Training Log Archive: Zed

Thought I'd do long course as last long thing before rogaine next weekend and I managed to make it quite long! Really no trouble with nav until 12 where I was distracted watching someone else and had to go back down slope to above creek to be more precise with direction- prob 5 mins - and stuffed up 18 (246) by choosing a stupid route choice ie tried to get to from track above and became confused which spur I was on. From below would've been much smarter - lost 10 to 11 mins here. Feet also sore by this point. So apart from 16 min mistakes I was just a bit slow and cautious on steep hills and thickish undergrowth. Fun to orienteer in back yard. Leith went round with 2 mates from school. NB thank goodness rogaining is a team sport !!

Glorious morning for a quick loop in park with Callum .

Logging the most energetic bits of a Good session working on: 1. Zara- posture, rhythm and core muscles. 2. Alfie - going the pace I wanted and direction I wanted, which we achieved.

Loop around forest with Callum, the mad dog. Rushed home for weight session (shifting furniture out of kitchen ready for getting painted today!)

Starting to get a bit nervous about the rogaine next weekend - not sure why!

Belair run with crew. Steps loop but down qjd instead of steps . Just Simon and Callum for latter part, others doing shorter loop, so I had to work hard to keep up with them , while they cruised. Probably good for me!

Long run with Fern and Callum. Up Olave Hill Rd, back down through park, ran to gate above golf course with Fern then did another loop back up to Kaloola (power lines) track. Pleasant cruisy pace. Feet getting sore again though, will pack pain killers for rogaine.

Short run before work in rain freshened Park.

Aim mainly to have good run , but suffered a bit from not great planning. Planned on hop and started bit after start as had to get Callum from car. Went to control in magpie gully first so Callum could go off lead when most excited, later wished I'd gone anti clockwise from here, to part of map I knew best as ran out of time later. Anyway then went to 131, 121, 140 , 145, 142 ( these 2 longer than expected, not worth points ) 181, 162, 164, 168, 160 at scout hall, about 1 hour to go here. Then 180, mucked up streets wasting time to 167, 163, 183, 151 in forest reserve, 147, 130 coro station. Oh dear less than 4 min to go, back 3 1/2 minutes late - not well executed but had a good run and Callum LOVED it! Still in happy cuddly mood today. Afterwards we collected controls in quarries- amazed at Simon 's efforts to get all controls. Estimated 21-22 km so not good points per effort. Some great efforts by Arrows.

Actually was riding for about 2 hours to & from instructors place at Scott creek plus lesson but logged part of lesson where I was working hard. Light rain when I set out, built up to steady. No wind though so not too bad . Power off for couple of hours tonight - so tiredness came on early.!

From home to top of park to pick up car (again). Felt quite good, reasonable rhythm and legs.

From home up most of QJD to meet Bryn and Leith coming down ( they insist on driving to the top and rolling down! - but at least we are all out enjoying the bush on our bikes)

Rolling home - with some harder bits

Belair run - back to the dark! With the crew up Long Gully over the ridge North of Melville Gully to the redwoods and back.

Stretching hips out felt great.

From home to top of Park where Bryn had left car. Callum said it was too hot to go fast than a Callum -trot.

pm - from home to top of Park to meet Bryn and Leith who had driven there with bikes in back.

Cycling back down QJD from top of Park with Bryn and Leith. Passed the Wed 4.30 pm orienteers cycling group going up. Lovely still afternoon.

Short Callum run in park. Still a bit hobbly.

To town and return for all day meeting. Very slow ( 1 hour plus) coming home- legs tired from trail champs, and I lacked acceleration to move confidently across traffic to make right hand turns, so had to get off and push bike across busy spots eg roundabout at bottom of Old Belair Rd. Once off my bike tonight I have been experiencing wobbly quads, probably from being enthusiastic on the downhills yesterday. Rather strangely I was stung by a bee on the arm through my jumper tonight while in Bakers Delight - and now my face is swelling a bit in an allergic reaction. It seems to me ones body copes with little things less well when you are a bit run down.

