Training Log Archive: jennycas

Up Hillrise to the bottom of the quarries, then singletrack across above the Sleeps Hill tunnel mouth, and found a lovely little MTB track through enchanted forest (if you ignore the feral olive trees comprising said forest) which was labelled as a black run and 'bikes only; no walkers' (hey, I wasn't walking) then down across the secret trainline crossing and through Panorama, then Centennial Park for a change. As I was running through the cemetery I had a blasphemous thought: this would make a great sprint area!

Definitely needed this run to clear my head. A bit overwhelmed by all the orienteering-related stuff I have to keep track of, despite its being technically the off season - and the fact that I have to run a L1 controllers' workshop next weekend, which I haven't even had a chance to start planning yet.

A few times this year I've thought that the survey OA really should hold is to ask all orienteers who are involved in administration/organisation whether they feel that they are putting more into orienteering than they get out of it. I'd be first to put my hand up!

Went out later than I had intended because of working on the never-ending ANZ challenge team selection process, and didn't really beat the darkness home. Was very careful where I put my feet on the rough trails in the park, mindful of the sportsmed doctor's words that apparently when you bend your knee on impact the force through it is something like 9 times your body weight (can that be right?).

Came home to find Geoff & his workmates, who had already left for their camping/4WDing trip down the South East, having come back for a few last-minute forgotten essentials. They're planning on getting as far as Cantara tonight - I wish them luck! Also would rather go too than go to work tomorrow, but I think it's a boys and beer (and book for Geoff to read when the others get too pissed for conversation) weekend.

To Long Gully where we waited for Zara/Callum, then up the steps, across to the waterfall (where we admired the lookout and wondered about putting a control on it for the NOL races), then down through Echo Tunnel with Fern, Simon, Greg, Steve & Aiden. Fern & I walked Z home and we stopped to gossip, then I walked Fern home and we chatted some more, then I ran back across the golf course in the last of the twilight. Trail shoes are good for grip but less so for knees.

Not sure that knees really wanted to do this but the rest of me did. Saw a ridiculous number of small-to-medium children in not-very-imaginative costumes out trick-or-treating. Grrr, where do they think this is, America? It was too dark and windy for the little dears to be out by the time I came home again, and starting to rain - nice.

Knee hurts to walk on this morning - no surprises there. Didn't seem to be able to get my legs kicking anywhere near the surface of the water. And yes, I was bored.

Decided in advance that this would be better for me than going to Morialta tomorrow night, and I'm pretty sure I made the right decision. A couple of big hills for such a short run; up Rankeys, and up Nookoo track, then down Suffolk which wasn't pleasant on knees but the company - F&T and Simon - was good.

First Bridgie run of the summer for me! Also the longest (non-orienteering) run since June and I thought I handled it pretty well, if slowly. Lovely cool morning and gorgeous views - have copied the route from last December:

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 Bridgewater and right into Worden Rd and back through Mt George - with Bridget, Simon, Fern, Tyson, Lauren (who wasn't at Black Hill after all). Kind of missed having John along, we haven't seen him for ages.

I walked Bridget back from the creek-crossing under the railway line because her back had had enough by then. We admired ducks and buttercups.