Some Might Say It Was Hot

Today:
Distance: 8.85 km
Time: 49' 34"
Rate: 5' 36" per km
Weather: sunny, temp 36 degrees, humidity 25%, wind NW 15 kmph
Week: 22.8 km
January: 438.65 kms in 27/31 days at ave 16.25 km per run day

The general consensus is it was hot today, especially from noon onwards. But, the lack of humidity meant it was bearable for a short time.
I ran home for lunch, nothing special, felt Ok, drank a bottle of 600 mls of water in 30 minutes.
Car back to Pine Is after lunch, short jog before spending 15 of the best minutes in the river. Too warm for running recovery, but a nice time.
Not as good as Vanities Crossing on a hot day, but that is a special place.

Campbell Park - Monthly Handicap

Today:
Race: Distance - 6 km in 26' 54" at ave 4' 29" per km
Warm up & cool down: Distance - 7.95 km in 46' 21"
Weather: sunny, temp range 18-23 degrees, humidity 78% down to 50%, wind calm
Race: Started group: 36, finish place: 26th
Week: 13.95 kms, Jan & Year: 429.8 km

Monthly handicap No 167 and the last one for me until August, so I raced hard. Nothing to lose, may be go back one start group, but I did get a lift after the wet race day in November.
Really enjoyed today, I had Michelle on my tail all the way back, trying to stay in front and giving her some one to chase and catch.
She did pass me with a hundred metres to go, she has a good sprint finish. I passed both Strewth & Ewen near the 4 km mark, obviously tired from yesterday's long run ( benefit of the doubt).
Some may say they didn't like the change in the course, it wasn't our preferred choice, but every one races over the same terrain.

Over The Hills, But Not Far Away

Today:
Distance: 38.00 km
Time: 4 hrs 24 mins 20 secs
Rate: 6' 57" per km
Altitude gain/loss: 900 metres
Weather: cloudy to start then sunny, temp range 13 - 21 degrees, humidity 82% down to 50%, wind calm
Week: 81.85 km, Jan & Year: 415.85 km

We stayed close to civilization this weekend. Injuries and illness are reducing our running numbers, so only three of us tackled the mountains. Early start again in case the weather turned warmer than forecast. In fact a very pleasant morning.
Softshoe, Robbie & myself started behind the War Memorial, then over to Campbell Park for another quick look over tomorrow's monthly handicap course. Up the Mt Ainslie track to the saddle, right turn up the goat track to the reservoir behind Hackett.
We headed to the Majura Pines area, quick chat to a mountain biker training for a 100 km bike ride soon, then up past the grapes at the vineyard to the top of Mt Majura. Excellent views over north Canberra.
We followed the Triple Tri course off the mountain to join the lower fire trail out to the Federal Hwy, part of the Bush Capital 25 km course. Turned around at the highway, back behind the houses of Watson & Hackett to the base of Mt Ainslie.
Robbie is going to do his first (and only ?) Six Foot Track in March so he needs all the up hill he can get. Up the track at the back of Mt Ainslie to the top, down the main front walking track back to the start. Damn, only 29 kms, need more !!
Enter Speedygeoff on the scene, he has only covered 19 kms, needs extra. Another one to the team, over to Mt Pleasant, a place Speedygeoff has been once before, many years ago.
Memory forgets how many nasty little hills there are to get to the top, and we went up the easy way. The Three Peaks run in November goes up the RMC cross country course the difficult way.
We are all hanging in there, some a little unsure down the steep down towards the back of the Russell defence offices.
Hard part done, easy at reasonable pace along Constitution Ave to Anzac Parade where we parted company with Geoff. Back to the start, a loop around the car park to make the distance a round amount.
Great day out, thanks to Robbie & Softshoe, then the company of Geoff.
Nana nap now, first monthly handicap with early start tomorrow.

Couple of Easy Active Days

Thursday:

Distance: 8.2 kms in 81' 43" at ave 9' 58" per km

Today:

Distance: 12.3 km in 71' 56" at ave 5' 51" per km

Weather-both days: sunny, temp 27 degrees, humidity 40%, wind calm

Week: 43.85 km, Jan: 377.85 km

Year: 377.85 km in 4 weeks at ave 94.46 km pw

Yesterday I walked & jogged around the Campbell Park nature to be used on Sunday for the vet's monthly handicap.