SA Trail Champs starting and finishing at Cleland, down to Waterfull Gully, back up via Eagle on the Hill. It was a warm morning even at 8 am when we started. The initial nearly 1 km was uphill and the group was soon spread out, with the leaders streaming off into the distance. I just tried to go to in a smooth rhythm at this point. I had John N for company for first few kms until unknown to me he pulled a calf muscle. I enjoyed the downhills and overtook a few women on the way down. Towards the bottom I noticed how sore my feet were - I was wearing new shoes and new socks and was regretting wearing heels at a titanic dress up party last night. As soon as the downhills stopped I slowed. I passed 11 km in 55 minutes, and from then on the per km rate increased, as expected. Shortly after that, one at a time, I began to be overtaken by the women I had passed downhill, again as I expected. We were winding back towards the Pioneers womens trail at this time and my feet were very painful. I tried taking my shoes off briefly and massaging my feet which helped momentarily, but it looked like there was nothing for it but to slog it out. At water stop 3, near Mt Osmond, I poured water over my feet to soothe them, which helped quite a bit. I then chugged on up in bottom gear. Next water stop, just 3 ks further on ( thank goodness - it was so warm and I was feeling dry) I poured water on my feet again - I swear steam came off- and took a generous handful on lollies. I noticed Olivia had caught me by here. I could see a few glimpses of a woman in my age group (the pink shirt) who had overtaken me on Mt Osmond not too far ahead so I resolved to try and keep her in sight as a goal. Next section felt better, cooler again as the altitude rose, and the Mireen track was a very gentle climb and not too hard underfoot. At the end was the steepest climb of the run, which went on and on, but at least the kms were ticking down. I walked this, and just before the last water stop at the top was passed by Olivia, who was running smoothly. Then we contoured around on the Heysen trail for the last 3 km, and I kept Olivia in sight as I worried I might start walking without a goal! We crossed the main MT Lofty route, and I was asked for directions to Waterfall Gully "You're Ok, just head - gasp- down". Then relief we turned downhill again, and I passed Olivia and not long after pink shirt lady ( if the track headed up again, even by the tiniest bit, I was sure this would be reversed again - they told me afterwards I looked strong at that point, but really it was just gravity!) Finally I reached the 24 km marker, and then realised it was 24 . something - should have read the instructions better. We reached the bitumen again, and for a moment it looked like we still had a long way to go ( I was seeing the 12 k runners on a track we didn't need to go on, phew) Then I finally saw a flutter of finish flag through the trees, and now convinced there was no hidden up-hills to die on, could run fairly strongly to the finish. Phew! It was a relief to be finished, hardest thing I'd done for a while. I think I enjoyed it. Spent the afternoon largely on the sofa, including a nap. Congratulations to Lauren on winning, again!

C • Yay! 5

Rest day from running due to trail run next day - although did accompany Tarn's horse ride on foot for a couple of hours.

Pyramid intervals through park -made less effective by having 2 dogs strapped to my bum bag and getting twisted! And with a longer than usual stop at one point to allow hot dogs a drink at the dam.

From home up to Kaloola track. down and back along gully, with Callum and Holly - 2 dogs much harder than 1!

Small loop in park with Callum and Holly. (dog sitting this week) . Legs a bit tired today from towing hitch bike yesterday.
Thinking I should enter trail champs this Sunday.

Went to town this afternoon with my lovely holiday buddy Leith to buy some new trail shoes- asics trabucos- at joggers world( love that shop! ) and a ukelele for Leith.

C • Trail champs 2

Springton to Wirra Wirra Rd, Trial Hill rd, Steingarten Rd, Rowland Flat, Gawler. About 15 km gravel, rest bitumen. Gravel quite dry and so slippery, just Mums and kids this day so hitch all the way. Train back from Gawler. Lovely views. Lunch up high on Steingarten Rd.

Just north of Birdwood, through Mt Crawford Forest to Springton. Leith on hitch - part with me, part with John with friends Steve and Vanessa and their son Liam. Time estimated as lots of stops. I found the gravel slippery and bike a bit hard to control with extra weight - more so than previously - more slippery? or Leith has got bigger? Lovely to be out in space. Surprised at how cold it was. Stayed a Hayloft B and B and had tea at Springton Hotel. Visited the Gerbig family tree. Imagine having 16 children!

C • Hayloft 6

Up to kaloola track, down, back along valley. Walked first bit.

Noticing some increase in flexibility already.

Dorset valle rd, Matthews road, Scott creek road , back through friend property to top of ridge. Lovely late afternoon.

Very impressed by Arrows at Easter 3 day.

Loop around frank smith park, from home. Jog more than run.

I am pretty stiff at present having not done yoga for a bit.

Trying to do some yoga every day this week.

Pyramid intervals down thro park.

Belair run - just me and Callum. First one with a head torch, although good moonlight. Back to getting used to night running - bit more careful with feet etc.

Olave hill Rd, right at upper sturt rd next to boundary fence of Park, to blue cottage then Melville house , up and over to redwoods back down valley. Took off 5 minutes for 2 quick texts, giving my apple to 2 lovely horses on olave hill in a bare paddock and for Callum to drink in the railway dam. My feet hurt again after 40 mins or so - MUST get better fitting shoes - having feet issues I haven't had before except on long rogaines. Rogaine now has 111 teams entered I noted- good for organisers.

Commute from home to Balyana conference centre and return. As I was huffing and puffing my way rather feebly up the 20% slope on the Lynton bike trail on the way home Ryan F caught me up so I had company up to the Belair triangle. He notably was able to speak without any difficulty at all, although he informed me he does take this track several days a week. Great to be out of the car!

Nookoo track loop with Callum before work. Noted legs a bit tired from unaccustomed cycling yesterday. Lovely mist sitting on top of the hills this morning. Air smelt sweet and autumny.

Run up to Nookoo track and back down valley with Callum.

Yay!! At a course today at Balyana so able to ride down and up Belair to Lynton bike trail. 20% slope = steep. I want a job this close to home - was so nice to ride AND be home early. Legs fairly pathetic on bike.

C • Good for the quads 2

Again after lunging for 20 plus minutes. He was calm and relaxed and stretching low. I focussed on calm movement and core stability.

Blood and Thunder gully. Course 4. I enjoyed this. Quite warm by the time I started after checking that Leith and friend were OK on their course 9, shadowing for first 3 legs. Choose tracks much of the time as seemed probably faster than going through and I wanted to get a sweat and puff up. Happy with course, only small adjustments but checked map often - maybe too often? 4 th out of women in my group - 1st 4 all within a minute of each other and company of high calibre so happy with that.