a bit wet

I was planning to run the Sri Chinmoy Princes Park 30km this morning, but I had to pull out, seeing as I was over 150km away from Carlton this morning. That’s a long way to go, even for free pancakes.

So, a different approach to the long run was called for. Seeing as I was in Venus Bay, and the wind was from the north-west, I decided to run to Fish Creek.

And it was a good idea. There was a bit of a headwind in the first 6 or 7 kilometres, but nothing I couldn’t handle. Then the road turned a bit right, and I had a side-wind. I sped up a bit in that section, even though it involved a series of rolling hills and a couple of wombats in advanced rigor mortis. Another right turn onto the Buffalo-Tarwin Lower road, and I allowed myself to speed up some more, having held myself in check early on.

This section was extremely enjoyable. There was little or no traffic, green fields as far as the eye can see, and if I turned a bit to the right, the hills of Wilson’s prom in the distance. No sound other than the wind, the patter of (my) footfalls and the occasional surprised cow. I turned on the mp3 player for a while, which decided it wanted to play “Both Music” (Country & Western) interspersed with Schubert Lieder. A surprisingly pleasant mix.

By the time I reached Buffalo, I figured I had had the worst of the run, so I decided to push the pace. There’s a rail trail that runs alongside the road here – very much like the Warbuton trail, but considerably more rural – and I took to it like an extremely sweaty duck to water.

It’s uphill for a few kms at that point, but not drastically steep. It’s a lot like the bit of the Warby Trail where you’re coming into Mt Evelyn, if you’re heading towards Lilydale. I worked hard here, not the least because the clouds were looking ominous at that point. I crossed “Boys Road”, which seemed to be the top of the climb, and the rain started in with purpose and energy. I too put in some more effort, trying to avoid the worst of the rain by covering the last 3km at top speed.

I ran the last 3km in 11 minutes 30 seconds, so that was okay. (It was pretty much all downhill). Just over 29km in 2 hours 5 minutes. Not bad, for a training run. I imagine I would have run faster at Princes Park, what with the flat terrain, drink stations and people to run with, but I’m pretty happy nonetheless.

Sadly, despite being pretty dry and comfortable for most of the run and running the last bit at top speed, I got to the finish looking like a drowned rat. Then, while looking for a public toilet, I cleverly stepped in an enormous puddle and ended up with soaking shoes and socks.

Oh well.

I then spent 15 minutes shivering under the petrol station roof, waiting for the family to pick me up and take me back to the heated, hot tea and crumpets happiness I so richly deserved.

I’m so hardcore

Yes, it’s true, I’m completely hardcore. The hardcorest possible runner there is.

Last night I slept in my running gear (aside from the shoes), the alarm set for 5am.

This morning I woke up, pulled on my shoes and set out for a run, only to discover it was raining. But I still went running.

So hardcore. So tough.

An hour later and 13km down the road, including 6.8km of hill reps, and I made it home. By that stage, what had started out as an almost pleasant light drizzle had soaked through to my skin.

You know you’re wet when you can hear splashing inside your shoes, and the tips of your fingers are wrinkly, like you’ve been in the bath too long.

But did I care? Did I hell! And that’s because I’m tough, indomitable, hardcore.

You better believe it.

Running
The run this morning was based around a set of 6 reps of an approximately 600 metre hill near my place. I tried to run strongly, quickly and with good form going up, and the downhills were at an easier pace. Plus warmup and cool-down (not that cooling was much of an issue, what with the rain and all). A pleasing session.

Barnaby news
I really would like to put Barnaby Joyce behind me, but I couldn’t resist passing on this piece of wisdom, quoted in the Guardian online:

every time you open the fridge and a little light goes on, it is to remind you that Mr Rudd is taxing you and also to stop the butter from getting scared

The man is either some sort of genius, operating on a level I don’t understand, or he’s mad as a cut snake. Possibly both.

running in the rain

It’s surprisingly enjoyable, this running in the rain caper. I woke this morning, all set to go out for a run – in fact I even slept in my running gear, how keen is that? Sadly, at 5:20am it was raining at my place, which was enough for me to roll over and hit snooze half a dozen times.

At lunch-time it was still raining, but I decided I couldn’t wait. And I’m glad I did. It was just a single lap of the tan, plus there and back from my office. 8km all up. But, boy was it a nice run! Hardly anyone around, nice and cool, not windy and not even too windy.

It was one of those runs you do with a stupid grin on your face, and when you get to the end you do an extra lap around the block, just because you can.

I’m very grateful for any running I can do at the moment. Every step (particularly the left ones) without pain is pure gold.

you don’t need a weatherman

A great man once said, or rather, sang:

“You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows”

He was right too. You just need to go outside, lick your finger and stick it up in the air.

The thing is: he didn’t go far enough. At least in Melbourne, you also don’t need a weatherman to know if:

• it’s raining
• it’s cold
• it’s hot
• it’s hailing or
• absolutely anything out of the ordinary.