A small pond/dam before the short course turnaround is still flooded over the track we use and is very muddy. The area would be very chopped up from around 180 runners and walkers going through it twice. The monthly handicap sub committee have therefore decided to change the course. The new map is shown here and also on the ACTVAC website.

Same starting place near the car park, run beside the fence to the horse stile.

The changes apply immediately at the horse stile. Instead of continuing on, all three events will go sharp left following the fence line up to the Mt Ainslie track and turn right. The short courses turn a little way down the track and return the same way as going out.

The long course continues on the Mt Ainslie track, turns left at the bottom of the hill, follows the main Mt Ainslie track to the turnaround about half way up the hill. Turns around and back the same way as going out.

Each event looks like it will slightly more difficult than the usual Campbell Park course. However, the alternative to use the usual course may have seen falls at the water crossing, plus all the nice new running shoes purchased over the summer would be a mess. There was no choice.

Today, a run/jog around Pine Is area. Stopped for a 15 minute recovery in the river, beautiful.

Long run over Mt Majura and Mt Ainslie on Saturday, followed by the monthly handicap on Sunday. I will need a couple of nana naps over the weekend.

Orroral Valley

Today:
Distance: 7.2 km
Time: 39' 00"
Rate: 5' 25" per km
Weather: cloudy, light drizzle, temp 18 degrees rising to 30 degrees, humidity 85% down to 40%, wind calm
Week: 23.35 km, Jan & Year: 357.35 km

The AMRA held the Orroral Valley run this morning. Course changes due to long grass in the valley after Smoker's Trail meant an out and back on the fire trail. Usual starting place at the old tracking station site but still including a nasty climb between the 5 and 6 km marks.
A good field for a mid week public holiday of around 50 runners with 3 walkers, mostly doing the 20 kms event.
Light drizzle fell as we set up the drink station at the turn around point at 10 kms. Luckily it wasn't cold, and soon the clouds broke up and the sun came out to give a beautiful morning.
I jogged around a bit to give me some running for the day, quite happy with that while Kerrie M did all the serving of drinks to thirsty runners.
Apart from the running with the results soon to be published on http://www.mountainrunning.coolrunning.com.au/ the only other creature of nature was a nice tiger snake, complete with yellow markings, hidden under a large rock at the start line.
It's been many years since I have seen one so up close and personal, a beautiful snake, but I don't wish to engage in idle chatter with one.
Great morning in Namadgi National Park, if you missed out, there is always next time.

I Watch & Read With Interest

Today:
Distance: 5.8 km
Time: 32' 15"
Rate: 5' 34" per km
Weather: sunny, warm, temp 27 degrees, humidity 50%, wind NW 15 kmph
Week: 16.15 km, Jan & Year: 350.15 km

Early into the new year and most of us have set our targets for the year, or at least the first half of the year.
Needless to say, we are positive, we have found a plan that we hope will get us to the finish line. But I wonder if it is the right plan for me?
For example, Carol Baird was an excellent ultra walker & runner until she injured her ankle at SFT. She would do long run/walk sessions over two consecutive days, may be 4 hours or more each day. I could never do that, I would break down very quickly if I tried, but it works for some. I have always done longer on one day and rested the next, that is how the races are held.
The other session I believe has doubtful benefit are short hill repeats for long distance running like marathons or events like Six Foot Track. Better off incorporating them into a long run, up and down the hills, walk if necessary. There is no substitute for going out there and running, just for the fun of it.
My message is by all means follow a plan, just make sure it is right one for you. Don't become an injured statistic not making the start line let alone the finish line.
Who will be the first to have to take a week off training through injury ? No one I hope. Be carefull.

