Training Log Archive: blairtrewin

Longest ride (in fact longest session of any sort) I've done for a while, doing the Koonung-Doncaster loop. First half was mostly on paths which predictably had plenty of other humans around (some of which I expected and some of which I didn't), then mostly roads for the second half - they're main roads but generally quite comfortable in weekend traffic. Coming back across the Heidelberg ridge added a bit of extra work - I didn't make a full frontal assault on the Col de Burgundy but still did the same net climb past my old place. Felt a bit tired at the end in a solid-day's-work-done sense (and hamstring feels better this afternoon than it has for a while).

I suspect we're going to see a certain amount of cleanliness theatre over the coming months, and there was one example of it this morning, in the form of some people in very visible orange vests (whom I suspect may have been in the process of discharging community service orders) spraying what I presume was disinfectant on a Doncaster fence that few if any people, with the possible exception of park/street participants who saw it on a route choice and didn't notice it was mapped as uncrossable, would ever touch.

German headlines which need little translation (an occasional series).

La Trobe loop. Hard work early on into the wind (quite strong along the Heidelberg ridge) and took a while for the hamstring to get going, but eventually felt OK. Going along nicely with the tailwind later on.

Did some exploration in the afternoon, taking in Mt. St. Leonard (doing it the easy way, climbing from the forestry road to the north which is only 1.2km each way). Can't believe I haven't done this before; would have been a great area for some epic long runs in the days when I was up to doing such things. Also good to see some of the more intact forests in this part of the world, with towering eucalypts and tree ferns; there aren't a lot of forests left now in the eastern half of Victoria which didn't burn in at least one of 2003, 2006-07, 2009 or 2019-20, so the pockets left which haven't burnt since 1939 are particularly valuable.

Don't seem to be making much progress with the hamstring at the moment. Perhaps I need to be more patient. As it stood, the only sport I experienced was on TV (have missed live sport, have not missed the betting ads).

Amazing what a difference it makes having a bike that actually runs properly. The hills on the Boulevard felt (relatively) easy and the time was a good 90 seconds under anything else I've done on this route.

The police helicopter was making its presence felt at the end, for reasons which would become apparent when I switched the computer back on.

You'll see plenty of bikes here, but I think today's the first time I've seen people on roller skis (on the road, anyway).

Only mild discomfort with the hamstring on a morning walk (certainly better than the equivalent yesterday), although a bit more sore after a day sitting down.

Hamstring still not good enough to get through a decent-length walk (during which I spotted a front yard with cacti growing out of assorted redundant household items, including a stove, a microwave and a TV) without discomfort, so put back thoughts of a run another day. Headed out on the bike instead late in the day, said bike having just been straightened out by Reuben and friends. The bike was moving more smoothly than it has been; its rider felt better than in some recent rides, but kept getting red lights on uphills which didn't make it easy to maintain a rhythm.

Hamstring getting closer but still felt a day away. Saw the physio later in the day and his verdict was similar, although he also said that I should be able to walk on it for 30 minutes without discomfort, and it didn't quite last that long in a late afternoon walk.

The council was commendably efficient at taking the tape off the playgrounds (which officially reopened at midnight).

Hamstring still iffy today, although better than yesterday. Felt a bit awkward pushing on hills so did something less hilly than I was thinking of originally. Seemed to be taking a while to wake up, but a nice morning to be out. Bike still making a few odd noises (and is now in the capable hands of Reuben, whose team have been rather overrun of late as lots of people have decided they want to ride and discovered their bikes no longer work).

A group Pilates session, another small sign of a return towards normality (even if it involved a lot of spraying equipment down). Didn't do the exercise that puts the greatest strain on the hamstring but otherwise went OK. Thought the others might not appreciate it had I used my phone to livestream one of my colleagues appearing at the bushfires Royal Commission (which seemed to go OK; being opening speaker was a reasonable indicator that he was wanted to set the scene, not to go through a what-did-you-know-and-when-did-you-know-it inquisition).

Hamstring seems a bit better this afternoon.