Training Log Archive: PrueD

D-day. An early morning's walk around Blackburn before going to work.

The day started with some trepidation. We've spent 16 months waiting for this. When it arrived, the report was well written, fairly accurate and quite strategic in its recommendations. Of course Christine etc got a blast from the media, but the report was nowhere near as harsh on her or others as it could have been, focusing more on policy or practical improvements that would make a difference in the longer run.

Points of note:
- all the key people had to get from work to the vic solictors office. So we organised a 'walking school bus' - recommending avoiding a window seat and therefore any media if possible,
- I spent the day with finance people recalculating the dollars. Luckily I noticed the missing 0 from the bottom line.
- We were supposed to get dressed properly - in case we were filmed going in or out of the office. I dressed down so as not to look important (has worked in the past). But there was no media there.
- The report recommended bushfire studies in geography in schools. Yay!!!!
- The Herald Sun reported "Stay and Go policy to remain". Someone needs to tell them that it was the "Stay OR Go" policy and that the people who thought it was "Stay AND Go (ie who went when the fire came)" were the ones who were in trouble. The report thought this policy should be made more complex (which is odd since people didn't understand it even in its simplest form).

When the report finally arrived it was like the millenium bug - and a bit of a major letdown. For me it was a significant milestone and a great weight off my shoulders. I walked for another hour when I got home.

Busy busy busy - no lunch.

I went for a walk in the dark around Blackburn after work. We are very busy at work getting ready for the weekend.

The most amusing thing for the day was the revelation that the the Department gets at least 10 letters a day from all over the world with people promoting their inventions aimed at reducing the fire risk. Of course these things are being officially considered - but we discussed setting up a 'myth-buster' yard to test all these things.

C • Only 10? 2

It was raining last night and I didn't want to gamble on it stopping at 7.00pm (as it usually does) so didn't go to street-O. I've got a bit of a cold (peculiarly - in my eye!!!)

RC report is due out on Saturday so we are flat out preparing all the this week and will have to work on the weekend. I dreamt that they blamed Christine and Russell as expected and then said "but the iECC Coordinator did a really good job'. Wishful thinking - as that is not going to happen.

Rest day due to a range of other commitments. Doctors appointment in the morning which meant driving in to work (which was lucky as there were no trains), collecting the bike after work (which was beautifully serviced and now has giant brake pads - so I'll be able to stop on the downhills) and then a visit to Mum in hopital (she comes out tomorrrow).

Street-O at Forest Hill. I have given up trying to beat the handicapper and am now just enjoying the walks - although they are not long enough.

The rest of the day I spent at Benalla before driving down in the afternoon. It was the absolute BEST day ever - bright blue sky, no wind and almost hot in the paved area behind my house. I would quite happily have stayed there.

I tried to turn a trip into Shepparton into a training exercise and headed out through the streets of Mooroopna (where the standard and condition of houses reminded me somewhat of the less salubrious parts of Alice Springs) and into the Gemmel's Swamp area of state park along the Goulburn River. With no map I wandered on tracks that became increasingly smaller and indistinct. I eventually decided to cut cross country through the red gum forest back to the settled area. It was then I realised why it was called 'swamp'. I eventually reached a point where I could go no further - being surrounded on 3 sides, for a considerable distance, by a very wet-looking and reedy swamp. So it was backtracking from there...

My legs felt quite heavy. My right hamstring hurts walking but not at all while I am running. Conversely, my left hamstring doesn't hurt at all while walking but hurts almost continually running. I cannot explain this - so figure that there is not much damage happening and perservere regardless.

My visit to Shep was to stock up on some tube plants for the area of garden I weeded yesterday - but they didn't have any of the varieties I had in mind and I came home empty-handed.

C • Garmin 3

This time I ran around Benalla Lake and environs. It was a a busy day there - with 2 lots of junior football and the market at the civic centre. At a track junction I met an elderly man in a motorised wheel chair who seemed keen to take on the challenge - woman against machine. For once I won.

I can still feel my left hamstring but not enough to stop. Note that this time might even be a little bit faster than previously (and is my absolute top speed at the moment).

I had the day off but spent it driving to Benalla and having a very long afternoon snooze. I am hoping to feel better tomorrow.

I drove into work today to collect my bike after work - but it wasn't ready. But bought lights so am a step closer to riding to work.

Several observations for the day. Hoddle Street was blocked with police in the morning. I discovered later in the day that this was because an elderly man had jay walked across traffic - climbing THOUGH an articulated truck (can you believe anyone would be stupid enough to do this) when it took off - with obvious unfortunate results.