Calwell Oval - 20 laps in Lane 5

Today:
Distance: 10.35 kms in 49' 35" at ave 4' 47" per km
Weather: sunny, temp 25 degrees, humidity 60%, wind calm
Week: 10.35 km Jan & Year: 344.35 km

A bit of easy cruise interval running on Calwell oval this morning. Similar to last Sunday after long runs the previous day. There is a need to keep the fast twitch muscles working, I do race sometimes plus it feels good to go a little faster although today was hardly fast.
The usual session on the nice grass surface, cut during the week, a drop of overnight rain and in perfect condition. Lane 6 in begging to be used, there were no signs of foot prints. I use lane 5, not the fast lane 1 nor the slow outside lanes, but nicely in the middle.
Ran bare feet, changed direction after each 5 lap set after stopping for drink.Gradually increased pace starting with the first set at 4'58" km pace getting better to last set at 4' 34" pace. Finished with an easy cool down, nice morning on the grass. Felt good after a long day out yesterday.
The image is where I ran today, the Google picture was taken in March 2008, obviously still in drought by the look of the outside areas.
Next job today, cut the grass at home this afternoon, every week now. For a decade it was 3 times a year. Bring back El Nino.

Cotter to Bulls Head and back

Today:
Distance: 55.25 km
Time: 7 hrs 1 min 0 secs
Rate: 7' 37" per km
Altitude gain/loss: 1150 metres
Weather: sunny, temp range 17-29 degrees, humidity 80% down to 35%, wind calm
Week: 103.5 km, Jan & Year: 334.00 km

Today was another of the preferred locations for a Saturday morning, or for today, part of the afternoon. It was the 150th time I have recorded a Cotter run since 1994. They all must have started at the Cotter Reserve, not half way around or at the top of a hill. It doesn't include any Brindabella Classic events as they started high up in the mountains.
Softshoe & John K were on the start line just after 6: 30 am, we waited a while in case there were any others, but disappointed we left to ponder why. It matters not which way you go to start, it's up hill.
Through Pierce's settlement ( one house) to find water flowing nicely through the creek a km or so on. That was to be the case later on, water everywhere. Vanities Crossing was nice even at the stage, just 6.5 kms gone, could easily have stopped there.
But distance had to be covered now under a warm clear sky. Up the hills past DS 8, the relay changeover is very open and the real test on the way back exposed to the heat of the day.
Softshoe has already described the next encounter as we ran down towards the fast flowing creek. Through a section we now call snake corner after an encounter a few week ago, there was another red belly black snake, a metre long across the track and not moving.
We waited, coaxed, and waited until finally movement, very quick movement towards the creek. Well fed snake, living on plenty of frogs and lizards. Heaps of water across the trail from overfull creeks, wet feet, no choice.
John K turned around at DS7 gate, we continued on to Bulls Head picnic area on the Mt Franklin Road. Distance to Bulls Head is 27 kms, so for Kelley, about the same as the first long up hill at Comrades. This would be perfect training area for her. If she can find some company.
We found a small creek enabling us to refill, always needing water as it was warming up, even in the shade. Refilled again at the fast flowing creek, we needed plenty to keep us going which must have worked as neither of us cramped even with the sweating.
Closer encounter for Softshoe nearing snake corner, he was so close to stepping on another red belly black. That's why I let him lead, not because I was too buggered to go any faster.
Back in the open, the thunder clouds were rolling in from all sides, not sure we would get back without a down pour on us. We added 1.5 kms out and back on the 15 mile course before Vanities to ensure we made at least 55 kms for the day. It looks better than just under.
Almost the same time from Vanities after a rest back to the start as on the way out. Happy with that part of the whole run, the rest was good time on feet. Overall, take out the hills, we are on track for CP100km.

CJ's Back

Today:
Distance: 6.2 km
Time: 35' 48"
Rate: 5' 45" per km
Weather: sunny, warm, temp 26 degrees, humidity 45%, wind calm
Week: 48.25 km
Jan & Year: 278.75 km in 3 weeks at ave 92.9 km

Nothing to write about of interest, a run home from work at lunch time. Nice day.

How long will the blogging last ? I hope a long time, she always has interesting stories to tell. As long as it's not about falling over, the master must have learnt by now. We will leave it to Strewth to take over the falling over.

Way, Way Behind

Today:
Distance: 10.65 km
Time: 61' 47"
Rate: 5' 47" per km
Weather: sunny, temp 24 degrees, humidity 50%, wind calm
Week: 42.05 km, Jan & Year: 272.55 km

Softshoe has been putting the long hard yards recently, topped off with a very impressive 80 kms today. This puts me well behind in the kms for the month, no chance of catching that up before the end of this month. He is certainly giving himself every possible chance at Centennial Park.
Nothing special about a short run down to Pine Is, along towards Point Hut, and back again.
Stopped at the beach for 15 minutes in the water, nice.
Probably a rest day tomorrow, too many things to do at lunch time.

