was one to watch without being particularly alarmed at this stage.
New watch gave me five PBs this time :-).
This route took me past my grandparents' old place in Ivanhoe East. I used to go past it occasionally when living in Heidelberg, but this was the first time that I've done so that someone has been outside, so I took the opportunity to stop briefly and introduce myself. The people who bought it from my grandparents when they downsized (late 1980s) are still there, and nothing much on the outside seems to have changed (in a street where old houses are beginning to be replaced by new ones).
Whilst it didn't trouble me on the run, my hip was a bit sorer this afternoon than it's been in the last week. Yesterday's verdict was that it was one to watch without being particularly alarmed at this stage.
New watch gave me five PBs this time :-).
C • PBs 2
Monday May 29, 2017 #
Note
Finished reading a book on historical AFL/VFL grand finals over the weekend. Just in case anyone is under the impression that there is anything new about sporting scandals, illegal betting was so rife until the 1930s that almost any player who had a bad game on Grand Final day faced speculation that they'd been paid off (although only two players, in 1910, actually got found guilty of match-fixing). Another feature which won't be missed was that in the 1960s and early 1970s, it was pretty much standard operating procedure for a team to try to KO an opposition star in the opening minutes - Peter Hudson in 1971 being one notable victim. (It was equally standard operating procedure that the concussed player was left out there, coaches being unwilling to use a substitute - in those days they were substitutes, not interchanges - on someone who could be left to stand on the forward line and keep a defender occupied even if they didn't know which way the goals were).
8 AM
Run 40:00 [3] 7.0 km (5:43 / km)
Quads pretty ugly this morning, but did improve somewhat after the first few hundred metres. Still very much a post-long-run run, but it's good to be in a position where I'm having post-long-run runs.
The watch mentioned yesterday got its first workout this morning, and informed me after the finish that I'd just done a PB for 5k (the small matter of 12 minutes outside my actual 5k PB), 1k, 1 mile and longest run. I won't get too excited (and don't expect too many of these to last another 24 hours).
The watch mentioned yesterday got its first workout this morning, and informed me after the finish that I'd just done a PB for 5k (the small matter of 12 minutes outside my actual 5k PB), 1k, 1 mile and longest run. I won't get too excited (and don't expect too many of these to last another 24 hours).
7 PM
Swimming 36:00 [2] 1.0 km (36:00 / km)
An evening swim - seem to be settling into that for a pattern for this session, which seems to work OK (fits in nicely before a 7.20 massage session). Thought this would loosen my quads up, which didn't really happen (with a couple of foot cramps to provide evidence that I'd been doing some work). Reasonable swim notwithstanding those issues. Put some new goggles into action tonight, and they seem to work (better than the last lot, anyway).
The masseur definitely earned her money tonight.
The masseur definitely earned her money tonight.
Sunday May 28, 2017 #
11 AM
Run 2:01:00 [3] 21.4 km (5:39 / km)
I'd been planning this weekend as one for a decent long run for a while (no Sunday event, and long distance races coming up the next two weekends), but was a little apprehensive after the last couple of weeks. Still took the plunge, and whilst various bits of the body were at niggle stage at some points, didn't have anything I would describe as an injury issue.
I've had some seriously good long runs in the past around this time of year (last weekend of May/first weekend of June). Today wasn't in that company, but it was decent, getting off to a good start in the first 30 minutes and mostly steady thereafter. Doing it a bit later in the morning than would usually be the case (which meant a bit more traffic on the roads, and more small kids on bikes in the vicinity of the Collingwood Children's Farm), though still quiet in the suburbs through such areas as the Sackville loop and the west side of North Balwyn. Quads intermittently sore in the second hour, especially coming off downhills, and was hanging on a bit in the last 10 minutes.
Slightly annoyed to look things up afterwards and discover I'd fallen just short of my longest run this year, but it's still my longest since New Year's Day. Definitely knew in the afternoon that I'd been for a run.
I'll find out soon enough whether my watch was short-changing me, because I've gone out and got a new one (apart from its possible distance issues, it was starting to struggle to hold a charge). Also on display in Rebel Sport was the NRL Monopoly game, which presumably has cards which involve your team's star player being caught snorting cocaine, urinating against the side of a police car or performing unnatural acts with small domestic animals.
I've had some seriously good long runs in the past around this time of year (last weekend of May/first weekend of June). Today wasn't in that company, but it was decent, getting off to a good start in the first 30 minutes and mostly steady thereafter. Doing it a bit later in the morning than would usually be the case (which meant a bit more traffic on the roads, and more small kids on bikes in the vicinity of the Collingwood Children's Farm), though still quiet in the suburbs through such areas as the Sackville loop and the west side of North Balwyn. Quads intermittently sore in the second hour, especially coming off downhills, and was hanging on a bit in the last 10 minutes.
Slightly annoyed to look things up afterwards and discover I'd fallen just short of my longest run this year, but it's still my longest since New Year's Day. Definitely knew in the afternoon that I'd been for a run.
I'll find out soon enough whether my watch was short-changing me, because I've gone out and got a new one (apart from its possible distance issues, it was starting to struggle to hold a charge). Also on display in Rebel Sport was the NRL Monopoly game, which presumably has cards which involve your team's star player being caught snorting cocaine, urinating against the side of a police car or performing unnatural acts with small domestic animals.
Saturday May 27, 2017 #
1 PM
Run race ((orienteering)) 42:16 [4] *** 6.6 km (6:24 / km) +225m 5:28 / km
spiked:16/18c
Fronted up to my eighth course in a week at Bendigo's 40th anniversary event at Wildflower Drive, an area typical of the less intense terrain types on the fringe of Bendigo (fast open forest, and the odd pit and erosion gully but not much mining detail as such). Was wondering why the first few legs were largely track legs but realised that the courses were designed to contain the shape of a '40' (and I guess the first part was common to all courses, including the easier ones).
