By Wednesday I could just about contemplate doing something more than just surviving, but not much more! I was down to do 2 gym classes..Body Pump and Body Combat, but only stayed for one, as that was more than enough. During the lunch break earlier that day attended a meeting and later was asked "was I ok? 'cos I wasn't as chirpy as usual"! I explained just what I'd done on Sun (plus the usual explanation of how recovery is now slower for me) which elicited total understanding plus wonder and congrats.
Thursday I nearly fell asleep in an inservice at lunch time..soooo close! Then although the mind was not really ready, after work I forced myself onto the ergo and managed to almost complete the required session.(split infinitive!)
Today is just a cruisey 45 mins on the ergo which I'll do after work and then over the weekend I'll be dodging the rain drops to do some longer road sessions. The following weekend I'm off up to Wangaratta for the first of 8 or 9 TT's I'll be doing over the winter - it's taken a long time and lot of lobbying (aka nagging) to get some TT's happening in Victoria.
The course at Wang is pretty well dead flat apart from 2 artificial lumps as the road crosses over the highway. The area reminds me so much of where I grew up in the fens of Lincolnshire, the local council at that time was even called Holland CC as not only was the terrain dead flat but it also had the same system of dykes and raised roads and even had a thriving tulip growing industry.
Yesterday was the last day of TRAC and all(!) that is left now is the survey, the report writing, the presentation and the planning for the 2010 version!!! (groan). We've learned alot from the project, not only about how we set it up but more importantly how poor communicating via email is. The medium is fine for most, but in our organisation is just not working for nursing staff, engineering and domestic support staff. The concept that the internet will solve communication problems is just not correct.
So the next work project is a Wellness Expo for staff this June.
Showing posts with label TRAC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TRAC. Show all posts
Friday, 1 May 2009
Thursday, 23 April 2009
This week's efforts and TRAC
Today I'm a 1 finger typist due to the loving attention of my rat catching puddy tat. He just HAS to keep me company whenever he discovers me at the computer...my lap is just too inviting apparently.
Last night was a somewhat tedious matrix session going through the gears at either 80 or 88rpm. I have a low tolerance for repetitious exercise.....grindingly boring sessions see me aborting, but this time I managed to sit it out. Maybe because I'd told Alex the session WOULD be 60 mins long and therefore risked a Star Chamber enquiry if I emerged early!
This morning waaaay before sane people are awake, I'll be at the gym doing a spin class..its part of my Wellness committees fitness program so I have to show willing!. It's the last one so I'd better go as I slept in last week. Next week we start a new series and I've signed up for after work sessions of Body Pump and Body Combat..could be foolish but at $20 for 5 sessions its a steal.
Easy session on Friday and not much on Sat before a big effort in the Masters Omnium on Sunday, followed by a day off on Monday.
TRAC finishes next week so we're into presentation, feedback and prizes planning. Major problem for the future..how to follow such a resounding success....
So..5am..guess I'd better get brekky into me. Musing about retiring, as I do more and more nowadays I wonder how I can possibly wind down from this sort of day into a less structured day.
This is what today brings for me, and actually its not one of my busiest days:
0415 get up, play at computer..coffee++
0500 brekky shower dress etc
0600 drive to gym
0630 spin class
0730 go to other campus for quick consult re next Wellness prog
0800 over to my campus shower etc
0830 work, treat pts, consult, advise, mentor, plan, blah blah
1045 get ready for Anzac day service
1100 sing at service (pretend to anyhow) with singing group
1200 special lunch for colleague who's leaving
1300 meeting re changes occuring in gym
1400 treat pts, consult, advise, mentor, plan, blah blah
1700 fix up TRAC map board at other campus
1730 shop
1800 cook etc
1900 collapse brain dead in front of TV (Biggest Loser!)
2000 bed
Retiring from all this could mean I might train better!
Last night was a somewhat tedious matrix session going through the gears at either 80 or 88rpm. I have a low tolerance for repetitious exercise.....grindingly boring sessions see me aborting, but this time I managed to sit it out. Maybe because I'd told Alex the session WOULD be 60 mins long and therefore risked a Star Chamber enquiry if I emerged early!
This morning waaaay before sane people are awake, I'll be at the gym doing a spin class..its part of my Wellness committees fitness program so I have to show willing!. It's the last one so I'd better go as I slept in last week. Next week we start a new series and I've signed up for after work sessions of Body Pump and Body Combat..could be foolish but at $20 for 5 sessions its a steal.
Easy session on Friday and not much on Sat before a big effort in the Masters Omnium on Sunday, followed by a day off on Monday.
TRAC finishes next week so we're into presentation, feedback and prizes planning. Major problem for the future..how to follow such a resounding success....
So..5am..guess I'd better get brekky into me. Musing about retiring, as I do more and more nowadays I wonder how I can possibly wind down from this sort of day into a less structured day.
This is what today brings for me, and actually its not one of my busiest days:
0415 get up, play at computer..coffee++
0500 brekky shower dress etc
0600 drive to gym
0630 spin class
0730 go to other campus for quick consult re next Wellness prog
0800 over to my campus shower etc
0830 work, treat pts, consult, advise, mentor, plan, blah blah
1045 get ready for Anzac day service
1100 sing at service (pretend to anyhow) with singing group
1200 special lunch for colleague who's leaving
1300 meeting re changes occuring in gym
1400 treat pts, consult, advise, mentor, plan, blah blah
1700 fix up TRAC map board at other campus
1730 shop
1800 cook etc
1900 collapse brain dead in front of TV (Biggest Loser!)
2000 bed
Retiring from all this could mean I might train better!