Coming home on the Eastern Freeway I passed a small car stalled in the middle lane - and holding up all the traffic. It remined me of an experience I had had previously - when my father who bought ancient rusted mini minors for $100, filled them up with fibreglass, fixed the engine, gave them a coat of paint and sent my sister and I to all corners of the state - only to visit them himself the next day in order to tow us back. My little mini broke down in the middle lane of the freeway - but a passing friend who had thought "who's this idiot holding up all the traffic?" gave it a shake and sent me on my way.

I was a bit cold and tired all day and succumbed to the chocolates and couch in the evening instead of going out. At work I felt like a little snooze and, at lunchtime put my head on my hand for a little 'powernap'. In less than one minute there was a united shout 'PRUE!!!' from my colleages and I turned around to see a collective group of horrified faces looking at me. Because I had stopped moving (albeit for a very short time) they thought I had had a heart attack or worse and were wondering who was going to revive me. So no powernap. But at least I know that they notice my existence (unlike a man I read about who sat dead at his seat for 4 days before colleages were alarmed).

I have Friday and Monday off and am going back to Benalla. The RC final report is coming out next Saturday so we anticipate to be very busy for some time to come.

I got home early and it was freezing cold so I decided not to go to street-O and snuggled comfortably into the chair and turned on the telly (yes -at 5.30pm). I scanned through the stations and to my surprise - there was a full 1/2 hour film on the XPD endurance event in Qld on Channel 1 HD. And there was Cath Copeland, Kevin Humphrey and various other familiar faces - all enduring about 1000 kms of suffering. It was a fabulous and comprehensive film.

(See comment from Scammell yesterday - apparently it will be rescreened on Sunday between 1.30 and 2.00pm).

So what a lazy sod was I - couldn't even manage 6 kms - frightened of a little bit of cold. So in guilt I got off the couch and went to street-O. A soggy map (I put it on the wet grass to tie my laces) and runny eyes meant a rather poor route choice - are there extra points for visiting a control twice? Otherwise OK. I helped collect controls afterwards.

It was a cold evening so I decided to stay indoors and take on the great cooking/eating challenge instead. Very nice - but not good for the cholesterol levels which are being tested tomorrow morning.

C • tv 1

Street-O (handicap) at Doncaster East. My handicap has gone down considerable so my chance of any sort of glory has now gone. Oh well. It was a freezing night, due to a gorgeous sunny day. I actually made a route choice error so came in towards the end of the field.

Mum is in hospital again - so more visits and washing to do. Peculiar observation for today - a sign on a bus driver's window stating "Do not enter bus through window" - something that I had not previously considered. But now.......

A short run around Lake Benalla. Oooh - and I've got a little bit faster!
I am having a domestic-type weekend at Benalla - nothing at all to report.

It's a very overcast and gloomy day in Benalla. I went for a slow jog around various backstreets and then returned via the lake (which is now full, although the water is very brown-looking). I could still feel my left hamstring (a bit tight) but it didn't get any worse, but I couldn't stretch out. Ho-hum, at least I can plod around and I might have just made it into the 6 minute ks (5 min ks are sooo far off).

There is no privacy in Benalla. People wave and toot and stare at you while you jog past. I am tempted to run through the housing commission area (where I have only been once or twice in my 16 years here) as there is less chance of seeing anyone I know there. I much prefer running in Melbourne where at least there is some anonymity (and, at street-O, it doesn't seem to matter as nobody watches you). Safeway is the worst here - it is one huge party and no avoiding anyone.

Oh, and nearly forgot - AJ - what a star!! I was watching the live splits last night and the suspense was excruciating.

Yoga at lunchtime. I was a bit late and missed the warmup. I think I am getting better at yoga - probably being more relaxed helps. It is a very pleasurable activity.

I didn't sleep well and felt a bit wonky all day, so decided on a rest day. In the evening I decided to take my bike apart and put it in the little Mazda 121 to take into Warren's for a service (my bicycle servicing skills are the equivalent of my car servicing skills - i.e 'how do you open the bonnet?). A BIG squeeze. My last MTBO effort indicated some work was required on the brakes and gears and, if I am to ride it to work, then I probably need these to work.

My other observation for the day relates to Metro's performance. After being fined $4M for being late, Metro have obviously decided that they need to up their game. The trains now speed off the second the doors are shut, before anyone can hang on. Well, they might be on time, but I bet that their accident statistics rise (a few weeks ago it was 4-5 people being killed a week from falling over in trams and trains). But maybe accident statistics are not one of their performance indicators for which they can be fined.

It was pouring down rain as I drove to street-O at Croydon tonight. Sheets of water were washing across the road and the car got a good wash. But I'm no wimp (well, I am really but I wanted to prove that I wasn't) so I was determined to run regardless. The turnout was really low (which means a much better score than usual) and, as usual, the rain turned off just in time for the event and not one drop fell for the full hour.

Like most people, I wore a rain jacket and overheated fairly quickly (and then ran for the rest of the event with this flapping around my waist). I jogged slowly most of the way, except for the steep hills for which Croydon is famous.