Took a bit of time to get going but eventually running reasonably well, and by recent standards happy with the way I managed the two major uphill grinds at 6 and 9. Only a couple of minor wobbles, one drifting a bit too far on the way to hitting the track at 8, the other being a little slow to pinpoint the vague and flat 16. Certainly the fastest kilometre rate I've done this year, but probably about a par result relative to the field (except for Jim - who did 37 - who I think is in his best form for at least a couple of years).
The pictures of the 40th birthday cake are definitely worth looking for on Facebook (I guess they'll also appear on the Bendigo website in due course).
Earlier, for the second successive Saturday morning, my Station Street shopping trip was to the backdrop of a lot of police - this time for the aftermath of a car crash (a car going down Station Street, apparently at reasonable speed, hit a parked car hard enough to push it up onto the footpath). From the enthusiasm with which the driver reportedly scarpered I think one can reasonably presume that either he knew himself to be under the influence of something or the car was stolen (or possibly both of the above). No-one hurt as far as anyone knows.
Took a bit of time to get going but eventually running reasonably well, and by recent standards happy with the way I managed the two major uphill grinds at 6 and 9. Only a couple of minor wobbles, one drifting a bit too far on the way to hitting the track at 8, the other being a little slow to pinpoint the vague and flat 16. Certainly the fastest kilometre rate I've done this year, but probably about a par result relative to the field (except for Jim - who did 37 - who I think is in his best form for at least a couple of years).
The pictures of the 40th birthday cake are definitely worth looking for on Facebook (I guess they'll also appear on the Bendigo website in due course).
Earlier, for the second successive Saturday morning, my Station Street shopping trip was to the backdrop of a lot of police - this time for the aftermath of a car crash (a car going down Station Street, apparently at reasonable speed, hit a parked car hard enough to push it up onto the footpath). From the enthusiasm with which the driver reportedly scarpered I think one can reasonably presume that either he knew himself to be under the influence of something or the car was stolen (or possibly both of the above). No-one hurt as far as anyone knows.
Friday May 26, 2017 #
7 AM
Run 35:00 [3] 6.1 km (5:44 / km)
Woke up feeling somewhat sub-par and decided not to push things this morning. Quads loosened up fine in the first few minutes, but still a few niggles around (and hip quite sore this afternoon). Not entirely happy with where I am just at the moment; have a decent long one in mind for Sunday but will need to wait and see.
Spent a fair of time on my feet tonight running the annual Ivanhoe Labor quiz night (I still cross the creek to do this). One of the regular features is the half-time paper plane competition where people attempt to fly a particularly odious document into a rubbish bin, and the one we used tonight was definitely worth of such a destination - copies of Roger Franklin's Quadrant article (the one which mused about bombing the ABC studios). Naturally in the interests of fairness and balance I assume he's been furiously condemned on the front page of the Daily Telegraph over the last couple of days.
Spent a fair of time on my feet tonight running the annual Ivanhoe Labor quiz night (I still cross the creek to do this). One of the regular features is the half-time paper plane competition where people attempt to fly a particularly odious document into a rubbish bin, and the one we used tonight was definitely worth of such a destination - copies of Roger Franklin's Quadrant article (the one which mused about bombing the ABC studios). Naturally in the interests of fairness and balance I assume he's been furiously condemned on the front page of the Daily Telegraph over the last couple of days.
Thursday May 25, 2017 #
8 AM
Pool running 45:00 [3] 0.7 km (1:04:17 / km)
Certainly didn't feel like running this morning, with quads that weren't in post-marathon (or Six Foot) shape but still pretty ordinary. Headed for the water instead, running a little late to start with (and then later still because what looked like base camp for a film shoot had appropriated all the nearby parking at Fitzroy). Think the session did me good for loosening up, although what I feel like tomorrow will probably be more of a test.
Wednesday May 24, 2017 #
6 AM
Run ((orienteering)) 23:16 [3] *** 3.5 km (6:39 / km)
spiked:16/17c
First event of the day - park/sprint event in Roma Street Parklands (probably not as technical as a full-on sprint), once again using the phone app rather than controls (but a printed map). Felt a bit stiff and sore walking down to the event but OK once I was running - although not really pushing it (there's a lot ahead of me today) and so was predictably creamed by Rachel. Only one time loss, from the last control to the finish - I didn't notice until too late that a low wall along the lakeside path was forbidden to cross (and with GPS tracks uploaded as part of the system there's no getting away with doing anything dodgy :-).
The next challenge will be to get out of Brisbane, with fog and low cloud about, although as I write (7.15) it's starting to break up. My flight to Canberra is currently showing a 30-minute delay which will be OK; much over an hour would start to make things tight for the Canberra/Queanbeyan leg.
One advantage of the phone app system I didn't think of last night - it allows you to do things in parks where the authorities are OK with you being there but don't want you sticking things in the ground. (I understand this is the biggest obstacle to running events in what would otherwise be the superb urban area of Central Park in New York?).
The next challenge will be to get out of Brisbane, with fog and low cloud about, although as I write (7.15) it's starting to break up. My flight to Canberra is currently showing a 30-minute delay which will be OK; much over an hour would start to make things tight for the Canberra/Queanbeyan leg.
One advantage of the phone app system I didn't think of last night - it allows you to do things in parks where the authorities are OK with you being there but don't want you sticking things in the ground. (I understand this is the biggest obstacle to running events in what would otherwise be the superb urban area of Central Park in New York?).
