Training Log Archive: blairtrewin

State Series at Plenty River. There should have been a WOC trial here - it's the most continental area I've run on in Australia, and no-one's run on it for more than 20 years. (It got declared a conservation area but Parks are happy to have us back now, perhaps because we're a good deal more constructive than some of the other things that happen in the area, especially at night - as it was we arrived to see a parked van of the 'if it's rocking don't bother knocking' variety', whose occupants were probably quite surprised to see us). The map was a bit dicey in places, but then dicey maps are not exactly unheard of in continental Europe either.

My run was pretty scrappy, especially later on - I wasn't alone in this but Reuben showed all of us up. Nothing bigger than 30 seconds on a control but wasn't attacking with much confidence and a couple of poor routes. Did lose a bit of time looking for a missing SI unit at 11 (the flag was still there). Its absence may have had something to do with the presence nearby of a midden of the traditional Bogan tribe*.

There were something like 220 participants today - the biggest State Series turnout (leaving out events with major interstate participation) for more than 10 years. This should tell us something; we wouldn't want to be running on areas like this every weekend, but there's definitely a place for them in the program.

The VOA AGM was held after the event - a good way of getting a quorum, something which was always a struggle at AGMs (once in the ACT we resorted to counting Belinda Lawford when she hadn't actually been born yet). I was considered sufficiently venerable to get a life membership - hope this doesn't mean I'm washed up. (Won a water pack as a 'door prize' too, as did Mason - at face value one might expect Mason's Dad to get more use out of it, although Mason may have other ideas).

(* - a pile of VB cans in various stages of oxidation)

C • Mason 2

C • Travelling time 13

A nice morning for running, and a bit later in the morning than I often run, by virtue of having a rare uncommitted weekend day in Melbourne (an inside temperature of 9 degrees wasn't a huge incentive to get out of bed, either). I've had quite a few terrific long runs in or near winter on days like this, but today never lived up to the promise; a workmanlike effort which never really burst to life. Handled the hilly stretch from the river up through Lower Plenty reasonably well, though.

Being out a bit later than usual on a weekend morning is a chance to see various bits of urban life, from Auskick on the Montmorency oval to the Macleod scouts on their way to a camp - they must do things differently on scout camps these days because one of the boxes being loaded into a vehicle was labelled 'Karaoke Machine'. (The most notable feature of my not-especially-distinguished scouting career was an early good route choice decision on a camp in the Brindabellas - we split into two groups, one going along a creek, one climbing 300 metres to a ridge and then along it. I went with the ridge option and we beat the others to the campsite by about 2 hours - they spent all afternoon bashing through scrub).

Last night was also the annual quiz night for the local ALP (thanks to Miss Jones for giving me the idea for the scalene triangle question). I had some fun coming up with incorrect answers for the multiple-choice bits. A sample: "In their hoons policy released on 22 November, what did the Howard Government promise to do if re-elected?"

(a) crush the cars of repeat serious traffic offenders
(b) give courts the power to order street racers to drive nothing except Volvos for the next 3 years
(c) provide funding to local communities to install portable rubber speed humps.

The correct answer's (c), but I suspect (b) would be a more effective deterrent.

I'm discovering the drawback of being home on a weekend (or an early evening) - telemarketers. Usually I'm not home when they're at work. Must get round to putting myself on the do-not-call registry.

C • Or 1

At Richmond. Started very slowly but got into it more as the session went on. Probably a good morning to be inside rather than outside (as at Fitzroy): 2.7 may be tame by Canberra standards but it's Melbourne's coldest May night since 1981 (in fact we haven't been below 2 in any month since 2002).

Remembered the gloves for the bike this morning. I thought I might get away without them yesterday and lived to regret it.

A strange sort of run. Legs felt comfortable the whole way but also felt as if I was on the point of falling asleep at times, especially in the middle. (I didn't sleep that well last night even by usual Thursday morning standards - I may be a morning person but that doesn't mean I look forward to the 5.15 Thursday alarm). Still had plenty left in the later stages and felt as if I could have gone on quite a bit further, but it was already a long run for midweek (because this weekend will be on the short side).

While the route was all familiar ground, it wasn't in this configuration - starting at Clifton Hill, up through Northcote (to drop something off at Nicola's) and Darebin Parklands, crossing the Yarra at Burke Road, south to East Camberwell and then back. I picked my 'turn west' point with the aim of a 2.15 loop and wasn't far wrong - finished on 2.15.02. Nice running conditions (at least for someone with Canberra blood), clear with temperatures just above freezing (not so nice on the bike afterwards, though - should have worn gloves). There was ground frost in the lower-lying areas and even a bit of ice on a couple of the Yarra footbridges - hope the cyclists were careful this morning. It was a lot colder in Tassie (-8 at Fingal, -7 at Ross, -6 at Grove).

Spotted a number plate 'DEES93'. This may or may not be a reference to when they next expect to win a premiership, or their average losing margin so far this season.

I also confirm that I will not be appealing against my non-selection in the WOC team. Hopefully no-one else does either - going through that process once in a year is more than enough for everyone.

C • Peeling 2

Didn't really feel like it this morning and was rather on the weak side, especially on the hills (such as they were). Improved considerably later on so perhaps I was just sleepy (although the long gentle downhill through Rosanna Parklands is always good for the spirit).

Lunchtime around the Tan, which isn't much wider than it was last time (but at least the narrowness is in a different spot). A fairly routine run for the most part. Met Simon heading in the opposite direction early on which interrupted things for a bit.

Didn't really feel as if I wanted to be doing this at the start, but ended up being a reasonable session - 9.18 a respectable time after a hard week. Starting to gather quite a bit of confidence after the last couple of weeks, especially for the long races - hopefully I can carry this into the European campaign.

One of the things about coming back from a trip away is seeing what's changed in your absence on the way to work. In this case, the Shell station at Fairfield is now a big hole, and the truck with 'S.Muratore' on the side that parks illegally in a dangerous location in a no-standing zone outside the Queen Victoria Markets every Tuesday morning is still there. I'm not about to start an argument with them - Muratore is a name which gets mentioned in despatches in any discussion of the (allegedly substantial) Mafia influence in the Melbourne fruit and vegetable industry (one of them was murdered a few years back).

Not sure if we should put this in the 'kids, don't try this at home' category, but on my recent empirical evidence, optimal pre-race preparation consists of:

(a) doing three long races back-to-back the weekend before your event of interest
(b) fly halfway around the world to arrive at the event venue less than 24 hours before your start time
(c) make sure you get no sleep on the flight by arranging to be in the same row as a restless baby

With those ingredients it appears that I've got my best world ranking event score for two years. Perhaps I should try this more often?

I didn't really feel in the mood for training this morning and it showed; the swim felt like it was going on forever.

I've remarked before that the displays outside our lifts at work giving 'news' are sometimes less than current. The same must apply to the ads as there was one for ESPN: 'who will win the UEFA Cup?'. Personally, I think that Zenit St Petersburg are going to win, 2-0, with both goals coming in the second half, the second in injury time. Does anyone know what odds I can get on this?

MFR Monday night session from Torgeir's new premises, a few hundred metres further east in Hawthorn than the last two. Fairly easy and relaxed most of the way, with much more energy than this morning.