Training Log Archive: blairtrewin

My best intervals session this year (not that that's an especially high bar to clear). Significantly faster than the last few attempts and felt a fair bit stronger on the uphill reps, too. Seem to have hit a decent spot in the last few days; hopefully it will continue.

Warm-up and down, plus a pause on entering the park to draw someone's attention to the dogs-on-leash sign. This was at least good preparation for riding to and from work, which featured a number of encounters with people who think no-standing signs don't apply to them, people who think give-way signs don't apply to them, and people who think red lights don't apply to them (and that's before we start on the truck who, dissatisfied with a driver's patience in waiting for pedestrians while turning left, turned left inside where the car was, cutting across the gutter in the process and leading the aforementioned pedestrians to scatter).

I was wondering if a familiar building had disappeared en route, but in fact the Melbourne Bicycle Centre has merely had its front painted blue rather than yellow.

C • It was red and blue and yel... 1

Felt reasonably good, although slower than the last couple of days. Forecast was bleak but dodged most of the showers. Continuing to have a reasonable few days on the injury front - have learned not to get too excited about this but it's good while it lasts.

I've finally found a reason to stop at the Glenrowan Macca's (one day) - looking at future eclipse paths today it appears to be near the location of maximum length of totality on Boxing Day 2038. (In case you're wondering, Melbourne doesn't quite get a total eclipse, although I suspect 96% will still be enough to create bad light issues at the cricket, assuming Test cricket is still played during the day by then).

C • Now that is planning ahead. 7

Morning session at Fitzroy. Not coming off as short a day as this time last week and certainly didn't feel as energetic as this time last week, but still a reasonably solid morning's work.

Surprise of the day was to be contacted by the ABC's new regional weather reporter, one Katie Doyle (it was her first day in the job and I think I was her first interview). We're starting to get a bit of an orienteering presence there because Jess Davis - who recently reached an early-career landmark, using for the first time in a story the words "Documents obtained by the ABC...." - is now working for the ABC in Ballarat. (I guess the next step on the career progression is "The ABC can reveal....").

Still a bit nervous about the lunchtime runs but this one was pretty good - main thing was that nothing hurt after some initial hamstring tightness disappeared in the first few hundred metres. Felt like I was moving pretty well, too (although I left my watch at home so don't have the evidence to demonstrate it, or otherwise). Fishermans Bend is industrial but going there means no significant road crossings, which is a definite plus for a lunchtime CBD run. A nice day to be out, on what ended up being the first 20-degree day since May.

It would be fair to say that there was a certain amount of schadenfreude on display in my social circles today. At least he hasn't been told to bugger off to New Zealand within 48 hours or be euthanised.

Enough niggles (a few more than the last three days) to make me settle for my original plan of 90 minutes, but otherwise this was a pretty good run - certainly seemed to be handling things better than in most runs in recent times (including on the hills, of which there were a few more today out towards North Balwyn). Maybe being out a bit later than usual was relevant? Less slow than any other non-speedwork/race run I've done this year, so a little more progress in that department.

Another modest step up, in a run which had a promising start but didn't quite go on as it began. Spent more time by the river (both in rougher and smoother parts) than I have for a while - it will be a bit more awkward in places for a while now that the Chandler bridge construction is under way (supposedly the new bike path bridge should be opening in October as an alternative, but after 20+ years I'll believe that when I see it). Also on a construction theme, it was among the last times I'll use the nearest pedestrian crossing of the railway line - it becomes a casualty of the level crossing removal in a couple of weeks - and the front facade of the old paper mill, which the real estate section of today's paper said was going soon, is in fact already mostly gone.

A further step forward. Felt quite tight in the back before I went out, but fine once actually running, and as a run this was definitely a substantial improvement on yesterday - felt quite lively and as if I actually wanted to be doing this. No sign of yesterday's calf tightness either.

I admire the enthusiasm of Essendon's marketing department, but think I have better things to spend $199 on than a Dyson Heppell garden gnome.

Back in action on a run whose purpose was to see if things still worked. As a run it felt as uncomfortable as first runs back after a layoff often do, but the good news was that the hip was fine (although my right calf was unusually tight early on). Improved somewhat in the last few minutes. Reasonable first step back.