Sunday, 19 April 2009
A year in 2 separate halves
Since taking up racing bikes, as opposed to my previous sporting lives when I played squash or orienteered, my year has become bipolar...or maybe I've become bipolar within the year.
The year pans out this way: my very, very major races are held during the August to October period(Road Nats. Road and Track Worlds), with the next block of really important races being around April (Track Nats). Since I need to be lean for the hills in the road races I tend to be working on gradually losing weight from April to October and then end up putting it all back on again from November to March. So just to be contrary, I'm reverse from the norm where you take off weight in the summer and put it back on in the winter!
Sadly, I'm doomed to have to keep strict control over my diet if I am to be lean and I lack the discipline to be able to that all year round. So come April I start to keep a food diary and since I don't want to go cold turkey, by the end of April have usually got my mind in order and manage to mostly keep away from the things I love but need to restrict..ETOH, cheese, lattes/cappuccinos...all the usual yummies.
Training is also up and down..I love training outdoors, loathe ergo work. Since I work full time, I have to put in alot of time on the ergo during the winter and almost none during the summer. So there you have it...Summer is all fun, winter all discipline. And here in Aus its Autumn (Fall for the stars and stripes mob).
Funny thing, seasons. In UK bulb-type flowers start poking their heads up through the ground in Spring...here they're coming up in Autumn. Maybe they're hard wired to emerge by month not season! But I digress.
By judicious planning I've managed to save my accrued days off and time in lieu and am in the throes of enjoying about 6 weeks worth of short working weeks. Today is Monday and I'm at home......YEEEESSS! Lots to do, but. A 3 hour ride is on the cards, LL2 but with 3 x 10 mins at >200watts just to ensure I dont fall asleep. Think I'll mosey down the Peninsular. I also have to start working towards the Wellness Expo we're putting on at work..the TRAC project is all but finished with the final day being April 30th then the presentation and feedback. Phew!
The year pans out this way: my very, very major races are held during the August to October period(Road Nats. Road and Track Worlds), with the next block of really important races being around April (Track Nats). Since I need to be lean for the hills in the road races I tend to be working on gradually losing weight from April to October and then end up putting it all back on again from November to March. So just to be contrary, I'm reverse from the norm where you take off weight in the summer and put it back on in the winter!
Sadly, I'm doomed to have to keep strict control over my diet if I am to be lean and I lack the discipline to be able to that all year round. So come April I start to keep a food diary and since I don't want to go cold turkey, by the end of April have usually got my mind in order and manage to mostly keep away from the things I love but need to restrict..ETOH, cheese, lattes/cappuccinos...all the usual yummies.
Training is also up and down..I love training outdoors, loathe ergo work. Since I work full time, I have to put in alot of time on the ergo during the winter and almost none during the summer. So there you have it...Summer is all fun, winter all discipline. And here in Aus its Autumn (Fall for the stars and stripes mob).
Funny thing, seasons. In UK bulb-type flowers start poking their heads up through the ground in Spring...here they're coming up in Autumn. Maybe they're hard wired to emerge by month not season! But I digress.
By judicious planning I've managed to save my accrued days off and time in lieu and am in the throes of enjoying about 6 weeks worth of short working weeks. Today is Monday and I'm at home......YEEEESSS! Lots to do, but. A 3 hour ride is on the cards, LL2 but with 3 x 10 mins at >200watts just to ensure I dont fall asleep. Think I'll mosey down the Peninsular. I also have to start working towards the Wellness Expo we're putting on at work..the TRAC project is all but finished with the final day being April 30th then the presentation and feedback. Phew!
Thursday, 19 March 2009
Training and TRAC update
Training..in the lead up to the State masters track champs, my training has gone belly up and especially this last coupla days. Made even worse by having to stay up waaaaay past my bed time last night as I had to pick Phil up from the airport..his plane got in at 22.25...groan! I was fighting sleep on the drive there, while waiting and on the journey back ...next time I'll check the flight time before agreeing to be taxi driver!
TRAC..The Round Aus Challenge is now half way through and this week we are having a lunch time talks by our Clinical Psychologist on "Motivation". We have 2 campuses so one talk was yesterday and the second today. It was VERY well received and added to the general positive feeling there is surrounding the project. We've even had a couple of late entry teams bringing our numbers up to 84 teams of 4. The leading team, which is travelling down the west coast is about to have a handicap in that one of its members is leaving 2 weeks before the end and I'm not allowing her to keep contributing. The rules are more relaxed for the also rans as I'm keen to keep 100% involvement.
Our health network's accreditation is happening next week and there's the usual flurry of getting documentation up to date, painting the place and making sure all is just right for when the surveyors front up. We wonder if surveyors are under the impression that ALL hospitals always smell of new paint! As I said before "Ah, the heady smell of pre-accreditation paint"
TRAC..The Round Aus Challenge is now half way through and this week we are having a lunch time talks by our Clinical Psychologist on "Motivation". We have 2 campuses so one talk was yesterday and the second today. It was VERY well received and added to the general positive feeling there is surrounding the project. We've even had a couple of late entry teams bringing our numbers up to 84 teams of 4. The leading team, which is travelling down the west coast is about to have a handicap in that one of its members is leaving 2 weeks before the end and I'm not allowing her to keep contributing. The rules are more relaxed for the also rans as I'm keen to keep 100% involvement.
Our health network's accreditation is happening next week and there's the usual flurry of getting documentation up to date, painting the place and making sure all is just right for when the surveyors front up. We wonder if surveyors are under the impression that ALL hospitals always smell of new paint! As I said before "Ah, the heady smell of pre-accreditation paint"
Saturday, 14 March 2009
Top end training and TRAC
My training is now very firmly pointed towards the pursuit, a race I've managed to avoid for 2 years while my focus was more on longer time trials on the road and on the track in the form of the hour record.