1 PM
Run ((orienteering)) 24:43 [3] *** 3.0 km (8:14 / km) +110m 6:58 / km
spiked:8/9c
The fog may have lifted, more or less, by 7.30, but I wasn't going to get out of Brisbane that easily - the incoming flight (as it turned out) didn't leave until Brisbane was clear for landings, and the boarding time slipped from 30 minutes late to 50 to 65. It ended up being 90, with the 'help' of some taxiway congestion, and I knew I'd lost all of my margin for error.
At least there were no hold-ups at the Canberra end; my bag came out just as I stepped up to the carousel, picking up a car was quick, and I thought I would be OK as long as I was away from Mount Ainslie by 1.30. With a start around 1.05 there wasn't going to be much to spare, but I did the short course so thought a time in the low-mid 20s was likely.
This was switching from high-tech to low-tech (phone apps to control cards). Didn't find it easy running, particularly on the second leg which contained more than half the course's total climb. Navigating reasonably well - as it turned out, better than the setter on 5, which probably cost me 90 seconds or so (it was in another watercourse about 50m NE of where it should have been).
And then finished, handed my card in, and got pretty well straight back in the car for the next stop...
At least there were no hold-ups at the Canberra end; my bag came out just as I stepped up to the carousel, picking up a car was quick, and I thought I would be OK as long as I was away from Mount Ainslie by 1.30. With a start around 1.05 there wasn't going to be much to spare, but I did the short course so thought a time in the low-mid 20s was likely.
This was switching from high-tech to low-tech (phone apps to control cards). Didn't find it easy running, particularly on the second leg which contained more than half the course's total climb. Navigating reasonably well - as it turned out, better than the setter on 5, which probably cost me 90 seconds or so (it was in another watercourse about 50m NE of where it should have been).
And then finished, handed my card in, and got pretty well straight back in the car for the next stop...
2 PM
Walking ((indoor-O)) 8:30 [1] ** 0.8 km (10:37 / km)
spiked:12/12c
The third event of the day was an indoor event in the building which David Poland's office occupies. (This was set up mainly for me but was open to the public all day - only one other person had done it though).
Those who've seen the Stockholm Indoor Cup maps will know how fiendish multi-level indoor events can be (for those who can find it, I challenge you to look at the 2017 map and work out a legal route from 3 to 4 in under five minutes). A small two-storey building in Queanbeyan was never going to offer that level of challenge, but there were a few legs which made you think about how to go about doing it. Only walking for this one; think you'd have trouble finding anyone willing to let you run around a multi-storey building.
I was thinking that it would make my timetable challenging if this took more than 15 minutes, so I was glad that was a bit short. Even got back to the airport in time to have a shower and have something to eat.
Those who've seen the Stockholm Indoor Cup maps will know how fiendish multi-level indoor events can be (for those who can find it, I challenge you to look at the 2017 map and work out a legal route from 3 to 4 in under five minutes). A small two-storey building in Queanbeyan was never going to offer that level of challenge, but there were a few legs which made you think about how to go about doing it. Only walking for this one; think you'd have trouble finding anyone willing to let you run around a multi-storey building.
I was thinking that it would make my timetable challenging if this took more than 15 minutes, so I was glad that was a bit short. Even got back to the airport in time to have a shower and have something to eat.
7 PM
Run ((street-O)) 51:00 [3] * 8.5 km (6:00 / km) +160m 5:29 / km
spiked:19/20c
Eating something at the airport might not have been the best idea - I was feeling a bit off-colour when I got off the flight but was OK by the time the Mitcham event started. Unlike Brisbane-Canberra, the Melbourne leg offered few logistical problems; the flight was a few minutes early and the traffic across to Mitcham was not as bad as I expected (it helps that I was going against the flow most of the way).
Being safely at Mitcham was one thing (and one advantage of the event starting in the Coles carpark was that it made it easy for me to replace my headlamp batteries, which had been found severely wanting last night), but if I was going to do this event (a 60-minute score) properly it was going to be as long as the other three events put together, so I wasn't sure how my body would hold out. (I guess notionally, as a score event, finding one control would theoretically suffice). Felt OK at the start and in the mostly downhill first kilometre; back tight again on the hills, especially early on, although the hills weren't as steep as those on offer in Brisbane. Not really running smoothly but kept plugging away (losing a bit of time on the misplaced #5, which was on the next street junction). Had a bit of a hip twinge halfway which eventually settled down; but was feeling every bit of the day's work in the later stages; several legs later on were long gentle climbs and I felt every bit of them, especially as my quads were starting to go in the last 10 minutes. Definitely wasn't too upset that it was a short course tonight (even at my slow pace tonight, I got them all with plenty to spare). A definite sense of mission accomplished when it was done.
Being safely at Mitcham was one thing (and one advantage of the event starting in the Coles carpark was that it made it easy for me to replace my headlamp batteries, which had been found severely wanting last night), but if I was going to do this event (a 60-minute score) properly it was going to be as long as the other three events put together, so I wasn't sure how my body would hold out. (I guess notionally, as a score event, finding one control would theoretically suffice). Felt OK at the start and in the mostly downhill first kilometre; back tight again on the hills, especially early on, although the hills weren't as steep as those on offer in Brisbane. Not really running smoothly but kept plugging away (losing a bit of time on the misplaced #5, which was on the next street junction). Had a bit of a hip twinge halfway which eventually settled down; but was feeling every bit of the day's work in the later stages; several legs later on were long gentle climbs and I felt every bit of them, especially as my quads were starting to go in the last 10 minutes. Definitely wasn't too upset that it was a short course tonight (even at my slow pace tonight, I got them all with plenty to spare). A definite sense of mission accomplished when it was done.
