Training Log Archive: PrueD

Score event at Bungil (Bugal State Forest), scene of the previous night's activities. It was a hot day, but not as hot as last Sunday, so people were allowed to start early. I planned to leave at the official start time of 1030, but the starter forgot to me and sent me off at 1033 (without fixing the start time).

I planned to do a few checkpoints close to the start - but even messed one of these up - by following a faulty bearing in a relatively flat area. 90 minutes wasn't really long enough as I couldn't run fast in the heat - but rather did a slow jog. I had planned to follow a tourist route - and visit the scene of a major navigational error I made on this map during the last event here. The checkpoints were in almost the same position and this time I was clean.

Afterwards there were the Vic Orienteering Awards and it was disappointing that only about 20 people were there. I was duly awarded the (joint) W45-54 OY award. The prize for the best organised course went to the Oz Long Champs at Warby, mainly (can you believe this?) because of the loos!!!!! (which Jim claimed credit for).

Speaking of loos, I watched Kenny on TV last night (yes - I know, I should've been at the night event). It was enough to put you off the Melbourne Cup forever (not that I would want to go). However I noted a reference to local Mansfield contractor Henry the Third, who was an occasional visitor to Lima. One day, when he had dropped around for business, I mentioned in conversation that I "worked" for NE Water (really I was on the Board). Next day I had been given permission to go to a DSE prescribed burn, but only on condition that I act as a crew member all day. So there I was, bending over the Toyota bonnet in green overalls and holding a dipstick and air filter (reality? - no clue!!!) when up drove Henry. The indignant driver leapt out and exclaimed "You dont work for NE Water at all- you're really on the DSE crew!!". I couldn't be bothered to explain. A friend suggested that the next day I should visit the local hospital, of which I was then Vice President - wearing a nurse's outfit - just in case Henry dropped in there for some line of business.

C • W45 2

I would like to have done more today but had to settle for a walk around Blackburn lake and creeklands area. Because it was a hot day and everything was really green, the bush was giving off eucalyptus gases (I think this was the reason) and smelt really nice. Not being a detail person, I have resorted to an estimate of the distance. I am not going to Night-O champs tonight (wish I was) but am looking forward to the score event tomorrow.

Alas - still nothing. Had to work late.

Nothing. Went to my god daughter Tara's 3rd birthday party.

Street O at Forest Hill. A fairly flat course which meant that I could run all the way (well, almost - I confess to one lttle walk in the middle). It was a drizzly night so bespectacled people like me were motivated to finish as fast as possible. Although my hamstring was a little tight - overall it has improved hugely and I think (hope) that my rather long period of injury might be over.

A colleague saw the results of the weekend's MTBO in the Border Morning Mail and was quite shocked that it showed our age. He asked me what W50 represented. What could I say? "That is for women aged between 35 and 50."

C • W50 2

Swim at Benalla pool. It was a fairly cool morning so I chickened-out on the inaugral spring swim in the lake. The pool was virtually empty apart from 2 children who inisisted on swimming crosswise - meeting me several times on the journey, in an otherwise empty pool.

It was too hot to run so I walked around the Benalla Lake environs instead. After dipping my hand in, it appears that the lake could now be warm enough to swim in. Normally I leave it too late (Nov) to get in - thinking it will be cold - only to discover I could have got in weeks before. At the other end of the season I brave the water right to the very end (April). This is with the exception of last year when it was full of invasive weed - but it has been drained since then. Open water swimming up and down the middle of the lake is one of life's pleasures!

The instant family departed in the morning. However I received several lots of O visitors returning to Melbourne - at least having a house in the county lends itself to a faily social time on weekends such as this.