Training Log Archive: PrueD

Antihistomines and anti-itch cream are doing no good. Ivy allergy continues.

I went to a wedding last night (covered in spots - not a great look) and didn't get home until 1.30am. I had cleaned my car inside and out before the wedding, which was good, as it ended up being used as the wedding car. The bride was not exactly dainty and was wearing a huge dress - so it was a major squessze getting her into the back seat.

I am not sure how to say this - but I am covered in spots and awfully itchy. Sleeping is a problem. I am SO SO allergic to ivy.

After another day tackling the ivy and then going to the tip with a huge trailer load, I went for a slow walk around the lake. For some reason my legs ached the whole way and one knee was sore.

You might like my stars for today, which seem surprisingly relevant:
"Resume your exercise program, and if you've been slack for a while forget about the guilt trips. .... Jump back up and move forward with no regrets"..... hmm - maybe tomorrow.

Oh dear - training program not going well. I spent the day reverting to my forner rural lifestyle. The morning was spent as 'truckie's assistant' doing a timber delivery out to Lima. The highlight was seeing a litter of four rottweiler puppies being pushed around in a pram. I still cannot understand how something so ugly and vicious as an adult can be sooo cute as a puppy (they fitted into the palm of my hand). I suspect that their cuteness is a mean trick of nature designed to make unsuspecting people buy them in pet shops, thereby ensuring survival of the species. Despite the best efforts of the owners I resisted taking one home.

I then went past my old house in Lima. The new owners have done nothing but garden since I left and the place looked absolutely gorgeous. All the trees I planted have grown up and the place is green and lush (it was a bare dry paddock when I bought it). Ah *sigh* - I wish..........(but I wouldn't have enough time to orienteer if I was still there).

The remainder ot the day was spent battling ivy and then cooking (plus eating). The ivy fought back valiently - releasing a toxic powder as I cut it - which even two anti-histomines could not counteract. I must be really allergic to the stuff.

C • rottweilers 2

I took Bruce and Suzanne for an exploratory walk around Reef Hills in the hope of illiciting some enthusiasm for mapping the area. We went in a fairly circuitous route along the smaller tracks so that we visited the various areas of mining detail not able to be seen from the tracks. In addition to the mining detail, the area also has a lot of subtle spur gully terrain, well suited to long legs.

The verdict? Bruce thought that the area was suitable for a MTBO (flattish tracks and lots of them), a duo, a hagaby (from the central carpark) or a club event held in conjunction with a sprint event on the Lake Benalla map. Anyway, interest was raised and we might be able to get some mapping started (although it was suggested that the plan involved me - roaming around with the Garmin turned ON - to get some initial mapping of the tracks). However, transferring the route to a map base might need to involve someone with a bit more mapping nous that me.

John and Jenny Sheehan, on their way back from Easter, then joined us for lunch. With all this socialising, it feels as though the Easter event is still on....

C • print this out and give it ... 3

Felt quite tired and spent all day doing the washing and tidying up. Bruce and Suzanne came to stay in the evening on their way home from Easter. I forgot to mention how impressed I was at the organisation of the Easter twenty10 carnival - it was a huge effort and went off really well. I especially liked the novelty aspects - Captain Compass and the spot prizes. I was also pleased that the courses were technical. Well done to all concerned!

Day 3 at Collector Hill. I started poorly - being insufficiently fit and warmed-up to run up the long track to 1. From then I was in 10th place and stayed that way for most of the event (except 5-6 where I had the 3rd fastest split - not sure how). However the extra speed quickly deteriorated at 8-9 where I lost about 5 minutes. Similarly to Day 1 I lost contact with the map and, even though I was virtually on the control, took some time to relocate. Then - into the too thick casuarina and very slow going. Jools caught me and then disappeared in to the nether. Anthea Feaver raced past looking like something from another planet. From then on I was quite tired and couldn't run through the paddock and up to the finish - and got one of the slowest splits for the finish shute. I came 11th - which was down a bit in pace from the previous days. The Garmin failed yet again (I forgot to take it entirely).

Overall, if I hadn't mispunched on Day 2 I would have been about 8th in the field, which pleased me, as it is a bit higher up the field than previous Easters. My navigation has improved but my fitness is lacking. Lessons learnt - there was a pattern between Days 1 and 3 and I need to trust the bearing and keep going just that bit further rather than relocating too quickly. I also need to improve running fitness - especially on hills (more training at a higher intensity is clearly needed).

After the event - my lift was waiting so it was into the car and back to Benalla where I will spend the rest of the week having a holiday at home. Although entered for next weekend, I have a wedding to go to, and regretfully have had to select duty over passion.

C • Pity.. 4