Training Log Archive: jennycas

I started with Zara from her place: a) so she would actually get up in time for the trail run, and b) so that we could do the slog up Pole Rd first instead of last! There were about 40 people gathered on Upper Sturt Rd when we got there and Simon came along just as we were leaving. Down Long Gully was good, up the steeeep hill behind the adventure playground not so good, up Jubilee Drive I felt shocking - just couldn't straighten out my hamstrings (last night could have something to do with it). And I was soooo tired that I had to watch my feet and not the scenery, but I couldn't fail to notice all the people going past me.

Once we got out of the park, off the railway line (I do like the massive oak tree at the old Upper Sturt station) and up Station Rd, I started to loosen up, and even the uphill on Ironbank Rd didn't seem so bad - same number of contours as the hill behind the playground but spread over 3 times the distance.

At the junction with Evans Drive we gathered a group of about 10 runners who all "wanted to stay with the orienteers" so they didn't get lost through the Loftia Park/Mark Oliphant section. This meant a few breaks waiting for people to catch up, who aren't so good at singletracks, but by then I was glad of any rest. Down and up, down and up, back out Evans Drive, down Coat Rd and through the Murphys' place along the creek, and finishing at Zara's. Did I mention that it's at the bottom of Pole Rd? We felt a bit guilty watching others struggle up the hill....

Stretching and strengthening 20 min. Mashed my finger between the weights again. I think I will have to encase them in bubble wrap!

When Kay comes up to you on her bike at an orienteering event and asks "what course are you doing?" the correct answer is "sorry, I've already run - byeeee!"

Otherwise you will find yourself being stalked round your course by The Haarsma. Because I was doing the scatter O she couldn't anticipate which way I was going to turn at any junction, and many of the controls were on the wrong side of the road according to the control description so that at the last minute I had to do a (slow-mo) dash in front of the bike.

At one point she suggested that I memorise the course so she could have the map (nice try!). I said that it would be good for her to tell me at the end, which controls we had actually been to.

Funniest moment was when I ran down a laneway towards the river crossing, not realising that the bike path to the footbridge would be fenced on both sides. As I climbed through the wooden railings I heard Kay muttering behind me "that was a dirty trick". Didn't take her long to haul the bike over though.

A scrappy run with a decent group up along the north side of Belair. Running just inside the park boundary could be considered terrain running, if my scratches are anything to go by. Unfortunately we mislaid Andrew - I assumed he hadn't seen us turn off on a side track, so then we chased further east after an imaginary Andrew, towards the tap at the top of the park, when actually he was hobbling along behind us with a busted ankle.

I then seem to have won the route choice leg from the top of the park back to the cars at the golf course (red-lining does pay off!). My reward was to go pick up a cold lonely Andrew who was waiting at the tap.

Stiffened up pretty quickly afterwards - didn't get around to stretching, and don't think that these Brooks have enough cushioning for trail running (or pavement running, or anything but walking the dog). They were free though....

Only felt like had been hit by intermediate-sized pebbles today. Felt better after swim (though no better at swim).

Have heard from Hania. She says she and Quentin and dogs tried to leave Kinglake when the fire was announced as being 20km away but within minutes there were embers falling around so they turned back, and by the time they got inside the house the fire was overhead - firefighting equipment still in the car, and petrol for the water pump exploding in the back shed. They are incredibly lucky to be built into the side of a hill, and probably because the nice new wooden house above them went up first, the fire then went over the top of theirs. Sunday was spent mopping up and they evacuated in a convoy on Monday.

Woke feeling like had been hit by ton of bricks. Seem to be angry at the world for some reason and arsonists for obvious reasons.

Attack of the Killer Physio this afternoon. Kath got stuck into my hamstring.

Woke feeling like had been hit by truck. May have stayed up too late last night checking all the bushfire news. Finally put my CFA map books of Vic to good use working out where all the small towns are (used to be).

Strengthening and stretching 20 min.

Actually had to use my windscreen wipers driving to Kuitpo. Terrain run with John, Fern and Lauren but we had maps in our hands so I am logging it as O because of severe withdrawals. (Though there were some bits where we were in-between any of the O maps I had, and grateful for John's rogaine map!) Wasn't exactly at Simon-pace but pretty steady nonetheless. Will measure distance properly later (maybe).

Spent a couple of hours afterwards geocaching to take my mind off the Vic bushfires. Didn't exactly work, but I drove down some nice country roads near Ashbourne that I'd never seen before. I wonder if Hania's house in Kinglake is still standing? Wouldn't like to place bets on it.....