Nothing much to report. I'm feeling a bit happier at work and haven't resigned yet (although I clearly put the thought, a couple of weeks ago, into Bruce P's head because he resigned the day after I mentioned it). Maybe I might hang around a bit longer. I finally got a locker today, courtesy of the bike club - but only on condition that I ride my bike to work occasionally......

C • Rain 2

I went for an hour's walk at lunchtime up to Carlton North and back. There was a lovely warm north wind (probably a prelude to the change) which I always enjoy.

An hour's yoga session after work. I was going to go to street-O but chose a stretch-out instead. It was a 'rather too relaxing' class but I'm going to log it anyway. Lying flat on the floor with your eyes shut counts as training ....doesn't it? Not sleeping (of course) ....just meditating,,,, Thinking of all the good trips people have been on or are on. Ron has just walked across England. Merv has cycled south to north across Australia (you'd think he pick the downhill route) and everyone else is everywhere else. I am going nowhere....

Another weekend activity in the fog and cold (just like last weekend) when everywhere else was reportly sunny.

Bush orienteering at Jim Crow. I actually felt pretty good both jogging-wise (although slow) and navigation-wise, and even jogged up most of the hills. Only one wobble at 5 when I went up too high up the hill - otherwise good. A most enjoyable event topped off by the obligatory caramel tart.

Street orienteering at Cathies Corner at Wantirna South in very windy conditions. The event was run by the Newbury Navigators (a disabled group) which was great. We were advised at the briefing that the control on 'the snail' was in fact on 'the turtle' as the snail had legs!

Some controls weren't quite in the right place, which caused a lot of consternation, but I didn't mind. Fortunately I spiked the incorrectly placed no. 20 when I literally tripped over it on my way to where it was marked (coming from a different direction to everyone else, as I picked a rather peculiar route). However, given the circumstances we were lucky that any controls were correctly placed.

I jogged slowly the whole way and seem to be well on the way to recovery.

I am enjoying watching 'le tour' and was particularly interested to see where our Garmin dollars have gone....they had a segment on SBS last night looking through the Garmin Transition trailers. OMG - it was like looking at a 007 filmset! Only the best of everything - and then 100 of them 'just in case'.....and they still aren't winning...

Busy all day at work, which was a shame as it was a beautiful day and I would have liked to be outside.

Another busy day at work. My boss described me this week as 'going like a cut cat' - but unfortunately that has meant no time for ME.

I decided to try alternating jogging (more like a shuffle) and walking at Street-O in Hawthorn last night. I felt reasonably OK so will continue with this approach for a few days.

The beautician on Tuesday advised me to 'keep out of the cold air and wind'. Advice that I will not be taking - given my interest in running, orienteering and cross county skiing!

A rest day due to a visit to the beauty parlour (hoping for a miracle) and a large amount of shopping for my mother (whose cupboards are already stuffed full).

Monday street-O at Box Hill South. This was a novelty event with half the controls on one map, then the other half of the controls on the other side (so you had to keep flipping the map over to make sure you didn't miss anything). I decided (for once) to play by the rules and accept my handicap - expecting, of course, to win! But I didn't. So I might have to go back next week and have another go.

By accepting the handicap I was only out for about 3/4 of the time I would have preferred. I still just walked, feeling not quite ready to run.

A walk around Wangaratta bike tracks in the fog and freezing cold temperatures. The hamstring is definitely feeling OK walking so will try and build up the jogging a bit this week.

C • Big week! 6

Nice jog/walk around the minor tracks at Reef Hills. Came across a suspicious looking man sitting in a car in a remote spot - the sort of person that the organisers of last weekend's events would advise you to take a wide berth around when passing. After a polite wave and a hello I decided to take a 'road closed' track and then a whole lot of obscure minor tracks for the rest of my trip.

This is the first walk/jog in a couple of weeks so just took it easy. Probably the rest has done me good.

My plans (after the big false alarm) including resigning from my job later in the year and resurrecting my consulting business (which has been in remission for the past 3 years) - but with a new look.

C • resigning 2

Medical test day - and OF COURSE there was nothing wrong with me. And, I started to feel incredibly healthy after all. Very nice hospital service - warmed up dressing gowns etc. I guess some people really do get bad news and they have to account for that.

Big plus - in the past 2 days I re-evaluated what I want to do and have now made plans accordingly. If you consider that there might not be much time left, then priorities become very clear. So that is good.

Drove back to Benalla in the afternoon feeling incredibly good and re-focused.

C • phew! 2

Really busy at work. Had to go back and forth from the city to CFA in Burwood several times. I have the task of planning the state work program coming out of the RC - and all joint projects have to be agreed.
I had to stay back work to eliminate all double counting - but what's a few extra $20M in the scheme of things.

A bit worried about the follow-up medical tests on Friday.