Training Log Archive: blairtrewin

All the omens were promising for this one. I'd felt pretty good yesterday, had actually had two proper nights of sleep on the weekend, and it was the sort of cool sunny winter day that it's a joy to be out in. I'd hoped for a good run, but certainly didn't expect what I got - probably my best training run for several years, certainly my best long run. Hit a rhythm inside the first couple of kilometres and stayed in it, unbroken, for at least 20k, floating along - at a pace distinctly sharper than my usual long runs - without seeming to have to put in any real effort. It was the sort of morning when one becomes increasingly detached from the surroundings and doesn't want to break stride for anything (which meant an interesting moment or two with the traffic).

The last hour, coming back from Gardiners Creek through Surrey Hills and Bulleen, was tougher, with a bit of quad soreness making its presence felt, but still had plenty of energy left and was attacking hills well into the third hour, and had the confidence to come home through Bulleen the hilly way. Finished off with a bang - I can't remember doing the last Hawdon Street pinch so well at the end of a long run.

Next task is to try to run as well as that in six weeks' time.

Sight of the day: someone going down the wrong side of the road in Glen Iris in a motorised wheelchair trailing a dog on a lead behind them (presumably the condition of the footpath was too poor for them to be there).

Yarra Bend terrain loop. Definitely a bit greener and softer than it was the last time I was here (a bit slippery at times thanks to overnight rain). Started with Torgeir, a couple of minutes behind Kathryn and a couple ahead of Bruce. Felt pretty good most of the way, with a bit of strength on the hills (in marked contrast to midweek) and flowing nicely off them. Bruce got through me near the end on a route option; Torgeir sort-of hung on most of the way. Only negative was that I was a bit too tentative on the more slippery descents; Torgeir took a bit of distance out of me on a couple of them (he's more fearless than I am). Reasonably happy with this run.

Going to and from the start of the terrain loop from Bruce's place. A bit shorter than usual because the builders have packed up in our old short-cut past the Mormons' premises. Haven't ever seen any Mormons there (let alone had any try to convert us). My old home town distinguished itself some years ago when the Mormons gave up on Canberra after failing to convert a single person in 18 months of trying.

Swimming at Richmond, in a bit of a rush because I'd realised a few minutes after leaving home on the bike that I'd left my wallet behind (this means going back up the very steep Hawdon Street hill). Not a bad session despite some tightness in the body (particularly lower back). I'm starting to concentrate specifically on getting my very weak left arm to do some more work and it seems to be feeding through into some slightly-less-pathetically-slow times.

I normally pay fairly close attention to the news but I must have missed the announcement about traffic rules being made voluntary in the Melbourne CBD on Friday evenings. Will have to check the media releases on the Minister for Roads's website. I suspect the booze bus setting up on Heidelberg Road as I rode past will do good business.

C • Optional traffic rules 2

A little bit longer than I'd planned on - was aiming for about 2 hours. First two-thirds were a struggle with the same weakness on hills that was apparent yesterday, but picked up considerably in the last 40 minutes. The tail wind didn't hurt (on a morning which was a reminder that winter does still exist).

For much of the first half felt like it was about to turn into a brilliant run without ever quite doing it, then fell away somewhat later on, in particular feeling rather weak on the hills (of which there were plenty, it being a North Balwyn/Bulleen circuit).

Someone described as a 'Swedish socialite and model' was arrested in Sydney yesterday on charges of conspiracy to murder. Naturally the papers (especially the tabloids) have not been shy about showing us pictures of the alleged conspirator. Strangely they don't seem too interested in showing any pictures of the other arrestees.

The Tan. At the top end of expectations after a lousy warm-up - in a way similar to yesterday's intervals session. Ended up 4 seconds outside my best time for the season. Started faster than I often have this season, then ran the Anderson Street hill quite poorly. Finished OK, with help from having someone to chase over the last kilometre.

Km splits: 3.29, 3.41 (uphill), 3.31, 3.27.

Warm-up/warm-down from the above.

4x1030m, 620 jog recovery (aiming for the 4 min on-3 min off - the odd distances are because I was running on the Clifton Hill track in lane 3).

Didn't expect much from the warm-up but settled quite well into something a bit under 10k race pace, happy with the second and third reps. A bit disappointed to fade out a little on the last rep although I didn't feel any worse - perhaps the wind was stronger then? Certainly didn't fade out as badly as in Darwin last week, but there was a reason for that (although it was almost as warm in Melbourne at 6 this morning as it was in Darwin at the same time last Wednesday and Thursday).

Times: 3.50, 3.44, 3.41, 3.46.

It was windy, sometimes very windy, although this didn't have as much impact as it might have done as it was blowing across the track, and it's a lot easier to face a varying wind on a bend than it is to run into the teeth of it all the way up a straight. Caused more trouble riding to work later on - it was hard to hold a straight line through some of the Docklands wind tunnels and I was worried about being blown into traffic.

Another indicator of the extremely warm autumn: my gas bill came yesterday and was 55% lower than it was at the same time last year. I've only turned my heating on a couple of times all season.

Warm-up/warm-down from the above.

C • Global Warming - conclusive evidence 9

Early morning at Fitzroy. Definitely cooler than it was at Casuarina last Friday (although by no means cold). Went OK.

MFR Monday night from Jasmine and Ilka's, through Princes and Royal Park (with another loop back around the zoo for good measure). Felt awful for the first half , for no obvious reason, but a bit better later on. Good turnout tonight - and still dominated by the women as Monday nights have tended to be this year (9-3 this time). Kirsten (and Keith)'s last appearance before they head for far-flung parts this time next week. Almost as warm as it was for the early-morning runs in Darwin last week.