C • WOD 1
Tuesday May 23, 2017 #
7 PM
Run ((street-O)) 37:00 [3] * 6.0 km (6:10 / km) +120m 5:36 / km
spiked:14/14c
In Brisbane in preparation for tomorrow's World Orienteering Day challenge, and went to their Tuesday night street event at Auchenflower - a small but well-contested affair. It was my first chance to test out Peter Effeney's phone app for visiting controls - all worked smoothly.
My body wasn't working quite so smoothly, although at least I got through it, which is more than I can say for any other evening event in the last few months. Certainly could have done without hitting a steep hill on the way to the first control, but back settled after that initial shock. (The western side of Brisbane is not noted for its flatness, although this turned out to be hilly only early and late). Route planning didn't end up being great (40-minute score event) - knew from about 15 minutes out that I was going to finish with several minutes to spare but with no opportunity to get another one.
The app gave me 210 more metres than my watch did, reinforcing the sense that my watch is short-changing me - which may explain the apparent slowness of my training pace this year relative to last (tonight's 3.5% difference would more or less bridge the gap between the two). I'm in the market for a new watch at the moment.
My body wasn't working quite so smoothly, although at least I got through it, which is more than I can say for any other evening event in the last few months. Certainly could have done without hitting a steep hill on the way to the first control, but back settled after that initial shock. (The western side of Brisbane is not noted for its flatness, although this turned out to be hilly only early and late). Route planning didn't end up being great (40-minute score event) - knew from about 15 minutes out that I was going to finish with several minutes to spare but with no opportunity to get another one.
The app gave me 210 more metres than my watch did, reinforcing the sense that my watch is short-changing me - which may explain the apparent slowness of my training pace this year relative to last (tonight's 3.5% difference would more or less bridge the gap between the two). I'm in the market for a new watch at the moment.
Monday May 22, 2017 #
8 AM
Swimming 35:00 [2] 1.0 km (35:00 / km)
A steady and consistent swim (all the laps were within a few seconds of each other) punctuated by intermittent goggles trouble - the strap won't stick when tightened so I think it's time for a new pair. The sign at the entrance warned of "loud works" today but they hadn't started by the time I left.
In the latest instalment of what's become a media circus, I noted a headline today of the alleged sex-worker past of a certain alleged drug mule currently facing the Colombian courts: "Cassie accused of working near Penrith". My thoughts on this were (a) I know certain parts of western Sydney suffer from high unemployment but I wasn't previously aware that "working near Penrith" was illegal and (b) I'm somewhat grateful on her behalf that my sister is out of the country and therefore is presumably not seeing her name being taken in vain on a regular basis by the nation's headline-writers.
In the latest instalment of what's become a media circus, I noted a headline today of the alleged sex-worker past of a certain alleged drug mule currently facing the Colombian courts: "Cassie accused of working near Penrith". My thoughts on this were (a) I know certain parts of western Sydney suffer from high unemployment but I wasn't previously aware that "working near Penrith" was illegal and (b) I'm somewhat grateful on her behalf that my sister is out of the country and therefore is presumably not seeing her name being taken in vain on a regular basis by the nation's headline-writers.
Sunday May 21, 2017 #
10 AM
Run race ((orienteering)) 17:01 [4] *** 3.2 km (5:19 / km) +45m 4:58 / km
spiked:21/21c
First race of sprint double at Yarra Valley Grammar, a decent sprint area. Wasn't sure about this beforehand given that I haven't run since Wednesday, but the hip felt reasonable in the warm-up and decided it was worth a shot if I could tolerate it. (Tempting to try and work a musical reference in here but I'm struggling to see a context in which "then your children will be next" is relevant, although I did beat a couple of juniors I wouldn't normally expect to in a sprint*). Rather slow to get going, but a good second half, some of which was spent in a good scrap with Martin Steer. Got the key route choices right.
(* - although I think Aston was nursing an injury in the second race)
(* - although I think Aston was nursing an injury in the second race)
1 PM
Run race ((orienteering)) 15:31 [4] *** 3.1 km (5:00 / km) +40m 4:42 / km
spiked:23/24c
Second sprint race with a paired start (I was paired with Carl Dalheim, who'd been only a few seconds behind me in the morning). Once again felt as if I was grinding the gears on the first couple, and missed 4 by a few seconds because I was concentrating too much on planning 5 (a long leg), but pretty good after that, and got the right option on the very roundabout 17. Running pretty hard in the later stages across the ovals, partly because I was chasing Chris Norwood (who'd started a minute before me) - ended up eight seconds ahead of him, having been three seconds ahead in the morning. (Finishing ahead of fast M60s in sprints is a sign of modest progress, given that Messrs Norwood, Lawford and van Geldermalsen have had my measure more often than not over the last six months).
The best news from this is that my hip feels better after running two sprint races than it has at any other time in the last four days. Go figure. (Also positive is being comfortably under the benchmark of 40% behind the elite winner that passes for respectability these days). Doing two events in a day will also be good preparation for doing four on Wednesday.
The head-to-head format made for a few interesting duels, the best of them being the Steer v Steer sprint finish (Asha reversing the result from the street-O championships by a few metres). Belinda looked like she'd held off Tash in a close one but she'd missed a control.
The best news from this is that my hip feels better after running two sprint races than it has at any other time in the last four days. Go figure. (Also positive is being comfortably under the benchmark of 40% behind the elite winner that passes for respectability these days). Doing two events in a day will also be good preparation for doing four on Wednesday.