Rolling Along

Today:
Distance: 10.15 km
Time: 54' 53"
Rate: 5' 24" per km
Weather: sun/cloud, temp 23 degrees, humidity 45%, wind NE at 10 kmph
Week: 31.4 km, Jan & Year: 261.9 km

I think I need a day off running, but am not willing to give up and sunny day, even in January.
The weather has been so unpredictable & changing this summer, I only need to wait a day or so and we will get rain again. That will be my rest day.
Nothing exciting today, just rolling along. A couple of bus loads of kids playing at Pine Is meant a short cut to avoid them, but the young nymphs lying on the beach were worth a second look.
Ewen, a change of location for your afternoon training sessions is required.

Heads Down

Today:

Distance: 13.35 km

Time: 75' 30"

Rate: 5' 39" per km

Weather: sunny, temp 29 degrees, humidity 25%, wind NW at 25 kmph

Week: 21.25 km, Jan & Year: 251.75 km

I didn't go to bingo at lunch time for heads down at 1 pm. Instead, I had to try to keep my hat on my head. A strong but warm NW wind helped getting me home at lunch time, but hard work getting back.

Still, a nice afternoon, good to still see the sunshine for a few days.

Nothing to report about the running, all is well & keen to see this weekend to get to Bulls Head.

The image is where we went on Saturday, that's Cooleman Ridge being surrounded at the bottom, three laps there.

The top loop is in Duffy Forest or what's left of it. A total mess at the moment, washed out gullies, tracks not maintained and almost unsuitable even for a training location.

Certainly the vet's monthly handicap couldn't be held there in the future.

Laps on the Track

Today: Calwell Oval:
Distance: 7.9 km
Time: 38' 18"
Rate: 4' 50" per km
Weather: sun/cloud, temp 30 degrees, humidity 45%, wind calm
Week: 7.9 km, Jan & Year: 238.4 km

Drove down to Calwell oval this afternoon after a sleep in and some work around the yard at home. The grass is growing so fast, the weeds even faster.
Beautiful afternoon until some thunder type clouds rolled in late and blocked out the sun. However, it's always nice down there to run bare feet in lane 5. The grass does need a cut, but the length means a nice soft surface, no hard patches.
The usual session, although shorter, only 15 laps in lane 5 plus a bit of cool down jogging. Easy after yesterday's long outing, 3 sets of 5 laps, at average of 4' 49" per km. Comfortable enough pace, without pushing or sprinting.
Then drove down to Point Hut to spend 15 minutes in the river, very nice indeed.

Weston Creek

Saturday:
Distance: 45.25 km
Time: 5 hrs 34 mins 15 secs
Rate: 7' 23" per km
Altitude gain: 450 metres
Weather: sunny, temp range 20 - 29 degrees, humidity 90% down to 50%, wind mostly calm to light NW at 10 kmph
Week: 85.7 km, Jan & Year: 230.5 km

Another long Saturday outing with Softshoe, all part of the SMB plan to get to the start line at CP 100 km.
We started at the top end of Hindmarsh Dr and ran three laps around Cooleman Ridge and Mt Arawang. Met John K part way round the first lap and he stayed with us ( or we tried to stay with him) for the 3 loops we did. Each lap was about 11.5 kms, a long way to have to carry enough drinks. The humidity was very high from the start, we really felt it out in the open as there was no shade at all. Certainly not many others about, unlike the trail around Mt Taylor or beside the lake in the city.
We finished 3 laps with about 35 kms done, looking then to find a couple of shorter trails to follow so headed in Duffy forest area. Not that many years ago we ran many vet's monthly handicaps here, but that would not be possible any more. The bush fires and then lack of maintenance have wrecked the area, and recent rains have washed away many parts of the tracks.
A couple of laps in there to make 45 kms for the day including going up to the trig. Good views up there over the Woden area and west towards the mountains.
We counted up our fluid intake for the day, around 6-7 litres in total and could have drank more.
Back home, quick shower and a nana nap for a couple of hours, then off to work. At least that is easy on a Saturday night.
Feel good today, legs Ok, will try a short run later down to the river after a bit of back yard tidy up.

