Training Log Archive: PrueD

Nothing to report. Wet evening. I have had a bad attack of the munchies for several days and my training log is in danger of disappearing.

Woohoo. New PB in the pool (well at least since I have been timing my laps). And this time also included several polite negotiations at the ends- 'You first. No you. No after you. Well OK.' Only to then be mown down. And all in breastroke too (take note, all you slow freestylers). Surf was up today at the Nuna pool - swim squad on one side, aqua whales on the other, and lots of splashing and thrashing in between. No resemblance to the lovely peaceful Benalla pool.

BIG NEWS today - another human skeleton found at Belanglo SF.....I can't believe that we have had so many events there and not found this.

C • Belanglo SF 4

SInce I had to travel down the Hume Highway today I left a little earlier and called in on the Victorian club relays at Woodlands Homestead. I was glad that I had decided not to run - bunny burrows everywhere! So I treated it purely as a social occasion (was there an event on?) and had a lovely time - enjoying chocolate brownies, various cakes, cups of tea, nice chats with friends - as I wandered from club tent to club tent. Some1 even offered me a glass of red (which, of course, I declined - not good for the foot). Apparently seeing me 'in clothes' was a surprise for others. All very pleasant.

Foot is a bit ordinary (and it is amazing how an acute injury can make you forget about all your other aches and pains). I went for a slow amble when I got home to get it moving (but wont log the record 2.6km in 36 minutes). I am aiming to walk short courses at Kooyoora next weekend with hopefully a return to proper orienteering the following weekend.

A swim in the Benalla pool - with one other person in the pool for company (plus some children in the hydro pool, with watchful parents in attendance). Barring mis-timings or mis-countings, I seem to have become faster! Foot swelling went down over night and seems unaffected by swimming - but bruising is still evident. During the week it became quite sore by the end of each day - primarily from sitting at a desk all day.

I woke to a brilliant blue sky (typical north-east type of day) - but it has gradually become overcast. Today is Hoppet day and there are about 200 of my friends and acquaintances (accumulated over many years and changes in interests) up at Falls Creek - skiing either 42, 21 or 7 k. Even our local polly goes (no, not THAT one who was recently re-elected - but rather the state one). I have found it too hard to get to the snow this year or last - what with work in Melbourne, the Royal Commission and looking after Mum (not to mention trying to go orienteering occasionally).

The Hoppet has been the scene of some of my best sports performances over time - 10th and 12th (and nearly always in the top 20) overall in the womens 21 k (against nearly 200 competitors in that category). Much of this has to do with technique, tactics (knowing where to relax and where to put the effort in), a really good wax job (on the skis, that is), a good start position (2nd front row, after the elites - which they always generously give me - ready to be mown down by the 2000 people behind) and a fabulous pair of skis brought out especially for me by an American ski instructor. These placings have given me good start positions in long-distance races in Europe, which was nice (though misguided as my performances there did not quite live up to expectations)!

Another proud moment for the surrogate mother today - except that I wasn't invited to the birth. A build up to 385,000 ha of fuel reduction burning annually (treble the current amount) and around $400m of funding. The wine and tourism industries (that agree totally with the concept of burning, but just not during spring when smoke taints the ripening grapes or in autumn when the tourists are visiting) will be so pleased.

Back to Benalla tonight - I have excused myself from my relay team (and no, even if I can't find a replacement, I still can't run). I am hoping for some sort of improvement to the foot for the following weekend.

Foot no better - so a rest day. Highlight of day was the Premier doing a media launch of one of the projects that I wrote the bid for - $21.5m for enhancements to our integrated fire database. Attendees included my minister, who likes me (because he was there, more-or-less by my side all day on Black Saurday) and the other one who sometimes comes orienteering. The Premier, who was only briefed for a short period prior to the launch, was absolutely stunning in his ability to be articulate on a subject he really knew very little about. However the media was not interested in our project - and quickly changed the topic to the state politician who lost pre-selection and the mishandling of the sex offender register by the police. Much more interesting!