The head-to-head format made for a few interesting duels, the best of them being the Steer v Steer sprint finish (Asha reversing the result from the street-O championships by a few metres). Belinda looked like she'd held off Tash in a close one but she'd missed a control.
C • Hip 5
Saturday May 20, 2017 #
8 AM
Pool running 45:00 [3] 0.7 km (1:04:17 / km)
Staying in the water for now, reasonably early in the day at Northcote in the outdoor pool. (Even had I felt inclined to go indoors - which I don't think is deep enough for pool running anyway - the indoor pool on a Saturday morning is almost wholly devoted to swimming lessons). Quite a warm morning by recent standards. Fairly mundane session; hip still not 100% but I'll put it to some sort of test tomorrow.
Going on to the Saturday morning shop (via the post office to take possession of the World Orienteering Day rabbit), it was apparent that there had been some overnight excitement in the 'hood, with a number of police outside one of the Station Street banks. On closer inspection the front door was shattered. I'm not sure what the crims were hoping to achieve, unless they think that banks leave their money on the tellers' desks when they go home on Friday night. (Whatever they did do wasn't significant enough to get a mention on the Vic Police News website).
Going on to the Saturday morning shop (via the post office to take possession of the World Orienteering Day rabbit), it was apparent that there had been some overnight excitement in the 'hood, with a number of police outside one of the Station Street banks. On closer inspection the front door was shattered. I'm not sure what the crims were hoping to achieve, unless they think that banks leave their money on the tellers' desks when they go home on Friday night. (Whatever they did do wasn't significant enough to get a mention on the Vic Police News website).
Friday May 19, 2017 #
7 AM
Run 3:00 [3] 0.5 km (6:00 / km)
Gave it a go but not quite ready - hip soreness was mild enough that I could have pushed through it had I wanted to, but I don't want to risk jeopardising what I have in mind for next Wednesday so decided that caution was the best option today.
Thursday May 18, 2017 #
7 AM
Pool running 45:00 [3] 0.7 km (1:04:17 / km)
Thought it best to take to the pool today given that my hip was rather sore last night. Ended up a reasonably mundane session in the water but nothing hurt, which was the principal objective.
Hip was considerably better today than it was yesterday, so I'll plan to go out for a run on it tomorrow (albeit not as long a run as I'd originally planned for today).
Had my first experience of an attempted orienteering-related scam today - took a call from a Philippines phone number, from someone claiming to be a Colombian IOF delegate who was supposedly trying to come to Australia but was stuck in Manila airport without the cash to pay for a visa. This was backed up by an e-mail purporting to be from Leho Haldna asking for my assistance (I smelt a rodent at this point, if I hadn't already, because the e-mail signoff, from an address I hadn't previously seen him use, made a reference to "prayers" and I've never seen evidence of Leho being overtly religious). Eventually hung up on him and shortly afterwards got another e-mail from "Leho" asking if I could lend his friend US$950 (whereupon I advised the IOF office to send out an all-points warning that their President's name was being used by a scammer). I'll give the scammer points for doing his research - he knew all the right names to drop to sound credible (and that Leho was Estonian). Hopefully he was working through the IOF member federations list in alphabetical order and we stopped him before he managed to con anyone. (Perhaps I should have asked him what a control flag looks like).
Hip was considerably better today than it was yesterday, so I'll plan to go out for a run on it tomorrow (albeit not as long a run as I'd originally planned for today).
Had my first experience of an attempted orienteering-related scam today - took a call from a Philippines phone number, from someone claiming to be a Colombian IOF delegate who was supposedly trying to come to Australia but was stuck in Manila airport without the cash to pay for a visa. This was backed up by an e-mail purporting to be from Leho Haldna asking for my assistance (I smelt a rodent at this point, if I hadn't already, because the e-mail signoff, from an address I hadn't previously seen him use, made a reference to "prayers" and I've never seen evidence of Leho being overtly religious). Eventually hung up on him and shortly afterwards got another e-mail from "Leho" asking if I could lend his friend US$950 (whereupon I advised the IOF office to send out an all-points warning that their President's name was being used by a scammer). I'll give the scammer points for doing his research - he knew all the right names to drop to sound credible (and that Leho was Estonian). Hopefully he was working through the IOF member federations list in alphabetical order and we stopped him before he managed to con anyone. (Perhaps I should have asked him what a control flag looks like).
Wednesday May 17, 2017 #
7 AM
Run intervals 20:00 [4] 3.2 km (6:15 / km)
Slight variation today: 15x40sec (still at All Nations). Seem to be gradually getting stronger but didn't kick on in the later part of the session as I sometimes do.
Run warm up/down 25:00 [3] 4.0 km (6:15 / km)
Warm-up and down. Had a bit of left hip soreness last night, which didn't trouble me during the intervals session but was a little sore on the way home (and a bit more so at times during the afternoon). Will need to watch this, and will be doing a bit of tweaking of my plans for the rest of the week.
Tuesday May 16, 2017 #
7 AM
Run 1:02:00 [3] 11.0 km (5:38 / km)
Almost ended before it really began when I felt a twinge in my quad just after the start, but that disappeared after a couple of hundred metres. (Left hip feels a little sore tonight, though). Feeling a little flat this morning, probably a product of what's been happening at work, but did get into it eventually, particularly in the last couple of kilometres after coming of Ruckers Hill.
Monday May 15, 2017 #
7 AM
Run 39:00 [3] 6.7 km (5:49 / km)
Changing things round today because I needed to be in early for a major review meeting at work - at least this meant that I actually got through a Monday run for the first time in ages. Certainly felt like a post-race run, but gradually got into it as it went on. No obvious injury issues.
