Training Log Archive: blairtrewinIn the 31 days ending Jan 31, 2021:
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Sunday Jan 31, 2021 #
10 AM
Run race ((orienteering)) 18:51 [3] ** 3.1 km (6:05 / km) +30m 5:48 / km
spiked:20/20c
First event of the new sprint series, at Carlton Gardens. This was pretty straightforward technically with only a couple of moderately challenging route choices, but it was great just to get out and remind myself again of what a control flag looks like. By the last few controls I'd even started to remember to look at the control descriptions.
Felt a bit flat on the running side, perhaps not surprising coming off yesterday, but again no injury issues, and I'm happy with the way this week has gone - I've actually done all the runs I'd planned to do and the amount was the most since the winter. Hopefully I can build on this. (I'll certainly want to build on my speed; it was a runners' course so I expected to be blown away at the front end and was, but finished behind some people I would not have expected to finish behind - the time was probably at least 2 minutes worse than par for the standard I'd expect to be at).
Felt a bit flat on the running side, perhaps not surprising coming off yesterday, but again no injury issues, and I'm happy with the way this week has gone - I've actually done all the runs I'd planned to do and the amount was the most since the winter. Hopefully I can build on this. (I'll certainly want to build on my speed; it was a runners' course so I expected to be blown away at the front end and was, but finished behind some people I would not have expected to finish behind - the time was probably at least 2 minutes worse than par for the standard I'd expect to be at).
Saturday Jan 30, 2021 #
9 AM
Run 1:00:00 [3] 10.1 km (5:56 / km)
Past an hour (just) for the first time since July. Wasn't really hurting but felt a bit flat for a lot of it, and was just about at the point of thinking that 50 minutes was going to be enough but decided to press on to the hour, not entirely convincingly. A bit of unplanned stuff early on because the signs said the Merri Creek path at the bottom of Westgarth was flooded (looking from the other end it turned out the water had just dropped below the footbridge, but there was still a lot of debris on it), then round a block of Northcote west of the railway line (marking the outer boundaries to a block I plan to explore in more detail in due course).
Friday Jan 29, 2021 #
6 PM
Pool running 45:00 [3] 0.7 km (1:04:17 / km)
Switched from the start of the day to the end when it became apparent that I wasn't up early enough to beat the rainband (obviously in the water you're wet but keeping gear dry is a challenge when it's pouring). Nothing like 40-odd millimetres of rain to clear a pool; it had just about gone by the time I did this but the place was certainly in no danger whatsoever of exceeding its capacity. Ended as a good solid session after all that.
The sign out the front said that it was 28 minutes to Flemington Road. Normality is returning. (Actually, 28 minutes is pretty ordinary even for a normal peak hour).
The sign out the front said that it was 28 minutes to Flemington Road. Normality is returning. (Actually, 28 minutes is pretty ordinary even for a normal peak hour).
Thursday Jan 28, 2021 #
7 PM
Run ((street-O)) 34:00 [3] * 5.1 km (6:40 / km) +150m 5:49 / km
spiked:11/11c
Street-O at Greenhills (northeast bit of Greensborough), a part of town I was an occasional visitor to in 2014 when my mission of the time was visiting all of the streets of the City of Banyule in alphabetical order - it had a disproportionate number of As. (I only got to the tail end of the As before leaving the area).
This one was another sign of modest progress - this time I was running the small hills and only walking the big ones, of which there were a few (although not as many as on some other route choices). Was pretty happy with the route, and while I'd certainly like to be running better, was satisfied to be going in the right direction (figuratively speaking). Managed to string together three days for the first time in a while, too.
I spent some of the day drafting the ACT climate summary for January; I think it would be fair to say that it is less exciting than last year's. Another part of the day was spent doing what I think should be the final run of the observed global temperature change numbers for most of the data sets to be used in the IPCC report, with some multitasking points because that job was finished off in the middle of a group admin meeting (there are some advantages to online meetings).
This one was another sign of modest progress - this time I was running the small hills and only walking the big ones, of which there were a few (although not as many as on some other route choices). Was pretty happy with the route, and while I'd certainly like to be running better, was satisfied to be going in the right direction (figuratively speaking). Managed to string together three days for the first time in a while, too.
