Training Log Archive: blairtrewin

You have to start somewhere and by usual standards this was a laughably short run, but I got through it which is more than can be said for my last two attempts at this distance or thereabouts, with a tiny bit of awkwardness but no serious trouble (probably better than on any of the walk/jog days, if the truth be known). There are still enough warning signs that I won't be cranking the distance up rapidly, but at least I know now that I can tolerate some very basic stuff; now need to see if I can take it further.

20 minutes was hardly enough exercise for a Sunday morning so I headed out on the bike after watching the Man City-Norwich game (about which the less said the better) - the usual 'injury loop' out along the Koonung path (which has more signs and other facilities than it did last time I was out this way) and back through Doncaster. A bit slower than normal but I think some of that might be because I'm currently riding without toeclips (haven't got round to installing them on the new pedals after one of my old pedals broke). At its best in the third quarter, when I was moving at about the same average speed as a bus (seeing a bus before noon on a Sunday was a bit of a rarity in itself).

Did something a bit different this afternoon and headed out to Mount Donna Buang - the pretext being the possibility of seeing snow (although I always thought that was a bit of a long-shot - needed another 200m or so elevation), but it's a nice part of the world to spend a bit of time. There are some magnificent forests in the areas east of Melbourne, at least in those areas which didn't burn in either 2006-07 or 2009, which narrows the field considerably. (One of my two specific contributions to state Labor policy going into the next election is to propose a review of parks and reserves with a focus on those remaining forest areas unburnt in recent years; the other is a clause calling for no new development below projected 2100 sea levels).

C • 7-0? 2

Stepping things up a bit again today; a 3/1 mix, which seemed to go pretty well - still a little bit of tenderness but feeling better both before and during the run than on Thursday, and no sign of fatiguing the way it did on Wednesday. Starting to warm up a bit; it's the first time I've been to the Banyule Flats for a couple of months and I was surprised how little mud there was.

Orienteering Australia isn't the only thing I'm president of; it's been an interesting day wearing one of my other hats.

C • Integrity 4

First time at Fitzroy for a bit. A reasonably steady effort and didn't seem to cause any issues with the hamstring (which feels better this afternoon than it did yesterday). A very nice morning to be in the pool, despite the sunglare when going east.

It's been a long week despite the relatively small amount of time devoted to training; I've only been home before 10 once (twice work, twice meetings). Next week's not looking a lot easier with an OA Board meeting on Monday and a midnight teleconference on Tuesday (and I've got a conference on Tuesday so won't be getting the holiday either).

Today also exposed me to more than the usual quota of dodgy driving; first a rather erratic driver on the way in to the pool who twice changed lanes without looking (once nearly taking me out, once nearly taking out someone a few cars ahead) and then drove through a red light - if it had been 7.15am on Sunday rather than Friday I would have assumed they were still drunk from the night before. Then on the way home, I had my nearest miss on the bike for a while when a taxi failed to give way at the Queen Vic Market roundabout (possibly not expecting bikes at 10pm) and pulled up a few centimetres short. Taxis were, though, redeemed in my estimation a few sets of traffic lights later when a passenger recognised my Norwich City top (which I often wear for night riding because it's a very visible yellow) and spent a couple of minutes in mutual reminsicing about the Canaries class of '89.

Spotted in the rainfall site lists: there was a site at Belanglo State Forest, and the last data reported was in 1990. Hopefully the observer wasn't another of Ivan Milat's victims.

Headed out at lunchtime down to the Bolte Bridge and back in the middle of a long day (and evening) of work. Was a little apprehensive after feeling a little bit of discomfort walking this morning, and scaled back my plans a bit (I'd been thinking of 3/1 but did 2/1, same as yesterday). Turned out to feel similar on the run itself to yesterday, and no real after-effects, but I think I've still got some work to do before being ready to run properly. A bit of groin tightness, not the first time this has happened two or three sessions into a post-layoff comeback - will attribute it to under-employed muscles.

The legacy of Bolte was in my mind on thinking about the Herald-Sun's ferocious condemnation of some student demonstrators yesterday, although the quote which sticks in my mind most from my reading about that era ("political bikies pack-raping democracy") was actually from Billy Snedden. The standard of conservative invective against demonstrators isn't what it used to be.

A sign near the far end of the run said "In case of emergency, call 000 and quote POM 617". POM 617 is something I hope not to see too much of in the upcoming Ashes series. (In this context, I think it stands for Port of Melbourne).

Anyone who's doing Four Peaks might want to take some warm clothes, especially with Bogong in the mix this year.

Stepped things up a bit more, both in terms of proportion of time running (2 on, 1 off) and distance, using the C course at Wednesday street-O at Ringwood as the venue. Reasonably happy with the way I was running when I was running. Hamstring fatigued a bit in the second half which makes me a bit wary of putting it through a more continuous run just yet, but such discomfort as existed at the end of the run quickly disappeared. Also reasonably happy with the route choice, although it was different to the winner.

Some fast times on A tonight - perfect conditions, a reasonably flat area and some head-to-head racing between Bryan Ackerly and Andrew Hester were favourable for that.

Well, you have to start somewhere, and I started here with 2 minutes on/2 minutes off. A little bit of mild discomfort (more so on the earlier run sections), but no sign of it blowing up in the way it has the last two times I've attempted to run, and no soreness afterwards. A continuous run will still be more of a test but feeling as if I've made at least a bit of progress.

Spotted a car with the number plate 'TAVARE'. Didn't realise slow English batsmen of the 1980s had so many admirers. (His name was occasionally to be heard on Canberra cricket fields in that era, usually when someone was sledging me about the fact that I'd only scored two runs in the last ten overs).

C • hahahah i love that the lam... 2

Down at Blairgowrie for the night and took to the backyard lap pool this morning - apparently its first user this season. (It wasn't that cold - probably 20 degrees or so). Main purpose was to see if the hamstring was capable of handling this type of session and the answer was yes, so think the moment is just about right to have another go at running, albeit in a very careful and measured way.

C • gninnuR 1