I wasn't meant to attend and got a bit of a snarl ( cleverly disguised as a 'hello Prue') from our senior manager. However, as the surrogate mother of the project, having carried it through its gestation period, I felt I deserved to be there at the birth. But like other surrogate mothers, I will be and have been quickly forgotten. To quote my boss - ' Success has many parents'.

I went to yoga after work today (instead of street-O) but probably shouldn't have. I am just a little grumpy as it has become evident that I am not going to be running the relays this weekend. My foot is quite puffy and blue - right down to my toes. It is not super sore - just sore enough to stop me doing all the things I want to do.

I thought I would earbash you all with my view of the elctoral saga. I would really like a concensus government, even though history would suggest that this would not be agreeable to the major parties. In a previous life I was on a water authority board and the chair believed in concensus. Everyone's concerns were treated with great respect and were carefully worked through. In a way he was addressing all the likely risks to a proposal. It worked. My colleagues on the board included a failed Nationals candidate and a failed Labor candidate - but concensus was able to be reached through this process. Here's hoping....

I can see that I am going to have to find alternative entertainment to running for a while as foot and calf are puffy and sore. Today I went swimming in the Benalla pool, resplendent with new YMCA goggles (completely sealed, no leaks). Swimming was therefore a joy - and I felt somewhat like the mermaid in the picture of the school reunion.

I have a school friend and her new man coming to lunch today - returning to Sydney from the reunion. Mediterranean foccacias, I think.

Speaking of food, I went out to a Chinese restaurant in Benalla last night. It is in a rather rundown building and the stumps were very bad. Unfortunately they had employed a very large local girl with heavy feet as a waitress - and my companion could not resist rudely whispering 'fee, fi, fo, fum' (hopefully out of earshot) as the whole table, complete with dishes, shook violently everytime she passed.

In view of the injured hoof and the recent decline in training hours I opted for a slow cycle around the Benalla and out to Reef Hills today. I didn't take the Garmin for fear that someone would notice that my cycling speed was slower than most other AP bloggers' running speeds. Of course in my case it is the bike's fault.

Hoof is somewhat puffy and sore today. I am very prone to twisted ankles and have had numerous of varying severity. The books all say RICE but I say 'keep it moving'.

I have today and tomorrow off because I have been working late and weekends flat out for the past two months. The rest of the day was spent varying between a rather confused state (brain is in shutdown as it is a 'brain rest day') and reading the election commentary in Blair's blog, which seems to be more informative than any of the official websites. No doubt his hits will have reached an all time high today.

I haven't been back to Benalla for nearly 4 weeks so drove up last night - in time for a dismal evening of political television and a really good sleep in my favourite bed.

Today I went up to Strathbogie and ran twice around the golf course. It was a beautiful, manicured 18 hole course though quite hilly. I was thinking it would make a great short O course. The first lap was in the rough and bog, and the second lap was down the fairways as there were only 2 players on the whole course for the day. At $10 each for 18 holes it made me wonder how they paid for the fuel to mow the greens.

I would think that running around a course like this would not be allowed normally, but with so few players it didn't seem to be a problem. The green keepers got some entertainment at the end. As I ran in towards the club house I fell into a rabbit hole and badly twisted my ankle. It was the only hole I saw - and of course I didn't have my ankle braces on. I rolled around on the ground a bit and then pretended it was OK. But it wasn't. It is now swollen and a bit blue. I hope it is OK for next week's relays. The run was followed by a picnic at Mt Wombat (the very slippery south side of which I climbed up in a rogaine once).

C • did the rabbit hole have a ... 4

FOllowing a late night at the school reunion I could only manage a pathetic plod around Blackburn Lake this morning. My legs were aching when I woke up - I really don't like standing for hours at social functions (I am also a fainter, so I don't like standing still). But the reunion was all good although only 45 out of the 180 girls in my year made it. It took us a while to recognise each other, in some cases. Others looked exactly as they had at school. I am avoiding a day of lunches and dinners though. Last night was enough.