I spent some of the day drafting the ACT climate summary for January; I think it would be fair to say that it is less exciting than last year's. Another part of the day was spent doing what I think should be the final run of the observed global temperature change numbers for most of the data sets to be used in the IPCC report, with some multitasking points because that job was finished off in the middle of a group admin meeting (there are some advantages to online meetings).
Wednesday Jan 27, 2021 #
8 AM
Run intervals 12:00 [4] 2.0 km (6:00 / km)
Return to All Nations intervals. No injury issues (after a traffic stop on the way settled an initially troublesome back), and managed to get through the "fast" part of the session OK - didn't feel as lactic at the end as I sometimes did in the equivalent session in winter. Definitely tired afterwards though.
The park was very quiet, but the dog on-leash percentage was no better than it was when a larger sample was being drawn upon.
The park was very quiet, but the dog on-leash percentage was no better than it was when a larger sample was being drawn upon.
Run warm up/down 27:00 [2] 4.0 km (6:45 / km)
Warm-up and down. Numerous traffic stops but it was the sort of day where I was grateful for this (on the way there because a break a few minutes in seems to help in settling my back, on the way back because I was definitely feeling my first fast session for a long time).
Tuesday Jan 26, 2021 #
9 AM
Run 52:00 [3] 8.5 km (6:07 / km)
Down on the Peninsula for the day (and night) and took to one of my favourite routes there, the back beach track southeast as far as Number Sixteen beach , before coming back through the streets. This was another increment of progress, my longest run so far this year, and I didn't fade away to the extent of the last couple of runs (which I'd like to think is improving fitness but probably also owed something to friendlier conditions). A bit of very mild hamstring discomfort at times in the second half but nothing of any great concern, pleasing given the number of small ups and downs in dune country. Decided to finish off by going past the house to the end of Ritchie Avenue (a dead end) to "collect" the street and found that final 90 seconds uphill hard going, so maybe this is pushing my limit at the moment, although I'm still pretty encouraged about my prospects of doing something beyond an hour in flatter terrain this weekend.
It rained a fair bit overnight but had all but cleared by 8am. I suspect a lot of people saw the forecast and assumed it would rain all day (and went home), because things were a lot quieter than I would have expected on a public holiday.
The early part of the run took me past the remnants of a New Year's Day fire, then to two features in the Number Sixteen car park: a sign saying "Please Take Your Rubbish Home", and two people in fluoro tops with garbage bags collecting the evidence that some visitors didn't read the sign.
It rained a fair bit overnight but had all but cleared by 8am. I suspect a lot of people saw the forecast and assumed it would rain all day (and went home), because things were a lot quieter than I would have expected on a public holiday.
The early part of the run took me past the remnants of a New Year's Day fire, then to two features in the Number Sixteen car park: a sign saying "Please Take Your Rubbish Home", and two people in fluoro tops with garbage bags collecting the evidence that some visitors didn't read the sign.
Monday Jan 25, 2021 #
7 AM
Pilates 40:00 [3]
Back to Monday mornings, after a hot night (although it fell just below the 25-degree threshold which I classify as a Really Hot Night in Melbourne), and with a new instructor - the old one (who was also my physio/masseur) has moved to the Here Be Dragons side of Bell Street. Seemed to go reasonably well as a session.
8 AM
Swimming 39:00 [2] 1.0 km (39:00 / km)
Moved on to the pool, not as crowded as it probably was later in the day, but still a bit busier than usual. This session seemed to drag on for a long time and the time taken suggests that it did; seemed to be drifting a bit.
Sunday Jan 24, 2021 #
8 AM
Run 45:00 [3] 8.0 km (5:38 / km)
Not quite what I'd hoped for - I'd started with thoughts of an hour if things went well, but settled for adding a small increment to my longest post-injury distance rather than a long one - but still more positives than negatives, starting with a near trouble-free climb up the Waterdale Road hill. The main limiting factor here was fitness on a fairly humid morning (although I got out early enough to miss the serious heat), but even there, I started to fade significantly at 35 minutes rather than 25 minutes as I did yesterday (and of course it was a second day back to back, something I haven't previously done in this sequence, at least of this length). No injury issues apart from a bit of back stiffness early, and will take this as a reasonable indicator of continued progress.
