Training Log Archive: blairtrewin

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).

Advertised course info for next weekend's NSW Long Championships: 9.3km, 6 controls.

C • Find the termie event? 6

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.

C • City of Greater Bendigo's public toilet strategy 4

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.