Training Log Archive: PrueD

A leisurely ride around Benalla. One pedal was a bit loose - Bikes R not US and mechanical repairs R even less Us - but I somehow managed to tighten it up when I got home. I should have tightened it when I put it together, but didn't.

An open water swim in Lake Benalla after the ride. Because I was hot the water felt reallly cold when I first got in, so I got out again and thought about it a bit (perhaps this is why swimming is first in triathlons). Once I had cooled down I got back in and it felt warmer this time. I cannot tell you all how wonderfully relaxing it was swimming in warmish water in the open lake. I know you shouldn't swim alone - but somehow doing so took the pressure off, and that made me more relaxed, so that my breathing was more rhythmic and muscles more relaxed. Benalla has some attributes.

I am going to buy a new pair of goggles - the other pair still leak, but seem to improve after a time in the water. Maybe the plastic shrinks or something when they dry out, and then expands and fills the gap when they are cold and wet.

A standard weekend's run on bush tracks at Boho South in the Strathbogies, but done in the reverse direction to normal. What used to seem like a flattish downhill run seemed positively mountainous coming the other way. The area has cool, tall peppermint forest and is always about 8 degrees cooler than the lowlands, so it is nice on a hot day. However, with the temperature in the low 20s, Peter was freezing and had to run in a polar fleece! We then had a picnic at Lima Falls (which had no falls as the area is very very dry).

An "acquaintance" came by today and made an offer on my house. Something to think about as I have been postponing the inevitable. I like the house - it was originally built by Laurie Edwards of Bendigo Orienteers and has a full wall of windows (orienteering people must go for indoor/outdoor living) and I have fully renovated it. But my life isn't here anymore.

And his offer was a bit low - and I probably should add on a bit more for pain, suffering and legal fees. Why? Because this person once thought it would be a huge joke to tell the checkout girl in Coles, while I was queuing and he was rushing out the door, that I had put a bag of M&Ms in my bag. The young checkout girl was caught short and didn't know what to do. She didn't believe me when I said he was joking and then made me empty out my bag. I am waiting for the day when we are both in Safeway together and I'll be able to call out "Hey, that man just put a Mars Bar down his pants.." before running off.....

C • offer 2

After half a day unsuccessfully waiting for a document to arrive, I decided to drive home to Benalla and then work in the evening or the weekend if it arrives. (Hopefully it won't come until Monday).

The car registered 42 degrees on the way home but it was overcast and therefore not too bad. When I arrived home I was a bit shocked at how dry it is - even the grass is crunchy - and I've lost several plants over the past few weeks. There is no green in the paddocks at all, so all the rain we experienced down south over the past weeks must have missed up here. I'll get a better feeling for the condition of the bush tomorrow as I'm planning a run in the Strathbogies.

In a slight feeling of deja-vu, the current conditions remind me of the conditions prior to both Alpine fires in 2003 and 2006. In the week preceeding the 2003 fires, I walked up both Mt Feathertop and Mt Buffalo and was surprised that the bogs were not only dry but also had deep cracks in them. The area was shortly afterwards hit by 140 lightening strikes over two days and 137 were successfully suppressed at first attack. The remaining 3 were away from settlements and were considered to be less of a risk (famous last words!)

Of interest at that time was a submission to the 2003 post-fire inquiry from a retired Chief Fire Officer who stated that the fires were not started by lightening at all, because he was there and there wasn't any. They were, in fact, started by Osama Bin Laden shooting missiles from Afghanistan.

I went to street orienteering at East Doncaster tonight. As expected my right calf and ankle were rather tight all day and the area was hilly so I opted to walk. Still, better than nothing.

I woke at 4am this morning and decided to get up, do the washing and get ready for my 7.30 meeting. I was having a routine blood test so couldn't eat until after this. For some reason, I was absolutely starving (and I normally don't eat very much for breakfast, even though I know I should) so I gave into the bacon and egg fantasy from last weekend at morning tea time. I was busy getting stuck into a huge plate in the cafe next to work when I was spotted by Carl Dalheim. (And yes, it was a cholesterol blood test).

Work is a bit average - the document I've been working on is now in other hands and not entirely as I would like it to be. I have been entertaining the idea of writing short stories as an alternative - I have so many stories in my head ready to go (basically because I seem to attract odd people and ridiculous events)! But there is the pay issue, so in the meantime I will have to write these in my spare time. To some extent I am using AP to get my material together - so there are several motivators for the blog - including an additional one - "She who makes herself laugh shall never be bored".

Street-O tonight at Camberwell Central. It was the 2nd event I've done this week where Suzanne was the course setter. Unfortunately this time there were no opportunities to dispatch the opposition (or be dispatched). Courses were slightly shorter than usual which was OK with me. I ran most of the way - although there was an occasional short walk on the hills - but I seem to be getting fitter.

In preparation for this event I swapped around some insoles from other shoes and, although they are only off-the-shelf orthotics, there seemed to be a marked improvement in how my leg felt as compared with last week (although my slightly strained ankle was sore afterwards). I'm now thinking that it could be an alignment problem.

I have some work to do tonight so couldn't stay (yet again) for the BBQ. Hopefully next week. I booked my first appointment at the work gym today and am having a fitness test on Monday (was hoping to have Monday off - but it isn't going to happen). I'm planning to do strength work, yoga and pilates.

I had to drive to the doctor this morning in Doncaster for the annual grease and oil change. Older model, high mileage - therefore greater maintenance needs. (But fortunately the more expensive brands just keep going....)

This meant I could stop off at Studley Park on the way home for a walk on the wild side, including exploring the area around Dight's Falls. The river was up after yesterday's rain and the Falls area looked like it would be a good paddle. I still have a slightly sore leg - even though it felt much better after the weekend's cycling. I'm planning to run tomorrow regardless.

Went on a tour of the fire area today with Counsel - looking at the effect of fuel reduction burns on the fire. Travelled 400k - mostly on rough bush tracks so got a pretty good look. It poured with rain nearly the whole way - so hopefully that will result in a much reduced fire risk for the rest of this summer. It was my first visit back to Marysville, where I used to be a frequent visitor on my way to Lake Mountain. I haven't wanted to go there until now. It was a sobering experience. The area where the town used to be looks a bit like a rough clearing in the forest - not very big and not really a suitable site for a town at all. Apparently house blocks are selling for $40K more than they were before the fire - so no doubt a town will rise there once again.