While the pursuit is definitely of the genre of race I excel in, I hate it...with a passion. I hate the training that I have to do leading up to it and I approach the race itself with mega dread. The difference between going at 40kph in a road TT (my ultimate goal for the world road TT in Austria and not quite achieved) and doing 20s laps on the boards is a hurdle I struggle with. However it is the only race that I compete in that I have not won at World Champs level..I have a stack of silver medals...and so it remains unfinished business.
Pacing over the 8 laps is a skill that remains a mystery to me..the old rush of the blood to the head after the standing start lap is always my undoing. So my pursuits regularly go: standing start lap 25+s, lap 2 - low 20's maybe even 19 , then 20, high 20, 21, 22, 23, 23 or worse. Of course that was 2 years ago..I'm not even going to publish what this year's lap times might be!!! Back then I thought I was flying until I saw a video of my ride and realised how slow I was.....now......pffft! I'll just have to try to look good ! ;)
My TRAC project is rolling along nicely....all 82 teams are still there and since we're closing in on the halfway mark I'm hoping the anticipated 10% drop off rate will not be met. The leading teams are 7000km along the way, travelling down the West coast, while the back markers are still tramping they're way up the New South Wales coast on the east of the country. The interest remains high and as I move the flags around the maps each week I have a small crowd around me checking what's happening.
Its become obvious that the composition of the leading teams is instrumental in their success..not because they are sporting heroes, but because some of them work part time, whereas others have been on long holidays. So I've set up another league for those teams comprised of full time workers who haven't had more than 4 weeks annual leave between them.
This week we are having the "half way through the project" lunches with our Psychologist giving a talk on maintaining motivation. With freebies and spot prizes on offer as well as the free lunch we've had an RSVP from 100 out of the 328 people which is better than expected....
The other wellness project I organise is the singing group who are currently busily getting together a repertoire of Australian songs for the Anzac Day Ceremony which is in late April. Following that there is the Wellness Expo in late June.....and in between it all I treat patients..not that I'm complaining as I thrive on being busy.
In 2 weeks time our health network is going through Accreditation and I and a my co- leader will have to give a presentation on the Wellness/communications group. We go through these accreditations every 2 or 3 years..it's a period of hurried bringing up to date of paper work and coaching the staff to say the right thing!!! and (as I remarked to someone the other day "ah! the heady smell of pre-accreditation paint")..the hospital gets a bit of a face lift.
While the pursuit is definitely of the genre of race I excel in, I hate it...with a passion. I hate the training that I have to do leading up to it and I approach the race itself with mega dread. The difference between going at 40kph in a road TT (my ultimate goal for the world road TT in Austria and not quite achieved) and doing 20s laps on the boards is a hurdle I struggle with. However it is the only race that I compete in that I have not won at World Champs level..I have a stack of silver medals...and so it remains unfinished business.
Pacing over the 8 laps is a skill that remains a mystery to me..the old rush of the blood to the head after the standing start lap is always my undoing. So my pursuits regularly go: standing start lap 25+s, lap 2 - low 20's maybe even 19 , then 20, high 20, 21, 22, 23, 23 or worse. Of course that was 2 years ago..I'm not even going to publish what this year's lap times might be!!! Back then I thought I was flying until I saw a video of my ride and realised how slow I was.....now......pffft! I'll just have to try to look good ! ;)
My TRAC project is rolling along nicely....all 82 teams are still there and since we're closing in on the halfway mark I'm hoping the anticipated 10% drop off rate will not be met. The leading teams are 7000km along the way, travelling down the West coast, while the back markers are still tramping they're way up the New South Wales coast on the east of the country. The interest remains high and as I move the flags around the maps each week I have a small crowd around me checking what's happening.
Its become obvious that the composition of the leading teams is instrumental in their success..not because they are sporting heroes, but because some of them work part time, whereas others have been on long holidays. So I've set up another league for those teams comprised of full time workers who haven't had more than 4 weeks annual leave between them.
This week we are having the "half way through the project" lunches with our Psychologist giving a talk on maintaining motivation. With freebies and spot prizes on offer as well as the free lunch we've had an RSVP from 100 out of the 328 people which is better than expected....
The other wellness project I organise is the singing group who are currently busily getting together a repertoire of Australian songs for the Anzac Day Ceremony which is in late April. Following that there is the Wellness Expo in late June.....and in between it all I treat patients..not that I'm complaining as I thrive on being busy.
In 2 weeks time our health network is going through Accreditation and I and a my co- leader will have to give a presentation on the Wellness/communications group. We go through these accreditations every 2 or 3 years..it's a period of hurried bringing up to date of paper work and coaching the staff to say the right thing!!! and (as I remarked to someone the other day "ah! the heady smell of pre-accreditation paint")..the hospital gets a bit of a face lift.
Sunday, 1 March 2009
Holding great form
This is my Performance Management Chart (from CyclingPeaks WKO+) for Jan and Feb only (see below why only 2 months) and I can't help looking at it with a huge sense of satisfaction for currently I am holding great form. The reason the slope is so dramatic, is of course 'cos it IS only 2 months' worth of data with a low starting point but I just hope I can keep it on an upward slant until the Nationals in 1 month's time. I am always in better form at this end of the year, finding training outdoors in the summer much easier than slogging away at the indoor trainer as I have to do in the winter. However that said despite the season (or actually with the smoke in the air, because of it) I'm currently doing 2 indoor sessions and am finding them much easier with my TACX iMagic ergo than with just an ordinary ergo...money well spent.