Saturday Jan 23, 2021 #
9 AM
Run 40:00 [3] 7.0 km (5:43 / km)
Coming off another three-meeting night (the first two IPCC, the last IOF), but at least the gap between them was six hours rather than four. Headed out a bit later than planned as the IOF part of it went longer than planned (mostly because of an extended discussion around WMOC 2024 bids), which meant it was a little warmer than I'd planned on, although not that warm.
The principal mission today was that I'd reached the point of being sufficiently confident of my capacity to run (modest) hills to complete the last remaining bit of the mission of filling the 2km circle, picking up the last handful of short streets in Fairy Hills that I hadn't got to when pulling up short on the last attempt a month ago. Was struggling with the back early on but a brief break at around 10 minutes settled that down; the main issue there was simply one of being tired, and the final 15 minutes were definitely a struggle from that perspective. Managed to push it out to the 40-minute mark though (with hopes for more tomorrow), and hamstring continues to be handling it well.
Tentative thoughts for the next extension on this concept are to complete the rest of the map on the wall of the Three Locals (a local cafe which has a map of the area as its wallpaper) - the 2km radius goes beyond this map on the east side but not the west, which goes out to about St. Georges Road (and takes in a bit more of Clifton Hill than I've previously done, too).
Unsurprisingly, my lack of sleep caught up with me somewhat in the afternoon.
The principal mission today was that I'd reached the point of being sufficiently confident of my capacity to run (modest) hills to complete the last remaining bit of the mission of filling the 2km circle, picking up the last handful of short streets in Fairy Hills that I hadn't got to when pulling up short on the last attempt a month ago. Was struggling with the back early on but a brief break at around 10 minutes settled that down; the main issue there was simply one of being tired, and the final 15 minutes were definitely a struggle from that perspective. Managed to push it out to the 40-minute mark though (with hopes for more tomorrow), and hamstring continues to be handling it well.
Tentative thoughts for the next extension on this concept are to complete the rest of the map on the wall of the Three Locals (a local cafe which has a map of the area as its wallpaper) - the 2km radius goes beyond this map on the east side but not the west, which goes out to about St. Georges Road (and takes in a bit more of Clifton Hill than I've previously done, too).
Unsurprisingly, my lack of sleep caught up with me somewhat in the afternoon.
Friday Jan 22, 2021 #
8 AM
Pool running 45:00 [3] 0.7 km (1:04:17 / km)
Back in the land of the aqua (sic) profonda, where the only road crossing to worry about is getting across Alexandra Parade to the pool entrance (this can take a while). Felt pretty good this morning despite feeling not good last night; a decent night's sleep can do that. Fitzroy (unlike Northcote) doesn't require bookings these days but still didn't feel too crowded (might be a different story on Monday).
Thursday Jan 21, 2021 #
7 PM
Run ((street-O)) 43:30 [3] * 5.7 km (7:38 / km) +120m 6:54 / km
spiked:10/11c
Street-O at Eltham Lower. This was the first proper hot-weather run for me of the season (32 at start time) and the question was how I would cope with it. The answer was "barely"; walked pretty well all the hills, and a couple of non-hills too. The orienteering part was a bit shambolic at times too; even at 7pm, Main Road is not easy to cross, so a route which involved doing so four times wasn't a good option, and I had trouble pinpointing #19 (although the map wasn't helpful here). The two "highlights" of the night came at the end, though; first attempting to negotiate the Fitzsimons Lane roundabout (the subject of numerous protest signs relating to its impending upgrading and the trees to be sacrificed to make that happen) at the same time as an extremely noisy posse of motorbikes which must have been close to 100 in number, then seeing that the mapped track downhill from the second-last didn't really exist and trying to go cross-country, which led me first into an area of medium green and then into grass-seed country (definitely haven't missed those).
At least the hamstring didn't hurt.
At least the hamstring didn't hurt.
Wednesday Jan 20, 2021 #
7 AM
Pilates 40:00 [3]
Early-morning session, shifted to Wednesday this week given that I was away on Monday (and, unusually for this type of exercise, with the blokes in a majority). Generally went OK.
