Training Log Archive: PrueD

Another B for this weekend - a BLOODY HOT DAY (car indicated 41 degrees on the way home)!! This was the AWOC Club Champs at Cyanide just out of Chiltern. The event was preceded by an MTBO score event, which I didn't go to, but everyone else did. The area looked really pretty with white trees, green grass and masses of wildflowers. The terrain was intricate spur/gully but with granite rocks on the hills AND mining detail.
The first surprise for the day was the map - just contours and the odd feature, but no vegetation - basically a topographic map - which made route choice difficult, because you would aim for an area that looked like it should be a clear run - only to find it was thick and unrunnable.
I made an error on the first checkpoint (on the wrong spur) but corrected easily. I then made some poor route choices due to laziness - trying to avoid going up the hills and taking the road route - which probably not a time saver as I am not a fast runner. The checkpoints in the rocks were OK. Then - at the furthest end of the course - the heat hit me - HOLEY-MOLEY it was hot!!!! No wind, just a searing temperature. All running stopped and I walked slowly on the 2 longest legs (up and down about 10 spurs). Flatter routes were available but were longer and, at a walking pace - were not likely to be quicker. Anyway, towards home with a couple of Ks to go, a bit of light cloud cover came in and I starter jogging again. My this time I had blisters and just about heat stroke.
Afterwards we all went back to Chiltern and I had lemonade and a large ice cream for lunch! Then back home with instant family - the Panters (minus their usual organiser)!!

I have never done an MTBO sprint event before and can hardly ride a bike - but decided to enter this event regardless (as everyone else was)! And to my surprise is was hugely fun - perhaps almost as much fun as the Masters Sprint! The event was in Chiltern, which I didn't think was big enough to host such an event - but again I was surprised. It was a great course, with lots of route choice, small parks and lanes and a really good mixture of made roads and small tracks. I went flat out and came 2nd in my category. Suzanne fell off her bike at the end and was carted off to hospital for stiches- she was very disappointed as she was beating me! Friend Peter entered and found 2 checkpoints - one from his course and one from another course!
The lowlight of the day was the BIG WASHING MACHINE DISASTER in the morning resulting in a large flood in the ktichen, which started de-laminating my benches, as I attempted to speed wash 5 sets of sheets and towels before going to the event. I have put this down to an airlock in the sink, as all the other sheets and towels were piled up. Doesn't justify a new machine just yet.

Again - nothing. The afternoon and evening were spent getting ready for the Big Benalla Bike weekend and several shifts of visitors - 5 on Friday night and a different set of 4 on Sat and Sunday. My place is starting to feel like a B+B. The weekend is the AWOC Vic MTBO Sprint Champs and AWOC club champs.

Unfortunately - nothing!!

First Wednesday night street O at Balwyn. It was a hilly area and although I had intended to run all the way found that I still had to walk up some of the hills, which was disappointing. A good turnout.

Swim at Nunawading Pool. I started to cramp at little in both legs towards the end (something I have never had before, and started to look out for the lifeguard just in case) and have put this down to being a little tense before I started - as a result of having to speed my life up a gear in order to fit everything in. This is possibly the way of things to come. So far, so good - everything is ftting in. New job definitely lends itself to a more balanced lifestyle compared with the previous one.

Only walked in street O at Gen Iris. Leg and cold both much recovered. Started work today - and decided to ensure improved life-work balance as compared with previously.