Might have been as well that I swapped the swim to the evening - there was dense fog and I'm not sure the pool would have been open (it closes if the lifeguards can't see the other side of the pool).
Might have been as well that I swapped the swim to the evening - there was dense fog and I'm not sure the pool would have been open (it closes if the lifeguards can't see the other side of the pool).
7 PM
Swimming 34:00 [2] 1.0 km (34:00 / km)
After a reasonably stressful day (albeit one which went about as well as could reasonably be expected), it was good to get to the pool. I can't say I felt especially relaxed in the water, but it was a decent session, notwithstanding occasional annoyances such as intermittent goggles trouble and a couple of foot cramps. Certainly felt better afterwards.
Sunday May 14, 2017 #
10 AM
Run race ((orienteering)) 1:09:46 [4] *** 9.3 km (7:30 / km) +265m 6:34 / km
spiked:6/6c
NSW Long Championships at Arthursleigh. Definitely a contrast with yesterday - open gully-spur and long legs even by the standards of NSW Long Distance Championships. I think I'd probably have to go back to 10s (or possibly 12s) for the last time I only had 6 controls on a course.
Didn't get quite as good a warm-up as I would have liked - arrived a bit late because it was further in than I'd thought (on a dodgy track which made me a bit nervous about the hire car's low front, but it seems to have managed OK). First leg was downhill which settled things a bit, and from there it was largely a day of running free through gentle gully-spur, with a couple of moderately wide route choices to stay away from steeper stuff near the river. (It wasn't an option on our course, but in M35 Steve took a route choice along the river flats - I wouldn't have dared, assuming them to be thick or rocky or both, but it worked OK for him). Didn't have the pace to go with Jock, who came through me about a quarter of the way through, but a solid run at my current level.
Ended up third in 45A. Jock did 61, Nathan Guinness 67. Nathan can obviously run; I think he got me in the first WMOC qualifier too (before blowing out in the second).
Will give this event points for an efficient presentation, too.
I feel like I'm continuing to make gradual progress - a few weeks of reasonably consistent training will do that. Hopefully a full winter of it will get me somewhere by the time we get to the back end of this season.
Didn't get quite as good a warm-up as I would have liked - arrived a bit late because it was further in than I'd thought (on a dodgy track which made me a bit nervous about the hire car's low front, but it seems to have managed OK). First leg was downhill which settled things a bit, and from there it was largely a day of running free through gentle gully-spur, with a couple of moderately wide route choices to stay away from steeper stuff near the river. (It wasn't an option on our course, but in M35 Steve took a route choice along the river flats - I wouldn't have dared, assuming them to be thick or rocky or both, but it worked OK for him). Didn't have the pace to go with Jock, who came through me about a quarter of the way through, but a solid run at my current level.
Ended up third in 45A. Jock did 61, Nathan Guinness 67. Nathan can obviously run; I think he got me in the first WMOC qualifier too (before blowing out in the second).
Will give this event points for an efficient presentation, too.
I feel like I'm continuing to make gradual progress - a few weeks of reasonably consistent training will do that. Hopefully a full winter of it will get me somewhere by the time we get to the back end of this season.
Saturday May 13, 2017 #
1 PM
Run race ((orienteering)) 1:09:10 [4] *** 6.0 km (11:32 / km) +175m 10:04 / km
spiked:20/24c
NSW Middle Distance Championships at Appin. I wasn't quite sure what to expect of this but it ended up serving up some old-school Sydney sandstone (plus some small tracks) - often pretty thick and controls tricky to see. For those of us who grew up on places like Jerusalem Rocks and Toota Maroota it was a return to those days, but probably more of a surprise for the youngsters. (Also spotted the standard mix of urban-fringe bush features: the burnt-out car, the illegal rubbish dump, the trailbike track and the marijuana plant).
Took a while to get into this, both physically and technically. I flew up this morning and had the standard early-morning flight problem of waking up long before my alarm and not being able to get to sleep (a coffee at the not-exactly-my-usual-territory Campbelltown Mall solved the sleepiness problem), and felt rather strange running through the first half. Also a bit wobbly early, dropping perhaps 45 seconds at 2 where Steve caught me, and a bit wide on 4 (but Steve lost more there because I saw him again at 6). A more significant time loss on 10 - went in too far and dropped perhaps 1.30-2 minutes. Got much better after that both physically and technically. Jock and Rob Bennett caught me at the rugged 13, but I got away from Jock again when he overshot 15, and finished off fairly well from there.
Not sure what the determiner of the course lengths was thinking - not even Thierry Gueorgiou would have done 35 on that (probably high 30s). Itay Manor (from Israel) won with 51 and Rob and Steve were the only others to break the hour.
Took a while to get into this, both physically and technically. I flew up this morning and had the standard early-morning flight problem of waking up long before my alarm and not being able to get to sleep (a coffee at the not-exactly-my-usual-territory Campbelltown Mall solved the sleepiness problem), and felt rather strange running through the first half. Also a bit wobbly early, dropping perhaps 45 seconds at 2 where Steve caught me, and a bit wide on 4 (but Steve lost more there because I saw him again at 6). A more significant time loss on 10 - went in too far and dropped perhaps 1.30-2 minutes. Got much better after that both physically and technically. Jock and Rob Bennett caught me at the rugged 13, but I got away from Jock again when he overshot 15, and finished off fairly well from there.
Not sure what the determiner of the course lengths was thinking - not even Thierry Gueorgiou would have done 35 on that (probably high 30s). Itay Manor (from Israel) won with 51 and Rob and Steve were the only others to break the hour.