8 AM
Swimming 38:00 [2] 1.0 km (38:00 / km)
The other part of the usual Monday routine transferred to Wednesday, and again went more or less as per normal. I do this towards the back end of the timeslot (which Northcote still has, although I see that Fitzroy doesn't), so the numbers definitely thin out considerably later.
Tuesday Jan 19, 2021 #
8 AM
Run 31:00 [3] 5.2 km (5:58 / km)
Was originally thinking of something hilly this morning but was feeling a bit out of sorts when I got up (just slept badly, I think), and upon starting fairly quickly decided today was minimum-viable-session territory. This just about worked out, improving somewhat in the later stages (and no sign of hamstring trouble, though back was a bit tight), so not too upset to salvage something from an unpromising start. Must have done me some good, too, as I then felt fine through the rest of the day.
Showing that the equivalent of road rage is nothing new, according to the book I was reading over the weekend, it was standard procedure for boatmen on French rivers in the mid-19th century to shout abuse at any boat they passed relating to "the derisory speed of the vessel, the ugliness of the crew and the profession of the captain's female relatives". (The last of these, I gather, is a fairly standard insult in a number of languages in that part of the world and has been responsible for more than its share of red cards when said to football referees).
Showing that the equivalent of road rage is nothing new, according to the book I was reading over the weekend, it was standard procedure for boatmen on French rivers in the mid-19th century to shout abuse at any boat they passed relating to "the derisory speed of the vessel, the ugliness of the crew and the profession of the captain's female relatives". (The last of these, I gather, is a fairly standard insult in a number of languages in that part of the world and has been responsible for more than its share of red cards when said to football referees).
Monday Jan 18, 2021 #
9 AM
Cycling 1:17:00 [3] 20.0 km (3:51 / km)
Went for a ride, initially to the end of the bitumen and back, with one of the aforementioned colleagues. I tend to think of the Mount Buffalo plateau is being reasonably flat once you're on top but it's anything but: the climb from Lake Catani to Cathedral Saddle is 3.5km at 7%, which pales into insignificance compared to some of the other climbs in this area but still more ambitious than I've done for a while (my quads were certainly feeling it a bit by the end). Felt like I was working pretty hard on this. The last bit was very slow on a gravel track (I'm on a road bike). A nice morning out.
Headed home this afternoon, via one of the local swimming holes in the Buckland River. This was predictably busy (I suspect it would have been a lot busier on the weekend), and, with a couple of cliffs overlooking a deep pool, inevitably had some people jumping off said cliffs into the water - mostly teenagers seeking to impress their friends, plus one teenagers' mum seeking to impress her kids (the audience reaction suggested mission accomplished here).
Headed home this afternoon, via one of the local swimming holes in the Buckland River. This was predictably busy (I suspect it would have been a lot busier on the weekend), and, with a couple of cliffs overlooking a deep pool, inevitably had some people jumping off said cliffs into the water - mostly teenagers seeking to impress their friends, plus one teenagers' mum seeking to impress her kids (the audience reaction suggested mission accomplished here).
Sunday Jan 17, 2021 #
9 AM
Run 40:00 [3] 6.5 km (6:09 / km)
Another small step forward, taking on a hillier course than the last two, but lasting for a bit longer than the last two runs; only a bit of mild hamstring discomfort in the last few minutes. Headed out from the Lake Catani campground to the chalet and back, then around the lake (some lovely singletrack across a granite slope on this bit); was wondering how my body would respond to a long gradual descent but it seemed to work out OK.
A fairly relaxed remainder of the day, apart from a walk (in amongst more big granite boulders) in the afternoon. A few work colleagues are here (I was gatecrashing on their campsite booking) so some good company too.
A fairly relaxed remainder of the day, apart from a walk (in amongst more big granite boulders) in the afternoon. A few work colleagues are here (I was gatecrashing on their campsite booking) so some good company too.
Saturday Jan 16, 2021 #
8 AM
Cycling 1:01:00 [3] 22.0 km (2:46 / km)
Original plan was to head out after my 5-6am conference session (I was presenting at this one), but I was still feeling tired and went back to sleep for a bit, so this was a bit later than I'd planned on. The ride, on the La Trobe loop, was also fairly sluggish and not especially awake.
