Training Log Archive: blairtrewin

Headed into the terrain today at Nerrina - my first excursion into the terrain for a couple of months (unless you count the snow-covered variety in Oslo), and also the first time I've needed to read a map in a couple of months. David Brownridge was there for company - had hoped we might be able to get a few more but I guess most people got enough terrain last weekend.

We headed out on the relay courses from last year, something which led to a bit of confusion at one point because I suggested we reassemble at 6 without realising that David's split was different to mine and my 6 was his 5. Lots of rust in my system, which I expected - both technically and physically (and climbing in the terrain was ugly, something I'll try to do something about but one week probably won't be enough to do much about it). Starting to feel more confident technically in the second half, though, and felt very good afterwards for having been out in the bush - I've definitely missed it.

Longer than usual today because I'll be doing technical training rather than a long run tomorrow, and later than usual for no really obvious reason - which meant the discovery that mid-morning Saturday traffic isn't that nice to contend with (if anything it's worse for running than weekday peak hour because it is moving, whereas during the week you can often get across it where it's stopped).

Started the run to the sound of horns in the background, which turned out to the latest act in the nurses' dispute with the state government. I didn't have a horn to voice my support so settled for a wave. (Do I recall correctly that a certain resident of Esperance once crashed his bike across the road from a picket line of striking nurses?). It was raining steadily so it was mildly surprising to see a reasonable number of cricket games in progress (one featuring Jaffe the younger). Once past the Ivanhoe fields, headed down along the river and across to Kew, then back through North Balwayn. Achilles took a while to warm up but eventually did; not a great run though, with the hills a particular issue (as they have been for a couple of weeks now).

The nurses weren't the last street theatre for the day; there was a group outside the Preston town hall demonstrating in favour of solar energy (as far as I could tell it was in favour of the concept, and against coal and gas, in general, and not specifically about the shutdown of the solar hot water subsidy). Not for the first time, venturing into the Preston market was a reminder that staying out of its car park was a very good idea.

Back to pool running at Fitzroy for the first time in a while, on a nice morning. I needed this - quads were very stiff when I went in, rather less stiff when I got out (although the Achilles isn't quite so enthusiastic about it).

Definitely a busy news day today (with a lot of journalists clearing a lot of egg off faces at present). Rather lost in amongst this, at least for now, was the report of an independent inquiry into the Australian media. The recommendation which got my attention for blogs which got more than 15,000 hits per year to be classified as a media outlet (and therefore subject to the proposed complaints-handling procedure). If I'm not mistaken, my AP log gets this many, so if you're upset about something I've written you'll be able to complain to whatever replaces the Press Council and they might be able to tell me to do something about it. (Shep might get into this territory too; please don't tell Mr Baker).

My sleep patterns are still not what they should be and last night was particularly ordinary - didn't sleep much after 3. Didn't go into the run with great expectations. It was a slow plod, all right in its own way, but indications whenever it got a bit more challenging that a slow plod was going to be my outer limit today (although the last hill, which I thought might be a problem, went OK - perhaps because of the knowledge that there is only 90 seconds to go at the top of it).

Steady light rain at the start easing off by halfway. The run took in a couple of Darebin Creek crossings but nothing too exciting to see (and certainly nothing as exciting as what's going on in the old home town).

Something I'm struggling to see the (claimed) logic of is Gina Rinehart's current course, in which she is trying to get a suppression order on reporting of a family dispute, ostensibly on the grounds that reporting on the family's wealth would pose a threat to their security. I guess the idea is that if the media weren't reporting on the court case no-one would know that Gina Rinehart was rich.

And non-running excitement of the day was the lunchtime brawl in a shop entrance between a couple (whom I gather were alleged shoplifters) and a number of shop staff. The couple, setting a fine example, had their youngster in tow; one imagines he has high potential to be a future customer of Victoria's beleaguered child protection services (who have been in the news this week).

C • Coming NT headline 2

Hit the single tracks of Yarra Bend this morning, a bit slower than the roads but nice to be out there. A bit of a struggle this morning though - I had a bit of hamstring soreness (although not tightness) sitting down yesterday and it persisted into the morning, didn't impede me but remained a bit sore. Not flowing that well.

First foray into street-O since my return. Not as warm as my December comeback, for which I was thankful (although it was still the warmest on this date for 12 years :-).

Last time the Eastern Series was run on this date, in 1996 (in those days it was on Wednesdays and Thursdays), there was a 'leap control' which got you a bonus point - something which came in useful because at that stage of the season I needed 501 points from five rounds to stand a chance of winning. (As it happened I got 401 of them before falling at the last hurdle). Nothing as oddball today, but still a decent course at Blind Creek - not excessively hilly.

The hamstring was annoying in the first 500 metres, which was pretty slow (as evidenced by Bruce, who missed the start by 20 seconds or so, coming through me within two controls). Settled OK after that, never feeling that brilliant but staying sort of in contact with the lead group for the first seven controls (helped when they lost a bit of time on the questionably placed 13). We split after that (I dropped 11 and 7); from there I held a decent if unspectacular pace for the rest of the way. Didn't speed up as I have in the second half of some other Wednesdays - felt like I was tailing off a bit, as was the case yesterday - but still OK. Got outsprinted by someone at the end.

There's got to be something auspicious about the fact that Rachel Johnson did 8.88km on the leap year day.

8x400 on 2.5 minute cycle at the Clifton Hill track. Got a good start, perhaps a product of being awake for a bit longer than I normally am before this session, and ended up as the "fastest" I've done this session in the last year, although didn't quite get into the 70s. Started to go a bit lactic in the last couple and tailed off a little time-wise, although it had started to rain again by then. (The heavy overnight rain didn't have much impact on the track with only a couple of easily missable puddles). I also did a fast speed session the Tuesday after coming home from Europe last time - hopefully the parallels don't continue because on that occasion the Wednesday night street-O was a shocker (although tomorrow will be much cooler than that was).

This is the first time I've tried to run fast since the calf trouble last week - no sign of any issues.

Jog to/from the track.

It's remarkable how many clothes you generate to wash when running and cycling in the wet - assisted by taking spares to handle engagements during the day (in today's case, riding up to Moonee Ponds at lunchtime because NAB had inconveniently sent my new credit card there).

Rain is a bit of a novelty for me - if you want to start a drought there then the best way to do it is to send me to Geneva. In four visits covering about 3 months, I've experienced less than 5 millimetres of rain (although about 40 millimetres of precipitation thanks to the big snow dump in December 2010). This time round there were only a few snow flurries (amounting to 0.4mm) in three weeks. Will be awaiting rain developments in Canberra and surrounds over the next couple of days with interest.

Not at all surprised to wake up before the alarm.

Headed out in the morning because I had two meetings tonight (as it turned out the first of them failed to reach quorum and was all over in 25 minutes), running first and swimming after. Held the start of this for a few minutes until the first downpour of the morning passed through, then set off in humid but decent conditions through Yarra Bend. Felt pretty good on this run although pace nothing special.

Swimming really isn't that exciting.

There were moments during this swim what it was almost as wet out of the pool as it was in it.

C • Jaded much? 1