Training Log Archive: blairtrewin

A decent session as things go. Started out feeling a little uncertain as I was doing a zigzag down the streets between the railway line and Heidelberg Road to clear that part of Alphington, then settled reasonably well once on the Darebin Creek path and south of the river. Brief encounters with Bruce at about 20 minutes and Tash and Nicola at about 35; the latter seemed to settle a left knee that was starting to get a bit sore. Quite crowded on the singletrack south of the river (first time I've been there for a while), but manageable, then finished off with a loop out to Westgarth station. Tiring a bit later on but reasonably satisfied with this, adding another small increment to the longest-week-this-year mark (first time for a while that I've run four days in a row, too).

Speaking of covering a suburb, in the cycling world it's become known as "burbing". Someone did it in one go in Reservoir (the largest suburb in the established parts of Melbourne) a few days back; 314 kilometres worth....

Once again an old course at Darebin Parklands, getting used now to the quirks of the old map which it was on (I encountered someone else doing the permanent course, which I picked the eyes out of a while back). Was working fairly hard but definite signs of progress, in the form of running up hills that I wasn't running up a week or two back. (I think I may have lost a bit of weight, too - either that or my trousers have stretched). Think I may run out of ideas on this area eventually, but it is nice to be out in terrain of sorts.

Had had a 5am start for a meeting (not an unknown occurrence for me in recent times) and headed out afterwards, with a mission of clearing a few more parts of the south end of Alphington, at least to the extent that current building works allow (there are already a couple of new streets which weren't on the map). This also took me down to the river for a bit, not as muddy as it was last time I was there (and running the climb out of the river worked out better than it did last time, too). Back mostly reasonable but definitely running out of steam in the last few minutes, probably a case of not being super-awake.

The remaining bits of Alphington are the strip between the railway line and Heidelberg Road, and parts of the area to the east of Alphington Park. Could probably clear this in one go, but whether or not I'll try to do so probably depends on what I feel like doing on Sunday. Haven't yet decided which adjoining suburb is the next challenge after that.

All Nations intervals. One of the better recent sessions of its type and thought of doing another couple of reps, but back was starting to twinge a bit on the last one so kept it at six.

The park was noticeably emptier than usual for a lunchtime; I suspect the requirement to wear a mask when walking (but not when running or cycling, something that's generated a certain amount of online "what about them" angst) is a significant disincentive to people going out.

Warm-up and down. In recent months I've often been walking for 5-10 minutes before I start running, but this time I did that bit up and down the corridor at home (I do carry something which I could use as a face covering if I had to, and do have some proper masks on order but they haven't arrived yet).

C • face covering 15

Back was the worst it's been for a while today and a lunchtime attempt didn't work out (I was too sleepy in the morning, which had nothing at all to do with the first of a string of 10-11pm finishes, to be mixed up with a couple of 1ams next week). Eventually headed out in the late afternoon with little expectation other than just getting some air, heading north on the Darebin Trail initially (without any crashes this time) and then picking my way through the suburbs to the west. A fairly easy route - no major hills - but was starting to enjoy myself by the end.

I'd originally been thinking of the Boulevard, but was discouraged (a) because of reports that police had been targeting popular cycling routes (I should be local enough to pass muster, but would rather not have to explain that) and (b) because the tacker is reportedly back in action. Instead I went for a shortened version of the La Trobe loop, going as far as the top end of Heidelberg Heights before turning west and south. Not as energetic at last Friday, but that might have been because I was out earlier than Friday.

Monday morning Pilates. Felt easier than it usually does, which is hopefully another indicator that things are going reasonably well at the moment.

C • Virtual classes? 5

Got through a Monday run this time. Back a little more troublesome than it had been over the weekend but still quite manageable - didn't have to stop to stretch/mobilise it at any stage this time. Definitely felt like a recovery run and was pretty slow, but after quads fatigued a lot yesterday they came up fine today.

I've now cleared the remaining streets of Alphington north of the railway line; still various bits to do on the south side. Someone else, inspired by someone who was complaining on the news a couple of days back that walking through Brighton was boring, rode every street of Brighton yesterday (a 97km session - Brighton's a big suburb).