Headed up to Mount Buffalo during the day. In some ways I was a bit too late for the real meteorological excitement (it snowed on the higher parts of the plateau on Friday night) but it was still pretty cold.
Headed up to Mount Buffalo during the day. In some ways I was a bit too late for the real meteorological excitement (it snowed on the higher parts of the plateau on Friday night) but it was still pretty cold.
Friday Jan 15, 2021 #
7 AM
Run 37:00 [3] 6.1 km (6:04 / km)
Stretching things out a bit further on the flat loop around Thornbury High. Felt like there was a bit more progress; there was a bit of hamstring discomfort again later on, but the onset was later than Wednesday and it was less significant, both during and post-run, than Wednesday. Another incremental step of progress. Not as sleepy as I thought I might have been, either.
One part of the roadside next to the school was marked "Kiss And Go Zone". I appreciate the sentiment but suspect most of the students are past the stage of being kissed by parents at drop-offs (at least anywhere where there's any possibility their friends might see them).
One part of the roadside next to the school was marked "Kiss And Go Zone". I appreciate the sentiment but suspect most of the students are past the stage of being kissed by parents at drop-offs (at least anywhere where there's any possibility their friends might see them).
Thursday Jan 14, 2021 #
6 PM
Pool running 45:00 [3] 0.7 km (1:04:17 / km)
Even by my usual nocturnal-meetings standards the last couple of days have been epic: with meetings scheduled at 7.30pm, 11pm-1am and 5-6am, yesterday and today the longest break I've had is four hours. (At least I managed to sleep reasonably in between those engagements).
I thought this might have been a bit of a disaster area, but it turned out to be not too bad. For the first time this summer there were actually people at the pool other than lap swimmers/exercisers, but it still wasn't exactly at normal summer levels of custom (perhaps because it was a cooler-than-normal summer day). Hamstring seems OK with only the slightest of niggles.
Observation site name of the day: Sweet Home. Somewhat to my disappointment, it's in Oregon and not Alabama.
I thought this might have been a bit of a disaster area, but it turned out to be not too bad. For the first time this summer there were actually people at the pool other than lap swimmers/exercisers, but it still wasn't exactly at normal summer levels of custom (perhaps because it was a cooler-than-normal summer day). Hamstring seems OK with only the slightest of niggles.
Observation site name of the day: Sweet Home. Somewhat to my disappointment, it's in Oregon and not Alabama.
Wednesday Jan 13, 2021 #
6 AM
Run 31:00 [3] 5.1 km (6:05 / km)
Testing things out a bit more with a run down into Westgarth (where, judging by the signs, a few locals would like a bit more money spent on the school), and past our local Plague Central. Didn't feel too bad to start with but definitely hurting more beyond 20 minutes; was also quite sore afterwards but had settled down by the evening, so I'll call this a cautious step forward. Once again out earlier than I've been used to of late, partly to avoid the impacts of heat that I'd been hearing about in the 5-6am session (although today was pretty tame compared to some parts of recent summers).
Tuesday Jan 12, 2021 #
6 AM
Cycling 1:00:00 [3] 21.3 km (2:49 / km)
Less hamstring tightness than yesterday but still not quite right, so decided to rest it from running for another day and went out for a ride instead - a very early one as I was coming off a 5-6am conference session (early enough that it was only just light, although drizzle contributed to that). Did the Koonung out and back, the first time I'd done this for a while, knowing that the trails would be relatively unpopulated. Most interesting part about this was that there was a lot of leaf litter on the trail in the more heavily treed areas - possibly a result of yesterday, the first proper hot day for a while? The ride itself was reasonably mundane.
Monday Jan 11, 2021 #
7 AM
Pilates 40:00 [3]
Back to the early Monday morning sessions (in a week when I'll have a lot of early mornings, thanks to a US-based conference). Seemed to go reasonably smoothly, and the company was good.
8 AM
Swimming 39:00 [2] 1.0 km (39:00 / km)
Moved on to the pool (a good place for a hot day). Started out OK but drifted out of it a bit later on. Hamstring pulled up a bit tight after yesterday - certainly wouldn't have considered running on it today - but gradually loosened up through the swim.
