Training Log Archive: GM

Sunday long run from Hackett with Devil. Around the bottom of Ainslie, then up the main path to the top. From the saddle 3/4 of the way up I went straight up the spur for a change. Down the normal way but then turned right along the roller coaster track to the southern end of Campbell Park then back through the middle on the undulating road (I love this part with little surges up the slopes and floating down the other side). We continued straight ahead out of Campbell Park and ran along the fence line to the top of Hackett Hill (got sucked in by the false summit - I thought I was at the top but then the track heads down for a while then up again). We finished down the gravel road.

Breakfast at Wilburs, being joined by MaryMac. I was tempted by the bacon/egg items but decided to be good and had muesli with warm milk and a mug of skinny flat white. A bit of discussion on how long it might take to churn out one of the $880 paintings hanging on the wall in Wilburs. MaryMac and I independently came up with 30 mins.

Long warm up with Sophie. We ended up running the 5km course as a warm up. Nice to hear about her running in Melbourne - apparently it is the place to be in Australia if you want to be given a reality check about how good you really are.

ACT Cross Country at Watson. This is the first proper winter cross country race I have done, so we saw the time as being 12 noon and turned up about 10min before. But the 5km didn't start until 1pm. Good chance for a longish warm up. A few orienteers: MaryMac, BigD, Sophie**, Valerie, Graham, Plastic, Geoff, Bryce, but mainly runners (**probably have to classify Sophie as a runner these days). It is a nice course that follows the fire trails allong behind the houses in Hackett from Antill St on the northern edge of Watson down to Kellaway St and back. My legs were quite weary from BodyPump last night but I felt better the further I went. My half way splits were 11:04, 10:53 - which is very rare for me to negative split a race. Red shirt guy ran with me for about 2km then pulled away down to the turn around. He got out to about 50m but as we passed McKensie St carpark on the way back I felt like I was getting closer. At the reservoir I was about 15m behind so decided I could catch him. Passed him on the flat just before the final down hill to the finish and tried to relax and have good leg speed. Pleased to not be passed in the 2nd half. Time not too fast but the course isn't either. Good run from MaryMac. (Turns out 'red shirt guy' is an academic at ANU who was in MaryMac's office yesterday being a bit obstreperous - MaryMac was pleased I beat him).

Ride to work via McKellar and JKP. A balmy 5 degrees so I just wore shorts. But no hot water for the showers at work. At least the cold means I wasn't very sweaty.

Body Pump at CISAC with MaryMac and Heffer. I was down the back next to the young woman who makes me feel like a puny weakling. She is lifting twice what I can - but apparently she can't run.

Lunchtime run from the ABShouse around Emu Ridge; over the red foot bridge; across Aranda playing fields then around the north and east edge of Aranda; past the GDE underpass; over the top of Aranda Hill; then down DS hill; and back through Emu Ridge.

WNT from Sanders place with Sebba, Lazydave, Fel, George, BigD and Devil. Seb had set 4 short sprint ints on the ANU map. Two mass starts, and two chasing starts added to the variety. The never ending building works make it a bit of a gamble on the route. Yummy soup, bread, and rum laced chocolate cake at Sanders after.

Run to work. It wasn't as bad as it looked outside. The sun even started peeking through when I was running past the lake.

RPM class at Oatley Court without Heffer who was RPM'ing at CISAC. She did keep a bike for me, but failed to notice the drink bottle already on it, and the other bike that was left had no straps, so I headed up to Oatley Court and did a class there. Small venue and class but very good. Will think about this in the future rather than battle the Monday night crowd at CISAC.