Training Log Archive: jennycas

OA conference event around the AIS and the suburb of Bruce. Scatter O, 18 controls meant leaving out 2. Headed south through CIT first, acquiring needle-grass-socks within the first minute, wasting about a minute on 16 because I'm not used to controls being centred on unmapped features and so did laps of the termite mound nearest to the centre of the circle before reading the description (would be better if they're actually printed on the control card, like at our Summer Series) and then searching on a number of light poles before finding the one with a control attached.

Left out 3, enjoyed the section running north through the new housing in Bruce, including Ben & Mace's apartment from the balcony of which he & Robbie, beers in hand, were cheerfully heckling orienteers going to control 6 on the pond nearby. Left out 4 up the hill and headed east into AIS-land; clockwise turned out to be the right direction to avoid most of the fence entanglements, although, heading back to the finish after 10 - and I had already put my map away and was just running on memory - I was blocked by a large gate, apparently locked, which meant I couldn't get through to the visitors' centre and had to go around the stadium, as did plenty of other people.

Probably this was harder than I've run for a while, but also running harder than I've been able to do for a while, so I was fairly pleased. Also glad to utilise newly-acquired map knowledge when walking myself back to Ben's much later in the dark, as I'd become completely and utterly disoriented walking there from the AIS the night before, despite being escorted by a nice boy on a bicycle :)

Would have liked to run Summer Series but had to fly to Canberra for the OA conference.

Admittedly a bit tired, but I enjoyed myself. Possibly may not have had time for breakfast until after staff meeting, in which case I may have got some funny looks as I was reheating my pizza :)

Attack of the Killer Physio
Who doesn't love having needles sticking out of their neck?

To the redwoods and return with John, Tyson, Andrew. It was a pretty quiet run because boys don't talk much. Also we were all tired. Zara/Callum met us on the way back.

I worked hard and this was hard work. Not too bad, although I'm definitely out of practice.

Something about either the way Kayanos lace up, or how my orthotics sit in them, meant that the neuroma was evil on the way home. But I did note to my satisfaction that the cafe in the group of mostly-empty shops on The Strand is finally operational (have been watching the 'opening soon' signs since about May). Name of cafe: The Stranded Store!

With Lauren, from Mitcham: up Randells, along Sheoak, down Pony Ridge (sampled plums and pie cherries), back along the creek. Nice morning for it, all the better for not having done the suburban slog from home. Maybe I should think of Two Bays as just putting 100/60 minute runs back to back?

C • Mitcham 1

Up to Fern & Tyson's (and this started out feeling like a real grind) 39 min. Around Craigburn Farm (we found a nice track up the creek) with Bridget, Simon, Tyson 35 min. Home again 29 min. Must say, I came home feeling fresher than I expected to, but these new Asics, although very comfortable at first, are also very soft, and towards the end were doing bad things to my knee.

We discovered a new run route! From Bridgewater north then then old Heysen spur trail east across the railway line towards Verdun but at the bottom of Ambulance Rd we turned left and went uphill to Tanahmerah, which followed the ridgeline then became White Gum, then south towards Bridgie but right into Worden Rd and back through Mt George. Really nice run with Tyson, Simon, Bridget, Lauren, John. Some great views of valleys I don't normally see. Only bad bits were the first 20 min until I had loosened up and the point at about an hour where neuroma didn't love me at all.

Of course, although I'll cut back to 28km for Two Bays (as there is no way in hell I would be able to run 56km in 6 weeks' time), I still have a lot of work to do, but this is the first time I've felt positive about being able to achieve even that.

C • 28km goal 2