Training Log Archive: PrueD

State series orienteering at Dingo Farm (Wattle Gully Diggings), one of my favourite areas due to the number of interesting historic sites on the map. Ted set a fabulous course that was challenging, interesting and physically demanding. I did course 3, which I completed although I was slow, especially in the last third when my knee slipped out a bit and started to hurt. I also made three significant errors, each time not travelling far from the control, but either not being able to find it or not physically not being able to get to it. Lots of people went past me. But overall, I had a great day.

I decided to travel over from Benalla after learning my friend Ross had entered. I left my car at Avenel and then travelled over and back with him, prior to returning to Melbourne. We went cross country at a rally pace. I was actually quite impressed with Ross's driving as he used every part of the road, sticking religiously to the left around corners (virtually in the gutter) and not skidding at all. We also had two dogs breathing down our necks as we went!

Swim in the Benalla pool followed by lots of gardening. I am feeling a lot better than l have for the previous few months and am looking forward to getting back into some sort of routine. While l am off the injured list l suspect my knee will never be fully right and l will just have to learn to live with it. It is nice to be in Benalla, as l haven't been here for some time.

C • Glad to see 1

I attended Bruce P's course for BKV people on SI and Or last night. The instruction was very thorough, but l think l might need a bit more practice before l am deemed competent and let loose on other people's results (there might be an orienteering riot if l was). A lot of the time was spent loading the necessary programs onto 6 uncooperative laptops. But at least we've all made a start. Many thanks to Bruce for his efforts in preparing for the course and his endless patience in delivering it.

MelBush O at Plenty South. The event started at 10 but by 9.30 there was a large number of newcomer families waiting to start - most with small children - and they all seemed to enjoy themselves. The event was very well attended and there was considerable learning for all - mostly that the era of sloppy organising has passed. I was sorry that the map legend had 'slipped' and that there were no electronic results (apparently the standard arrangement for MelBushO), as the results board was not big enough to fit all the metallic result tags.

Despite advertising 'no toilet', we made sure there was one - as you cant have an all-day event for 200 people with no toilet in this era However I was a bit horrified to see a sign on it asking for a $1 donation to pay for it - especially as entry was $10 or $25 for families! It is probably about time for the VOA to develop a standard approach to the provision of loos!

After standing in the wind at registration for most of the morning I finally got a run - but by this time I was freezing cold. I then felt like a lump of floppy whale by the time I got going. In fact I felt as though I had never done any exercise in my life, and had to walk quite a bit on the hills.

C • spending a penny 3

Walk aound Blackburn. I then went out to help place controls for tomorrow's bush event. There were a lot of people aound, many riding bikes. The area also seemed a lot more settled than previously, with a new housing development very close and a new concrete bike track. Hopefully the controls will still be there tomorrow.

Back in lurgy land after my return from Alice Springs. It was the shortest day of the year and I worked from home, after sneezing uncontrollably over everyone all day at work yesterday. I seem to have been sick for a fair bit of this winter, which is odd as it is one of the few years I have actually had a flu injection.

A few of my observations from the trip:
- Even though the cycling was tough, I really enjoyed it and my knee didn't swell up at all. Normally it takes a week for the swelling to dissipate after foot O, so maybe I need to focus a bit more on cycling for a while.
- The prickles were huge and the rocks sharp in the event. Even with triple thick tyre tubes and sealant, we all suffered some sort of tyre damage. I wore the tread off my tyres in places and will need to replace them. Ian got a puncture in his bedroom, when he wheeled his bike over a prickle, and sealant went all over the carpet.
- Alcohol seemed remarkable less of problem since the last few times I have been to AS, which was good to see. However, many businesses in the town also seemed to be going broke, with every second shop in the main street closed. Not sure why.
- Australia won the challenge against NZ, with no help from me. However, at least I finished each event, much to the surprise of Corey, the bike shop man, who couldn't believe I did the event on such a terrible old bike with no suspension. He said he told everyone about me!! I've never ridden a bike with suspension so wouldn't know.
- LOVED the colour and scenery of the centre. Can't wait for the next trip there.

C • ANZ challenge 4

C • Oh dear 2

Aus MTBO sprint champs. I found the track bit rough and hard going and also got a bit confused , then all of a sudden it was over. I got the same result as yesterday.

Bike ride out to Simpsons Gap with Bruce P and Ian. Great ride on a formed track with beautiful scenery. Really tired at the end.

Australian long distance championship race at Telegraph Station. Tough tough tough race with almost continuous sandy 4WD tracks and long rocky single tracks. I finished, didn't fall off and beat the MPs. That is about it.

Ride to the start and back.

Australian middle distance championship in Alice Springs. The country was very rough and after taking ages on the first few controls, conceded defeat and went around the road where possible.

Warm up and down , including ride to the start

South German course 4. I had the most lovely day. I had a reasonably clean run and, best of all, my knee didn't hurt AT ALL - even tripping over things, so I was very pleased although I was a bit slow due to extreme lack of fitness. Also feeling much better now after being sick for a couple of weeks..

Afterwards my friend Ross and I had lunch at Newstead and then went to the Castlemaine art gallery. A lovely day.

Street O at Mullum Mullum. It started raining at the start of the event and stopped raining shortly after the event finished, so we all got wet. The course was also quite hilly. This was my first attempt at running since I go sick some weeks ago (which I am thinking was pneumonia, as it wasn't a cold or flu, but entirely in the chest and I ended up having 2 weeks off work). I am a lot better but still have a residual cough, and dragged myself around the course feeling very ordinary.
I hope I feel better by next weekend as I have made it into the Aus MTBO team for W50 for the annual Aus/NZ challenge at Alice Springs!!! (I am, of course, feeling rather pleased about this, but hope I don't disgrace myself too much, especially as I am not fit).

A big stretch out at home in Benalla on a very wet day.