Ok..so the reason there are only 2 months in the PMC is because I have data from 2006 on and its all in one file and so I have to be very careful when sending them off to my coach that I don't send the wrong year's info. Soooo, I spent a very boring time creating separate month/year folders and dragging and dropping each workout into the appropriate one. OK so far? Yup...however..when I next opened up WKO+ it was empty...totally empty. After the instant panic of thinking I'd lost ALL my data I realised why there was nothing there. I didn't relish reversing everything so just released Jan and Feb 2009 data from their folders.
TRAC is now 1/3 the way through and continues apace with the fastest 5 or 6 teams having negotiated the floods in Queensland and are now risking Dengue fever in the Northen Territory. The rest are either mooching up the eastern coast..enjoying the Great Barrier Reef, the surf and the sun until they hit the floods or are stuck enjoying the hedonistic delights of Kings Cross in Sydney. The occasional team is still reluctant to leave Victoria but I'm giving them a motivational boot up the backside by doubling their latest week's score. We expect to lose a few teams as the hype settles down and so in 2 weeks time we are planning another lunch time get together with a talk on motivational strategies by the Psychologist on staff.
I've had quite a few comments about the scheme and also a few requests to use the idea. As I've said before, the concept is not new and only the name is my idea. We have learned from the experience and if we do it again will simplify the rules to allow absolutely any exercise rather than, as we have this time, only allowing exercise that could "take you up the road" ie not weights work. The following we would retain: teams of 4, team names, 40km/1hr of exercise, 15 minutes minimum/session and all scores to be in multiples of 15, the map with its team flags is also a great talking point.
Better get out to do my 10 x 1 minute max efforts. I was on my way out a while ago but on patting the cat realised it had been/was raining..weird. Sadly not enough to make a difference and we are expecting another hot and windy day this Tuesday. Here is the latest overview from the CFA of significant and big fires still going and this map is from the DSE with fires of all sizes.
Monday, 16 February 2009
The Round Australia Challenge
TRAC week 1
Bottom left is Melbourne, top just out of shot is Brisbane and clustered between the 2 are the flags of most of the 81 teams that are involved in my project.
TRAC=a virtual journey around Oz via one's exercise (although only exercise that could conceivably take you on a journey is allowed).
81 teams of 4 giving a total of 324 staff members from a total of ~900..hey try and match that for uptake!!!
The real bragging rights will be in how many are there on April 30 at the end of the project.
The scoring system is: 40km for 1hr's worth of exercise and I acknowledge its unfairness since I can ride for 3hrs but couldn't possibly run for the same amount of time. However its a project for fun and to encourage staff to exercise, lose weight... although there are some very competitive teams out there. All know that I am monitoring the front runners for anomalies or typos in their claimed scores.
The first week's spot prize went to a lady who'd given up the coca cola for brekky and the non exercise life and had lost 3kg. This week in the absence of a nominated person, will be a random prize (pick a team number), next week will be picked from teams with people in who've started exercising cos of TRAC, the following from teams with only walkers in etc etc
Friday, 13 February 2009
Killer Session
Yesterday's session was in the wee hours of the morning..before sparrow fart is the expression, although of course I would never be so crude.....
At 2am I woke up suddenly realising that I had an article to write before the end of the day and an overloaded day with no time to think. So up I got, wrote the article and 2 hours later had brekky. By 6am I was at DISC ready to do a test on what sort of gears I should be using for my various races since my Performance Management Chart has indicated a significant increase in wattage at shorter distances.
So the deal was to do 10 min efforts at what is my current race gearing and repeat at gradually increasing gear inches all at the same RPM, which was pegged at 90... with adequate rests between, naturally.
I think I was a bit tired to begin with...hey! what do I mean "think"..I know I was..4 hrs sleep just ain't enough for this old chook! The major sign of fatigue...decreased dexterity... each time I changed gear I managed to drop something..Allen key, little linky things, cogs, spanner..you name it.. luckily I was alone in the place so no-one was able to witness my rapidly deteriorating language.
Anyhow I did the session with 4 different combinations starting off with 53/15 and ending up with 52/14..yup BIG gears for a short 65 year old but as already confessed I'm a grinder not a spinner. A couple felt more natural than the others but my thoughts at the time were that there wasn't much difference but I had to wait until the end of the day to download the powertap data to be sure.
The conclusion...they were pretty well mirror images of each other and if you factor in the increasing fatigue/ boredom as the session went on, then I need to up my gears. The next task is to work on starts to see which of these combos I can start best with.....ah! the fine balance between the ability to grunt out the first quarter lap from the standing start and what you are most comfortable with for the rest of the race! In the 500m TT I always feel I've spun out by 375m.
I was very tired by the end and dragged myself into work for a killer day..warn staff I am stressed/tired, ward round, warn staff I am stressed/tired, treat patients, warn staff I am stressed/tired, meeting, treat patients, TRAC, treat patients, home, eat, bed....!
Check out one of my all time favourite blogs The Science of Sport which has just started a series on exercise and ageing, its based on running but well worth a read already.
I've managed to persuade the Clinical Psychologist at work to give a talk at the next TRAC get together, which will be mid March. The topic will be on strategies to keep one's motivation going once the initial euphoria/excitement has passed....
At 2am I woke up suddenly realising that I had an article to write before the end of the day and an overloaded day with no time to think. So up I got, wrote the article and 2 hours later had brekky. By 6am I was at DISC ready to do a test on what sort of gears I should be using for my various races since my Performance Management Chart has indicated a significant increase in wattage at shorter distances.
So the deal was to do 10 min efforts at what is my current race gearing and repeat at gradually increasing gear inches all at the same RPM, which was pegged at 90... with adequate rests between, naturally.
