Training Log Archive: PrueD

Woke to a hot and humid morning. Headed off on the course 3 - 19 km. Overshot control 1. Fell into a deep stagnant puddle (up to my waist) on the way to control 2 (garmin arm held high in the air). Smelt somewhat horrible for the remaining duration of the event - but was VERY attractive to March flies. Took several wrong turns and walked up most of the hills. Humidity and sunscreen really don't mix and I felt really hot. Ran out of puff about half way around. Took a long silly single trail when I should have gone around the road towards the end. The trail was littered with fallen trees and bottomless muddy bogs. Fell of my bike sideways into a sloppy muddy bog towards the end - sustaining a big scratch and an almost full body and bike cover of mud. Got caught in tropical downpour around 500 meter before the finish. Arrived back muddied, bloodied, soaking wet and quite tired. Really tough conditions and hardly any route choice (apart from obviously unsuitable route choices). I hate MTBO! However Nicky thought it was great fun, that the course was just the right length and wants to do it again.

Then drove back to Benalla after dropping Nicky off at Sunbury.

C • So apart from being muddied, bloodied, soaking wet and quite tired ... you enjoyed yourself ? 3

After a great film night at Bruce's (again) (thanks Bruce) some of us fronted up for the Saturday training run in North Blackburn. This was a teams novelty event with a points handicap (can't be bothered explaining). I was teamed up with Mary Enter who feigned weariness and made me do the hilly section north of the freeway. Not wanting to overdo it and knowing what else is coming up this weekend, I walked up some of the steep hills to avoid injury. It was about 28 degrees on our return.

I probably prefer a less formal approach for these training runs - it's nice to go somewhere different but I would prefer to not have have the pressure of having to achieve a certain score.

Dashed up to Bendigo with friend Nicky for their Saturday night twilight event at Golden Gully - same map as Day 1 of last year's ToDay event. But it was terribly hot and humid and most of the event was track running. Those in short shorts were somewaht advantaged compared to those of us in full O gear. I found the head and humidilty distracting and missed a control - having to go back and get it - and couldn't really be bothered reading the map properly - walking a fair bit of it.

Afterwards Bruce, Suzanne, Nicky, Louise and I went to a pub in Kangaroo Flat for dinner (surprisingly nice) before we Melbournites headed off to find a camping spot. Vaughan Springs and Mt Franklin were all chockers so we ended up on someon'e nature strip at the start of Sunday's MTBO at Korweinguboora at 11pm. Tents up and off to bed.

Annual street-O event at Scotch College tonight - organised by the boys. This is always a good event, not for its route choice or scenery (although it is quite nice on the Burnley side of the river), but rather for its over-organisation. This time there was a string of little boys marshalling us into the parking areas. Despite the rain, the turnout was also extremely good - with perhaps too many people - mainly 18 year old boys. Apparently there were 2 schools, an entire soccer club and a scout troup in attendance. We ordinary orienteers were greatly outnumbered.

I felt pretty comfortable running the whole way with no ill effects. There were a few breaks whilst we queued for the controls, so my pace might have been a bit faster than indicated.

I somehow lost my card at the end and had to fill in another one. You certainly knew you were in a school because when I handed in the second one I was told "No good. Do it again". So as a failure I had to fill in a third one. "Please Sir, is this good enough?" Eventually it was.

I took the day off and stayed in Benalla. It was actually cooler than Melbourne and a really good day for gardening. So after a heavy morning of pruning, I drove back to Melbourne but was too late for orienteering so went for a walk around Blackburn.

Today's discussion regarding stones and concrete on FB reminded me of a story - but I thought it might be better placed here (where I don't know who reads it). TinyToes - I know you like concrete - and I'm sure that you are into stones too - after all, you married a large one (Rockman) (apologies).

Anyway, after my lovely new concrete drive was laid in Benalla, the very charming tall handsome concrete layer, flanked by his equally charming tall handsome sons, stared me straight in the eye and announced, without flinching - "You can do almost anything on it" he said "but don't go round screwing on it"......Huh ?????......Eh ?????

I was totally taken aback. The mind boggled. I would never think of doing such a thing! And fancy him thinking that I would! Then I realised that he was talking about car tyres. So in a supreme show of strength I managed to refrain from bursting out laughing and maintained my dignity in true ladylike fashion to continue the conversation. But it was very funny.

C • I'm sure they don't mean it 1