Our school was extremely liberal in my day (before it was taken over by the continuing Presbyterian church, who installed the former head of a Scottish boy's reform school as principal). We were taught to be very independent and socially aware. Sexism was never mentioned and most of us were not aware that girls are treated differently in society until we were well into our 20s. Even our religious education was about every other religion other than Christianity. The result - the majority of girls are now very independent and left wing. Probably not the outcome our parents had intended when they sent us to the school.

I used to be one of the last single girls left. But not now. Somehow a number of my friends naively married drug dealers and other crooks - only to have all their money stolen. There were those who seemed to have it all (mansion in Hawthorn, vineyard in the country, lovely husband and children at private schools) but who have, in a number of cases, been left with nothing. My assets and I are happily intact - there is something to be said for remaining single.

C • same! 2

It is a horrible wet windy night and I have no intentions of going outside - but have opted to write something regardless. I woke up feeling really grumpy and with a headache this morning but still went to work, even if only so that K would ask (regarding my haircut) - "OMG - is that what you asked for?" and I could reply "Yes...why?" But she was sick and the moment was lost.

Anyway it was a chaotic day (can't say why). I think I need to study chaos theory - I've spent my life trying to create order and in the end there is none, but somehow the world muddles on regardless.

They announced the new head of all the fire agencies today. The PS code of conduct prevents me expressing an opinion about this appointment. However I did have a laugh when I read the official press release. Seems he was born to be a fire leader 'because he was conceived in a fire station!' Sorry guys - but TOO MUCH INFORMATION.

(PS - I have no staying power. I went to Forest Hills tonight and got the horrid haircut rectified. So I'll now be able to attend the school reunion tomorrow night minus the paper bag.)

C • photo please! 4

Street O at Heidelberg. It was a horrible windy cold night and I arrived and started late. My calves are really tight and hurt walking and jogging, so I just strolled around. I've been really busy at work this week and staying late - with no time to exercise - and I guess that now shows.

I heard something funny yesterday - a man from work who is rather rotund was telling everybody that he visited Wet and Wild whilst on holiday. Apparently, while on the water slide he got stuck in one of the corners and caused a pile-up. We were having visions of the headlines "Fat man causes mass fatalities in water slide".

C • Close to home 6

State series at Lyall Forest near Lake Eppalock. It was pouring with rain all the way there and I concluded that we were all very dedicated or completely mad. Probably the latter. The forest was green and open, but very boggy with complex subtle spur gully terrain (sounds contadictory - but that is how it was).

After an evening of stretching and massage, I decided to jog (squelch)most of it and found the soft ground very pleasant going. I also opted for the straight line approach which, for me, is risky as I seem unable to follow a bearing (partly 'cos the compass doesn't seem to settle) and then am never quite sure where I am at the end of it. It was also fairly hard to relocate as distinctive features were rare, almost non-existant. Navigationally I felt a bit out of practice having done no bush events since the last state series event. I messed up badly on several controls, wasting aorund 10 minutes - especially on 2. The result? Seems the competition (W45-54) was mostly the same - and I was only pipped by 1 minute.

Unfortunatey the hammy started to go in the last km but I was too close to home to give up then - so kept on regardless. Needless to say it was very sore on the way home. But overall - a good day.

With a state series O event happening tomorrow, I thought I had better not run given the temperamental hammy. So walked around Blackburn instead. The rest of the day will be spent cooking - stocking up Mum's and my freezer.

Was about to head to yoga at work at lunchtime when I got sent to a meeting downtown :-( Bent over to pick up my bag when *tug* - left hammy pulled a bit :-( (again). Can't explain why. I really needed that yoga.

C • don't bend over 2

I was looking forward to proving history wrong and saying that the good run of weather for street-0 on Wednesday night had come to en end. It was pouring prior to tonight's event at Blackburn North - but, true to form, all rain ceased as the starter said 'Go" and not one drop fell for the duration of the event. It then poured for hours afterwards. Like everyone else, I wore a rain jacket (albeit an oversized yellow cycling jacket - fairly unattractive) but surprisingly didn't overheat, despite jogging the whole way (I think I am getting fitter :) )

I chose the area to the south, which was the area of my childhood home. Only one control was not in the correct place. That was No 2 and, according to the map, it should have been right opposite my family's former house. It was down the road a bit. I had great pleasure in complaining at the finish stating that OF COURSE I knew exactly where I was - after all I had lived there (on and off a bit) for 30 years!

