Training Log Archive: jennycas

Long run with Fern from The Place Next Door to The Place Of Fern & Tyson. Started at the venue for Wallaringa's club breakfast by the roundabout on Greenhill/Glynburn Rds and took Waterfall Gully Rd then the over-populated track to Mt Lofty. It is really scenic going that way, and the waterfall was flowing nicely though not spectacularly, but most of the people we had to dodge didn't look like they were paying much attention to the view. I found the steepest parts pretty tough but not as much of a struggle as Fern did (with her being one unit of blood down on a week ago) and we had a good rest at the top before heading down to Crafers (a sign saying Track Closed is pretty much an invitation to take it and see why it's closed) then Upper Sturt, Sheoak Rd (where we stopped to talk to Phil Hazell organising junior training) and down through Belair NP past the waterfalls to see the trackwork they've been doing there and through Echo Tunnel, out the front gate, then up the hill to Blackwood. Enjoyed this because the company was good, the sun was shining and the wattle & freesias smelled lovely, but very glad not to have any time pressure of racing because I am still a bit lacking in pace and hill strength.

Had been waiting for a decent time window to try out a loop which would involve riding up the bike path alongside the Southern Expressway from Darlington to the interchange at Reynella where it joins with the Coast to Vines trail, then taking that to Hallett Cove and Marino. I should have done some gardening on this fine afternoon but figured my legs were guaranteed to cramp if I did that, whereas if I rode they were only fairly likely to do so. Actually, legs weren't too bad; they had the chance to loosen up along the Sturt Creek bike path before hitting the climb up O'Halloran Hill, which did seem to drag on a bit. As I enjoyed the descent into Reynella I realised that there would still be a climb up to Lonsdale Highway/Hallett Cove shops but that wasn't too bad apart from getting swooped by a magpie which had 3 goes at me, the last with enough force to knock my helmet sideways. (I have found something good to say about pigeons - they don't swoop people!) When riding alongside the Cove Rd, the view out over the ocean was lovely, and it wasn't bad up close from the foreshore at Brighton either. I passed parents' and mum was outside gardening so I stopped to chat to her for half an hour then hurried on home before the sun set, because George & I were going out to see Red Dog.

C • Did you like red dog? Is C... 3

Got swooped again by the magpie at the far end of the caravan park. This time he made 4 passes at me (Wed it was only 1 1/2).

C • Pipe cleaners 8

Up past the lake, to the railway line where Fern/Tyson/Simon left us, then over the hill and down the slippery steps to Long Gully with Aiden & Lauren. Wasn't real fast up the hill, but at least no actual twinges manifested from anywhere.

Didn't make it to the far end because I bumped into Catherine Loye out running so rode alongside chatting for a while. Lovely surprise, she's only in town for a few days so will miss seeing Amber. We both got cold hands; I would have expected her not to notice, coming from Christchurch.

Knees/ITB/hip flexors/back have all been really tight since the weekend and worse after standing on ward round today. It was too nice an evening not to be out, though, and I achieved some quality stretching afterwards.

North Adelaide loop (+ uni loop) with Fern, Tyson, Eric and the recently-returned Simon. Juniors were going to do hills but I was glad when the seniors decided not to. Legs just generally tight & achy so this was rather a plod.

Down through Craigburn Farm and back up through Blackwood Park with Troy & Eric. Afterwards we compared Imprezas and swapped stories about getting them beached in awkward places...

Traditional-when-in-Penrith Red Hands Cave/Campfire Creek Loop from the gate of the Blue Mountains NP at Glenbrook. As I ran down to the Causeway mist lay on the valley floor. Had heard that Parks have been clearing this track lately and so it was more runnable than previously. The wildflowers are coming out already and I admired pink boronia and white heath. Also I heard a whip bird (I don't think it was a lyrebird pretending to be a whip bird). Noted some good cafes open as I drove through Glenbrook; George didn't need much convincing to come back up the mountains with me for breakfast afterwards.