I think I was a bit tired to begin with...hey! what do I mean "think"..I know I was..4 hrs sleep just ain't enough for this old chook! The major sign of fatigue...decreased dexterity... each time I changed gear I managed to drop something..Allen key, little linky things, cogs, spanner..you name it.. luckily I was alone in the place so no-one was able to witness my rapidly deteriorating language.
Anyhow I did the session with 4 different combinations starting off with 53/15 and ending up with 52/14..yup BIG gears for a short 65 year old but as already confessed I'm a grinder not a spinner. A couple felt more natural than the others but my thoughts at the time were that there wasn't much difference but I had to wait until the end of the day to download the powertap data to be sure.
The conclusion...they were pretty well mirror images of each other and if you factor in the increasing fatigue/ boredom as the session went on, then I need to up my gears. The next task is to work on starts to see which of these combos I can start best with.....ah! the fine balance between the ability to grunt out the first quarter lap from the standing start and what you are most comfortable with for the rest of the race! In the 500m TT I always feel I've spun out by 375m.
I was very tired by the end and dragged myself into work for a killer day..warn staff I am stressed/tired, ward round, warn staff I am stressed/tired, treat patients, warn staff I am stressed/tired, meeting, treat patients, TRAC, treat patients, home, eat, bed....!
Check out one of my all time favourite blogs The Science of Sport which has just started a series on exercise and ageing, its based on running but well worth a read already.
I've managed to persuade the Clinical Psychologist at work to give a talk at the next TRAC get together, which will be mid March. The topic will be on strategies to keep one's motivation going once the initial euphoria/excitement has passed....
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
Training put into perspective
I suspect that not too many Melbourne cycling blogs will have been added to in the past few days since our focus has been more than somewhat directed elsewhere.
The horror of what is happening/has happened in the rural and semi-rural areas just a couple of km away from us is hard to comprehend.
The mix was all there..hot hot hot days, tinder dry bush (my lawn was so dry it crunched as I walked on it) plus high winds. Add someone with a warped idea of fun to the mix..cos in some cases arson is definitely known to be the cause...and you all know the rest. The general feeling seems to be that many were caught unawares, the fire moved so quickly.
I live in the outer suburbs of Melbourne, so any ride I do going out of town quickly takes me into fire prone areas. The fire damaged areas closest to where I live will be known to readers of this blog..not too long ago I wrote of a heave up from Yarra Glen to Xmas Hills..I spoke of riding into YG looking up to the ridge where I'd soon be riding..that's one of the areas now gone.
The 1 in 20 is so far unscathed..its part of the Dandenong ranges, a heavily wooded and also heavily populated area just a few km from my door.
Despite all this TRAC has moved ahead with the first weeks results in. Of the 80 teams involved, we've had scores from about 60. We're allowing a couple of weeks for the system to bed in before getting strict about getting scores in by Tuesday 0830! The furthest team are away up the coast towards Brisbane, the slowest still in Victoria. The vibe about the project is good with many compliments coming my way.
The horror of what is happening/has happened in the rural and semi-rural areas just a couple of km away from us is hard to comprehend.
The mix was all there..hot hot hot days, tinder dry bush (my lawn was so dry it crunched as I walked on it) plus high winds. Add someone with a warped idea of fun to the mix..cos in some cases arson is definitely known to be the cause...and you all know the rest. The general feeling seems to be that many were caught unawares, the fire moved so quickly.
I live in the outer suburbs of Melbourne, so any ride I do going out of town quickly takes me into fire prone areas. The fire damaged areas closest to where I live will be known to readers of this blog..not too long ago I wrote of a heave up from Yarra Glen to Xmas Hills..I spoke of riding into YG looking up to the ridge where I'd soon be riding..that's one of the areas now gone.
The 1 in 20 is so far unscathed..its part of the Dandenong ranges, a heavily wooded and also heavily populated area just a few km from my door.
Despite all this TRAC has moved ahead with the first weeks results in. Of the 80 teams involved, we've had scores from about 60. We're allowing a couple of weeks for the system to bed in before getting strict about getting scores in by Tuesday 0830! The furthest team are away up the coast towards Brisbane, the slowest still in Victoria. The vibe about the project is good with many compliments coming my way.
Sunday, 8 February 2009
50 dead 640 houses lost/ burned
That's the word right now 5pm Sunday..there will be more.
Devastating.
We have good friends who live up where the fires are, but we are powerless to do anything.
We are asked not to block the phone networks so we don't ring them, but feel terrible about that.
But we could do nothing for them anyway, they can't get out and we can't get in.
So while we know we can't help and comfort ourselves with that knowledge, we just want to let them know we are thinking of them, praying for them.
But we can't.
Weather in Victoria is always capricious. Interstaters reckon we can have 4 seasons in one day and its true. Yesterday I was sitting in the car dripping with sweat. Today I was sitting in the car dripping from rain. And I was cold.
I'd been on a 2 hour ride along Beach Road. As usual there were loads of cyclists out. The smell of smoke was occasionally very strong. It was very windy and the rain was hard..it stung. The drops were huge and dust laden. I had to shorten my 1st 20 minutes effort by 3 minutes as I rode into the rain and I couldn't see through my glasses, the rain was so hard and into my face. I turned and then made the next effort a 40 minute one.
After the ride I went to work to sort out a problem with our TRAC team flags but didn't stay long as ALL my fingers and thumbs developed a pins and needles type feeling. This has to be either a spinal problem or a vascular one. The spinal option was too bizarre and it just had to be cos I was suddenly so cold. Putting my hands on my thighs confirmed my hypothesis...they were freezing. I needed to get out of my cold/wet clothes and quickly.
Home, change, food and then bed for a Nanna nap. I've just gotta have time off work this week, I'm getting far too tired. And NO! its NOT cos of the training(!) its the heat and TRAC
Crazy, crazy days.