No, because Connex kindly alerts us to any unusual climatic events by shutting down around a third of its trains.

For example, this morning it was a bit windy and there were a few drops of rain falling.

Clearly disastrous.

So, the 7:30am train from Ringwood East suddenly developed “serious mechanical problems” and had to have a breather at Ringwood station. Not before kicking us all out to stand in the rain (now heavy) for 20 minutes until the next train rocked up.

Thanks very much.

Running
I was up at 5am today to do the mid-week long run. It was pretty much right on 18km around the streets near my place. There were a few hills, and the wind picked up towards the end, so it took me over 80 minutes.

Here it is on mapmyrun.com.

pork chops and a soaking

I did something last night that, in retrospect, I’m not all that proud of. You might say it was a bit wrong. In my defence, it all seemed so logical at the time.

It involved pork chops. Now, I know there are those amongst this blog’s readership who will think anything involving pork chops is a bit wrong (mostly vegetarian, queasy types). I don’t want to get drawn into that debate, so let me just say this: you’re wrong. Pork chops are God’s greatest gift to the taste buds and the stomach and every day spent not eating them is a day in your life wasted.

Anyway, the pork chops, they were sizzling and getting pretty close to being ready. Also, to complicate things, the bath had just been run and the water was nicely hot. Now, I had something of a dilemma. Do I eat the chops and let the bath go cold? Do I jump in the bath and let the chops go cold? It’s a tough one.

I leapt to a logical conclusion – why not combine the two? And I did. I plonked the chops on a plate with a knife and fork, stripped off and jumped in the bath.

Looking back on it, it’s probably not good form – eating dinner in the bath. There are probably OH&S rules against it. But hey – you gotta do what you gotta do.

Running
I went for a run this morning, starting and finishing at my office in the city. As I started out I noticed an unfamiliar sensation. The air seemed moist, and the ground slightly wet. Also, there appeared to be some sort of liquid falling from the sky. It didn’t take me more than a few blocks to realise this was rain! Rain! You remember that, back from the good old days before climate change.

It was more of a drizzle to be honest, and a pleasant drizzle at that. By the end I was a touch wet and dripping. It’s not a good sign when you have to stop and wring out your shirt. Ah well, I’ll probably get a cold now.

yes we can

I’m looking out my office window as we speak and I see the normally parched and arid city looking joyously damp and cold and, well, Melbournely.

Praise be to Obama! Can we break the drought, yes we can! (No, wait – that’s Bob the Builder).

It is nice to see Obama elected. Compared to his predecessor, he seems like a superman. I guess he didn’t have much to compare with. All he needed to do was speak in complete sentences and declare war on the right country.

I don’t think he IS superman, though. He’s not going to fix Iraq, Afghanistan, the economy and the environment in one fell swoop. And he’s not final proof the US is over racism.

I feel a touch sorry for old John McCain, in a way. He seems a decent sort, but had the misfortune of running at a time when his party was really unpopular, and against an opponent who oozed charisma from every pore.

Running
I’ve run what feels like an awful lot this past week. I’ve run all over the place; not for office but that’s about it. Since I last blogged (Wednesday afternoon) I’ve run 18km on Wednesday night, 13km on Thursday lunch-time and an easy 10km this morning. I think it’s over 100km for the past week.

Nice.

I’m feeling fit and healthy, although the legs have been a touch heavy at the start of the most recent two runs. A scheduled day off is in store for me tomorrow.

it never rains

That’s not true. Drought or no drought, climate change or no climate change, it does actually rain in Melbourne town. And when it does, I invariably manage to be out in the middle of things, umbrella-less, doing my well-honed impression of a drowned rat.

I looked up from my desk this lunch-time to a view of the sun beaming away like nobody’s business. So, I slipped into my running apparel, scooted off downstairs and beetled along in the direction of the tan.

Sadly, by the time I reach the ‘G it was raining. I’ve had showers that were less wet. Baths too.

So I shuffled off back to work. 7km run – the shortest I’ve done in a long time.

Running
Yep – 7km today. Also 14.5km yesterday – from Warrandyte back to Ringwood East, via Croydon and that path alongside the train tracks.

alternate universe

I’ve always thought I was pretty grounded, eyes open, very much a part of the real world. In the last 24 hours there have been a couple of things that make me suspect I’m living in an alternate universe.

If this is reality, I don’t want any part of it:

1. Posh spice has been named the world’s sexiest mama
   Victoria’s Secret executives and designers voted, and they think Posh Spice is the sexiest mum.
2. Nicholas Cage is ready to quit acting
   Eh, acting? Since when? Oh, so that explains what he was doing in Con Air.

Stop the ride. I want to get off. A world that thinks Victoria Beckham is sexy and that Nicholas Cage can act is no place for me.

Running
I’m currently in tense negotiations with a fellow runner on the issue of a run this lunch-time. She feels reluctant to run in dripping wet clothes. I can’t think why.