Training Log Archive: blairtrewin

It would be hard to find anything less like Kooyoora than Banksia Park, today's destination. In contrast to last time I ran here, all control sites were above water, and the area on the south side of the main road is a nice patch of bush for this part of the world, even if the bits with long grass were sometimes a struggle (and I think I probably paid a bit for not looking for wide track routes, on #11 for example). Feeling like I was running steadily without being quite where I was in the second half yesterday, and quite a bit further back on times (although later runners would probably have had a few elephant tracks).

The annual visit to the Bermuda Triangle, and a happy place it was. This is the most unforgiving of areas technically; I nailed the first five and was just starting to think about what it would be like to nail a course here when I promptly came in too low on #6. Dropped about 90 seconds apiece on this one and #10 (too high), although I somehow managed to still have second-placed split on the latter, but pretty clean on the others. Also felt stronger running in the terrain than I have for a while, particularly in the second half.

I was at the back of a bunch of five in the 63-66 range (led by Bruce); that's the closest I've been to him for a long time, although that says a bit about his run too. (We're 8 minutes apart on the Winsplits without-errors times, which is still probably at least 5 minutes under par this year, reinforcing that this was a pretty good run). Would have been nice to pull off a clean run, but that's an ambitious thought here.

The kids from the bush block next door turned up at the end of the day and did a course (with Clare shadowing); since we were travelling together this meant I had some time at the end to finish the bits of the paper I hadn't finished before reading home and get into a discussion about Senate preferencing strategies. As usual, the competition for the bottom 20 or so places on my Senate ballot paper will be tough (I think I've settled on my choice for last of all); getting info on the independents is a bit of a challenge, but it seems they're the usual mix of earnest unobjectionable types, people with great platforms to run for (insert name of small rural council here) who leave you wondering what their plans are for the other 95% of the state that they're standing for election in, and people who are too far out there to be considered by One Nation or the UAP. (My usual rule of thumb here is to rank any independent I know nothing about low, lest it turn out that I've accidentally voted for a Nazi).

C • Fringe candidates 3

Having trouble getting out in the mornings at the moment, so lunchtime was the plan B, heading north as far as Arden Street, back along the Moonee Ponds Creek trail and then a bit extra in Docklands. Struggling through the first 20-25 minutes and was thinking that 40 would do me, but the wait at the crossing of Footscray Road was something of a reset and the remainder was reasonable (back tightened quite a bit afterwards, though). Generated a bit of sweat - it's about as humid as it gets at this time of year (even if very little of the Queensland/NSW rain has found its way this far south).

Clearing up a few loose ends in Docklands took me to 1969, remembered globally for the moon landing. I'll be hoping that history doesn't repeat itself next weekend with the 1969 election (where there was a big swing against the Liberals but not quite big enough). Probably not voting Liberal is the owner of the car I saw sporting a sticker 'Is That The Truth Or Did You Read It In The Herald-Sun?'.

Went looking for places in Queensland which are getting within striking distance of their wettest year on record (with 7.5 months of the year still remaining). Amberley, with less than 200mm to go, appears to be closest. (In 2018 Broome had broken its annual rainfall record by the end of February).

Early attempt to run didn't work out so instead headed for the water in the hope of being able to run later in the day. A fairly standard session in the water with none of the right knee feeling-oddness that I had last week.

Post-work run from the office, taking in some areas at the north end of Docklands, mainly the shopping arcade area that was on the Melbourne City Race course a few years back. (I wasn't sure how the GPS would perform since it's mostly under cover, but for the most part it showed roughly the places that I'd been). As with last time I did something similar, this was better than I expected for the most part, although back starting to tighten in the last few minutes.

Registered more streets than I expected, taking the number to 1963. This was also an election year and had perhaps the most significant "black swan" event in the closing days of an Australian campaign, the assassination of President Kennedy. Hopefully nothing as dramatic happens this time round.

C • MSW 5

In Canberra, starting in Forrest (you can afford a better class of place within the public service cost limit when all the politicians and hangers-on are somewhere else), and headed up to Red Hill and along the eastern base of it - revisiting half my old school cross-country course. Some steady climbing in the first 2km which was hard work, and didn't get that much better in the remainder - I slept particularly well but still wasn't that awake for the run.

Canberra is awash with election signs. I noticed going past Grammar that the only two signs on their grounds were Labor ones, which suggests either (a) the politics of the place have changed a lot since I was there or (b) those putting up political signs aren't bothering to ask the owners of the land they're putting the signs on. I suspect (b) is the correct answer, although (a) is probably also true (I'd speculate that a fair proportion of the 1980s Liberals I grew up amongst who are still in Canberra are voting for David Pocock this time). Incidentally, this is one place where the yellow peril is nowhere to be seen.

Only incremented the streets tally by a couple. 1953 was a year which saw both the coronation of a new monarch (although she'd actually been in the job for a year by then) and England regaining the Ashes. I suspect the former is more likely to happen next year than the latter.

C • I pretty much lived in Forr... 3

Best that could be said for this is that I actually got through a morning intervals session, but this wasn't great - not super-awake, and didn't get significantly faster through the session as I thought it might (ended up at 64/61). More dogs out in the morning than there are at lunchtime.

Warm-up and down, even slower than usual. Sort of got going eventually.

Actually doing a work trip (a short one); headed to Canberra this evening (coming back tomorrow night), which means a chance to revisit some old haunts in the morning.

Monday morning Pilates. A bit more awake than I sometimes am, perhaps because I'd got up a bit earlier than usual to watch the Miami GP (which started at 5.30). Seemed to feel a bit easier than usual, which can mean either it is getting easier or I'm getting a bit slack about some of the exercise positions.

Thought I might have had to switch this session to the evening when there was dense fog in the area when I started Pilates, but it broke up sooner than I expected so it was all good to go at 8 (or thereabouts). A pretty slow session but felt decent for recovery purposes. (The seconds clock that's readily visible from the slow lane is broken at the moment, which means I'm not getting much feedback about my speed during the swim).

C • So why can't you swim when it's foggy... 4