Training Log Archive: blairtrewin

Heading down to Lorne for a workshop at the start of the week so decided to take the opportunity to do some more two-wheeled exploration of corners of Victoria I haven't been to before - this time the eastern Bellarine Peninsula, on a loop Ocean Grove-Drysdale-Portarlington-St.Leonards-Point Lonsdale. (I've been to Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff but not really any areas either side).

This was an easier ride than the last long one - not much wind and the only section that was hilly was early on from Drysdale to Portarlington (the hills aren't big but the roads take no account of what topography there is). A fair bit of traffic around at times but most of the busier roads had decent verges (coming towards Point Lonsdale being one exception). At its nicest on the quiet coast road from Portarlington through Indented Head to St. Leonards. Probably as fast as I've been on a long ride but that reflects the conditions and the terrain (or absence thereof). Felt like I was fading a little at the end - as noted before, others do much longer rides than this, but just being out and doing something for 2 1/2 hours (or a close approximation) is what I'm looking for at the moment.

A definite thumbs-down to whoever dumped nails in the bike lane coming back into Ocean Grove. (I saw a shininess in the road ahead and went around it, thinking it was broken glass).

Didn't think 25 minutes of jogging-walking would be quite adequate for a Saturday in the exercise department so went out in the morning on the bike, initially towards my old haunts and then continuing on around the back of La Trobe, before a somewhat convoluted route back in the name of getting up past an hour without too many traffic stops (West Heidelberg is pretty good for this). Got more into it as it went on, and handled the hill which was a regular companion on the way home for 17 years without undue difficulty. The apartment-construction in the area around Darebin station is gathering pace (and La Trobe seems to have sprouted a new building since I was last there, too).

Sprint into Spring at Newport Lakes - thought I might as well go even though I wasn't going to be running properly (2 on/1 off were today's riding instructions), if only to get a look at an area which I haven't been to before - although I was starting to have second thoughts while in one of the numerous traffic jams on the way there.

Quite a good course on an unpromising map, with some big route choices early and then some control-picking on what seemed at first glance to be ordinary parkland - but was more complicated than that - later. Only negative was that it wasn't always obvious from the map where you were and weren't allowed to go. Overshot 7 in a moment of absent-mindedness, and didn't quite nail 23 either. Got more into it on the running side as it went on, and again no hints of calf trouble.

Some of my absent-mindedness was before I started - I left my O-kit bag at home so had to borrow an SI stick (appreciating in the process how much slower the old sticks were).

With 8 minutes of walking in the mix, no doubt my scalp will have been claimed by many for the first time. Looked like there was some worthwhile training happening afterwards but I'd exhausted my assigned running time quota for the day.

First time in the pool since being sick on the weekend. A reasonable session, this time minus the sunglare that's been a bit of an issue the last couple of times I've done it (this being at a time of year when the sun is still something to look forward to otherwise, rather than being something to dread as it may be in a couple of months).

One approaching summer landmark, definitely later than last year - I've turned my sprinkler system back on.

Our immigration minister distinguished himself today by saying that the Fraser government had made a mistake with some of the people they'd let in 40 years ago. As someone pointed out, one shouldn't stop at 40 years - after all, no-one did anything 228 years ago to stop a group from entering the country, even though many of them had criminal records, and they refused to assimilate or learn the local language.

You have to start somewhere and this was it. Returning after a long time out is never easy and this was no exception - even 60 seconds of running felt like an effort. That was all I was doing, because this was a session of alternating 1 minute job/1 minute walk, around Princes Park. Felt a bit better later on, but the most critical mission was accomplished - no sign of trouble from the calf either during or afterwards.

Koonung out-and-back, although a bit shorter than on previous occasions because I was a bit squeezed for time (having spent some of it watching a recording of our football team's less than stellar performance in Thailand). Not terribly quick this morning, although drizzle might have had a bit to do with that.

Spotted a building site with hoardings in the city this evening with advertising saying that it would be completed in December 2016. Given that there is yet to be any structure visible above the hoardings, they're going to have to get a wriggle on.

After being at least vaguely diplomatic about the aforementioned President-elect on ABC radio, I headed to work the long(ish) way. Good to get out again for the first time in a couple of days, but didn't feel that sharp or strong (possibly not surprising). Quite a bit of traffic on the path this morning, including more coming the other way than is usually the case.

Didn't do as much media as I'd originally expected - because of the timing of the release, a lot of the Australian media picked up reports from wire services or the BBC. If you haven't already seen it, a summary is here. (The picture's a product of my NSW flood chase a few weeks back).

A bit improved this morning but still not feeling great (and the conditions weren't exactly conducive for getting out on the bike, either). Much improved during the day so should be right to do something tomorrow (assuming that the day isn't completely overwhelmed).

Feels a bit strange to think that my work (if probably not me personally) will be making global headlines this time tomorrow. I'll try to remember not to say anything rude about Donald Trump in front of any live microphones.

C • saying something rude 1