Training Log Archive: Yak

Ride to AIS with about 8kgs on back!

Nice ride in Bruce Ridge after conference finished at 5.20pm
Ran into Trevor (ACT orienteer) and he showed me a lovely in and out of creek trail below the caravan park. Would have liked to have done more but had dinner at 7 and meeting again from 7.30-9pm!!

Got out after lunch when it had warmed up a tad.
Pinnacles - Higgins - William hovel drive to underpass into Kama nature reserve (never been before) - down to Molonglo River - explored sev kms to west and then back, contouring nicely via Coppins Crossing , then onward to the Tugg Parkway and went underneath.
Ended up at the zoo, found underpass back into Arbotoreum - UP Dairy Farmers Hill - across to next hill with sculptured letters - cork plantation - back up to Cook and home.
relatively easy ride ..nice.
Took David & Julie out to tea at RockSalt (Hawker).

Reunited with "barbie" in Canberra.
Over a day early for OA conference ...its going to be shitty sitting inside this weekend with great mtb events going on here and in Vic.
Definitely not coming next year! End of rant.

Canberra is so great for riding ...straight out the door onto dirt almost.
Explored all the tracks in the Pinnacles for about an hour, then Bi-Cent horse trail tracks thru Higgins etc and back thru weeteranga and Cook.
very dark high clouds gave a spooky feel.

First swim of the summer!!
Spent the morning house cleaning (like moving the chairs on the Titanic, but mostly paper in my case). failed to find lost bathers, though being black that increased the degree of difficulty.
Went in trepidation to Norwood Swim Centre and the first pair I tried on looked gd (even being colourful), at least from the front ..and were reasonably priced. On reading label after use it said: 'some colours may go transparent when wet." !!!

However, change room mirror wasn't flattering and also showed the numerous lumps / bites I have (esp on back), so I decided to do the doctor thing. Went to Norwood walk in place and only had a 5 min wait - thought I was allergic to something!!

Off to Payneham and had lane to myself (on a 37 degree day) for most of time. Troublesome L shoulder was so sore that it felt like it was going to dislocate on every stroke - worse than normal. Mixed in some breaststroke and 200m of drills. 2.10 for first 25m kick, then 1.45, 1.45 ...hardly moving at all.

Finally a Bal group ride.
Was asked the night before about accompanying a friend along the Torrens to Henley with 7 primary school kids but I really wanted to catch up with my Tues mates.

Up to 1am and then didn't sleep so well, so managed to arrive early.
Took off early with a small group of slower riders (+Michelle S) who were doing the longer first half. Rode the bike path to Charlston somewhat slowly and then M and I moved off the front and upped the pace. Near Mt Torrens a breakaway group of 3 guys from the fast group caught us and I jumped on, unaware that M didn't make it. Shared the work all the way to Birdwood and then Cudlee Creek, after only just keeping on going up the hill in the main street of Gumeracha. Felt great.

Even got to CC before the short course people!
Was chatting when most upped quickly and headed off on 2nd stage. This part had all the hills - towards Lobethal and then up the short, but nasty Fox Ck Rd climb. Michelle absolutely creamed me ...just powered away from the very start (has a new much lighter bike of 7kgs but that wasn't all it I'm sure) Luckily she waited at the top and we rode together to Lenswood, Forest Range and then towards Norton Summitt, before deviating up the again steep Deviation Rd, where she put time into me again. Caught her on descent to Carey Gully and then big downhill most of the way back to Balhannah.

Tale of two half's really. 35 degrees, though didn't feel it really until finished.

Goolwa and back by car ....

Woke up late and covered in lumps (bites?) and itchy.

So decided on a solo ride - home - up Norton Summitt (seeing lot of Gear Up Girls coming down), stopped for a chat with friends at Scenic hotel - then onward on the roller coaster hilly journey thru Basket Range, Forest Range to Lenswood. Then L onto Fox Ck rd (lovely and quiet) down to Cudlee Creek and then home along Gorge Rd, with many motor bikes.

Relatively few kms and in no hurry but had hills.

Torrens walk - late lunch b'day party and then Morialta High reunion at Robin Hood hotel.
Caught up with some teachers (trevor Brown, Sue Dawes, Mel Gilmour) and students - though hard to recognise the latter 30 years on. Forgot how common it was to smoke in the 80's, as many were still doing.

Over to Maryvale Rd to meet Vanessa for a ride. Took her to parts she had not seen. Athelstone - Waterfall Gully - up Chambers Gully in Cleland, then followed Chinamans etc almost to Crafers, then to Bullocks Tk and down Pioneer Women's - Waterfall Gully - Athelstone. Bit chilly, so I drank less than half a litre. Very enjoyable, and great to show V my favourite tracks.

