Training Log Archive: blairtrewin

Doing a long run on Saturday means not being quite sure about what to do on Sunday (whilst knowing that whatever one does on Sunday isn't going to be easy). On the other hand it's unusual not to be having to head out the door early on Sunday morning - spent quite a bit of the morning with the US Open on TV, Jukola on one bit of the computer screen and the Orienteering Australia accounts on another (had to get them done sometime - next job is to attempt the next stage in the saga of trying to get the WOC entry fees to Ukraine).

The run was reasonably nondescript, but there was essentially no muscle stiffness which was a major (and pleasant) surprise the day after a rogaine. Was very impressed in Rosanna Parklands when I encountered a pack of six dogs and not one of them chased me - perhaps we should send some of them to the Ukraine to replace the local ones.

Went out on the Daylesford 6-hour rogaine with Bruce and Liggo, with the plan being to treat it as a long training run with a target of about 3 hours. Not a bad run. Felt good through the middle hour and was holding myself back a bit to stay with the others (but then they were probably pacing themselves better because they were a bit stronger than me on the last climb). Tired at the end but not exceptionally so.

Unsurprisingly, there were places where the similarity between the map and the terrain was limited and some of the control placement was a bit questionable, but none of this caused us any real trouble. We spent much of the course in the eucalypt to the south of the Sailors Creek map. I remembered this as being quite thick and non-technical but it seemed more open (perhaps because of the effect of the drought on the bracken), and had a bit of decent mining in it - possibly worth thinking about for an orienteering map. We traversed a small corner of the pines and wished we hadn't - riddled with blackberries.

We got 1090 out of a possible 1890 points. I think we would have got them all if we'd stayed out for the full 6 hours, but it wouldn't have been a formality, especially if the rest of the pine plantation was anywhere near as thick as the bit we went into.

Dense fog this morning - wasn't too upset to be indoors at Richmond. Fairly routine session. Got out at the end to discover that the medium lane had been redesignated a slow lane which may be someone's way of commenting on my speed (on the other hand it might just have been because the squad had finished and they were opening more lanes to the rest of us).

I'm normally a better morning person than many, but was obviously a bit absent-minded at 5.10 this morning, the sequence of events being:

1. Go to fridge to get muffins out for work morning tea this morning.

2. About 10 minutes later, notice container of last night's leftovers on bench.

3. Conclude that said leftovers had been out all night and throw them out.

4. About 10 minutes later, go to put muffin container in bag.

5. Realise that muffin container is still in fridge and that the container I'd got out the first time was the leftovers one, which had therefore only been on the bench for 10 minutes and not all night.

The absent-mindedness extended to the run a bit too - managed to miss a turn on a route through Balwyn I've done many times (although more often in the reverse direction). The run itself was a steady one without reaching great heights. Definitely the coldest morning of the year, only +3 in the city and probably about -3 on the Yarra flats - plenty of frosted windscreens in evidence.

C • after telling me a year or so ... 6

Thought I might have been in for a hard morning's work when I woke to the sound of heavy rain, but that had gone by the time I actually headed out. A steady run, although body felt tighter than I would have expected - didn't really get in the way of the run though.

A session of 250 on/250 off around the Tan. Never loosened up properly and disappointingly slow - I race the full distance faster than that. Splits: 53, 53, 63 (uphill, and I think long), 52, 54, 49 (downhill), 52, 66 (330m).

One of the more character-building mornings at Fitzroy this year but nice once in. Didn't really get going but easing stiffness was the object of the exercise.

Went out at lunchtime - decided not to go to the Tan because I'm heading there tomorrow, but instead went west along the south side of the Yarra. This features some not-especially-attractive industrial scenery (which is even less attractive than it was the last time I was there), but there aren't many road crossings which is a plus for a central-city run. Would have been nice to get to Westgate Park but it's not quite in range on a run of this length.

After the first 10 minutes it was a very pleasant run, flowing along nicely and no sign of stiffness from the weekend.

Assuming there isn't a sudden jump today's maximum in Melbourne will be 12.7. This makes it the first day in 2007 which has been colder than Christmas Day 2006 (14.5) was.

A reasonable, but not brilliant run, on a very enjoyable course. Went out 4 minutes behind Toph in the chasing start and was never going to pull that in unless he screwed up (which he didn't). A reasonable run technically, some minor wobbles in circles and probably 45 seconds at 13, not seeing a high point which was half-buried in branches. Lacking energy a little but starting to flow well by the end.

I suspect the two finish controls may not have been quite in sync, as I scored what may be a career first - winning a finish chute split.

C • Family Gong 3

C • Finish split 1