Training Log Archive: blairtrewin

In and around Shepparton this weekend on a fact-finding trip with the ALP Environment Policy Committee on things to do with water. Takes me back to the days of uni field trips (except that there wasn't anywhere near as much drinking happening). It was actually pretty interesting - absorbed a lot of new information about how the water system works in that part of the world, which, apart from anything else, will help the next time a journo asks me 'how much rain do we need to save the irrigation season' or words to that effect.

I can't remember the last time I did a long run in the afternoon. Our timetable today lent itself to doing so (as did the weather - -4 in the morning, 11 and sunny in the afternoon), and I didn't really want to be exploring a new place starting in the dark. Seemed to work out OK, on a run which was steady throughout without being brilliant, at its best in the last 20 minutes as the sun set (I often seem to feel good at sunset, especially on clear winter days).

The route was a nice one - started through the forests of the Goulburn River floodplain for the first half-hour, then looped back through Mooroopna and across the floodplain again, before a second loop up along the east side of the river into Shepparton's northern suburbs. I did, though, have the distinct feeling I'd picked the eyes out of what the place had to offer in a single run. As I don't expect to be back for any length of time any time soon that isn't a problem, but a few years back there was speculation we were going to be moving to Shepparton (I think it only got started because our then parliamentary secretary was from there). I'm not sure today's loop would have been such an attractive proposition on a February day when you've run it 60 times in the last year and it's over 35 for the tenth day in a row.

Spotted a sign pointing the way to the 'Moslem Mosque'. Presumably this is to distinguish it from all the non-Moslem mosques dotting the streets of Shepparton. (The town has a large Albanian population and a bit of an Iraqi presence too).

Will start easing back the volume now in the lead-up to Dubbo - don't plan to go as long again before then.

Felt reasonable but a bit slower than I would have liked for this run. Reacquainted myself with the Yarra Flats - not as cold as it can be at this time of year.

In a bit of a rush this morning, not helped by wasting five minutes on the bike at an intersection where the lights only got triggered if a car turned up (and, unlike most such intersections, there wasn't a convenient pedestrian light to press as an alternative). I try not to be one of those cyclists who gives all of us a bad name by going through red lights, but the powers-that-be don't make it easy sometimes....

The swim itself was nothing special, always felt as if I was thrashing around a bit, but it did do the job of loosening various bits of me up from the last two days' efforts.

Started from near work and went up as far as Strathmore and Essendon, making good use of the paths along Moonee Ponds Creek and the Maribyrnong River at times. Also continued a theme of this week by paying a visit to an infamous murder scene (Cross Keys Reserve, Essendon this time), and whilst going along the fringes of Essendon Airport saw the street that was used in 'The Castle'.

I thought it might have been a wet one but after overnight rain it turned out to be a classic cold-outbreak early morning - clear with a bracing southerly wind (on such days the showers don't usually get going until a couple of hours after sunrise, although today they're struggling to get going at all). Nice running conditions although it was hard work into the wind in a few places, like on the riverside stretch past the Merv Hughes Oval (yes, it does exist).

The run itself was a bit of a grind, lacking vigour, although I was coming off a harder evening last night than has generally been the case of late.

An odd variation on a sign you see occasionally: on the window of an Essendon florist, 'School Girls Please Leave School Bags Outside'. Is this distinction because they think boys are less likely to slip goods into bags, or because they think that boys wouldn't be seen dead in a florist?

C • Merv Hughes Oval 4

A pretty nondescript effort based around the Yarra from Clifton Hill. Encountered Dion (on his bike) halfway round. Also encountered a bit of rain after that, and some bridge repairs at Studley Park which prompted an abrupt route-choice change.

Wednesday night street-O at Belmore Parklands. Decided to have a crack tonight which I don't always do in winter. Felt good early on and not bad through most of it, but faded away a little in second half. Hint of a stitch on some of the downhills. Slower than I thought it was.

I don't think my route was particularly good, although I'm not sure there was a good way to get the middle cluster. Bryan and Adam got me by 30 seconds or thereabouts. Saw Tony Bird warming down but I'm not sure if he was running A.

It was cold in Melbourne but it's colder in Queensland and the NT - lots of places up there had single-digit highs today, as far north as Tennant Creek and Mount Isa. If it doesn't warm up in the morning (daily maximum temperatures are taken for the 24 hours ending at 9 a.m.) it will be the furthest north that a sub-10 maximum has ever occurred in Australia (and the 5 at Stanthorpe will be a Queensland record for June).

A bit disappointing, although loosened up a bit later on. Fastest loop 9.21. A stiff southerly wind and just about the latest sunrise I'll have to deal with.

The traffic on Heidelberg Road was unusually light this morning - perhaps everyone was scared to go past the Hells Angels clubhouse I mentioned yesterday?

C • money 9

One of my better sessions - gradually coming to terms with the idea that I'll go faster if both arms are doing some work.

There was a spectacular rainbow to the west as I started. I thought this might mean that some cold water (or even colder ice) from above would supplement the warm water from below, but the shower missed us.

Arrived in the CBD just after the shooting, but was far enough from the action to ensure that the only thing I saw was the resultant traffic jam.

MFR Monday night from Clare's new abode in Prahran. Smaller group than usual - only Torgeir and Dion for company on the longer loop. Also an abnormally carnivorous Monday night with all the vegetarians absent.

Headed for the Tan as usual with runs starting in the Prahran area (which is starting to become an MFR cluster). In the light of today's events in the city it was perhaps fitting that we went there via Walsh Street.

On the way home, spotted a white van with a very large and strangely-shaped dent in its side; we were trying to work out what had caused it. Later I saw the same van going into the Hells Angels premises in Alphington (the first time in nine years of Heidelberg Road commuting that I have ever seen anything enter or leave the place). Maybe the dent was caused by flying debris when their speed lab blew up. A bit surprised there wasn't a visible police presence given the alleged culprit in this morning's activity is reported to be a member of the Hells Angels. Perhaps they were all hiding in the paper mill across the road, in the fine traditions of the funeral directors across the road from the Soviet Embassy in Canberra whose top floor was occupied by ASIO.