Training Log Archive: blairtrewin

Some nice symmetry to this one - spent the first part of the morning watching Catherine Ndebera running for 2.31 and then ran for 2.31 myself (although at a considerably slower pace and in vastly better conditions). Started southwest from my place through Eaglemont and Kew as far as the Gipps Street bridge, then north and east before a final loop up through Macleod. Encountered some Father's Day pedestrian traffic jams around the Collingwood Childrens Farm.

It was a fairly humdrum run for the first half, although not as sleepy or as congested as the last two days, and handling the many rolling hills passably. Somewhat to my surprise it then picked up considerably and the fourth half-hour was excellent. Tired a little at the end but still had a bit left in the last 10 minutes.

It was a very pleasant day for running (or for a lot of other things), but it was difficult not to think about what's going to be left of Mildura if it stays dry for another few weeks...

I don't expect to go this long again in this training cycle.

A pretty nondescript and very early effort around the river at Richmond prior to spending most of the day up at Ararat. Still on the fringes of a cold but don't seem to be getting any sicker (although I could do with some more sleep).

The whole week has been summery but this was ridiculous - 19 degrees at 5.30 a.m. (Wilsons Prom, as only Wilsons Prom can - as those on the 2004 Victorian junior trip may recall - managed to set an August record of 24.4 at 2.15 this morning).

I didn't feel especially awake for most of this run, and feel like I may be in the process of fighting off a cold, but was happy with the way I lasted the distance. Started through Lower Plenty, then crossed the river and up into Ruffeys Creek before coming back. Some reasonable hills, particularly in the Doncaster section.

The change (such as it was) went through in the middle of the run, with about 12 drops of rain and some very strong squalls (fortunately it was a tail wind at that stage, but dodging a few flying branches still kept me on my toes). Worked hard into the wind in the later stages; it wasn't entirely coincidental that 'North Wind' was running through my head. For the vast majority of you that won't have heard of this, it was an 'Australian Christmas carol' which was a product of one of the Anglican Church's periodic attempts to make itself more locally relevant, and was one of the bits of the Christmas carols CD (available in all good record stores*) that our school recorded in Goulburn cathedral in 1988. I have it on good authority that one of the takes was dumped wholly because my voice could be heard too clearly on it, but I do score an appearance on the cover, alongside John Asker and a few others. If I recall correctly feet was a bit too young to be part of this glorious occasion, but I'm prepared to stand corrected if necessary.

(* = 'might possibly be found in the bargain bin at Abels in Manuka if you rummage deep enough').

C • Nice work with the carols Blair 7

Shuffled sessions this week because my usual Friday morning massage was today instead (the masseur will be otherwise engaged tomorrow on the way to the Australian XC championships in Perth - by the way, who was the genius in Athletics Australia who scheduled a national championship against the Worlds?). The start time derived by taking a finish time of 7.30 and subtracting 2.10 from it didn't sound especially appealing - will go long tomorrow instead.

Not the fastest swim I've ever done, although fairly steady. The Richmond pool was a decent venue but the showers were rather lacking in hot water, much to everyone's annoyance.

An e-mail went around at work yesterday advising that this week is Privacy Awareness Week. I wonder if anyone's told Channel 7?

C • scheduling 2

Ran from near work on another morning which belonged in December rather than August, doing the first half along the bay foreshore as far as Luna Park, then much of the rest through Albert Park. Not a sparkling run but better than the last two days. Parts of this run were a regular haunt in my Albert Park days and a few familiar landmarks were still there (like Greasy Joe's cafe - yes it's really called that).

Had a brief political interlude when I encountered the Labor candidate for the Albert Park by-election handing out leaflets whilst I was waiting at traffic lights in St. Kilda. This followed on from killing two birds with one stone last night when I took the opportunity to watch the lunar eclipse whilst walking the streets of Eaglemont stuffing letterboxes in the name of democracy (something that will probably happen on a fairly regular basis over the next week or two).

C • I don't think 'the ALP' and 'd... 8

20 secs on/20 secs off around the Tan. Took a while to get going but a good second half. A bit faster than the last time I did this session.

As you'd expect for a sunny lunchtime the Tan was well-populated. Most unexpected sight was someone wearing a red T-shirt, its back covered with the words to what I presume is the Swiss national anthem in all four official languages. Might be a useful thing to have available at WOC given the number of opportunities WOC normally provides to sing it. I passed him too quickly to ask whether Simone really is a legend in Switzerland or what he thought of Rothlin's run in the World Champs marathon.

Jog to/from the Tan.

Not a great run - never really got going and felt a bit light-headed at times. Fastest loop 9.20. First sighting since May of the even-number garden waterers, on another morning which made me wonder if I'd overslept and woken up in December.

C • A reflection of politcal sensitivities 5

Swim at Fitzroy. Felt a bit less loose than usual, probably something to do with a challenging weekend, but got through OK.

If you want to see what our office looks like, it features on 'City Homicide', starting tonight, purporting to be the 'State Police Centre'. Not sure why they picked us when there's a real live State Police Centre 300 metres down the road, although the latter's status (since the demise of the Gas and Fuel towers) as one of the ugliest buildings in central Melbourne might have something to do with it.

C • Security reasons 1

Ran at lunchtime because I've got a meeting tonight which clashes with the MFR run. The major novelty of this run was its weather - experiencing one of the warmest August days on record (which may well become the warmest on record by the time the day's out). 25 degrees was definitely enough to be noticeable. Not a great run, but good to get out after being stuck in a meeting all morning. A bit faster (or less slow) than usual Monday runs of late.

C • Super fast 2