Thanks to all of you who've emailed me your concern is much appreciated.
Devastating.
We have good friends who live up where the fires are, but we are powerless to do anything.
We are asked not to block the phone networks so we don't ring them, but feel terrible about that.
But we could do nothing for them anyway, they can't get out and we can't get in.
So while we know we can't help and comfort ourselves with that knowledge, we just want to let them know we are thinking of them, praying for them.
But we can't.
Weather in Victoria is always capricious. Interstaters reckon we can have 4 seasons in one day and its true. Yesterday I was sitting in the car dripping with sweat. Today I was sitting in the car dripping from rain. And I was cold.
I'd been on a 2 hour ride along Beach Road. As usual there were loads of cyclists out. The smell of smoke was occasionally very strong. It was very windy and the rain was hard..it stung. The drops were huge and dust laden. I had to shorten my 1st 20 minutes effort by 3 minutes as I rode into the rain and I couldn't see through my glasses, the rain was so hard and into my face. I turned and then made the next effort a 40 minute one.
After the ride I went to work to sort out a problem with our TRAC team flags but didn't stay long as ALL my fingers and thumbs developed a pins and needles type feeling. This has to be either a spinal problem or a vascular one. The spinal option was too bizarre and it just had to be cos I was suddenly so cold. Putting my hands on my thighs confirmed my hypothesis...they were freezing. I needed to get out of my cold/wet clothes and quickly.
Home, change, food and then bed for a Nanna nap. I've just gotta have time off work this week, I'm getting far too tired. And NO! its NOT cos of the training(!) its the heat and TRAC
Crazy, crazy days.
Thanks to all of you who've emailed me your concern is much appreciated.
Saturday, 7 February 2009
Air travel and TRAC update
Check this link out first. Koalas aren't know to be great drinkers.
Farewelling one of my work mates yesterday since she's off to Canada for 6 weeks, we got to talking out air travel. The topic was especially centred around what sort of person you get to sit next to on a long haul flight.
Me, I always go for the aisle seat and am very quiet the entire trip..no imposing myself on my neighbour and I hope to get a similar response from them. However the conversation this time was really about having to sit next to someone who overflows the seat...something I've never had to endure. But I was able to recount something I'd heard on the radio a coupla days ago...
This lady had rung in with a tale about a trip she had with (I think) Easyjet..a low cost airline. She is BIG and whenever she flies she chooses what she expects will be a less popular flight so as to be able to have an empty seat next to her. Anyhow this time she realised that the flight was filling up and so rang the airline, explained the situation and bought a second ticket to ensure she'd not be squashing anyone.
However when she got to the airport she discovered that the ticket clerk had given her one seat at the front and the other seat at the rear of the plane!
My training is going along well considering the overload the weather and TRAC is putting on my system. This week I have been trying to decide which day would be best to have my burgeoning nervous breakdown as I battled TRAC, my increasing clinical workload plus orientating and mentoring 2 brand new, new-grad Physios on my ward
TRAC update..we are now on the last day of the first week and already we have some hefty front runners who have bolted beyond Sydney (800+km) and are closing in on Queensland. Since there are floods in northern Queensland I've been telling everyone that for them only swimming will count this week! (giggle giggle). My team is not allowed to win (moral dilemma..can't win what you've organised) and clearly wouldn't anyway, cos I'm not sure we've even left Victoria (<400km)
I was talking to someone whose mother is a primary teacher and who asked if there was any copyright on the idea (no) as she thought it'd be a great thing for her kids to do..around Victoria with projects along the way at various locations eg gold in Bendigo, fruit in mildura, bushrangers in Glenrowan. The older classes will run it and all the school will take part.....
I've had the first nomination for a spot prize of someone whose breakfast was the first of many cola drinks and who never exercised...she's given up the fizzy brekky and is now exercising......now THAT'S one of the things we were hoping to acheive. The other was to encourage ALL the staff to pull together/bond rather than what usually happens which is bonding in separate departments/wards.
However we have learned many lessons along the way..one of which is keep it VERY simple..if we EVER do this again there will be no restrictions at all in what exercise can count..either that or it will be limited to walking running or cycling. By allowing sports and some gym classes to count we've included more people but made it more complicated.
Farewelling one of my work mates yesterday since she's off to Canada for 6 weeks, we got to talking out air travel. The topic was especially centred around what sort of person you get to sit next to on a long haul flight.
Me, I always go for the aisle seat and am very quiet the entire trip..no imposing myself on my neighbour and I hope to get a similar response from them. However the conversation this time was really about having to sit next to someone who overflows the seat...something I've never had to endure. But I was able to recount something I'd heard on the radio a coupla days ago...
This lady had rung in with a tale about a trip she had with (I think) Easyjet..a low cost airline. She is BIG and whenever she flies she chooses what she expects will be a less popular flight so as to be able to have an empty seat next to her. Anyhow this time she realised that the flight was filling up and so rang the airline, explained the situation and bought a second ticket to ensure she'd not be squashing anyone.
However when she got to the airport she discovered that the ticket clerk had given her one seat at the front and the other seat at the rear of the plane!
My training is going along well considering the overload the weather and TRAC is putting on my system. This week I have been trying to decide which day would be best to have my burgeoning nervous breakdown as I battled TRAC, my increasing clinical workload plus orientating and mentoring 2 brand new, new-grad Physios on my ward
TRAC update..we are now on the last day of the first week and already we have some hefty front runners who have bolted beyond Sydney (800+km) and are closing in on Queensland. Since there are floods in northern Queensland I've been telling everyone that for them only swimming will count this week! (giggle giggle). My team is not allowed to win (moral dilemma..can't win what you've organised) and clearly wouldn't anyway, cos I'm not sure we've even left Victoria (<400km)
I was talking to someone whose mother is a primary teacher and who asked if there was any copyright on the idea (no) as she thought it'd be a great thing for her kids to do..around Victoria with projects along the way at various locations eg gold in Bendigo, fruit in mildura, bushrangers in Glenrowan. The older classes will run it and all the school will take part.....
