Training Log Archive: blairtrewin

Quad felt considerably better this morning - possibly it's just a remote reaction to something happening in my back, as calf issues occasionally have been? I won't risk running on it for a couple of days at least, but thought it was worth seeing if it would function on the bike, which it more or less did; just fatigued a bit going up the (limited) hills. Not a bad ride, either, rolling along at a pace a couple of km/h faster than I usually manage, and the traffic wasn't even too bad except in the Sorrento shops. (The two main roads both have decent verges; a lot of the roads further east on the Peninsula would be good ones to ride if there was no traffic, but since there is they're probably best avoided, Australian drivers not being the world's most patient when it comes to encountering cyclists on two-lane roads with limited passing places).

Had a cross-cultural moment this afternoon when a mention of it in commentary meant I had cause to explain to my nephew what the underarm incident was.

And those who've been around for a long time may remember something almost as far back in the midst of time as the underarm incident, namely the attempt (narrowly failed, if I recall correctly) by a relay team of orienteers to outrun the lead yacht in the Sydney-Hobart (something I played a very small part in, running a 1km leg out the back of Bungendore as an 11-year-old). A repeat would be impossible now - the yachts are probably a day faster now than they were then - but some people have been trying to do it on bikes.

Probably would have preferred not to have seen Badja Forest Road as a new addition to the NSW fire list. (Leaving aside any impact on the mapped area, you don't have to go too far east of the map before you get into what we used to refer to as "tiger country", and with the forecast for the next three days, and again for next weekend, it's quite possible that a fire in that location could run much of the way down to the coast).

C • Fire maps 8

I got out for just long enough to think that things weren't working too badly this morning - and then felt a sharp pain in my left quad, which brought things to an abrupt halt. This is a new one for me; was able to walk back (and for the remainder of the day) with only mild discomfort, and it didn't stiffen up after a day sitting at the MCG, so hopefully it's a minor strain and not anything worse, but I still suspect I've done my last run of the 2010s.

After a false start on a morning run, this was a pool running session but not as we know it: with a view out to Arthurs Seat, the cricket on the radio in the background, and the accompaniment of small people and floating objects intended for the entertainment of small people (including something purporting to be a shark). Not too bad once under way.

Also embarked on minigolf for the first time in about 30 years this morning. Didn't get shown up by my nephew quite as comprehensively as on the cross-country skiing course, but he still beat me.

C • Arthurs Seat 3

Headed out with Cassie and Jim after the first round of present-opening, to Number Sixteen and back - fairly slow in the sand, and took a while to get going, but not too bad (and longer than I'd originally intended). Felt a bit sleepy at the start (unusually, I was the last one up this morning) but that went away pretty quickly too.

I think the last time we headed out as a group might have been a run we did in Venice 15 years ago, where one person took the (tourist) map for a few minutes and then handed over to the next one, who had to relocate. As you can imagine this was quite challenging.

This was a pleasant Christmas Day with the family, and good to stay in one place (apart from a brief excursion to the bottle shop at the Rye pub to augment the household drinks supply) - historically our Christmas Days have involved quite a lot of driving. Not sure how many different outfits Katinka wore during the course of the day but I'm pretty certain it was into double figures.

Troublesome hip flexor today - made false starts in attempts both before and after work (the latter being a little later than I'd planned on, thanks to Birdsville seriously threatening the Queensland record - fell just short with 49.3). Headed down to the Mornington Peninsula tonight, and am expecting that an alarm tomorrow morning will be surplus to requirements.

Back to Monday morning Pilates, running slightly late because I realised after leaving home that I'd left my work trousers behind (I'm sure my colleagues would have coped with my spending the day in bike shorts, but it wouldn't have looked good on TV had I been called on to be on it). Arrived to discover that Christmas music was playing and thought I'd be a sure bet for Whamageddon, but it didn't happen. Session was reasonable.

C • Whamageddon 7

Moved on to the pool (less populated than it was on Friday afternoon, or it will be this time next week), for a session which started slowly but improved as it went on.

The roads are a lot quieter on the 23rd when it falls on a Monday.

C • Fitzroy wasn't too bad when... 3

Not an entirely smooth run but at least kept plugging away, and no significant issues with injury (I'm increasingly thinking that part of the reason I'm struggling in the mornings is that 45-60 minutes after getting up often isn't long enough to loosen up). Headed down to Yarra Bend for the first time in a while - spotting in the process signs about works postponed at Dights Falls because of allegedly high flows in the Yarra (Melbourne's rainfall this year is likely to be in the bottom 5-6 years on record), and quite a number of runners (including Lisa Weightman twice, moving a lot faster than I was). Started to flow a bit more in the last 20 minutes. First time I've made it to the hour in a month.