Training Log Archive: TheInvisibleLog

Marne loop in reverse with Jools. We made the mistake of waking up at 6 and then heading back to sleep for 45 minutes which meant a later than normal start.

Not sure this is the best way to do it, because the long run back along the channel is oh so boring at the end when you want it to just end. Better to do that while warming up and half asleep, knowing that the hill is to come followed by the most interesting part of the run and a long downhill to finish fast. Nothing beats the unfolding views as you climb up from the channel to Marne.

C • lol 2

Another slog. Late start because watering the garden took priority.

Speaking of watering the garden... I'm not sure to what extent it can be blamed on the lack of savvy of the Plug the Pipe spokeswoman, or the cunning of the interview crew, but last night's Stateline report on the Foodbowl Modernisation was a classic. The spokeswoman for Plug the Pipe derided the pipe, as usual, because any water sent down it would just be 'wasted on suburban gardens'. And guess what you could see out the window behind her..... her own green garden. I can put some additional context to this. I have had many discussions on this and related issues, and most who take this line generally have wonderful green gardens and are totally oblivious to the double standard. Further, when the question of water markets comes up, there is a widespread belief in rural areas that water should be treated as a special resource with concerns about equity over riding market forces.

Once or twice in these discussion I have been unable to refrain from pointing outthe garden double standard. The best response I had was from an ex-departmental colleague who had taken up dairy farming. So, she was tertiary educated, and being trained in a rural leadership program, so you should expect her to be capable of taking a broad view of the issue. Her response was that she worked hard in a hot climate and needed the oasis of a garden for mental well-being. The table of neighbours sitting around nodded in assent. There was stunned silence when I said that I lived in suburban Bendigo, that our climate was just as hot as hers, so i supposed she was telling me I didn't work hard so didn't deserve a garden, or that my mental health was less important because I lived in a city. No-one around the table had heard suh an argument before!

The Plug the Pipe woman was just one more rural fundamentalist.

C • Plug the pipe 10

Another morning with a perceptible chill at sunrise. Won't be like that later in the day.

As the mass indicator suggests, I must be less full of shit than normal.

Five ascents of the bullock road hill. First hill training of the season. It was slow. I thought maybe aiming at 5 ascents was a bit weak, but by the fifth I knew it was the right choice.

Descents of the hill.

C • support 2

Lunchtime run. THis may become a bit of a novelty over the next week. Looks like temperatures will be in the high 30s or low 40s for the duration. When will we get a cool change? Rumour has it by Thursday week.

First tempo run of the season. I'm only about 3 minutes behind where I'd like to be.

Sorting and uploading club maps to web site. Of course, windows managed to corrupt itself midway through the task. Now in the midst of repair installation and crossed fingers.

C • maps 5