Training Log Archive: blairtrewin

Second of three planned summer epics, based from the Fairfield bridge. Started out with an hour on my own up the river to Eaglemont and back, then joined Bruce on his comeback long(ish) run, and Liggo as well. Bruce was originally only planning an hour but took it out beyond 80, and after going back with Liggo a short loop around Willsmere took me out beyond my planned 2.45.

I was quite pleased with this run, especially the endurance side, only feeling the slightest bit of tiredness in the last 15 minutes - if things go as well in two weeks' time I shouldn't have too much difficulty going to 3 hours or beyond (but the conditions on 1 February probably won't be as kind - you don't often get to do the first hour of January runs in single-digit temperatures). Hip was similar to yesterday, painful for the first two minutes and back to annoying-niggle status after that (perhaps not even that in the final hour), although it again slightly limited my power on the hills (something noticed by my running companions). A little bit of left foot soreness in the last half-hour but I don't think it's anything to worry about. Slowed a bit by some of the rougher tracks in the middle.

I thought I'd overeaten last night (a consequence of a new 'serves 4' recipe which actually means it - normally I count on getting one meal and one lot of leftovers out of these), but it probably didn't do me any harm when it came to getting through today's run.

A lot of the tracks are pretty dusty after four weeks without meaningful rain. There was a noticeable contrast between the above-sock and below-sock parts of my legs after the run. I suspect I'll get plenty more opportunities to experience this in mid-year, especially in the stretches where I'll probably go a few days between washing opportunities (and where swimming is an invitation to become a crocodile's dinner).

C • Training for the Maxi-3hr then? 2

Flowing pretty nicely on this run. Hip sore to start with but quickly reverted to niggling nuisance status (and didn't stiffen up post-run like it did on Thursday), which suggests that it's a similar injury to the September 2007 one and can therefore be largely ignored like the September 2007 one was. Flat first half along the river, a hillier second half back through Bulleen. Another nice morning for running. I know the media keeps telling us that we're supposed to hate cool summers - and it still is one in southern Victoria, although not further north - but I'm enjoying this one (at least while it lasts).

I occasionally remark on incompetent drivers seen whilst bicycle commuting so in the interests of balance I'll note someone I saw on a bike while I was on my way home from the cricket last night, riding (wobbily) down a back street of Fitzroy without lights and talking on a mobile phone. I'm guessing that intoxicating liquor may have been involved.

Back to Fitzroy for the first time in a while. A consistent swim - consistently slow. A bit earlier than usual which means at a pool that it's more crowded - not quite sure what it is about the swimming culture that makes them particular early birds (perhaps people get into the habit of having to get it in before school and it sticks with them for life?).

Hip still a bit sore walking but fine in the water.

After being away for a bit (even if it's only a couple of weeks) you notice things that have changed - like that it's now more or less dark at 6 a.m. (particularly noticeable because of the long days in NZ). A couple of buildings en route to work have edged closer to completion, and one has disappeared.

There are some linguistic differences between Australia and New Zealand - think jandals, chilly bins and judder bars. One field that seems to be particularly prone to local terminology seems to be that of drugs - can someone (perhaps our resident cop) confirm (or otherwise) that the stuff the New Zealanders refer to as P is what Australians call 'ice'? (Whatever P is, it's probably not going to be in short supply because it was reported that a tonne of the chemicals used to make it was stolen from a business premises on the North Island earlier in the week).

Back home and back into serious training with my first proper long run of 2009, on a pleasantly cool (and occasionally drizzly) morning. Took advantage of post-NZ "jetlag" - this makes a 5.15 wake-up a lot easier to take (I was actually awake from 4.30 or thereabouts).

This felt like a solid effort with plenty in reserve - certainly more pleasant than Thursday mornings often are (although the lack of a Wednesday night race had something to do with that). Certainly felt like I could have gone another 30 minutes, which is good because I intend to do so on Sunday. The one concern is that my right hip flared up - was quite sore at the start, warmed up but was noticeable through the run (and more so afterwards). Perhaps it's gone out in sympathy with Bryan's; it's also an interesting coincidence that two of the three times I've had this problem it has first appeared on the first run after an international flight. Will keep watching but a rest day tomorrow will do it good.

Definitely enjoyed the NZ trip, both orienteering and non-orienteering (and was pleased to make it to the glaciers after an unsuccessful 1994 attempt, when I managed to pick the day when the all-time daily rainfall record for NZ was set to try to make a visit but couldn't get within 100km of the place).

A longer run in Christchurch as I prepare to build into a more normal schedule as I return home. For the first time this week one of my travelling companions joined me for some of it - Jim gave me company for the first half-hour loop, partly through the university grounds, partly through suburbs. I then set off on my own to the north, again mostly flat suburbia, nothing too exciting. A steady run, probably a bit better than the last two (but vastly less scenic). Glad I didn't have to handle Melbourne's conditions at the same time.

After failing to see anyone else we knew on Monday, we returned to form on Tuesday when our ice-cream stop at Arthurs Pass was shared by two other sets of familiar faces - Thomas Reynolds and family, and a couple of other members of the Neumann clan. (Given its size, the chances of bumping into members of the Neumann clan in Brisbane are probably pretty good - although my chance encounter on a station platform the last time I was in Brisbane was actually with the Doyle sisters - but being in a foreign country adds a few points to the degree of difficulty).

Couldn't ask for a much more scenic setting for this run - from Franz Jozef village to the glacier and back (with a slight deviation at the end to take the time up to an hour). Got the best of the weather too, with some low cloud at the village but the peaks completely clear - more photogenic than the previous afternoon at Fox when the peaks were in cloud (although the glacier itself was still spectacular).

Got close enough to Fox Glacier yesterday to see where 2009's first Darwin Awards entry took place, but not close enough to be at any risk of getting squashed by the glacier (although the whole side of the mountain looks like it could come down in the next decent earthquake). We saw four substantial debris falls from the glacier face in about 10 minutes of watching.

The run itself was again a little on the weak side, although better in the second half.

Apart from glaciers, mountains and rainforests, the other major sight on the west coast has been the posters plastered on every shop window the length of the coast 'Have you seen Jessica?' (the newspaper revealed that the Jessica concerned is someone with mental health issues last seen driving in the area a week ago, and her enthusiastic brothers had been blanketing the district with posters). There's a good-news ending to this - she was found on Tuesday night.

C • Jessica 2

An easy morning session along the shores of Lake Wanaka. Felt comfortable on the flat but had to work hard on the (few) hills. Definitely a very scenic place for a run despite some annoying cloud fragments clinging to the more spectacular mountains.

We managed to escape other orienteers on today's travels, which wasn't the case yesterday - first we encountered the Cory-Wright family at the obligatory ice-cream stop en route to Wanaka (or en route to the Kepler Track in their case), then Laurina saw Scott McDonald's mum in the Wanaka supermarket.

C • Cloud Fragments 2