Sunday Jan 10, 2021 #
9 AM
Run ((street-O)) 43:00 [3] * 7.0 km (6:09 / km)
spiked:15/15c
Mornington Peninsula series at Tootgarook, a bit east of the last one at Rye (with a decent amount of overlap), and an area where there (mostly) aren't any contours whether the interval is 20 metres or 5. Felt a bit tight before I started and was taking short breaks every 5 minutes or so, so not quite as good as yesterday. Hamstring was starting to fatigue a bit by 30 minutes and I thought it best not to stay out for the full hour, but I think still more positives than negatives from this one. A better course than last time - lots of decisions about when to get controls in the middle, and getting the lot in 60 minutes wouldn't have been the formality it was last time (although I still think I would have managed it had I gone the full distance).
Saturday Jan 9, 2021 #
9 AM
Run 20:00 [3] 3.4 km (5:53 / km)
Felt OK this morning so I thought I'd least try a continuous run, in rarely explored territory - I needed to take something to the tip resource recovery centre so did something around the Edwardes Lake park, partly in the name of collecting a few of the City of Darebin's streets I wouldn't otherwise get to (it's a long time since this was in long run range). Certainly not 100% but went about as well as I could reasonably have expected, and pulled up well afterwards (in fact probably better than before the run), so I'll take this as progress.
Going home via Northland (mostly to get a lid for a pan I got for Christmas) as discovered that they now have a Japanese-style vending machine with cans of hot coffee, among other things. They also have a sign about what to do in the event of a terrorist attack (hasn't anyone told them that terrorism is so 2010s?). A new purchasing opportunity closer to home, which I suspect I'll be making good use of in due course, is a new bulk foods place in the Station Street strip, whose 2020 vacancies are mostly now accounted for or about to be.
Going home via Northland (mostly to get a lid for a pan I got for Christmas) as discovered that they now have a Japanese-style vending machine with cans of hot coffee, among other things. They also have a sign about what to do in the event of a terrorist attack (hasn't anyone told them that terrorism is so 2010s?). A new purchasing opportunity closer to home, which I suspect I'll be making good use of in due course, is a new bulk foods place in the Station Street strip, whose 2020 vacancies are mostly now accounted for or about to be.
C • Tip 4
1 PM
Cycling 40:00 [3] 15.0 km (2:40 / km)
The other part of the day's physical activity was a ride (mostly) during the lunch break of the cricket, on the Heidelberg Road loop as far as Dougharty's Road (home of a bike lane which would be a strong candidate for this, but the traffic lane is wide enough that it doesn't really need it). Not a bad ride, although starting to feel the heat (around 30) at the end, and found out afterwards that whatever the shelf life of a jar of Gatorade powder is, the length of time mine has been around (which I suspect is two years) is beyond it.
One of the new buildings is starting to take shape. Once upon a time the site was a small maternity hospital, and my aunt and uncle were born there (a few days apart), but the new development deals with the other end of life. (Many of us have learned enough about aged care homes in the last year to have a very strong desire to keep ourselves and anyone we know as far away from them as possible).
One of the new buildings is starting to take shape. Once upon a time the site was a small maternity hospital, and my aunt and uncle were born there (a few days apart), but the new development deals with the other end of life. (Many of us have learned enough about aged care homes in the last year to have a very strong desire to keep ourselves and anyone we know as far away from them as possible).
Friday Jan 8, 2021 #
6 PM
Swimming 38:00 [2] 1.0 km (38:00 / km)
Annual climate statement day so a long day (which wasn't made any shorter when you have a meeting which runs until almost 1am, not ideal with the first interview booked for 6.45). Was feeling pretty tired through a lot of the day (wonder why?) but a bit less so by the time I headed to Northcote pool early in the evening. Swim didn't feel too bad, although a bit slower than recently which isn't that surprising. Inside of left leg still a bit tight.
Thursday Jan 7, 2021 #
8 AM
Cycling 44:00 [3] 16.4 km (2:41 / km)
First time out on the Yarra Boulevard for a while. Not terribly awake at the start but a reasonable pace, close to the best times I've been doing for this. Not a lot of traffic around, which isn't hugely surprising for the first week of January.
