Training Log Archive: TheInvisibleLog

Five hours mapping. Total time expended, 35 hours, for 2.8 square kilometres. One more weekend and will be half way.

C • Permission 12

Skraplands locked gate, after 5 hours of mapping. Not fun running at the moment.

Faster run to keep up with spouse, [particularly in the first kilometre. I don't warm up nearly as quickly as her. My body rebels at the prospect of morning running.

C • rebel 2

The following note is from Evan's log.
On monday after the last race of easter i went around with jimbo and stuck flyers on all the cars at the event advertising easter next year in bendigo. The only comments i heard (and i heard them from two different people) as i was walking away from them after having put the flyer on their dash (they werent aware i could hear them) was along the lines of "Ugh, Bendigo! Not again! why do we always go to the same places for easter."
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Interesting conumdrum. How do you get variety over time? There are a limited number of good terrain areas in the state, and the orienteers are concentrated in two cities (Melbourne and Bendigo). The best terrain is in the Golden Triangle between Ballarat and Bendigo or in the North East. Melbourne terrain isn't really carnival standard. The last two carnivals in Victoria were in the north east to try and get some variety. Warby and Rowdy Flat were good areas and the Xmas 5 Days will be returning there. So with Easter coming up as a Victorian carnival, what choices are there?
In an optimistic mood Blair was once interested in the Brisbane Ranges/You Yangs combination based in Geelong. I see this as mediocre (Brisbane Ranges) or green (You Yangs) terrain with the consolation of the proximity of the beach. How many would consider sacrificing some orienteering terrain quality for post event benefits? Market research needed.
Over the past decade I have been visiting unmapped terrain areas in the State (my work has sent me on lots of overnight trips). I can think of only one good terrain alternative to the Golden Triangle or the North East. It would be a unique carnival if it could be pulled off. The main areas would be:
Black Range near Stawell.. another Kooyoora, but mostly private land.
Dreeite near Colac... stony rises tectonic terrain., also totally private land.
https://picasaweb.google.com/NeilFBarr/TectonicTer...
You could get three or four events out of these areas combined. But you won't get accomodation within cooee of Stawell at Easter (some obscure running race is on.. a gift?), and you don't want to run in stony rises before the cold weather arrives and the tiger snakes go to sleep.
A more out-there option is Hattah and Cowingee? Bend.. Murray trench terrain. Accomodation in Mildura would be a reasonable option. This needs more investigation, but i wonder how much organisational enthusiasm there would be for the 6 hour drive from Melbourne. Its closer to Adelaide. More investigation needed.
So what are we left with.. Bendigo- Castlemaine, Ballarat or Wangaratta-Wodonga.
Obviously some better publicity is needed about what is on offer.
- you might have been to Bendigo for a number of carnivals, but have you actually run in the terrain adjoining Bendigo? Last major carnival there was WOC85. Alexander wasn't much more recent than that.
Two of the areas have been closed catchments until quite recently, so are relatively track free. One adjoins and is similar to Diamond Hill, a high quality mining terrain never used for a major event due to an accident of history.
Finally, when was the last time you could ride a bike to three events from your accommodation? I know... O-Ringen.

ADDENDUM
Have started work on a skeleton web site to promote Easter 2013.

C • Bendigo 6

Hard riding effort home. Need to do something to get the heart rate up. Running isn't working.

Ride punctuated by a collision with a wasp or bee. result.. very swollen lower jaw and a delayed and slow completion of the ride.

C • it is a concern 4

Making up for gentle ride this morning. Lips still numb.