Training Log Archive: blairtrewin

A steady accumulation of distance without reaching great heights. Good to be able to spend a bit more time in the river parklands now that the sun is coming up earlier; headed down to the Gipps Street footbridge (which could, this morning, have used one of those 'bridge freezes before road' signs that you see in North America) and back through the hills of Kew.

All Nations intervals. Didn't sleep very well last night (had been dealing with a challenging OA issue) but it didn't seem to rub off too much on the session - a decent session even if it was without terribly much sparkle. Not too many dogs (or their owners) around this morning - not sure why as it was a nice morning.

I was wondering if my secret train would have disappeared, but it still exists, sort of. (The 8.32 at Fairfield used to start at Heidelberg - the only morning train which does - and was consequently the one train which was easy to get a seat on. It's now been extended to Greensborough, but there were still seats available this morning, albeit without a lot to spare).

Warm-up and down. A more lively start than is sometimes the case for this session.

A bit of a struggle through the first half but gradually picked up, and a decent last 10 minutes (despite a nuisance-level problem, some split skin on the side of one toe which periodically produces a bit of blood). Took the chance to check out what the Level Crossing Removal Authority has been up to while I was away (answer: not an awful lot that's visible, but they must be proud of it because - in what was presumably a very unfortunate piece of timing - a leaflet on the subject appeared in my letterbox today from our now sadly departed local MP).

The song running through my head for most of this run - 'Flagpole Sitta' from the one-hit-wonder 1990s band Harvey Danger. I wonder if they'll reform for a Houston benefit concert?

Back didn't enjoy the drive back yesterday (or, perhaps to be more pedantic, the couple of minutes after getting out of the car each time), so I was happy enough to confine myself to the water this morning. It seemed to help - certainly felt better by the afternoon. Not the most energetic of swims but found something at the end.

Event: Icebug NOL # 12
 

A significant race - my 300th National League appearance. While a bush "sprint" (really more like a middle on a sprint map) wasn't the format I would have chosen for the occasion, the venue was definitely a homecoming - within a couple of kilometres of where I grew up (and at the venue and basically the same arena as one of my first wins of consequence, M11 at the 1982 ACT Schools Championships). Despite the area's proximity, I haven't really run on this area in its form today - the erosion and vegetation detail has never really been mapped properly before.

It was a bit of a running race despite the best efforts of the setters (with some tricky controls, particularly on the last loop). I kept telling myself that whatever tiredness I felt, those who had run the long course yesterday would be feeling it a lot more, but in fact this was a struggle - the back was playing up a bit today, and when it does the thing it has most trouble with is gentle uphills - which made the three rounds of the finish chute rather unpleasant (it can't have looked pretty). Reasonably consistent technically with three wobbles costing a few seconds apiece, but I was totally uncompetitive on pace today as the field progressively cruised past me.

It was dry with a chilly wind when we were running, but a strong front was due around midday, and it delivered; had this race been three hours later we would have been running in snow (falling but not settling). I was hoping we might get a bit on the way home but it didn't happen (and the others weren't enthused about an excursion via the Batlow-Tumbarumba road in search of it).

Event: Wildfire Ultralong - NOL 11
 

The ultralong day, but not an ultralong course - I was acting my age today (the decision point was in late July - after a fragmented year of training, if I was going to attempt the full M21 course, I wanted to be able to do 2.30 comfortably by then, and didn't). After an iffy week I wasn't too upset that I only had 8km and not 19, but it was still a reasonably long day's work - I've never gone much under 10s here and today wasn't going to spoil that record.

Never had a lot of strength running and had to walk most of the major hills (some, like 14 to 15, would have been unrunnable by anyone), but did improve a little in the later part of the course. Decent technically in the early stages and I think my route was decent on the first long leg to 7 (fairly straight), but wobbled a little at the end of the leg, and then struck major trouble at 9 - not being able to work out where the 4-metre cliff was in amongst all the rock - and dropped 3 minutes or so. (I suspect the 4 metres were measured using the same metres which are used to determine whether a kick has travelled 15 metres - whereas the climb on the course was measured using the metres used to determine whether someone's run 15 metres without bouncing the ball). Next time loss was about 2 minutes at 13, a small bit of bare rock in tiger-country steepness and big rock (in general I had a fair bit of trouble today working out what was mapped and what wasn't). From there, held it together reasonably technically with only minor losses at 20 and 23, and thought I was cruising in until realising, a bit too late, that Nathan Guinness was within striking distance of me at the top of the chute. He outsprinted me for 2nd; Eric did 76.

Probably dropped 6 minutes or so over the course, which I couldn't be happy with, although it worked out better physically than seemed likely over the last few days (or in the early stages of the course). Banged my knee a couple of times and it's feeling a bit sore and bruised this evening, but I'd need to have a broken leg not to front tomorrow.

