Training Log Archive: blairtrewin

Just in case I hadn't had enough of being out in the rain in NSW yesterday, I spent another (short) spell out in the rain in Victoria this morning. (I'd probably have preferred a form of exercise which involved getting wetter still, but a puncture on my heel took a long time to stop bleeding yesterday - had yesterday's weather not been about as reptile-unfriendly as it gets, I might have suspected a snake and not some prickly vegetation, but I think it was just in an awkward spot - and I didn't think it was stable enough to put uncovered into the water yet).

As expected, this was a slow session, but after feeling pretty ordinary at the start, the second half was OK.

Rogaining brings a different crowd out to orienteering (probably only 20-30 of yesterday's field were people I recognised as orienteering regulars). This does mean the chance of encounters with people not normally encountered; among the other competitors were someone from my year at school, and the older brother of someone else from my year at school; I'd seen neither since Year 12. (The latter ran with his son, whom I'd guess to be about 12; they were only a couple of places behind us, which suggests the youngster may have some common genes with his uncle, who won our age group in the school cross-country a couple of times).

C • Puncture wound 3

Event: Paddy Pallin 6 hour Rogaine
 

Paddy Pallin rogaine with Jenny, at Catherine Hill Bay at the north end of the Central Coast on a rather miserable day - rained almost throughout and quite heavy in the second half, turning more than a few sections of tracks into lakes. Bit of a mix of terrain - very thick coastal heath and banksia where tracks were the only realistic option, coastal headlands and rock platforms, some reasonably open forest in the southern part, and bushfire regrowth closer to the start.

This ended up being somewhat below par - certainly well below the level of our performance in the Otways last year. Jenny had a bad patch around 1.30-2.00, to the extent where I was getting quite worried about her, especially as she'd made several uncharacteristic navigation errors in a short time. Turned out some food was enough to make the difference, but we still weren't doing much running except on level and downhill tracks, and didn't really come good until the last 40 minutes. (My hamstring was giving enough not-quite-right hints that I wasn't that upset - I'm not convinced it would have got through pushing things hard for six hours). One navigational issue of consequence, at 72 (perhaps 5 minutes or so). Ended up 3rd in mixed veterans (and 23rd overall), which was about what we deserved.

Seemed to pull up more or less OK, although tomorrow will be more of a test. Lots of wet gear to put through the wash when I get home.

C • Just held off... 1

Sydney sandstone offers a bit more potential for running adventure than Melbourne does. Went with Jenny on a loop on both sides of the river from Tracy's, with the rain adding a few points to the degree of difficulty. Not especially pushed as a run, but glad that the hamstring held up OK - didn't feel quite right on the flatter sections but not something to get in the way.

Then it was off for a day talking about orienteering on a day which was better for talking about orienteering than actually doing it.

Not taking any chances with the hamstring so went for a swim at Northcote. Bit of a nothing session. Hamstring itself felt a bit awkward during the swim (and otherwise during the morning) but somewhat better as the day went on - hopefully it will be OK for Sunday (as long as it isn't water-soluble).

South Wharf intervals, having gone into work early to make sure I didn't get caught out by any train delays (with a fixed commitment at 9). Rather sharp northerly crosswind during those few weeks a year when northerlies are cold. Pretty slow through the early reps but put in a few faster ones at the end.

Bad news: left hamstring twinge appeared on the last rep. It's still a bit tight tonight (although not as bad as the equivalent one before the SA weekend), so I'll be careful with it between now and the Paddy Pallin on Sunday.

Warm-up and down. The former was definitely needed (Achilles mostly), although I definitely didn't feel as weak as I have on earlier days this week.

Had something more or less long in mind this morning, but felt somewhat out of sorts and back wasn't great so took to the pool instead. Ended up a reasonably routine session but without a lot of energy. (Felt a bit livelier in the evening).

I came across the full list of Victorian Senate candidates today. This also lists their stated occupations, some of which made for quite a good match - you probably wouldn't be too surprised that the lead candidate of the Mature Australia Party is retired, or that one of the candidates for the Arts Party is an actor ("general store owner" also seems a good fit for the Australian Country Party). The only candidate describing themselves as "home duties" is running for the Australian Christians, and carrying on the fine tradition of Ben Chifley, someone who calls themselves a "locomotive driver" is bearing the standard for the Socialist Equality Party. (In fact, by the time he started to get seriously involved in politics, Ben Chifley would probably have been more accurately described as a union official than as a locomotive driver, but we won't spoil the story too much).

A pretty flat effort - didn't really get going and feeling rather weak at times (perhaps a continuation of how I was going yesterday). Pushing on at the moment - it's going to be a bit of a rearranged week because work commitments mean a long one on Thursday isn't really feasible.

C • You don't want a long one on Thursday 1