Training Log Archive: NSW Stinger

just ran out along Ten Mile Creek rd and back. A thunderstorm came through and it surprisingly rained.

We planned to go away to Wilson's Prom for the weekend since Kathryn wasn't on fire stand by. But circumstances changed the day many times. I started out on the bike about 10.30 towards the coast, with kath going to pick me up on the way. But when my car broke down again at Mirboo North, I had to turn back and meet her and the RACV. Starter motor totally gone this time. So I had to ride back home to get Kath's car to swap over. The wind was really picking up and the burned forests starting to smoke again. It was 40.1degrees when I got home. But it still felt much cooler than AR world champs in Brazil. It must have been well over 50 there in the sun.
We changed our plans and drove to Inverloch for a swim (s. It was awesome. So hot outside the water but so nice in it. And not many people around either as it was just too hot. Kathryn was keeping a track on the fires via phone and ABC radio. The change came thru about 5pm and kids were flying the body boards like kites or chasing them a few k's down the beach. A guy got clocked by a flying SLSC rescue board that was airborne. We decide it was time to get home when Todd called to tell us about the Glendonald Rd/Churchill Fire. We stopped briefly at the depot next to home to pick up a work truck with a water tank on the back to take to Todds. In a moment of confusion I lost Kath and we drove different ways. I went down creamery rd, not a good move. There were spot fires starting and so much smoke and and ash being whipped up I couldn't see much. Came to a fallen tree but since i was in kaths work truck just drove thru it. As it reached the other end of the road I passed 4 fire trucks going to the fires.
Then i could see the fires behind Churchill that just lookes amazing. And really scary too. There were lots of branches coming down and visibility not good as I got closer to Todds. The phone lines were clogged so I had trouble getting in touch with them cos I didn't really know how to get there. When I arrived the trees were swaying badly and the fire was glowing on the south side of the hill. I got dressed and was briefed about their plans. Fortunately the wind pushed it past us but Traralgon south wasn't so lucky. We watched the fire fronts move past, and houses/gas bottles explode. At 11pm Todd and I went for a drive to see where the secondary fires were. They had surrounded the last property in his street about 1.5km away. I went to sleep expecting to be woken in a few hours, but surprisingly it didn't get much closer. Kath when to work fighting the fires at 7am, and we watch the fires still burned a few k's down the hill. 3 helicopters came to slow it down as it was threatening Loy Yang Power Station. I finally went home about 4pm and planned to go for a run. But after watching the news on TV (we only have channel 10, and channel 7 just from melbourne) running didn't seem so important any more.

C • Do you think 2

evening paddle in the Red 7 with Kathryn. This lake is cold in winter, but its nice on a warm summer night. Right shoulder felt a bit sore.

afternoon ride from home to Maryvale for Harriers.

I ran this course last year and quite liked it. Really nice firetrail surface, mostly flat or slightly downhill for the first 5km, but with a really tough uphill last 1km. This week I got 30 secs start over Kathryn which I thought would be a good battle. But she was a bit too tired from heavy training, and felt better than I expected after the warm up ride. I finished 2nd on handicap which was my best ever result.

10min w.u and 20min c.d.

evening run with Kathryn around the forest, pretty similar to yesterday but clockwise. Also went and checked out the fire line. I felt pretty tired today and struggled quite a bit.

Got my car fixed so drove into Mirboo North. There are heaps of houses along the highway which were lucky to survive the fires. Some have been totally surrounded by it.

First pre-breakfast run with Kathryn for a while. Much cooler than it has been but very sticky.

Evening run from home. I had to stay away from the bushfire zones to headed north to the quarry, then through an awesome section of mature pine that I'd never run to before. Spent 25mins in the terrain then back home via a more nor-western route.
Felt pretty good again today. Its been so long since i've felt good running I had actually forgotten how enjoyable it is.

evening run with Kathryn. It was really muggy today and even rained a little. Since we can't really run from home, we drove to the north side of Thorpdale/Morwell Rd and ran throught the plantations there. I felt pretty good today, so surged some of the hills. Feeling like i'm getting some form back. 620