C • likewise 3

It was a very wet day and I had a doctor's appointment in Doncaster before work. (I am trying to catch up on all my medical appointments which have been neglected over the past years/months. This was the last one.) Although the appointment was 10 minutes and finished at 09:15, it then took me 1 1/2 hours to drive into work from there. The freeway was at a standstill and so I headed off at Chandler Hwy. Unfortunately Johnston St was also at a standstill. When I finally arrived at work, there was somewhat of a frenzy going as the agencies were all jostling for position regarding funding flowing from the RC report. As a result I stayed late and there was no exercise.

Street-O at Rowville. It was a clear, crisp evening and I felt good, so decided to run. That meant that I needed a runner's handicap. My protests that I am a slow runner went unheard and I was duly allocated a handicap of 12 (as compare to my walking handicap of 20). I went as fast as physically possible, although had the occasional pause to look at the map and count controls, plus pauses to write down the light pole number, but only just made it back within the hour (but still feeling good!)

Others were less successful - an unlit speed hump in the shopping centre car park claimed 2 victims - one with a suspected broken arm (off to hospital) and the other with a deep gash - testing the series' first aid arrangements and re-confirming that a good light at night is essential.

The rest of the day was uneventful. I went to the eye specialist and had dilating drops put in. Like a cat I then lurked in the shadows for several hours. I was hoping that the dilated pupils made me look sexy - but I was advised that I looked like a drug addict. I was still slightly drop affected when I went to street-O, making driving a little difficult.

Because I was short of sleep and remined a pumpkin for most of the day - I went for a long walk around Blackburn. I hate late nights as they really ruin me for the next day.

A run around Blackburn in beautiful weather. I had people from Benalla to stay and there was no opportunity to catch up on sleep as I was the designated driver for an evening party that went well beyond the hour in which I normally turn into a pumpkin.

Another big day. Finally got all bids to the mInister's office at 5.00pm - then back to work for a farewell party. Very tired. If I got .01% of what I have bid for, in perpetuity, I would be a very happy woman.

Big day and late night at work.

It never rains at 7.00 pm on Wednesday so, despite the pouring rain, I headed off to the Basin for street-o. But not this time. Question - is street-O really orienteering if you have no card (mine was paper mache), don't punch 1/2 the controls, have half a map, a tiny glimmer of a torch beam (thanks for the loan Len) and really have no idea where you are. But the area was nice and so much better than being home (which was nice and warm).

I have pretty much read all the report now and can reasonably accurately advise people on what is there and what is not. The projects are nearly all planned. So all good. Waist-line is not so good.

Another 200 pages read. I challenge, at this stage, that anyone has read the full War and Peace. There is, in fact, an entire volume on how to re-write War and Peace should the opportunity again arise.

Porridge for breakfast. It makes horses feisty and uncontrollable. My colleague K has been banned from having porridge for this reason. However I am hoping for an energy boost.

Yoga after work. I am quite tired and quite tense so found this quite relaxing.

I managed to read another 200 or so pages today - but there were lots of distractions and it was hard to concentrate.

Yesterday one of my colleagues was $100 million out in his calculations. I advised him that, if he advised of the wrong amount being needed and cut the department short, then it would have to come out of his pay. At $10 a week, it would take him 250,000 years to repay it. The Commonwealth Bank loan repayment calculator doesn't stretch this far, but if you took CPI and interest into account, it would take him at least 500,000 years to repay.

Hardly a rest day - I spent the full day trying to read the 1000+ pages (in size 10 font) line-by-line. I estimate it would take 4 full days to read and digest the full thing. It makes a really good read - but I'm eating about 5 times more than I should and my eyes are hanging out on stalks.

C • I agree, not a rest day! 2