I've had the first nomination for a spot prize of someone whose breakfast was the first of many cola drinks and who never exercised...she's given up the fizzy brekky and is now exercising......now THAT'S one of the things we were hoping to acheive. The other was to encourage ALL the staff to pull together/bond rather than what usually happens which is bonding in separate departments/wards.
However we have learned many lessons along the way..one of which is keep it VERY simple..if we EVER do this again there will be no restrictions at all in what exercise can count..either that or it will be limited to walking running or cycling. By allowing sports and some gym classes to count we've included more people but made it more complicated.
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Aftermath
Heat knocks me sideways. I may have lived in Aus since 1972, but my approach to heat is pure Pom! I manage better in dry heat rather than humid, so although the temp has gone down to the 30's and feels alot cooler, the humidity has risen and so I still feel like crap.
I'm training..or perhaps that's glorifying what I'm doing! maybe I should say "I'm going out for a ride" regularly but longer efforts are just not on.
I've also added a blue wrist band to my collection..this is from Bike Pure an anti doping group. Its a very BLUE blue band and I'm surprised no one has yet asked me about it...I wait patiently!
True confession mode on... Since blue is my all time favourite colour, I'm not sure whether my donation was motivated by the blue band (and stem spacer) or the concept!
TRAC is underway...79 teams and climbing. A bit of whingeing about what can and can't count and the need to get scoring in on a weekly basis, but hopefully that will settle. Ever seeking to improve on what we've done, I've already asked for feedback via the weekly newsletter I've stupidly committed myself to producing....
I'm training..or perhaps that's glorifying what I'm doing! maybe I should say "I'm going out for a ride" regularly but longer efforts are just not on.
I've also added a blue wrist band to my collection..this is from Bike Pure an anti doping group. Its a very BLUE blue band and I'm surprised no one has yet asked me about it...I wait patiently!
True confession mode on... Since blue is my all time favourite colour, I'm not sure whether my donation was motivated by the blue band (and stem spacer) or the concept!
TRAC is underway...79 teams and climbing. A bit of whingeing about what can and can't count and the need to get scoring in on a weekly basis, but hopefully that will settle. Ever seeking to improve on what we've done, I've already asked for feedback via the weekly newsletter I've stupidly committed myself to producing....
Saturday, 31 January 2009
Survival Mode
Another scorcher of a day, yesterday. I was supposed to only be at work for half a day, but I preferred to stay in AC comfort and so will take that time off another day. We work a 40 hour week but only get paid 38 so accrue 2hrs off/week. We're only s'posed to accumulate a max of 16hrs before we must must must use it. Currently I have 24.
I spent most of the day clearing up the final details of the TRAC project; with the launches all done now its time to do the journey. This weekend I'll also have to get to the shop to buy extra flag pins for the map board and extra bags since we really hadn't prepared for 75 teams.
Yesterday was a day when training was far from the front of my mind..it was a survival day. A day for running on empty, a day for icy poles not ice cream, a day to retreat after work to a shopping mall for food and a film.
That morning Alex and I had decided that eating out'd be a good idea; both of us have been struggling with heat related lack of appetite since not wanting turn on the cooker have been eating cold meat, salads and fruit and sorta wanted a change. We shot out of the house in time for the 6.20/640 sitting but hadn't bothered to decide which film to go to...we didn't care, it was just a ploy to get cool.
A conversation with a guy in the queue led us to seeing Clint Eastwood in Gran Turino and both of us highly recommend it. Neither of us would have picked it as our first choice..I'd thought maybe Valkyrie and Alex though maybe Will Smith's latest but happenstance led us elsewhere and we're truly grateful. I recall the first Clint Easwood films I saw... "the good the bad and the ugly" etc.. must have been during the late 60's since I saw them with Phil before we got married. He must say the least in any one film of any starring actor..he'd have no trouble at all remembering his lines, and no-one absolutely NO-ONE can sneer quite as well as Clint!
So nice and cool and ready to eat and re-hydrate it then became a question as to which queue to join for food. Pancake Parlour won out. The wait was forever but eventually we ordered and finally the food arrived. We'd ordered a plate of cottage fries ($11.90)..when they arrived I looked at them on their small bread and butter sized plate and said..we ordered a full size..the waiter said this IS a full size, to which I replied something to the effect that thank god we didn't go for the half size. Then I couldn't eat them they were so greasy and tasted as if the oil was rancid. Then Alex's main course was not the one he'd ordered and finally we discovered the cost of one of the drinks was wrong.
Ok I said to Alex..you'll want to walk away cos I'm gunna complain. So he did and I did and we got a free meal.
I spent most of the day clearing up the final details of the TRAC project; with the launches all done now its time to do the journey. This weekend I'll also have to get to the shop to buy extra flag pins for the map board and extra bags since we really hadn't prepared for 75 teams.
Yesterday was a day when training was far from the front of my mind..it was a survival day. A day for running on empty, a day for icy poles not ice cream, a day to retreat after work to a shopping mall for food and a film.
That morning Alex and I had decided that eating out'd be a good idea; both of us have been struggling with heat related lack of appetite since not wanting turn on the cooker have been eating cold meat, salads and fruit and sorta wanted a change. We shot out of the house in time for the 6.20/640 sitting but hadn't bothered to decide which film to go to...we didn't care, it was just a ploy to get cool.
