Training Log Archive: GraceE

Urambi Hills including out and back along the Murrumbidgee.

From Kambah Pool south towards Tuggers and back, with 5 x 3(1) to spice it up. Nothing too fast as was carrying a lot of food in my belly and was exhausted physically and mentally. The day had started with the visitors leaving before 6am to catch their flight, then we had breakfast at Urban Pantry and a play at the playground in Manuka, then headed to the train station to meet Jasmine's family for our exciting excursion to Tarago. But, a powerline had fallen across the tracks between Canberra and Queanbo so there was a long wait before piling onto buses and heading to Queanbeyan station to catch the train 1hr 20 later than planned. This meant not as much time in Tarago to enjoy lunch but we still managed a massive burger and chips each, before catching the train back. The things you do for fun.

Lunchtime CP loop with Casey and Darren. We were lucky to get a break in the rain for this. We pushed each other on the intervals and it was a good workout.

Mt Taylor - up the steep path, down the southern path.

Nice loop of Red Hill.

Another busy day with Florence. We were in the city and after ten years of thinking "what the hell is a carrousel doing there?" today it was, "yay, carrousel!" and Florence had a great ride.

C • Exactly! 2

Lunch run up Melbourne Ave then to the right up single track to Red Hill (NW). No time for views or a longer loop... straight down past the tardis and back through the disorienting streets of Forrest.

Fun morning at the zoo where we bumped into Briohny and family! Home for a nap (not for me sadly) then out to Jasmine's place where I left Flo and headed to Lyneham for hockey, stopping at Campbell High to do a jog on Ainslie.

C • Was lovely 2

Pretty hot and humid. I thought my sore muscles had mostly healed but again, the left hammy/glute/mystery muscle went during the game. It will be super strong when I get through this!

Busy day with Florence but no opportunity (child-minders) to run.

I got stuck in a meeting so missed the group run, but did my own a bit later. I ran a variation to the CP loop, including 4 hills up parliament house (~45secs) and the drag from OPH to NPH (1.5mins). It started to rain pretty heavily mid-way and I got soaked. Fantastic that I then had to walk through and into the depths of the RG Casey building to get to the change rooms. Why did they put them there?

On Farrer Ridge after some heavy rain. Francis and Trevor are staying with us so I handed over Florence and nipped out.

Yeah that's right, 59.9 kgs. It's been a long road but after two or so years I'm under 60 kgs again. Still 10% more than what I used to be but I'll take it.
And it's bullshit that breastfeeding helps you lose weight - most likely undiagnosed thyroid dysfunction which affects a lot of women post birth. I was unlucky enough to have an overactive thyroid and see no change to my weight at all!

Red Hill. I wanted to run all of the old favourites so was out a bit of a while, my bad.

Just a little one from work - Parliament House, John Gorton and back.

Drove up to the base of Mt Taylor and did a lap. I was naughty and ran a bit faster than "easy" because I had music for the first time in over two years and got to listen to The Naked and Famous :D

I was down at Honeysuckle Creek so Matt could check some controls for his event. Florence and I did a mini bushwalk which took us an hour with stops. Later I ran it in 4 mins :s I ran from the cars out towards Booroomba Rocks and back. Such a lovely track.

C • Lovely track 3

If I couldn't walk easily before, I can't walk at all now.

This was suuuuper gentle at the base of Mt Taylor, mainly just to get some fresh air but also with the hope of loosening up my left leg a little. I felt a muscle tighten up badly during last week's hockey game, and I was pretty sore during the week. I remember how each year the first training back would always have the same result - sore muscles all over! I was all ready to have a good stretch this afternoon in anticipation of tomorrow but instead I lunged at Florence to catch her as she toppled down concrete steps and in doing so tore the muscle more. I am pretty much limping right now.

Louis and Bryony welcomed little Lior into the world last weekend, 9th January. Congratulations! Florence is looking forward to meeting her new cousin in a couple of months :D

So I've been sick for ages (very bad throat) and decided it had gone on long enough. Went to my local doctor who doesn't like referring to specialists or the use of drugs and she thought eating horse radish and garlic should do the trick. I then went to the Kingston doctors who I know refers readily and was able to get an ENT referral but couldn't get in to see any in Canberra until the end of March. One receptionist laughed at me when I asked if there was a waiting list should a cancellation occur! I started calling around Sydney and got an appointment within 48hrs, so that's what I did all Thursday - drive to Sydney and back. I have chronic tonsillitis apparently and now have a bag load of antibiotics, plus should think about getting my tonsils out. It was well worth the journey as he also checked out my lower throat and the lumps there.

It took 1.5hrs to get from Randwick to the edge of Sydney but not too bad the rest of the time. I enjoyed listening to some old CDs I found including an absolute gem - a homemade one which included all my singles I collected when I couldn't afford full albums... Natalie Imbruglia, Savage Garden, Celine Dion, NSYNC, Five, Tal Bachman, Ultra. Ultra is what made me think I should go to the UK and get me a boyfriend with a cute accent.

C • Great story! 5

Late morning we did a walk from a picnic area by a river on the edge of the national park. We headed along a track towards the Sawpit camping ground and back. On our return I pointed out a tiny snake on the path, it was the smallest I'd ever seen, only 15cms. I followed it into a crack in some rocks, bending right down, only then realising Mother snake was staring me in the eye, curled up not far away! I quickly hurried on.
Then we went to the Wild Brumbies Distillery for lunch and to top up our butterscotch schnapps supplies.

And I make my return to hockey - after 11 years. Hoping to sharpen up through the summer series in advance of grading day next month and the more serious winter season.

Morning walk with Matt and Florence from Dead Horse Gap along the Cascades Trail and back. Then I walked down beside the river back to Thredbo while M&F drove the car back and had lunch.
In the afternoon Florence and I went up the chairlift to watch the runners finish the Crackenback race. Talk about sweaty palms - my grip was the only thing keeping Florence on my lap and on the chairlift!
At 7pm I walked the Meadows nature trail / Merrits nature trail loop, getting back on dark.

Headed to Thredbo after most of a day at work.

Up at 6.30 to do the Parkrun at Risdon Brook Dam. I really didn't feel like it as I was very tired but considering two car-loads were heading out for running/orienteering/bird-watching I thought I'd better still go. Got there at 7.40 and it didn't appear to be on. No-one setting up and no cars in the carpark. YES, there is a god after all, I don't have to do it. So we all set off doing our various things and I did a really gentle jog up the valley towards Grasstree Hill. I was so relieved I didn't have to race a 5km!
Near the end of my jog I rounded the corner and there were the crew, setting up for the Parkrun and the carpark was beginning to overflow. Doh it starts at 9am here.

I wasn't necessarily going to stay and run it but got guilted into it so yeah...
Was satisfied with my time given the hilly course.

C • good time 3

A day on Bruny so did the Fluted Cape loop. Well it would be rude not to.