Training Log Archive: blairtrewin

Felt much better for a decent night's sleep (even though I couldn't quite achieve my usual first-night objective of lasting until 10), and headed out once it got light, on a chilly, misty morning with a northeast wind which was unpleasant on the bridge but a non-issue otherwise. Started out on familiar ground, along the south edge of the lake and up into Cologny past some expensive real estate and the premises of the World Economic Forum (deserted - they're all in Davos this week), before a more exploratory section through semi-rural areas and small villages. Not quite where I'd planned because my map memory was flawed and I missed a turn, but kept on a general south- to southwest direction. There was about a half-hour stretch on the French side of the border, not all of it particularly attractive (lots of shops trying to capitalise on the exchange rate, plus the French aren't as efficient at getting rid of weeds on vacant blocks as the Swiss are), but including a very nice stretch through the forest next to the River Arve. Crossed back into Switzerland on a forest track with a sign which translated approximately as 'if you've got anything to declare, please cross at the main crossing down the road', which I thought was rather cool - obviously the Swiss aren't quite as paranoid about their border as some countries I can think of. A good day to explore, especially as my midweek long runs here probably won't include a lot of daylight.

As a run this was reasonable, and had a reasonable amount left at the end, although the course was not overly demanding, with few hills apart from a solid climb from 4-7km, which I handled reasonably. A little bit of right hip soreness at times.

Relaxing now in front of the tennis on Eurosport (but I'm not sure why the ads are in German when the commentary's in English).

Made it to Geneva without too many dramas (although a somewhat unusual route choice from Melbourne to Singapore - Adelaide-Ceduna-Port Hedland - presumably prompted by staying out the way of the volcano in Indonesia). Headed out onto the streets almost immediately, hoping to take advantage of the last of the daylight (which lasted longer than I expected, almost until 6), going around the south side of the lake as far as the very posh-looking Yacht Club de Geneve.

I've had some very good runs in Canberra on crisp, dry evenings near sunset with the temperature falling toward freezing. This won't join them - it was too sleepy for that - but still a useful hitout and no leg soreness. My Achilles also doesn't seem to have tightened up as much as it sometimes does on planes.

More people out and about on the streets than last time I was here, although I wasn't here on a Saturday afternoon last time.

I'm usually OK after the first proper night's sleep, and plan to go long tomorrow morning - not 2.30, but hoping for at least 2. One of my best runs of last year was a long run on the first full day of a trip, on Dartmoor in September.

Got a comeback run under my belt before leaving for the next stint in Geneva. A bit of rust in the system but no sign of any soreness from the leg, and I think I can probably rule a line under that particular injury (which is a better result than I'd feared on Sunday). As a run, pretty similar to several of the last couple of weeks.

Not too sorry that this week's Sunday long run will be done on a day of 4 rather than a day of 40.

For those going to the March NOL weekend there are apparently not one, but two, musical distractions on the Saturday night - one of the symphony orchestras on the north side of the lake and INXS on the south side. In a somewhat unfortunate piece of timing both concerts are currently scheduled to take place outdoors at the same time, which could make for some interesting acoustics.

A couple of false starts this morning. First I got to the pool entrance to discover that I'd left the running belt in the car. Then I got back to the pool entrance to discover that I'd dropped my swimmers in the middle of the road. Alexandra Parade isn't really a road you want to cross once, let alone six times, but I eventually got going and had a decent session, sun glare again the only real issue.

Felt good on the ride into work from there, and generally today. It's amazing the difference getting an extra hour or so of sleep makes. Also no discomfort in the leg at any stage today, so I'll definitely go for a run in the morning - will find out a bit more then. Features of said ride included being passed rather too close by a bright blue hoonmobile and then passing it back 100 metres down the road (not quite as good as beating a Ferrari down the length of Flinders Street, but close), and noting that a Czech band is the latest on the eclectic list to play the pub on the corner of Elizabeth and Queensberry Streets. One of the bands playing there a few weeks ago was called Geneva Is Boring, something I'll have a chance to put to the test from Saturday evening onwards.

One of the things I was doing today was checking extreme rainfalls from the summer of 2009-10. I doubt if anyone who was at Falls Creek for New Years' last year will argue with my conclusion that it was not credible that a site near Falls Creek had no rainfall for the 24 hours to 9am on 1 January 2010 (and thus that the 150mm allegedly recorded there on 2 January was very probably a two-day total).

A new swimming venue today - I'd been to an Australia Day BBQ at Hampton East and dropped into the Carnegie pool on the way home. This is a slightly ageing outdoor pool, which was quieter than I expected on a late holiday afternoon (and cooler than I expected, but fine once in). A reasonable swim, although I did see the return of something which I had thought was a thing of the past - the foot cramp (in both feet on separate occasions), and felt slightly bloated from the big lunch.

Most of the people at the gathering were work colleagues. Some parties have the most sober person as designated driver; this one had the most sober person as designated interviewee (it was the 'Australian' so one is always wary, but if it goes pear-shaped I'll be safely out of the country within 48 hours).

The leg has improved significantly today - feels as if it might almost be ready to run on tomorrow, but I think I'll give it another day and try something on Friday. Also don't seem to have suffered too much from a stint of 1am international teleconferencing (it is easier to take when it's on the morning of a public holiday and you can sleep in - or at least sleep in by my standards, which means 7 rather than 5.something).

I don't think I'll have any trouble finding somewhere to watch the men's Australian Open final in Geneva (local interest will presumably be heavily dependent on the semi-final result), but the Asia Cup final might be more of a challenge.

Seem to have improved a little overnight, and certainly a session in the pool didn't create any problems, so this looks like a good way to try to maintain fitness for however long I'm not running - except that my flotation belt is far too bulky to haul around the world. Presumably it's possible to get them in Geneva. Had assorted company in the lane today, including someone who was sufficiently large that I was half-expecting the Sea Shepherd crew to turn up to keep the Japanese away from her.

There were 47.8 good reasons why Port Augusta would have been a good place to avoid today. (Some would be unkind enough to suggest that it is worth avoiding under any meteorological conditions). Some of this air mass is on its way to Canberra, and possibly Melbourne and/or Adelaide if the winds go northerly enough on the weekend, by which time I will be safely out of the country. It will be somewhat ironic if the Australian record high goes on Saturday - not beyond the realms of possibility - while I'm on a plane.

Also noticed a piece in the Herald-Sun quoting someone from Trades Hall saying that the Australia Day holiday should become a whole week. I suspect it was said tongue-in-cheek, but you can't really get much more Australian than an over-the-top ambit claim in an industrial dispute....

C • Haha 1

Had another interrupted night's sleep, although not as bad as last night - this is one of those strange injuries that hurts (on occasion) more at rest than in action - so actually hit the snooze button when the alarm went off, which isn't normally my style. Must have worked because I felt much better during the day than I did on either day of the weekend (it's probably a sign you've been pushing yourself too hard when you fall asleep on a train at 11 on a Saturday morning).

It was then a case of exploring what I could do, starting with a swim in which I wasn't using the legs too much (so it was even slower than it usually was), combined with a short bike commute. Seemed to function OK.