It Fell Apart Slightly

Wednesday: Nil
Thursday: Dist- 13.00 km in 73' 32" at 5' 39" per km
Weather: cloudy, light drizzle, temp 20 degrees, humidity 85%, wind calm
Today: Dist- 4.5 km in 24' 19" at 5' 24" per km
Weather; cloudy, temp 23 degrees, humidity 75%, wind calm
Week: 40.45 km, Jan & Year: 185.25 km

I'm not as good as Strewth when I get behind with the blogging. In fact I'm lucky to remember yesterday let alone why I had Wednesday off running. I know I came home from work at lunch time and had a nana nap for an hour. Must have been overworked !!
Thursday I ran a loop from work up Erindale Dr to the shops, up on to Longmore Cres, then down Athllon Dr to the top of the lake, then back to work. Nothing exciting really except the light drizzle all the time.
This course, usually ran the other way, was one I did with a few other runners from work about 15 years ago. We were not that good or fast, but we were training for City to Surf. The distance was about the same, either way is a grind to the high point on Longmore Cres, with a nice down hill back to our start.
Today, a short easy run down to the river and back, just a roll the legs over running, then straight away, on the bike and ride home. Five kms of bike riding doesn't count for anything.
Much slower these days, motivation and age have caught up with me during the week. Weekends I usually come good, I like my long Saturday morning running.

I Had to JFDI

Today:
Distance: 10.05 km
Time: 55' 42"
Rate: 5' 33" per km
Weather: cloudy, temp 20 degrees, humidity 80%, wind easterly 10 kmph
Week: 22.95 km, Jan & Year: 167.75 km

Grin & bear it, and "just f...... do it". Good advice from Michelle & Ewen. It took some motivating to get out the front door of the depot with the running shoes on today. It would have been much easier to walk across the road, catch the bus & get someone to drive me home at lunch time.
As difficult as it is to get moving, once the feet take a few running steps, it all feels right.
Took a flat easy way home, just in case. Much better on way back, nothing much to report except as we all know, it rained again. Nothing like our friends in Qld, they have had enough to last the rest of the year.

Dodging the Rain

Today:
Distance: 5.8 km
Time: 33' 21"
Rate: 5' 45" per km
Weather: cloudy, rain, temp 21 degrees, humidity 90%, wind easterly 15 kmph
Week: 12.9 km, Jan & Year: 157.7 km

It bucketed down with rain just before I started to run home for lunch. Waited a while and it eased off for enough time to get home without too much water damage.
However, down it came again so I drove the car back to work. I had ridden the bike to work so that did count towards a little more activity for the day.
Threw the bike in the back of the car at night, end of a slack day. The rest of the week doesn't look much better weather wise, so I might have to what Michelle says, JFDI. ( To quote CJ's last post )

Weekend Results

Today:
Distance: 7.1 km
Time: 38' 57" Rate: 5' 29" per km
Weather: cloudy, temp 21 degrees, light drizzle, humidity 85%, wind ENE 15 kmph
Week: 7.1 km, Jan & Year: 151.9 km

Late afternoon run around Isabella Plains on the bike path in light drizzle. Felt Ok, not very fast.
Weekend results from the lucky ones out racing. The Narrabeen Allnighter was held on Saturday night with rain falling. The guy that won Melbourne Tan run in August, Barry Loveday blitzed the field with 147 kms in 12 hours. That is really moving, or 4'54" per km.
Hobart's Cadbury marathon was held this morning, not sure on weather conditions. Preliminary results on website show in the marathon Liz Bennett in 3 hrs 39 mins, Kelley Flood in 3 hrs 41 mins.
In the half marathon CJ and Mick H finished with the same time in 1 hr 41 mins 45 secs.
Of all those, I hope Kelley will be happy enough with her result to get her to Comrades. She just needs to do the hard yards and many kms to get through 89 km of the up hill course in May.

