Training Log Archive: blairtrewin

Was hoping for something long today (as it turned out, the last opportunity to do something long legally for a while), but was a bit apprehensive the way I was feeling at the end yesterday, as so it proved - it wasn't totally horrible but the back was a real struggle, and eventually I decided there wasn't a lot to be gained by pressing on further. It's a while since I've had a failed Sunday run so this was a bit disappointing.

The second bite at the cherry (something which won't be possible in theory as of tomorrow, although I suspect it's probably within the letter of the law if you switch straight away from the run to the bike?). The route was also partly one which won't be legally possible as of tomorrow, although not by much (and the most significant part of it, the climb up through Ivanhoe, is well within range). The ride didn't feel brilliant - I suspect some of that was above the shoulders - but the pace was reasonable, and the wind didn't cause too many issues.

Now for the next few weeks, wondering what the endgame is - European countries have largely opened up at the per-capita equivalent of a few tens of cases a day, which seems a reasonable guess of where we might be in six weeks, but I suspect Victoria will be too risk-averse to do that, having been burnt once. A 5km radius won't be an issue for me for running - getting to that and back would be a challenge at my present level - but will require some modification to cycling routes; the Boulevard is all within that distance but, as I've suggested before, is likely to be policed in a way that more obscure locations aren't.

C • Take your ID? 6

Saturdays are becoming fairly predictable at the moment. Get up, go to the shops, read the paper, remember to water the plants (Mum will be pleased), see if there's been an early leak of the latest numbers (on Saturdays they're usually down for reasons which are not immediately obvious to me), and then head out sometime after 10.30 - a bit later this week because I was sorting out some problems early with a Windows update which went wrong - in the direction of Darebin Parklands.

This week was a tougher course - one from the 2017 relays - and I didn't feel as sharp as last week; the map was newer but some of the rocks seem to have overgrown (or were maybe not really there in the first place). Found one really steep slope where I was glad I was going up (going down would be good training for certain Swiss areas, especially in the wet, which today wasn't). Back tightened up at the end and post-run but was OK later in the day.

C • Predictable 18

Back a bit tight to run so instead headed out for a late afternoon ride before a meeting, on a not-particularly-challenging route around the suburbs. Smooth enough without hitting any great heights, and the back was somewhat better for the workout. Even without getting a run in today, this was my biggest month for a couple of years - hopefully a bit more to build on from here.

Lunchtime All Nations intervals. A little faster than previously but again began to tighten up towards the end and ditched plans to take the session further. Felt a bit borderline generally, which may or may not suggest an issue with trying to do things tomorrow, but we'll wait and see on that one.

At one point an RAAF plane flew overhead. It was reported that in the US, the Republican's proposed bill to deal with coronavirus includes several hundred million for new fighter jets. Perhaps someone should tell them that you can't bomb a virus.

And the Europe section of the Economist was in fine form this week: in a story about an illegally constructed hotel in Athens obstructing significant views (as they drily noted, "from some angles the hotel shuts out the view of the Parthenon, and is distinctly less attractive") and the political fallout from this, they noted that the first decree regulating building heights in the Acropolis precinct was made less than a century after the Parthenon was built, before musing "Perhaps today's rules would be better respected if developers had to worry about being presented with a cup of hemlock".

Warm-up and down, taking different cross-streets to normal in the name of collecting a few extra Northcote streets without having to go out of my way for them when the time comes.

Back a bit stiff today so went out for a late afternoon ride instead on the La Trobe loop. Didn't feel that sharp but actually turned out to be faster than my previous outings here - go figure. Nice afternoon to be out in the midst of a very long work day (with another 1am finish coming up, thankfully the last in this sequence).

Dodgy political leaders (an occasional series, this time from Bulgaria) - from the "Economist":

'The government's troubles started in June, when an anonymous source began leaking recordings of someone who sounded like Mr Borisov ridiculing EU officials and boasting of harassing a local business. The next week, photos surfaced of a man resembling the prime minister asleep on a bed, with a handgun on the nightstand and an open drawer full of EUR500 bills and gold ingots. Mr Borisov said the recordings and photos were manipulated, but acknowledged it was his bedroom'.

Time for the big sporting showdown of the season: this is the week I'm up against Dad in AFL Supercoach. Thought I'd got a flying start from tonight's game but Dustin Martin's in his team too.

Not in the mood for doing something early morning after a 1am finish, so instead headed out at lunchtime on the sort of day that feels pleasantly warm at this time of year. Felt somewhat iffy in the first 10 minutes but progressively improved thereafter - getting down into the Alphington Wetlands was definitely a plus as a venue even if it was a bit slower (and I've now got the confidence to handle climbing out of it). Also had a look at exactly what the 'Alphington Swimming Pool' that Google Maps shows is (it's a set of stone terraces next to the river which was a public swimming spot from the 1920s to the 1960s), and did a few more of the streets of southeast Alphington - just a small inner loop around the school to do now.

Three days to go, but this is already the biggest month I've done for a couple of years.

Monday morning Pilates (doing it with a mask for the first time, which was a bit strange, although now that the reusable ones I'd ordered have arrived it should be easier next time). Reasonably routine although added a step of difficulty on one of the exercises. Still not light at the start but that won't be too far away.

The shortened Heidelberg loop (or a minor variation of it). Definitely felt like a recovery ride but handled the main climb OK, with assistance from a bit of tail wind (an unusual direction for one). Got a good run with the lights on the uphill sections, which always helps. Seemed to drift off a bit in the later stages (though because it's mostly downhill that isn't terribly noticeable).

Happened to be looking today at an old log entry from a week when I topped 100km, which contained the comment "Now to put together a few more like it". Haven't done one since...

C • Unusual tail wind 1