Actually time was longer as for 20kms I rode alongside 2 veteran raw vegan runners who were doing their daily 42km marathon run along the Torrens and needed a guide. Pretty impressive pair, especially as they ran almost every day last year in training for this lap of Australia.
On Jan 1 2014 they will break the world record for consecutive marathons when they run from Melbourne home up the Yarra. Just have to run to Melbourne and then Devenport - Hobart first!

C • Raw vegan runners 2

Easy ride

Meant to go roadie riding with Bal group, but given the disshelved state of the house (worse than normal) I decided to stay home and hopefully get a ride in the evening. really strong winds arose about the time I could have gone, so stayed home and tried to catch up with some O work.
Feeling quite tired anyway, as often happens when one has been busy and then get home.

fast ride from julie,s down to National library, as running late for my booking to view the Mapping exhibition.
There were no car parks left, so lucky i was on the bike -exhibition has been booked outsince it opened.
Wasnt as good as perhaps the advertising stated but friends did spend 2.5 hrs there. I spent about 40 mins.
Historical fora sure.
The Treasures display next door was good. Also went to the National Portrait gallery.
Rode home with a little extension around the lake - legs a bit tired on the climb up to Cook this time.

Rode the 145km newly made Canberra MTB Centenary Trail, all in one day and mostly solo. Actually did more, as had to ride to and from my starting point plus went 2+km wrong at some stage. Very proud of myself. My legs felt strong, even doing the last 7 min long hill. Verification that I had fitness for the solo worlds, just had no energy from throwing up etc.

Funny incident near end of Hall single tk - I caught up with Belinda Allison & Alison Jones and they then realised that they had forgotten their car key for the car they had stashed at 20km run end, just 3/4 kms away. Neither was carrying their phone, so they lent mine to call Bill Jones to rescue them at Mulligans Flat rd!!

Ran into Liz Wilson (former Adelaide friend) with 3 others out to ride half - going other way.

Started at 7am and finished at 6pm but had 90 mins rest stops etc. Havent counted in the 40 or so photo stops.
- Black Mt - Ais - Lake G - Hall Av 18kph, mostly bikepaths. 18.9kms
- Hall - Mulligans Rd = 13.3km all on newly built single tk ...also had a campground along here. Av down to 13.8mpk
- Thru Mulligans& Goorooyarroo to Federal Highway - 17.8
- fed Highway thru Majura - Ainslie park - War memorial - Parliament House 15.8km
Crossant at café for lunch
- Parliament House - Melbourne Av - Red Hill - Hindmarsh Dr - Mugga lane (next to) - across to lower track on Issacs Ridge - Underpass across Long Gully Rd - nice new track to McGregor ...diverted to Scown house at Fadden and they joined me- Lake Tuggerong = 26.3km 2.30pm
- Lake T - Kambah Pool (8km?) all new single tk which contoured above the river. Beaut views, esp Red Rock & river. Took 1 hr but stopped numerous times fr photos and for Ann S to catch up. 40mis prob possible
then uphill to Mt Arawang and almost a circle of that, along ridges above houses - Narrabundah hill - Stromlo, with diversion to Duffy shops. 24.4km
- Stromlo - river - Daisy Hill - Cork Plantation - up, up past Black Mt to J&D's

C • Nice day out! 3

Ride around Black Mt and in Bruce Ridge checking out how the Centenary Trail is marked. This is an 145km or so new bike trail (only some sections new) that has just opened. I'm doing it clockwise, so Black Mt to Hall and then out onto private property, then mulligans, Ainslie, red Hill, Issacs .....
Hopefully I wake up early and the weather is ok.

Quick ride to AIS as running late, and return in afternoon, a bit longer way. 45 mins
Then to civic (10km) in late afternoon and an early tea at "Jamies," a new Jamie Oliver restaurant that just opened. We had a booking luckily, as long line up - nice food, service etc. Celebrating my niece Aimee's b'day.
Did a 15 km half lap of lake as part of my return and big dark clouds just missed bucketing down on me.

Time approximate

Ride to and from AIS.
Conference 9-5, then AIS Awards dinner from 6.30pm - 11pm.

Plane out at 6.40am and got into Canberra at 9. Then to J&D's where I was reunited with "Barbie" who got a trip to the AIS, with me in jeans and normal shoes. High Performance AIS Conference... I stayed awake completely through Michael Johnson's session (13 gold Olympic / World Champs medals in 200 / 400) - excellent and well presented. Had some nodding off thru Wayne Bennett (rugby coach) and female Commander of Duntroon.

Walk to shops and back.