Tuggeranong Touring with MM's

Today:
Distance: 40.7 km
Time: 4 hrs 50 mins 32 secs
Rate: 7' 08" per km
Calories used: 3235
Altitude gain/loss: 580 metres
Weather: cloudy, temp range 18-22 degrees, humidity 93% down to 65%, wind mostly calm, maybe light easterly at times
Week: 108.55 km Jan & Year: 144.8 km

Today was part of the SMB running plan, a nice change to be away with fellow MM's covering the outer fire trails of the Tuggeranong Valley.
Very pleasing to be able to show others tracks I have ran for years, some not recently, but now forced to due to high grass or washed away tracks from heavy rains.
Six of us started from my place, (address in the phone book), headed around the trails behind Theodore to find some hills. Some are attempting Six Foot Track for the first time, and need to put in the hard yards early on. As well it takes the sting out of their legs so us slow coaches can keep up, and also offer navigation ideas so they don't get lost.
Theodore is at the bottom of the image, then we headed over to the fire trails behind Chisholm & Gilmore to cross over Isabella Dr at MacArthur.
It didn't get any easier around there as the climb on to Wanniassa Hills and to the trig is never ending. The views are good, looking over the valley, north towards Woden & towards Black Mountain tower.
Then finally some down hill off the trig, down through Gowrie following Ashley Dr back to the start. Distance covered at that stage around 27.5 kms. It was the finish for all except Softshoe and myself, we needed some extra distance, so headed down to Pine Is and back to take our run distance to over 40 kms.
A tough morning out, mainly due to the cloud cover and high humidity. We all suffered from some dehydration, a sweaty, yucky morning, but Sydney like may be in February.

Following Slat's Advice

Today:
Distance: 6.4 km
Time: 34' 44"
Rate: 5' 26" per km
Weather: cloudy, temp 24 degrees, humidity 50%, wind easterly at 10 kmph
Week: 67.85 km, Jan & Year: 104.1 km

On the cricket show during this last test match, Michael Slater, Simon O'Donnell & the strength & conditioning coach had a session on ice baths & their purpose in recovery.
Nothing new to me, I've been doing similar for years. The only difference is I use the river behind work almost all year round, and the professional sports people use ice baths & a few more scientific aids.
Nothing to write about on the run, a short run to the river and back to work. However, I did spend 20 minutes in the river, a relaxing and I hope some therapeutic benefits.
Whatever, it felt good afterwards, although the real good benefits are less due to the water getting too warm. I will take it's temperature next time I remember.
Should be right now for the long run tomorrow.

Weekends - Days Off Mid Week

Today:
Distance: 11.55 km
Time: 62' 46"
Rate: 5' 26" per km
Weather: cloudy, temp 22 degrees, humidity 55%, wind NE 10 kmph
Week: 61.45 km, Jan & Year: 97.7 km

A weekend may well be a couple of days off mid week, just when everyone else is at work. Such is progress in modern society in my work place.
We like it when our work place gets political, everyone that thinks they know how to organise a bus network puts their 2 cents worth in.
The reality is that most new ideas are old ideas put forward when others had forgotten the past. Compulsory weekend work was being performed 20 years ago before I started at work. It was thrown out because it was too expensive, & even more unreliable than what we have today.
At least today, anyone that works on a weekend does it voluntarily.
Nothing to report on today's running, just home for lunch and back to work. A bit slow out of the blocks going home, better going back, felt comfortable & relaxed. Nice day under cloud cover.

On This Day....Way Back When

Today:
Distance: 5.45 km
Time: 27' 15"
Rate: 5' 00" per km
Weather: cloudy, temp 17 degrees, humidity 65%, wind east 10 kmph
Week: 49.9 km, Jan & Year: 86.15 km

On this day in 1971, a young timid youth started to work full time and get paid. This day was my first day at the Bank of New South Wales in Devonport, Tasmania. That was 40 years ago, how time flies.
Dressed up in new suit and tie, new shirt, new shoes, photo taken by mum for the family album. Thankfully that has been lost for many years.
I was only 17 years old, worked at the Devonport branch for a year before being transferred to Hobart to battle out life in the big city. In hindsight, should I have accepted the transfer or should I have stayed living at home for a bit longer, I will never know. You grow up very quickly young and naive in the city, especially when my home town had a population a two thousand people.
I lasted 18 and a half years in the bank, the first 15 years were great, the last couple became a drag, too many changes too quickly. Too much for me to handle, so I left when working in Launceston. Great decision, never regretted it for one moment.
Move forward to today, I drive a bus and run. I did both today, fairly easy at both, not one to push too hard any more. It's all about having fun.

