Training Log Archive: blairtrewin

Had hopes of something big today but in the end settled just for getting something on the board (a bit like my football team, whose game I watched before this). This was a second attempt, but even this was pretty marginal - thought it was settling down, but a downhill section made the back flare up again and I called it a day shortly afterwards.

Did manage to fill a few spots on the map and thus finished the block of Ivanhoe west of Waterdale, which in turn completes a big block (everything south of Bell, and between Waterdale and Albert/Station Street).

C • Something big 2

Eaglemont Flats, on a different course this time (thanks Jayne). The course didn't always go to plan, partly because of enduring changes in the terrain (#2's manmade object has fallen into the river, the clearing at #16 no longer exists, and several of the knolls required considerable imagination), and partly because of temporary changes in the terrain (#3 was under water and #4 was an island). In the latter case, the billabong is still full of water from the June floods, although the high-water mark looks to have been about a metre higher than it is now. No shortage of mud around, especially but not only in places that got flooded in June.

The run was a bit plodding, but kept plugging away, and after some initial worries in the first few minutes the hamstring was fine thereafter.

Late night last night so it was always going to be a late start, and then it turned out I'd eaten something last night which had disagreed with me (at least I presume it was that and not a vaccine side-effect), so scrubbed plans of going out in the morning. By lunchtime I was feeling up to trying to get out for something, and did manage to get out to do something - not altogether convincing, though improved in the last 15 minutes. Hamstring again a little uncomfortable at times but seemed to settle later.

It's been a week which has hit a few speed bumps, but I'd still have considered it a decent week had it happened three or four months ago.

Drew one small line on the map (starting to run out of places within range on a run of this length). Spotted one nondescript warehouse which was discreetly signposted as a facility for Amazon, although they must think the demographics of their workforce is the same here as it is in the States because there was a sign which said 'Speed Limit/Velocidad Maxima'. Also spotted at the end was that sure sign of a current outbreak, the traffic jam at the Covid testing place in Station Street (there were even police directing traffic this time).

No significant vaccine side effects so far, but I still thought it prudent to plan an easier session, plus I suspected (correctly) that the pool wouldn't be an option tomorrow. Hamstring a little uncomfortable at times in the water, which was slightly surprising given it had coped with running.

One spends rather too much time doomscrolling on days like this, although there was a little light relief on hearing about the current range of options on the Service NSW phone menu: "If you are calling about the pandemic press one, if you are calling about the mouse plague, press two. If you are calling about the recent floods, press three". (Someone suggested that four should be reserved for if you wanted to register the horsemen of the apocalypse).

Covid vaccination day (mark 2). It was at the Showgrounds at 8.30 (being the date and place that I could get it done), and I wasn't counting on being able to do much afterwards (although so far it's fine), so I went across early and went for a run in western Ascot Vale - a part of town I haven't been to since my grandmother (who spent her last years in a nursing home nearby) died. Quite a bit of the run turned out to be in an area I hadn't been to before at all - it had an 'old industrial site turned into new housing development' vibe, and a check of an old Melway revealed it was indeed an old industrial site.

Not a great run again, although a step up from yesterday, and no specific issues with the hamstring. Had a physio session this evening and she didn't seem overly concerned either. This will probably be a slightly easier week than the last couple which will hopefully help whatever recovery needs to be done.

Hamstring was still a bit uncomfortable this morning when I got up (and when I walked to get coffee) and it seemed likely I'd need to look for some alternative today, but it improved enough during the morning that I thought I'd at least give a run a try. Certainly didn't want to put it to the test of an intervals session - a flat short run was as much as I was prepared to do today. The bad news was that various bits of me were tight and the run was a struggle, the good news was that the hamstring gave no particular trouble, perhaps just fatiguing a bit in the last 10 minutes. Hopefully this is just a bit of a blip.

Monday morning Pilates session, at the start of what's become a rare day in the office (hopefully to become less rare). Nothing particularly unusual about this session and didn't feel excessively stiff after yesterday.

Followed up in the pool. Didn't feel sluggish but time on the slow side. The commute afterwards took me close enough to Lygon Street to hear horn-blowing still in progress.

While it wasn't there in either session this morning, there was a bit of left hamstring discomfort during and after the ride home tonight. Hopefully nothing comes of it.

Might actually have to watch some reality TV soon - someone known to some of us (Simon Mee, formerly of the Queensland schools team) is on the next Australian Survivor.