C • Banged knee 2

Feeling OK in normal life but still rather weak and sluggish running; certainly noticed it going up Ruckers Hill (which is not very much of a hill). Will want to be better than this on the weekend, even if I'm acting my age tomorrow.

Still feeling a little out of sorts this morning (and logistics of the pool were easier today than they will be tomorrow) so took to the water today. A reasonably conventional session.

One of the regulars at the pool is a very keen Melbourne supporter. This week there was one thing we could definitely agree on: go Crows! (For those who haven't been following the AFL too closely, a Crows win over the Eagles means both Melbourne and Essendon make the finals, as long as the latter don't somehow lose to Freo at home).

C • Pessimist 4

Not sure what went wrong there - set out (early again) with the intention of an hour and ran into a brick wall. Temperature a bit elevated which may explain a bit (it was back to normal by later in the day) - don't want to take chances with illness this close to the NOL events (especially with a significant milestone pending).

Somewhat sleep-deprived this morning, in between having a teleconference which went until 11.45 last night and needing to make an earlier than usual start for a meeting starting at 8.45 this morning. Given that, I wasn't too surprised that this session fell a bit short of last week's equivalent, but it was still reasonably respectable by this year's standards.

Warm-up and down. As mentioned earlier, somewhat sleepy for the former.

A Monday recovery run, nothing sparkling but probably a bit better than the equivalent session has typically been this year (when it's happened at all). In a sleety rain for much of the way.

Still raining for the swim but I didn't notice once I was in the warm water below that there was cold water above. Another steady morning's work, and didn't drift out of it in the way that I sometimes do on these mornings.

Melbourne Bush-O at Woodlands. Was wondering how I would come up after yesterday's hard day, and was pleasantly surprised by the answer - not that Woodlands is exactly the world's most physically challenging area, but I was expecting it to be more of a struggle than it was. Had Steve Bird on my tail through the first few which got me going, then was running reasonably smoothly through the remainder of the course. No navigation time losses, just finding a slightly sub-optimal place to cross the creek at 2.

Unsurprisingly, this was my fastest kilometre rate of the year. I thought that the big guns might go under 30 but none did (although Kerrin did get sub-5s). Ted did me in the sprint after we were level at the last control. Around me were quite a few of the usual suspects, and one not quite so usual one - Emma Prime, making a rare appearance, who was about a minute back. If she ventures beyond local events she'll be very competitive in W40 next year should she feel so inclined.

Biggest training week for me since mid-2016 (discounting rogaines). I'm happy with that as a week's work.

Down on the Peninsula for the day and took the opportunity to do something akin to one of my classic Peninsula runs, with Sorrento at one end and Number Sixteen beach at the other. I can't remember ever being here in winter before, so it was a bit of a novelty to see the foreshore without campers and the football ground with football (Sorrento v Rosebud, which I imagine is a bit of grudge match).

This was one of the tougher runs I've done this year - no big hills but lots of small ups and downs, and a certain amount of soft sand. Found this reasonably hard work and my quads were suffering a bit at times. Kept plugging away, though, and the end result was something that sometimes happens - after getting through a tough middle, it became a good finish as the terrain got easier (it's always a good sign when the four fastest kilometres of a run are the last four). Didn't get a sense of regretting that I won't be out there for 3 1/2 hours next weekend, but still a solid day's work.

These days I think of it as good news if I do this session on a Friday - it means the earlier part of the week has gone more or less as planned, which has been by no means a given this year. This one was at Northcote, and was a bit icy in the southwesterly (outside the water), but bright - the showers came later.

It's been a rather absurd week in Australian politics. One of the absurdities which got missed by just about everyone (probably because it happened just before the Pauline Hanson fancy dress party) was Eric Abetz claiming that if same-sex marriage goes through the end point would be someone marrying the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Marrying bridges is not an idea which would have come to my mind, but if he really wants to I can think of a suitable partner.

Not at the level of some other runs in the last week with a rather sluggish first hour, but managed to get the distance under my belt without any undue drama and any niggles (although the physio/masseur, who normally sees me on a Monday, had to work a bit harder than usual tonight). Better in the last 20 minutes. A few chunky showers around, but missed most of them.

My best intervals session this year (not that that's an especially high bar to clear). Significantly faster than the last few attempts and felt a fair bit stronger on the uphill reps, too. Seem to have hit a decent spot in the last few days; hopefully it will continue.

Warm-up and down, plus a pause on entering the park to draw someone's attention to the dogs-on-leash sign. This was at least good preparation for riding to and from work, which featured a number of encounters with people who think no-standing signs don't apply to them, people who think give-way signs don't apply to them, and people who think red lights don't apply to them (and that's before we start on the truck who, dissatisfied with a driver's patience in waiting for pedestrians while turning left, turned left inside where the car was, cutting across the gutter in the process and leading the aforementioned pedestrians to scatter).