Friday May 12, 2017 #
8 AM
Pool running 45:00 [3] 0.7 km (1:04:17 / km)
Friday morning at Fitzroy, with a clear sky and the mist rising over the (relatively) warm water. Didn't feel especially smooth but was clearly moving through the water faster than usual. Quads a bit sore before I started but fine once the session was done, which was one of the objectives of this session.
A rare sub-20 on the bike from the pool to work (it's usually around 22-24) - got a particularly good run with the lights, which made up for running a little later than I would have liked at the beginning.
Off to the NSW Championships this weekend - flying up to Sydney first thing in the morning.
A rare sub-20 on the bike from the pool to work (it's usually around 22-24) - got a particularly good run with the lights, which made up for running a little later than I would have liked at the beginning.
Off to the NSW Championships this weekend - flying up to Sydney first thing in the morning.
Thursday May 11, 2017 #
7 AM
Run 1:45:00 [3] 18.3 km (5:44 / km)
A solid morning's work and my longest one since the New Year. Slow in the first half-hour through a combination of darkness and climbing, but steady after that once dropping down onto the Yarra flats (experiencing the first proper fog of the season in the process). Still felt as if I had plenty left at the end (although was rather tired afterwards). A bit of hamstring discomfort at times in the second half but improved by the end.
Checked out en route how the railway construction next to my old place is going. Looks like most of the work is being done on the other side of the line so my original thoughts that the building would be a casualty may not come to pass, but I'm still glad not to be living next to a (mostly nocturnal) building site for the next couple of years.
Checked out en route how the railway construction next to my old place is going. Looks like most of the work is being done on the other side of the line so my original thoughts that the building would be a casualty may not come to pass, but I'm still glad not to be living next to a (mostly nocturnal) building site for the next couple of years.
Wednesday May 10, 2017 #
7 AM
Run intervals 20:00 [4] 3.2 km (6:15 / km)
20x30 seconds at All Nations. A bit of an effort early but got going reasonably well in the second half. Only minor hamstring discomfort - probably at about the point where I can start pushing longer with these.
On-leash compliance rate: 3 from 7. Thought we were going to make it to 50% today but a new offender appeared at the last moment.
On-leash compliance rate: 3 from 7. Thought we were going to make it to 50% today but a new offender appeared at the last moment.
Run warm up/down 24:00 [3] 4.0 km (6:00 / km)
Warm-up and down. As usual, slow on the way there, not so much on the way back. Nice morning for running, and for riding in afterwards - not sure what, if anything, I should read into the fact that I got most of the green lights on the way into work and almost none of them on the way home.
Tuesday May 9, 2017 #
7 AM
Run 1:04:00 [3] 11.3 km (5:40 / km)
Didn't sleep that well after yesterday hearing something somewhat unsettling about something that happened in 2014 (albeit less unsettling than it would have been had I heard it in 2014). Didn't have huge expectations for this run but it turned into a pretty nice one after a slow first kilometre - felt like I was flowing along nicely, and dealing with the bumps comfortably, although never all that quick. A little bit of hamstring soreness in the last 10 minutes.
Monday May 8, 2017 #
8 AM
Swimming 36:00 [2] 1.0 km (36:00 / km)
Nothing like some cold showers from the sky to deter people from going to an outdoor pool. It's not really a problem once you're in, and this ended up being a reasonable swim once some initial stiffness had worked its way out, although a bit slower than some recent sessions.
I had thoughts of trying to add the Monday lunchtime run back into my schedule, but my back has been living on the edge a bit for the last few days so it wasn't too surprising that it wasn't feeling up to the job after a morning at the desk.
I had thoughts of trying to add the Monday lunchtime run back into my schedule, but my back has been living on the edge a bit for the last few days so it wasn't too surprising that it wasn't feeling up to the job after a morning at the desk.
Sunday May 7, 2017 #
10 AM
Run ((orienteering)) 58:36 [3] *** 6.3 km (9:18 / km) +310m 7:28 / km
spiked:13/14c
Melbourne Bush O at Plenty Gorge, including getting into a northwest corner of the map which I don't think we've been to before. Thought both before the event and in the first couple of legs that this might be one of those days when my back froze at the first sign of a climb, but it didn't really happen (and there were quite a few climbs), and I eventually settled into something of a reasonable run. Technically straightforward, especially compared with yesterday - just came a bit wide into 4. Lost some time on 10 but that was largely through route choice, attempting to contour across a very steep slope on a small track that ended up dwindling to non-existence.
I knew I wasn't fast but was still further off the pace than I would have expected (in fact I was coming last when I left, although that is sometimes the fate of the early starter).
As has become usual for this event, the turnout was great - 186 entries and probably over 200 people, with heaps of young kids. Presumably the event was not what was responsible for the traffic jam leaving on Yan Yean Road - the rapid suburban growth at its far end probably explains it more. (I believe there are plans afoot to do something about it, which may or may not have something to do with the fact that the local MP's office sits on its most congested section).
I knew I wasn't fast but was still further off the pace than I would have expected (in fact I was coming last when I left, although that is sometimes the fate of the early starter).
As has become usual for this event, the turnout was great - 186 entries and probably over 200 people, with heaps of young kids. Presumably the event was not what was responsible for the traffic jam leaving on Yan Yean Road - the rapid suburban growth at its far end probably explains it more. (I believe there are plans afoot to do something about it, which may or may not have something to do with the fact that the local MP's office sits on its most congested section).
6 PM
Note
Advertised course info for next weekend's NSW Long Championships: 9.3km, 6 controls.