Four Laps around Mt Taylor

Today:

Distance: 32.25 km

Time: 3 hrs 40 mins 21 secs

Rate: 6' 50" per km

Altitude gain/loss: 490 metres

Weather: cloudy, temp 16 degrees, humidity 75%, wind calm

Week: 44.45 km, Jan & Year: 80.7 km

It was secret men's business due to only males showing up to run around the base of Mt Taylor four times.

We started from the car park at the entrance to the horse paddocks off Athllon Dr where the vet's monthly handicap is conducted. Unlike the previous couple of days, the weather was cloudy and cool, and conducive to long distance training.We returned to the car after each lap for a short rest and a drink.

The track was bit like peak hour with plenty of walkers and a few runners about, many of them climbing to the top of the mountain.

A good effort today backing up after almost similar distance on Saturday. Although not as tough as the Cotter run, the rough and undulating Sulwood Dr side is slow going. We changed direction after each lap. I had thought one way would have easier than the other, but both are about the same.

Easy week ahead before it all starts again next Saturday.

Secret Men's Business

Today:
Distance: 12.2 km
Time: 72' 10"
Rate: 5' 55" per km
Weather: very warm, sunny, temp 30 degrees, humidity 35%, wind NW at 25 kmph
Week: 12.2 km, Jan & Year: 48.45 km

Secret Men's Business won the Sydney to Hobart yacht race on corrected time. Unfortunately, corrected time doesn't happen in long distance races, it's every one for themselves to get inside the cut off. Age, size, ability don't rate a mention, just do it.
Nor does that cut off time change with conditions, so one needs to get used to whatever the weather may be. Something similar to today in Sydney in February.
Slept well yesterday and had a few matters to attend to this morning, so an afternoon outing, not far and certainly not fast. A good back up after yesterday.
A run down to Pine Is and back, plenty enjoying the beach and water, a nice place to go.
Pity my invite to the New Year's Eve party for hero's and villain's got lost in the post, I can't blame Ewen for that happening. He didn't go either. Blame Maria.
If your gender starts with an "f", secret men's business may apply in 2011.

Cotter on a Hot Morning

Today:
Distance: 36.25 km
Time: 4 hrs 23 mins 0 secs
Rate: 7' 15" per km
Altitude gain/loss: 710 metres
Weather: sunny, temp range 20 - 32 degrees, humidity 70% down to 30%, wind calm to start then up to NW 25 kmph
Week: 128.3 km, Jan & Year: 36.25 km

We started early, for me, just after 6:30am to try to beat the heat. It was forecast to be very warm with afternoon temps rising into the mid 30s. Softshoe joined me for the full distance with Mick & Robbie turning around on Wark's Road.
We ran from the picnic area up through the settlement to Vanities Crossing. A road closed sign showed the water level is just a little too high for vehicles, but easy enough to walk. Surprisingly, the water temp is better than cool, even warm so it would be great on the way back to cool down.
The temp was rising quickly out in the open as we made our way towards the old DS8 at Brindabella Classic. Mick & Robbie turned soon after as we continued the climb coming to a sudden halt on a short down hill section heading to the covered bush section beside the creek.
A nice specimen of a red belly black snake lying in the sun across the trail. It would have been almost a metre long with a beautiful black surface and a very red underside. It quickly slid away to be out only sign of wildlife for the day.
The creeks are really flowing up high, overflow across the fire trail so wet feet no choice as we went past the gate at DS7 to turn at a cut up fallen log at the base of the hill heading to DS6.
To make up distance we returned to DS5, the relay changeover, and ran the 21 mile track to Padovans Crossing to check the water level. Well over the road with a road closed sign also blocking off Clift Road.
Very warm out in the open, no shade and no wind, but with Vanities looming closer, heaven on earth was just around the corner. A well deserved rest here, refill the drink bottle, although we both had plenty left as we both had day packs on our backs.
Some walking up Ma & Pa then a good pace through the settlement back to the start. A nice cool down in the river and back home.
I was buggered by home, a nana nap turned into a 3 hour sleep. Not much else to do when it's 35 degrees outside on New Year's Day.
A great day, tiring but good fun, the cool waters in the rivers & creeks made it pleasant. And a good way to start the year.