7 PM
Lame walk-jog to fix lame injury ((street-O)) 37:00 [2] * 5.4 km (6:51 / km)
spiked:13/14c
Went out to Thursday street-O at Eltham (mainly because Dad was up and planned to go), with thoughts of staying on the flatter bits of the map, which I promptly ignored. Still not feeling entirely comfortable with 2 on/1 off, but seemed to handle the hills (both up and down), which I wasn't really expecting given recent experience. Did some unwanted extra distance when I missed a path on the way to 15.
On a day when the news was dominated by people with a loose grasp of reality, it was perhaps fitting that the contours (or lack of them) were similarly detached from the truth. A check against a previous Eltham map revealed that the contour interval over most of the map was actually 20 metres (the legend said it was 5).
On a day when the news was dominated by people with a loose grasp of reality, it was perhaps fitting that the contours (or lack of them) were similarly detached from the truth. A check against a previous Eltham map revealed that the contour interval over most of the map was actually 20 metres (the legend said it was 5).
Wednesday Jan 6, 2021 #
12 PM
Pool running 45:00 [3] 0.7 km (1:04:17 / km)
Had my first (but definitely not last) 3.30am meeting of the year this morning, and unusually was able to get back to sleep properly after it, so slept in and did this at lunchtime (which was always the plan - you can't be spontaneous with swimming pools these days). Reasonable session although inside of the hamstring a bit tighter than it was yesterday.
The bit of the day which didn't go quite to plan was discovering that the very slow puncture on my car had become a bit less slow (last time it took a month to deflate to 1/3 pressure, this time it was a week), which meant an afternoon trip to the local repair place. The day might have gone rather less to plan had I been sitting in the western half of the Southern Stand at the Test rather than the eastern half.
The bit of the day which didn't go quite to plan was discovering that the very slow puncture on my car had become a bit less slow (last time it took a month to deflate to 1/3 pressure, this time it was a week), which meant an afternoon trip to the local repair place. The day might have gone rather less to plan had I been sitting in the western half of the Southern Stand at the Test rather than the eastern half.
Tuesday Jan 5, 2021 #
8 AM
Cycling 43:00 [3] 15.0 km (2:52 / km)
Original thoughts were running in the morning and riding at lunchtime but the rain had stopped by the time I got up, so I thought I might as well get the ride out of the way early (given the choice, I'd rather run in rain and ride in the dry than the reverse). Took my first outing onto the new Heidelberg Road bike lanes before heading up along Merri Creek as far as the Ceres bridge, then made my way back across Thornbury and Northcote on a route which encountered an inordinate number of garbage trucks. Never really got going properly on this ride, which was perhaps a reminder that this route as a training route is best left for weekends.
1 PM
Lame walk-jog to fix lame injury 30:00 [2] 4.5 km (6:40 / km)
2 minutes on/1 off for 30 minutes, heading up into the industrial area of easternmost Thornbury, which isn't very exciting but is at least flat (I don't want to test things on hills yet, and even the very slight downhill coming back was noticeable). Managed the step up from Sunday, but again tight on the inside of the left leg and feel as if I'm still a bit away from a continuous run. Had a physio session tonight and she agreed it's very tight still.
Monday Jan 4, 2021 #
8 AM
Swimming 37:00 [2] 1.0 km (37:00 / km)
Definitely a morning for the committed, with low cloud and drizzle (which continued through most of the day). Continuing to improve slowly in the swimming, presumably through doing a bit more of it. Seem to have pulled up reasonably well after yesterday too.
It would have been a rather wetter session some distance to the southwest: Mount Sabine in the Otways scored 194.4mm, the highest daily fall in Victoria since 2012. The Otways can sometimes get spectacular totals in moist southeasterlies (including a 375 in March 1983, the state record). The Strzeleckis can do well out of southeasterlies too but the trough wasn't quite far enough east for them.
It would have been a rather wetter session some distance to the southwest: Mount Sabine in the Otways scored 194.4mm, the highest daily fall in Victoria since 2012. The Otways can sometimes get spectacular totals in moist southeasterlies (including a 375 in March 1983, the state record). The Strzeleckis can do well out of southeasterlies too but the trough wasn't quite far enough east for them.
