Training Log Archive: jennycas

I adapted fairly quickly to the concept of a day spent in the company of 3 kids being restful - because I didn't actually have to do anything except hang out with the birthday girl (thanks Trace). Legs didn't hurt either, because yesterday's run was fairly cruisy and we had spent the afternoon in a neighbour's pool (and I should apologise to whoever of the 7-year olds was handicapped by being paired up with me rather than Josh or Tracy in the swimming "relay").

Rough times for each map yesterday:
Blue Gum Creek 22min
Lane Cove NP 20min (trying to find the guys)
West Chatswood 17min (Tracy's house on map but we didn't go past there)
Blackman Park 22min (including the slog up to McDonald's first)
Burns Bay 16.54
Butcher's Block 14.48
Pottery Green 29.20 (including the jog up the Pacific Highway but not the Mobil break)
Artarmon Creek 16.32
Tunks Park 21.32
Berrys Creek 33.34 (including the run south from St Leonards Staton)
Balls Head 29.27 (did I mention the stairs?)
and then maybe 5 min back to the picnic venue...

This really was a great idea. Tyson has wondered if we could do something similar here along the Torrens Linear Park since nearly all of the O-maps from hills to sea adjoin each other.

Oh, and Susanne & Zara won the women's in the Aust Champs rogaine. That's a great effort!

Event: Super Long World Champs III
 

This was fun even if it was stretching the definition of orienteering a little. Over 20 of us met at Roseville to run some or all of the 110 virtual controls which Andy had drawn on 11 mostly-linked maps in a non-straight line between there and Balls Head. From the first control we were down into and scrambling along a canyony creek with classic Sydney sandstone cliffs and I wondered how my ankles would hold up, but that was the worst of it, as Andy had set the shortest/shadiest/creekiest route on most of the maps and there were singletracks to follow (had to stop to read them without my glasses). The second map was an out and back in Lane Cove which the girls' group decided to skip, but at the last minute I decided I was gender confused and tried to follow the guys. Had to leave out a couple of controls but just managed to find them as they had their rest period before starting map 3. Chased them along the river then they all stopped at McChucks alongside the Lane Cove Motorway. I had no money but was carrying about 2L Powerade, plus Nutrigrain bars & pretzels, so decided to keep going until they caught me again. Was on my own through maps 4, 5, 6, then saw the group of girls at the start of 7. They were leaving out 8/9 through Artarmon, so I waited for the guys at the end of 7 and we all jogged up the Pacific Highway together with quite a long stop at a servo where I refilled my bladder. They had to wait for me of course at the end of 8&9 but not by much because some of the junior guys were flagging. By happy coincidence there was another set of golden arches at St Leonards station so I left them to it and headed for Berry Island. The guys all overtook me on a lap of the headland which I then cut short, went past them resting again and tackled the final section on Balls Head, where I had to walk all the steps/stairs, and there were lots of them! Went past the girls' picnic (so I knew where to come back to) and finished through the really neat tunnel (there are 5 in parallel but only one is open) to see all the boys waiting. Then I sustained my only injury of the day - a bite from a vicious ant - before jogging back to the picnic. I will be stiff tomorrow, and have more bruised toenails to add to last weekend's collection, but don't think I'll end up as hammered as I was then :)

My legs have almost recovered enough from Sunday to get hammered again tomorrow...

Met Fern at 5.45 am in Shepherds Hill (and I rode there - oh boy did my ITBs protest against that) and we did the loop up through Eden Hills, across to Flinders Uni and back. This is one of my favourite runs and it was good to share it, but I'm afraid I was dragging her back, especially on hills. Was nice to see the moon setting over the ocean once we reached the top.

Sedate run along the creek to the redwoods and return with John, Simon, Bridget. I took it pretty easy but my hamstring, which I had thought to be quiescent, began to twang on the way back.

Not too concerned about efficiency today so daydreamed along, nearly losing track of two laps in the process, but I found them again!

Attempted a run but since I had to stop and stretch 4 times in 18 minutes, gave up on it.

Didn't enjoy walking down stairs today, or even around the shops in St Kilda (although sitting in a cafe was fine until I tried to get up). Provisional results from Sunday are now on the Coolrunning thread; apparently I was 17th female (of 110 or something) in the 28km. I think:
a) that's not too bad
b) that can be improved upon next year (unless I do the 56km)
c) that explains why I'm in pain, 'cos I actually worked quite hard for it.

Short run down to/around/back up from the Yarra to see whether my quads had disenfranchised me. Wasn't too bad after the first downhill but even a run this short required coffee before & after. Caffeine aids muscle recovery, right?

4km splits from yesterday, before I forget:
26:33 (uphill),
19:24 (downhill),
30:14 (the 5km to 13 because I never saw the 12km marker),
16:22 (next 3km to 16),
21:05 to 20k,
23:18 to 24,
21:13 to finish (probably 3.5km?)

MFR group run from Simon Goddard's housesitting venue at South Yarra. Involved a lap of the Tan, apparently in reverse, which is considered either daring or antisocial, I wasn't sure which. Followed by excellent dinner (which, for the 4th night in a row, had been cooked for me, by someone other than me).