Training Log Archive: PrueD

After a really big sleep-in this morning I have conceded that I might have had a temporary literary lapse last night - and what was intended to be described as "weeping tendrils" in fact came out as "severed tentacles"! (But hey, guys, it could have been worse!).

Anyway, the skies that were full of promise yesterday did not disappoint overnight, nor again in the last few kilometers of my walk in Reef Hills this morning. The low dark clouds filled me with some trepidation, although, statistically speaking, I knew that I should be safe. The one distant grumble of thunder turned out to be a bikie gang returning from SummerNats (and NO, that is not why I went to Shepparton yesterday).

No personal encounters with bikie gangs spring immediately to mind. Although there was that instance where the Comancheros (well I think that's who it was) came for holiday in Benalla and camped on the foreshore, had big bonfires and generally entertained each other and us by riding up and down the main street. Camping on the foreshore is illegal but no-one complained - apparently because no-one was brave enough to send them off. No other group, that I am aware of, has ever been granted this privilege.

I took my bike over to Shepparton this afternoon and explored the redgum forests alongside the Goulburn and Broken Rivers. Saw heaps of other tracks I would like to explore. Felt really energetic for once!!

The morning was spend pruning back the malicious wanderings of my Benalla grape vine, which had already claimed the BBQ and outdoor setting amongst its victims, and was posing a serious threat to any passing cat or person who sat for too long in the one spot. Anyway - job done - and I plan to sit beneath it peacefully this evening - cruelly ignoring the drip, drip, drip of its severed tentacles.

Still at work - so one can safely assume that I have received no response to Wednesday's offer. This has given me the opportunity to refine my criteria - adding that high levels of intelligence and integrity are essential requirements. This means that members of some football teams or leaders of particular African nations need not apply.

The subject of fences seemed to provoke some excitement earlier this week - so I will continue on this theme. As a rogainer, one becomes somewhat of an expert on fence design and construction. There is the 5-wire barbed-wire type - that has threatened many a young man's career. And then there are electric fences - one-sided, two-sided and multi-level - although one must always wonder, before climbing, what these fences are intended to keep in (the subject of bulls on rogaines will be discussed another day).

There are the various crossing techniques - there is the crawl-under technique, the hurdle-over technique (which, according to some sources, is most commonly used by orienteers who are 8 months pregnant), the hoist (too undignified, according to Louise), the squeeze-through (better suited to fat, rather than muscley people) and the slow and tedious climb-over technique.

C • more fences 3

Nothing. When I got home last night (late) the whole block was was blocked-off due to a fairly major fallen power cable and lots of fallen trees. So no power, no computer, no dinner, no TV and no driving in or out of the area (because I live in a dead-end street, which was sealed-off). It took until 2.20 am this morning to restore.power. Must have been a localised event because the Prez, who lives in the next road, experienced nothing eventful.

Street O tonight at Nunawading. I didn't warm up properly and felt slow and heavy most of the way - a bit disappointing. I miscounted the controls and headed for one more than was required - so did not pick the ideal route. One school with a crossable boundary fence was surrounded by a child-proof (adult-proof as it turned out) fence that I couldn't climb over.

On one metrogaine, years ago, I miscalculated and was close to a control but it was in the next street, some distance around by road. My partner and I knocked on the front door of the house there and politely asked "Excuse me, can we please climb over your back fence?" A very nice man came and and said he would get the ladder - so under his supervision we climbed over the fence, got the control and were on our way. These days. of course, this would be illegal.

I much prefer running on weekends and holidays - if only I didn't have to go to work. I made a pact with myself tonight - the next time a millionaire proposes to me, I am going to say YES.

C • Fences 4

I have had a bit bit of headache for most of my day - which was essentially non-eventful. "Flat white" is the best descriptor!

I struggled out this evening for a bit of a walk. Its amazing how quickly a sense of tranquility returns when you are looking at flowing water (almost a blue colour), freshly washed plants and green growing grass. The bush along the creeklands really has the most beautiful scent, especially after rain. Along with some others I watched a flock of beautiful orange throated parrots (not sure what sort) that inhabit the Blackburn Creekland area. The billabongs alongside the creek were filled with happy croaking frogs and there were ducks swimming by. A most sensual evening!

Hey, I just found a really interesting stream of discussion on "Inov-8 Philosophy" on the home page. It essentially reflects the discussion I've been having lately with Bryan - about forefoot strike versus heel strike, pronation control versus natural foot movement. There's a whole heap of really informative and encouraging information there. As a person who's nearly always had stability control but also a lot of injuries, I now have a preference for a more natural approach. Also, I agree about the varied terrain in orienteering helping to minimise problems - but unfortunately, a lot of our courses in recent times have included long road legs.

I wanted to do something today but I am feeling quite flat - so at this stage, nothing. Anyway, regardless, I still think I will add today's tale, which concerns the wonders of silver electrical tape. In my earlier canoeing days I would always carry a role of this tape as a generic repair kit (for boat, body, tent, in fact for ANYTHING!).

I was reminded of this as I left Parliament Station this morning to cross the intersection of Nicholson and Albert Sts. As a seasoned jaywalker (read sprinter), I am always alert to the daily screeching of tyres, tooting of horns and other indicators of near-misses. Clearly there have been some mishaps - as evidenced by two damaged poles at the corner. One, a traffic light pole, has suffered a major injury (Including a big hole) that has been ably repaired by a large amount of silver tape. Likewise, on another corner, is another power pole with a similar, although smaller, repair. Clearly the MCC thinks that tape is up to the job!

Some years ago I was entertained at dinner by a pine tree pruning crew from Queensland, who had been engaged to prune the entire expanse of the Warranbayne Plantation and were paid by the tree. They were a most interesting and varied lot, some with tatooed fingers, some of Maori origin and most with interesting tales of incarceration and other mishaps. Anyway, one of them had a completely seized-up leg. In conversation, it evolved that this fellow had sunk an axe into his leg earlier that week. However, with time the essence and not want to let down his fellow crew, he had decided to continue on with the job rather that visit a hospital. And this is where the roll of silver tape came in handy....