Quick early morning ride to Telegraph Station and around, and also checking out Ross school.
Nice to ride in morning.
Speedy bike pack afterwards, drop off controls to Levi and to airport, then plane delayed.
I soon got to regret leaving the 5 minute town of alice, whilst getting across Adelaide in peak traffic.
Home for a wardrobe change and off to canbera at 6am tomorrow.

C • Don't forget to breathe! 3

Collecting controls on Scout map - my last collection after 2 weeks.!
wasn't in such a hurry and the closer I looked the better the area revealed itself to be ...just needs a revision on rock features and some form lines.
St P kids really did extremely well and thoroughly enjoyed their "test" event. One kid has a few scars to take home, with scracthes on his back from falling over and a million prickles in his shirt and cap ...but wasn't even complaining.
I worked out that I have set 45 courses plus a 2 hr bike & foot rogaine and correctly placed 220 controls or so in this 2 week period! Pleased.

C • Impressive effort! 2

I wanted to try out the newly created West MacDonnell track (formerly known as hell-line.) Now signposted and official. Its a mtbike track that goes north and then north-east initially. Not a bitumen path like the one to Simpson gap.
Started at Araleun centre and followed nice single tk for some kms to the trailhead at a fence. Only place Ive seen a sign with its map on it, but the trail starts near town. Then rode out and back on the moderate 1st half of a loop which connects to Stuart highway / Larapinta tk. 2nd half is quoted as advanced and local riders reckon it was tough and they crashed.

No-where near as enjoyable as nearer town tracks - first 2+km on rugged 4WD and then some not so gd single tk and finally the last 3kms or so, Ron's track, which was delightful. Sheepyards at half way mark were pretty average.

Had to hurry back, as per usual I was racing against darkness. 77 out, 67 back as slightly downhill and I knew what was coming up.

Collecting just 5 controls after the combined foot & mtb O event.
I was able to ride some interesting new tracks as I had plenty of time for a change. Got a surprise on a steep downhill one when I suddenly found myself approaching a steep ramp ...luckily didn't get airtime as it was a seriously big downhill jump ...I had found a downhill course way out the back of nowhere. Collecting the furthest control I rode a goodly part of the West MacDonnel track for the 3rd time in 3 days!

Got 100% enjoyment feedback from the public course riders and runners today, though no-one got near to cleaning up the course. Watermelon worked a treat afterwards and the "coles" prizes of choccies etc was appreciated. Only 30 degrees today and even got a spit of rain for 2 minutes.

Control putting out for public event tomorrow.
I'll be surprised if they get all 20 controls..
Got hot again and drank 2 litres whilst riding even though only about 30 degrees. Sad to think that I only have another 2 days up here...could do with some down time and fun riding.

Pottering around in 35 degree heat in checking control sites for Sunday's event. Got to the printer with an hour to spare! Difficult to guess how many to print - have triathlon & relay for life on too. The story of this choco full trip. Did a little of the West Macdonald trail. Ran out of water and felt quite dehydrated by end. Didn't help that I didn't sleep much last night with the high temperature.

Met with Levi Muddle (sports co-ordinator in charge of Desert Storm cluster) and he not only agreed but was rapt with my idea of incorporating an Alice Schools O Champs on the same day as the cross country.
They hold that at the Telegraph station, which is quite ideal for O.
Just need an O map now but have time to work that one out, as likely in late July / August. Yeh!

Second rode of the day, in the evening with Michelle C and Helen Kindness. I was leader and headed out towards Emily Gap again and got to a nice lookout before the track turned North - went to a gate and then turned back onto some fast single track that took us to top of range overlooking Alice. Then techie downhill home. As we topped one hill there were 3 boys there and they politely said "do you mind if we head off first?" Helen and I rode ahead faster and waited for Michelle at various times.

Other big win of the day was an excellent colour photo of Jan Kindness and his 2 daughters (and my bike) posing in O mode in the Centralian advocate.

Control collecting in 40 degree heat - I sculled 2 litres of water afterwards and was jealous of the PE class who were allowed to jump in the school pool in PE clothes at end of their lesson before lunch.

My Foot O event today went off well, involving 3 schools despite it being 34 degrees at 8.30 start and 40+ by 1pm when we finished. Still 39 degrees at 4.30pm and I'm contemplating an evening ride "in the cool." Had 34 controls out today with half in the bush and not locked and not one moved - amazing. Had a radio presenter out today who did a course and interviewed me and some students. Luckily it looks better weather (29) for Sunday's public event.

Finally back on mt bike albeit at 5.40pm and 38 degrees.
Short ride as it gets dark at 6.45pm.
Tried some 4WD tracks heading towards Emily Gap - 1st one was a dead end and then found a gd looking one but darkness started to descend at a nice saddle. There was a single tk nearby but I took the sandy wide track back to suburbia, seeing I had no idea where tracks were going.
Got back faster than expected (downhill), so took the pipeline tk across to Sadadeen and then to Todd River and back in darkness along the nice wide cement bike track on eastern side.
Brilliant sunset.

