Training Log Archive: blairtrewin

My tradition of a first-Sunday-in-February epic started in the early 90s more or less by accident, after I'd noticed that I'd done my longest run of the year that day in two successive years. After a hiatus for several years (mostly through being injured at inopportune times), I resumed this practice in 2006 and have continued it through this year.

This was a multiple-loop run from the Fairfield boathouse, starting with a loop northwest through Northcote, then joining Bruce, Reuben and Dion up the Yarra on both sides as far as Eaglemont, before a final loop on my own to Darebin Parklands. Never a sparkling run, but the time passed reasonably quickly through the middle of the bunch, especially on the single-track sections (which slowed the pace a little). Had company from 40 minutes to 2.15, and appreciated it (although Bruce pushed the pace a little more around 1.40-2.00 than I was planning on), especially once the company was gone in the later stages. The last 30 minutes, and especially the last 10, was in survival mode; I'd started with thoughts of going to 3.05 or 3.10, but in the end was pleased just to be able to summon the energy for the lap of the playground that took me from 2.59 to 3.00.

A humid morning, if not excessively hot. Bruce seemed a little perturbed when he saw the spreading patch of blood on my singlet (a chafed nipple that occasionally makes its presence felt on humid days, but doesn't cause any real trouble).

Unsurprisingly very tired afterwards; the trip from the car to the shop to get some sports drink was a struggle, and once home it took me 90 minutes to summon the energy to get off the bed and have a shower.

Will be shifting the emphasis to speed and technique more from this week.