Training Log Archive: blairtrewin

Expected this one to be a bit seedy after a late night last night, but it turned out to be a much better run than I thought it would be, albeit somewhat more interrupted than my long runs usually are - I almost recorded this as two separate runs (didn't stiffen up too much in the breaks). Faded away a little in the last 15 minutes.

As mentioned earlier I'm up in Canberra for a 20-year school reunion, and much of this run brought together 50% of the group who came 1-2-3-4 in the 1988 ACT Schools Championships - Luke Grattan (a name many Canberra people, and others with an interest in triathlons, will recognise) was the 1, I was the 3. (Both of us managed what I suspect is the rare distinction of placing better in a state championship than we did in our own school's race). I started this run by running across to Luke's place in Kaleen, then did an out-and-back through Bruce Ridge, the lower parts of Black Mountain and the bottom of Aranda Hill. Stellar morning. Luke claimed to be feeling ordinary but didn't seem to be showing much evidence of it (except that both of us had to make unscheduled pitstops en route). Met Ecmo on Black Mountain and he joined us for a bit too.

I'd forgotten just how many decent long-distance runners our year produced - we probably had a dozen who by Year 12 were capable of doing something in the 35-38 range for 10k. Perhaps the only surprise (as this group had a reasonable amount of brain power between them too) is that we only produced one orienteer. Another oddity is that someone who I don't recall as being much of an endurance athlete at school has become a hard-core adventure racer (Anthony Michell, whose team were 8th in the recent mountains-to-ocean race in Victoria).

It will have been an expensive night for the ACT Rugby Union Club (to which we adjourned after the dinner was over). There was free beer between kick-off at 1.00 a.m. and the first Brumbies points, but the Brumbies failed to trouble the scorers until the second half.

A terrific weekend which was well worth coming up for (I think I've exhausted the weekend's social calendar now). This time next week I'll be enjoying the Belgian sunshine.

ACT Cross-Country at North Lyneham, a nicely undulating course with one slightly sharper pitch towards the end of each lap. Got dropped a bit at the start but settled quite well, if lacking a bit of zip. Thought I was holding it together reasonably well, but the stopwatch doesn't lie - 26 seconds slower for the second lap than the first. (Obviously others struggled more because I gained more places than I lost on the second lap). Had a good tussle most of the way with Jackie Fairweather, who had the same excuse for current slowness as me (in fact more of an excuse because she went on to do the 50k that day, running a world age-group record in the process), but she was a little too strong for me in the last 800 metres.

Distance was billed as 6.2 but someone's GPS said 6.36, which seems more consistent with the times most people were doing. Shannon was happy because that got her under 4 mins/km.

Still feeling a bit congested, which is a concern almost two weeks after initial illness.

Regular Friday session at Richmond. Slow early on but picked up quite a bit in the second half. Actually running a little early for once.

Back up in Canberra this weekend (fifth time in eight weekends, plus one in Dubbo) - this time for a school reunion. No orienteering events of any significance on but plan to do the cross-country at North Lyneham tomorrow.

Probably the first run since the marathon which hasn't been a chore, and downright enjoyable in the second half as it started to flow nicely. Started from Clifton Hill, initially south (past the clock that wasn't reading 11 degrees) and east as far as Tooronga and the Battlestar Galactica, before returning north through Hawthorn, Kew and the Yarra Bend parklands. Even starting to feel OK on the hills later on. The only sour note was the driver who gave me a four-letter spray for having the temerity to cross the road with a green light when he wanted to turn into it.

I've got a school reunion coming up this weekend and was reminded of some of what used to go on there when going past Trinity Grammar and seeing someone getting a dressing-down for a uniform violation of some kind.

News on the sheds next to our offices that I've mentioned a couple of times in these pages (the ones that were supposed to be ready for occupation by the end of last year) is that the State Government's announced a redevelopment scheme for them which is now due for completion by the end of the next year. Although the news report didn't say so, I assume the fact that the State Government's taken it over means that the previous developer has gone belly-up. Unusually for a failed central Melbourne building development, the Government of Nauru does not appear to have any involvement. (More recently the Nauruans have turned to alternative money-making schemes, like laundering money for the Russian mafia and laundering asylum-seekers for us). A marquee was erected for the announcement, either because the building itself is too dangerous in its current state or because its entrances are too low for Justin Madden, the responsible minister, to walk through.

A nice morning but still rather lacking in energy, especially on the hills (such as they were). Found a few pockets of Ivanhoe and Eaglemont I haven't previously been into, which isn't bad going considering I've been living in the area for close to a decade.

Also managed to miss the taxi drivers' topless protest on the way in to work. One imagines there are other professions who might generate a bit more public reaction with a similar form of industrial action.

Lunchtime around Fishermans Bend, industrial but reasonably traffic-free. Again felt less than sparkling - this cold is lingering for a long time although the symptoms are gradually becoming less noticeable.

The Sea Shepherd crew are back - the Steve Irwin is currently moored at the Melbourne docks. It looks a good deal more seaworthy than the Panama-registered rustbucket at the next berth.

A bit of a token effort but my first attempt at speedwork since the marathon. Still in very gradual recovery mode from the cold. Unsurprisingly sluggish in the early stages, feeling a bit better in the second half. Fastest loop 9.34.

Got to see the debris of a night in the big city on the way into work - rode past the scene of the stabbing in Clifton Hill overnight (lots of police tape and TV cameras, no visible body). Went uncomfortably close to becoming part of the debris of a morning in the big city when someone decided it would be a good idea to try to turn left out of the right lane in heavy traffic, leading to much horn-blowing and a certain number of largely inaudible obscenities from most parties concerned.

Best swim I've had for a while despite still feeling a bit clogged-up. A classic cold-outbreak morning which makes for an interesting time getting in and out of the water, but nice once in.

Oddest sight on the road yesterday - a 4WD with the number place 'MUDTAX'. Maybe the owners think there is a tax on mud because the 4WD looked like it had never been contaminated by any contact with the substance concerned.

From work at lunchtime around the Tan. A fair to middling run, still didn't feel brilliant, but not particularly weak uphill. A nice lunchtime for running, but the Tan is even worse than it was last week - the builders have taken over all but about a quarter of the width (as well as using the track for freelance rock and sand dumping). Wednesday could be chaotic.