Training Log Archive: blairtrewin

Plan A was to go out for a ride for 1 1/2 hours or thereabouts in the morning. Things weren't quite going right in the morning - first my computer was horribly slow so I didn't get done what I wanted to get done, then I got out the door and realised I'd left my helmet inside, then I got back out and realised I'd left my phone inside (although the latter isn't exactly an essential item). Then I got a minute down the road and noticed that the tyre was a fair bit lower than it was yesterday. Not having any gear to fix a tyre and not wanting to find myself stranded a long way from anywhere, I turned around and started thinking of a plan B.

Plan B was available because Cassie had left a pool running belt behind in the cellar, so I headed down to CISAC after the conferencing was finished. Once again seemed to get the hang of it pretty well, and not too many people to get in the way (or for me to get in the way of) on a late Sunday afternoon.

A classic Canberra ride - around the lake from my parents' place in Aranda before the OA Conference started. A fairly reasonable session on a nice morning, with plenty of people out. Dad's bike is definitely easier to ride than his last one, but the lack of anything other than regular pedals is still noticeable uphill (and there's no way to get back to Aranda without a bit of a climb).

First try of pool running, at Ivanhoe. It took me a few minutes to get a feel for it but got going pretty nicely after that - clearly my system is hard-wired to generate endorphins when running but not when doing anything else. Still didn't feel like I was working that hard, a common affliction of alternate training methods for me, but a reasonably nice session. It wasn't even as boring as I was expecting it to be, although this is still something that I suspect would be more fun with company.

I also got a feel for some of the logistical issues involved. Not sure if it's the same for everyone but I found myself creeping forward very gradually, which meant a lot of turning around because the deep end at Ivanhoe isn't very big. You really need more than 1.5 metres depth to do this properly (Ivanhoe is 1.8 at the very end but 1.5 not too far from it), which will rule some pools out as a venue - but Fitzroy will be good. (I hope, though, not to be doing too many more of these sessions before getting the all-clear to resume proper running, on land).

C • across lanes 1

From home to work via the Yarra Boulevard. Working pretty hard through the hills of the Boulevard today. Had a bit of trouble with seat slipping down again later on.

I would have had a bit of an excuse for piking this morning but making excuses to avoid long sessions isn't really my style - and this was too good a morning to pass up in any case. Basically the northern ring road option again, with a few minor variations (mostly to drop something off at Kathy Liley's place in Watsonia). Felt pretty reasonably and didn't have the muscle soreness of some recent long rides.

Being on a bike at 11.30 in the evening, coming home last night, was a little bit nerve-wracking (although a Tuesday is better than a Friday). I did, however, manage to successfully traverse the CBD without witnessing a single bashing, stabbing or glassing.

There's a rumour that Andrew Bolt is working on a quickie book about the "Climategate" scandal. I hope he is - the chances of him being able to do so without saying something actionable about someone are fairly small (perhaps after the lawyers have finished with it there will be nothing left except the index and the cover).

C • Better hope it's paperback 1

A reasonably routine ride taking in the Yarra Boulevard, feeling reasonably strong when I needed to. A nice morning and plenty of bunches out and about.

I wasn't joking about today being a long day; it's 11.15 and I'm only just leaving work (and there wasn't even a lot of media).

C • Busy 6

Nothing terribly exciting. Coolest morning at Fitzroy for a while and the crowds were accordingly thin.

Tomorrow could be a bit crazy: once the final numbers for November and spring come in around 12.30, I have no fewer than five reports of various kinds to write (although a couple of them have largely been drafted in anticipation), plus a probable swag of media interviews. If I get out of the office before 10pm I will be pleasantly surprised.