I was wondering if a familiar building had disappeared en route, but in fact the Melbourne Bicycle Centre has merely had its front painted blue rather than yellow.

C • It was red and blue and yel... 1

Felt reasonably good, although slower than the last couple of days. Forecast was bleak but dodged most of the showers. Continuing to have a reasonable few days on the injury front - have learned not to get too excited about this but it's good while it lasts.

I've finally found a reason to stop at the Glenrowan Macca's (one day) - looking at future eclipse paths today it appears to be near the location of maximum length of totality on Boxing Day 2038. (In case you're wondering, Melbourne doesn't quite get a total eclipse, although I suspect 96% will still be enough to create bad light issues at the cricket, assuming Test cricket is still played during the day by then).

C • Now that is planning ahead. 7

Morning session at Fitzroy. Not coming off as short a day as this time last week and certainly didn't feel as energetic as this time last week, but still a reasonably solid morning's work.

Surprise of the day was to be contacted by the ABC's new regional weather reporter, one Katie Doyle (it was her first day in the job and I think I was her first interview). We're starting to get a bit of an orienteering presence there because Jess Davis - who recently reached an early-career landmark, using for the first time in a story the words "Documents obtained by the ABC...." - is now working for the ABC in Ballarat. (I guess the next step on the career progression is "The ABC can reveal....").

Still a bit nervous about the lunchtime runs but this one was pretty good - main thing was that nothing hurt after some initial hamstring tightness disappeared in the first few hundred metres. Felt like I was moving pretty well, too (although I left my watch at home so don't have the evidence to demonstrate it, or otherwise). Fishermans Bend is industrial but going there means no significant road crossings, which is a definite plus for a lunchtime CBD run. A nice day to be out, on what ended up being the first 20-degree day since May.

It would be fair to say that there was a certain amount of schadenfreude on display in my social circles today. At least he hasn't been told to bugger off to New Zealand within 48 hours or be euthanised.

Enough niggles (a few more than the last three days) to make me settle for my original plan of 90 minutes, but otherwise this was a pretty good run - certainly seemed to be handling things better than in most runs in recent times (including on the hills, of which there were a few more today out towards North Balwyn). Maybe being out a bit later than usual was relevant? Less slow than any other non-speedwork/race run I've done this year, so a little more progress in that department.

Another modest step up, in a run which had a promising start but didn't quite go on as it began. Spent more time by the river (both in rougher and smoother parts) than I have for a while - it will be a bit more awkward in places for a while now that the Chandler bridge construction is under way (supposedly the new bike path bridge should be opening in October as an alternative, but after 20+ years I'll believe that when I see it). Also on a construction theme, it was among the last times I'll use the nearest pedestrian crossing of the railway line - it becomes a casualty of the level crossing removal in a couple of weeks - and the front facade of the old paper mill, which the real estate section of today's paper said was going soon, is in fact already mostly gone.

A further step forward. Felt quite tight in the back before I went out, but fine once actually running, and as a run this was definitely a substantial improvement on yesterday - felt quite lively and as if I actually wanted to be doing this. No sign of yesterday's calf tightness either.

I admire the enthusiasm of Essendon's marketing department, but think I have better things to spend $199 on than a Dyson Heppell garden gnome.

Back in action on a run whose purpose was to see if things still worked. As a run it felt as uncomfortable as first runs back after a layoff often do, but the good news was that the hip was fine (although my right calf was unusually tight early on). Improved somewhat in the last few minutes. Reasonable first step back.

Hip felt considerably improved today (although slightly iffy in the water, oddly enough), but I decided to give it one more day. This session was reasonably mundane. They now seem to have got a reasonable quantity of hot water into the new showers, which makes everyone happy.

It's a crap job but someone has to do it: reading the latest CompassSport, I came across the obituary of a Scottish orienteer whose day job for 20 years was captain of the barge which transported Edinburgh's sewage sludge out to sea for dumping (a career which was slightly foreshortened when the EU banned the practice in 1998). The Queen must have been impressed with his work because he got an MBE for "services to sanitation".

Dragging the extended commute ride out of the cupboard for the first time in a while. Riding up a couple of proper (if short) hills was a bit of a shock to the system, but settled down reasonably well after that. The southeast isn't the best direction to approach the city from on a bike at the moment, though - the paths under the Swan Street bridge are closed for works (which were supposed to be finished by the end of July, but of course they're running late) and the detours are convoluted.