I was a bit like a bear with a sore head today!!
Wound did bleed a bit despite the stitches. Quite deep wound evidently. Had a tetanus shot last night.

Control "walking" again. Yirara indigenous college again, albeit in 39 degree temp.
I was amazed that in the optional afternoon session I got 20 kids up against the likes of bowling (indoors) and swimming.
They actually did quite well, despite the heat and enjoyed it... a big complement from one yr 10 boy who said..."Miss I'd that again.."
Another guy picked up that in the score event I had left off no 10 - no big deal but he was observant.

Late afternoon spent putting out a bucket load of controls at St Philips College (17), then nearby Anzac Hill (9) and spencer Hill (8). Some of the bush ones are flags only, so hope they aren't taken over-night.
Have the multitudes tomorrow with all schools confirming despite forecast 41 degrees!! It's going to be busy in the morning.
St Philips is on lovely grounds with Kooyoora type bare rock and cliffs on the school map, plus a hills hoist and many little alleyways between buildings.

Putting out and collecting controls at Centralian and then a walk checking the Scout map. Meant to ride but the photographer was 30 mins late for the paper shoot so didn't bother to get geared up on the bike, much to my regret. Because ..

Now added Alice Springs to the large list of hospitals that I have been a client at. After riding carefully for 2 weeks I injured myself walking checking out a bush O map. Ducked underneath a head high wire when going through a narrow fence gap but forgot to do so on my return ....cut the top of my head, much blood, little concussion. Great service at the hospital and they didn't admit me seeing I had some-one to monitor me!!

O control "walking" in 2 schools - Gillen PS and then Yirara College (indigenous) all in 37-38 degrees. Kate Radford helped me with the first session, which was nice. She also designed a poster promo and took out to bike shops and the Y.

Hugely busy day so no time for a ride or lunch!
- Gillen PS O early on
- check centralian middle school sites (15 mins);
- meet with PE guys from "Blue Earth" who may be able to do O in schools on an ongoing basis. Exciting!
- meet general manager and events manager for Chifley Resort and tie up accom & some sponsorship for MTBO Aus Champs 2014
- drive to Yirara and do afternoon sessions, including inducting a Blue Earth guy into how to do school O.
- go to printer
- arrange for radio presenter to come and "do" O at St Philips, so she can talk about it well.
- Go to Casino!! Nearest place to get a Melbourne Cup bet on.
(Though some silly person booked a school in for the first Tuesday in November and arranged a photo shoot for the Alice paper!!)
Now I have to plan a few courses for the next few days!!

Luckily the teachers are going on strike the day I leave Alice!

Rode over to Kurrajong (east side) and went for social ride (at 7am!) with mt bike club - 15 riders. Went on a new track (near Mimosa CR) that Raby had just built. Then to Eagle Rock and who knows where - ride a bit stop startish but nice to chat to people.
Had a BBQ brecki supplied by Raby & Deb at their place (4 Mimosa) and gave out info about mtbo event.

Then rode back the hilly way over the pipeline tk with 3 others who live in Mt Johns. Very warm - 35 degrees?
Time a bit of a guess.

walking checking foot o control sites at Anzac Hill, Spencer Hill and other bits in 35 degree heat of afternoon.

Rode out to Scout camp area and looked for control sites for the 2 hr bike rogaine event. Many of the small tracks were a figment of some-one's imagination and were incredibly shitty once I found them. Bit frustrating as I was trying to place them off the familiar ones. All this in 35+ degree heat
Larapinta PS has very nice grounds

Did an evening ride with 3 friends of Michelle - Dan, Brian & Helen. Similar look on the east, as what I did with Michelle but some harder bits, including skyline. Would have gone further but Brian was not so fit as others. Ok, as we are off to comedy show tonight - AJ Barker.

More O lessons at Steiner today then arranging a newspaper article and photo shoot before heading out to St Philips for course setting.
They even have huge rocks and grey slabs in their school grounds - would be a brilliant sprint map.
Made contact with the Desert Storm i/s sport guy and he has promised some hands on help next week at the St P event. Might need it, as will have a variety of abilities.

Another late afternoon ride. I rode over to the Scout area (west side) and met Michelle there and we rode for an hour (13km) with me looking for control sites for the public event Sunday week. Ran into some really sandy tracks in one section. Found an old bus that might get used as a control. Lovely blue and red colours in sky just after sunset!

Then rode home and explored nearby streets waiting for Michelle, who had driven slower than I rode. Found a huge man made spider in one front yard courtesy of Halloween - as big as a car!!