6 PM
Pilates 40:00 [2]
The usual 7am slot this morning was cancelled (not sure if this was because of lack of demand or because someone critical to it was stuck in NSW), so went this evening instead (after my first day back at work). Seemed to go OK and only one of the exercises felt a little awkward.
Sunday Jan 3, 2021 #
12 PM
Lame walk-jog to fix lame injury 20:00 [2] 2.7 km (7:24 / km)
1 minute on/1 minute off in an attempt to test out whether I was up to running yet. I can't say this exactly filled me with confidence that I would be up to a continuous run - although strangely the tightness was on the inside of the knee with no hamstring pain - but I did get through it without anything getting worse (and pulled up OK afterwards), so that's a small step forward. Very humid (by Melbourne standards).
5 PM
Cycling 1:01:00 [3] 21.6 km (2:49 / km)
Went back to the Eaglemont circuit, although this time, unlike various occasions in August and September, at the end I was trying to push it past an hour rather than trying to get inside an hour (hopefully we won't be back to those days this time next week). Reasonable ride, although this isn't an especially fast route, and less so today because a southwest change pushed through halfway through the ride, which meant headwinds in the second half without corresponding tailwinds in the first half.
Spotted some signs next to the path on the Kew side calling for community input to the Boroondara Climate Action Plan, which reminded me that I'm going to be spending quite a bit of the next few weeks reading such documents. (Next to a bike path probably isn't a bad place to advertise such things).
This evening took me past the tennis centre for the first time in a while; I'd missed the announcement that what used to be Hisense is now John Cain Arena - there's a certain appropriateness to this because it was his government which was responsible for building it. Victoria seems to be quite good at finding fitting things to name after their deceased Premiers (Henry Bolte got a big bit of infrastructure, Rupert Hamer a concert hall and Joan Kirner a hospital); I wonder if, when the time comes, Jeff's Shed will officially become Jeff's Shed?
Spotted some signs next to the path on the Kew side calling for community input to the Boroondara Climate Action Plan, which reminded me that I'm going to be spending quite a bit of the next few weeks reading such documents. (Next to a bike path probably isn't a bad place to advertise such things).
This evening took me past the tennis centre for the first time in a while; I'd missed the announcement that what used to be Hisense is now John Cain Arena - there's a certain appropriateness to this because it was his government which was responsible for building it. Victoria seems to be quite good at finding fitting things to name after their deceased Premiers (Henry Bolte got a big bit of infrastructure, Rupert Hamer a concert hall and Joan Kirner a hospital); I wonder if, when the time comes, Jeff's Shed will officially become Jeff's Shed?
Saturday Jan 2, 2021 #
9 AM
Pool running 45:00 [3] 0.7 km (1:04:17 / km)
Going round and round in circles is a bit dull, but at least the view's nice. Hamstring seems to be improving again, but was still struggling a bit with walking on soft sand, which I did later on in the day, while in the process of checking out where the fire was yesterday a kilometre or so down the coast from here. (There was a second, smaller fire later in the day at the end of the next street, which I think tells you everything which needs to be said about the likely cause).
Friday Jan 1, 2021 #
9 AM
Cycling 1:05:00 [3] 24.5 km (2:39 / km)
I'm an M50. When did that happen?
Opened my 2021 account with a ride up to Point Nepean (going as far as the quarantine station this time). A decent ride, quite fast at the start but there was a bit of a tailwind (nothing like the 60km/h that South Channel Island was registering at the time, but still a bit). Not too much trouble coming back, either. A bit of hamstring discomfort at the end but less than the last couple of times; will still leave it at least another day before trying another run.
Most of the people out seemed to be in the company of small children (presumably because said small children don't recognise that people like to sleep in on January 1).
Opened my 2021 account with a ride up to Point Nepean (going as far as the quarantine station this time). A decent ride, quite fast at the start but there was a bit of a tailwind (nothing like the 60km/h that South Channel Island was registering at the time, but still a bit). Not too much trouble coming back, either. A bit of hamstring discomfort at the end but less than the last couple of times; will still leave it at least another day before trying another run.
Most of the people out seemed to be in the company of small children (presumably because said small children don't recognise that people like to sleep in on January 1).