Saw an article last night about how, in New Zealand, election advertising billboards rendered redundant by Labour's late leadership change are being recycled to insulate houses. We might get the chance to try this closer to home soon - the week when you've plastered the city with posters showing your face and proclaiming how tough you'll be on crime probably isn't the best week to be sprung dining with Melbourne's most notorious (alleged) mafioso.

C • tough on crime... 1

So that's what a swim feels like when it's done as a Proper Session and not purely as recovery after a hard weekend. A good 10% faster than I normally am (this means that Mack Horton would only cover 3 1/2 laps in the time that it takes me to do one, instead of the more usual 4), and didn't even feel like I was pushing that much harder than usual.

Adding to the theme, it was a rare sub-20 ride from the pool to work (it's usually more like 23) with the help of a couple of green lights I don't normally get. Just wish I was running instead; don't feel as if I'm much closer to that.

Didn't think my hip would be ready but I'd entered and didn't feel like I should give it away without at least giving it a go, so I thought I'd give it 15-20 minutes to warm up. Once it was apparent it wasn't going to, I decided it would be better left for another day - the soreness was at a level that I could run on (if a little awkward on the rougher bits), but also at a level which suggested that things weren't right. There are a lot of bigger races ahead in the next couple of months. At least I hit all the controls I went for...

Lockwood Ranges is a new area for competitive orienteering (mostly fast gully-spur, flattish over most of it but steeper towards the south). I'd done a training run on the photogrammetry back in around 1997 (my recollection is that it was in something like 5 min/km - I was a lot faster then) and am surprised that it's taken this long to use it for an event.

Not sure where things go from here, but want to give the hip a chance to settle down properly, which may need a bit more time than I've given it so far.

Thumbs up to Cafe Maldon for the best chocolate milkshake I can remember. Would have tasted even better if I'd earned it.

Hip still not quite right so took to the water instead - hopefully will be OK for orienteering tomorrow (although I've decided to act my age and drop to course 2). Working pretty well through the water today, particularly in the second half.

The Saturday morning crowd at Northcote is rather different to the early weekday morning crowd, as evidenced by the regular announcements about parents supervising their children in the water (I was outdoors, where most of them weren't). I'm not sure if they usually do these announcements every 15 minutes or if it was their way of saying that they'd spotted a child in the water whom they considered to be inadequately supervised.

And (at least according to his badge) the person who served me on the front desk's first name was Warne. He was the right age (late teens/early 20s) to have been named after Warney, too (but I still find it hard to believe that anyone actually does this).

Hip still a bit suspect this morning so thought it best to give it another day to settle down. Will have a go at running on it tomorrow. Today's only exercise was the bike commute - not that there was ever a long stretch of continuous riding because I seemed to find just about every red light in existence between the city and Fairfield.

After being fairly settled for a while the hip decided to flare up this morning - the last couple of days it's felt like a bit of a niggle early on but warmed up, but this morning it didn't warm up, and on hitting the first hill (of sorts) 15 minutes or so in, it was obviously interfering with my running - not something you want for a long run (my plan was 1.45). Hence to plan B....

After the false start on the road I took to the water instead - it was a cold morning (and a cold day) and getting into the pool felt like a warm bath, at least at first. Hip was also a little sore early on but was OK after a few minutes in the water. Not many people around today.

One of the features of the new changeroom is a machine which looks and sounds like a garbage compactor but is actually for extracting moisture from swimsuits. I haven't used it yet. Unfortunately, these features seem to come at the expense of probably more important features, like reliable hot water in the showers (apparently this is going to be fixed, eventually).

Don't think I can blame any injury issues today on banging heads against brick walls. Today we scored one full page and parts of two others (including the front).

All Nations intervals. Still not a lot of pace or power, but definitely felt better than I have the last couple of times I've done this. The fog must have kept everyone in bed - it was definitely quieter than usual, both in the park itself and on the roads to get there.

Warm-up and down. Some early hip niggles but felt better in the first couple of kilometres than I usually do these days, a prelude to a decent session.

Things didn't blow up quite as badly during the day as I thought they might (although one of my colleagues might well be consulting his lawyers over what was said about him in one interview). Perhaps the highlight was the fair and balanced session on 2GB featuring Steve Price, Andrew Bolt and Malcolm Roberts.

A rather sluggish run, but no issues on the injury front. A chilly, clear morning (we've had a lot of sunshine this winter), and stayed out of the frost pockets in the Merri Creek valley for the most part. Got better as it went on.

I got back to discover a number of missed calls. This may not have been a bad thing as one of them was from 3AW, and had I picked it up I wouldn't have known that the Australian had done a front-page number on us (again) and might well have been ambushed on the subject. (It was a busy enough media day for us as it was, being the end of a month that broke a lot of records, more so in northern than southern Australia). It doesn't directly involve my own work in the way that it did last time but the fallout may still well engulf us. Could be a challenging couple of weeks.