Saturday May 6, 2017 #
1 PM
Run ((orienteering)) 1:09:31 [3] **** 6.3 km (11:02 / km) +160m 9:47 / km
spiked:14/19c
Bendigo local event in the Bermuda Triangle section of Kooyoora. I've noted before that I consider this the most technically difficult square kilometre in Australia and it certainly lived up to its billing, at least as far as I was concerned. Drifted too high at #1 in country which is very unforgiving for relocation and ended up relocating off #2, dropping 4 minutes or so. (As you might expect, 2 was then my best split of the day). Also drifted too high on the long leg across to 4 - another 2-3 minutes gone there, and after messy legs on the next two it definitely wasn't looking good. Improved considerably from that point, apart from a mid-leg loss of confidence on 11 which cost another 90 seconds or so, but the damage was well and truly done by then. Always a somewhat humbling experience here (and it's my first time on proper granite since last October, so the practice was needed).
A little hamstring soreness in the later stages.
The Grooving The Moo music festival was on in Bendigo today, which made for some unusually heavy traffic up the Calder, including numerous buses in assorted states of decrepitude (one of which failed to make it past the Melton Highway interchange at Taylors Lakes). My first attempt at a mid-trip visit to the conveniences, at the Ravenswood rest area, was quickly abandoned because three buses and their already-well-lubricated passengers had pulled in just in front of me. That wasn't an issue at Marong, but instead I had to run the gauntlet of council workers who were trying to bail up anyone they could for a survey as part of the community consultation for the City of Greater Bendigo's public toilet strategy.
A little hamstring soreness in the later stages.
The Grooving The Moo music festival was on in Bendigo today, which made for some unusually heavy traffic up the Calder, including numerous buses in assorted states of decrepitude (one of which failed to make it past the Melton Highway interchange at Taylors Lakes). My first attempt at a mid-trip visit to the conveniences, at the Ravenswood rest area, was quickly abandoned because three buses and their already-well-lubricated passengers had pulled in just in front of me. That wasn't an issue at Marong, but instead I had to run the gauntlet of council workers who were trying to bail up anyone they could for a survey as part of the community consultation for the City of Greater Bendigo's public toilet strategy.
Friday May 5, 2017 #
8 AM
Pool running 45:00 [3] 0.7 km (1:04:17 / km)
Always felt like I was fighting against something in this session, perhaps because it's come at the end of a fairly long week work-wise - also a bit sore in the hamstrings through sitting on a chair which disagreed with me yesterday evening (hopefully this will be short-lived). This session is often good for working that sort of thing out so hopefully will be effective this time.
Got a view inside the changeroom construction site. They're not even close to being finished.
Got a view inside the changeroom construction site. They're not even close to being finished.
Thursday May 4, 2017 #
7 AM
Run 1:11:00 [3] 12.4 km (5:44 / km)
Something slightly longer this morning, on a somewhat hillier route through Kew. Fairly reasonable through the first 50 minutes or so, but quads fatigued at that point (a little surprising for a run which wasn't especially fast, long or hilly) and things fell apart somewhat from that point - certainly struggled on the couple of remaining (modest) climbs.
Wednesday May 3, 2017 #
7 AM
Run 40:00 [3] 7.3 km (5:29 / km)
It's been a struggle running since I got back from NZ but today was a vast improvement - still not entirely free-flowing, but the engine was definitely working much better than it was on either Sunday or Tuesday (in fact, it was probably one of my better training runs this year, admittedly not a strongly-contested title).
It was a nice morning and this was followed by a good ride into work, getting a lot of green lights and in some commuter pelotons of noticeable size, and doing the trip in 32 minutes instead of the usual 37-40. Didn't even let myself get too disturbed by the truck which did an illegal U-turn in front of us.
It was a nice morning and this was followed by a good ride into work, getting a lot of green lights and in some commuter pelotons of noticeable size, and doing the trip in 32 minutes instead of the usual 37-40. Didn't even let myself get too disturbed by the truck which did an illegal U-turn in front of us.
12 PM
Note
Was wondering if the Commonwealth Games had acquired a new sport without anyone telling me about it, but Gold Coast 2018's ad for a mapping officer doesn't have anything to do with orienteering.
Tuesday May 2, 2017 #
7 AM
Run 1:00:00 [3] 10.5 km (5:43 / km)
Another pretty sluggish run, although not quite as bad as Sunday in that respect (felt sleepy through the day as well - obviously I haven't yet re-adjusted from the luxury of consistently having 8+ hours of sleep a night while in NZ). Was thinking of cutting it short but picked up enough in the later stages to feel up to doing the extra loop to take it up to the originally intended hour.
Got out far enough to see what's left of the Ivanhoe RSL (which burnt down while I was away), as well as to see that some of the smaller pedestrian crossings of the railway line are closing in preparation for a couple of years of level crossing removal works.
Got out far enough to see what's left of the Ivanhoe RSL (which burnt down while I was away), as well as to see that some of the smaller pedestrian crossings of the railway line are closing in preparation for a couple of years of level crossing removal works.
Monday May 1, 2017 #
8 AM
Swimming 36:00 [3] 1.0 km (36:00 / km)
First time back in the water for a while; a rather sluggish session as I start to get back into normal life back in Melbourne (in as much as the last two weeks before a major deadline can constitute 'normal life').
The changeroom renovations at Fitzroy were not completed by the scheduled date, a piece of news which can be placed alongside the Pope's religion, ursine defecation habits and the sexual orientation of Barry Manilow.
The changeroom renovations at Fitzroy were not completed by the scheduled date, a piece of news which can be placed alongside the Pope's religion, ursine defecation habits and the sexual orientation of Barry Manilow.