A conversation with a guy in the queue led us to seeing Clint Eastwood in Gran Turino and both of us highly recommend it. Neither of us would have picked it as our first choice..I'd thought maybe Valkyrie and Alex though maybe Will Smith's latest but happenstance led us elsewhere and we're truly grateful. I recall the first Clint Easwood films I saw... "the good the bad and the ugly" etc.. must have been during the late 60's since I saw them with Phil before we got married. He must say the least in any one film of any starring actor..he'd have no trouble at all remembering his lines, and no-one absolutely NO-ONE can sneer quite as well as Clint!
So nice and cool and ready to eat and re-hydrate it then became a question as to which queue to join for food. Pancake Parlour won out. The wait was forever but eventually we ordered and finally the food arrived. We'd ordered a plate of cottage fries ($11.90)..when they arrived I looked at them on their small bread and butter sized plate and said..we ordered a full size..the waiter said this IS a full size, to which I replied something to the effect that thank god we didn't go for the half size. Then I couldn't eat them they were so greasy and tasted as if the oil was rancid. Then Alex's main course was not the one he'd ordered and finally we discovered the cost of one of the drinks was wrong.
Ok I said to Alex..you'll want to walk away cos I'm gunna complain. So he did and I did and we got a free meal.
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
hot hot and hotter
42.8 C degrees today..109.4 F and gunna be hotter tomorrow. Today's ride was on the turbo at 6am for about 45 mins..that's all I could be bothered doing.
Lunch time was the first of the TRAC launches and it went well, with mega warnings about exercising in the heat.
71 teams so far. The end of the beginning is close!!!
Lunch time was the first of the TRAC launches and it went well, with mega warnings about exercising in the heat.
71 teams so far. The end of the beginning is close!!!
every so often you score a win or maybe just avoid a loss
Late yesterday I got an email from one of the guys who is also a 6am regular at DISC. Apparently no-one could get into the velodrome yesterday morning...there was an electrical fault and the doors couldn't be opened...!! phew! lucky lucky me!
It was too hot to train yesterday evening when I got home, so this morning I heaved a reluctant body onto the ergo..nothing worse than ergo at 6am.....actually it was also too hot to be bothered to eat much except fruit.
TRAC..show bags packed..loads of goodies to hand out, welcome speech/powerpoint presentation ready, 68 teams. Yesterday I discovered that another branch of our huge health network has borrowed the idea and even the name and is running the project in parallel - imitation the sincerest form of flattery?? They'd asked if I minded ages ago but I didn't realise they'd actually got it going. So..one more day of overwhelming work then the thing is off and running and its up to the 272 staff members to do their thing and all I have to do is write to the sponsors, get their logos onto the maps and email template and hope for smooth sailing from now on..with any luck I can stop being a project manager and go back to being a Physio!
I see from Velonews that one of my cycling buddies from the US, Lil Pfluke, won silver in the World Masters cyclocross champs..talk about multi skilled..she also has competed in the World MTB Champs in Praloup and World Road Champs in St Johann..well done Lil..you legend you!
It was too hot to train yesterday evening when I got home, so this morning I heaved a reluctant body onto the ergo..nothing worse than ergo at 6am.....actually it was also too hot to be bothered to eat much except fruit.
TRAC..show bags packed..loads of goodies to hand out, welcome speech/powerpoint presentation ready, 68 teams. Yesterday I discovered that another branch of our huge health network has borrowed the idea and even the name and is running the project in parallel - imitation the sincerest form of flattery?? They'd asked if I minded ages ago but I didn't realise they'd actually got it going. So..one more day of overwhelming work then the thing is off and running and its up to the 272 staff members to do their thing and all I have to do is write to the sponsors, get their logos onto the maps and email template and hope for smooth sailing from now on..with any luck I can stop being a project manager and go back to being a Physio!
I see from Velonews that one of my cycling buddies from the US, Lil Pfluke, won silver in the World Masters cyclocross champs..talk about multi skilled..she also has competed in the World MTB Champs in Praloup and World Road Champs in St Johann..well done Lil..you legend you!
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
This week's revised forecast = Tues 37C, Wed 41,Thurs 40,Fri 40, Sat 40
and with 41 degrees C equalling 105 degree F, this week ain't gunna be a whole load of fun.
Yesterday was Australia Day plus also Chinese New Year, so there were plenty of celebrations around the country. My ride down Springvale Road took me through an area where many people of Asian origin live so I was a spectator to lots of colourfully dressed performers doing their thing.
My ride was not as I had hoped since I was aiming for a 20 min best effort, but the after effects of the previous day's hilly ride were still lingering in my legs and so it became a ride of mini efforts. I started and finished my ride at work, going in and checking my computer to see if any more TRAC entrants had popped up over the weekend, but no, the tally remains at 67 teams.
I had planned to get up early today to do cruisey laps around the velodrome, but when I still couldn't get to sleep by 0100 and needed to be up at 0430, I pulled the plug. My latest training program has arrived by email this am with an upward alteration to my training zones...it appears that I have improved on my L2-L3 numbers and here was I thinking I was going backwards.
Today is not going to be a clinical day for me..I'm at a course all morning and then we pack the TRAC show bags. Now if only I could remember what the course was all about ..I looked at the email and couldn't make much sense of it and can't recall why on earth my manager wanted me to go. I guess all will be revealed I just hope I don't fall asleep, and that the food is good.....
Seen here drinking from a tap, Flea has yet again managed to rid the place of 1 rat...what a warrior, what a legend! just wish he'd stop bringing the carcasses into the house.
Yesterday was Australia Day plus also Chinese New Year, so there were plenty of celebrations around the country. My ride down Springvale Road took me through an area where many people of Asian origin live so I was a spectator to lots of colourfully dressed performers doing their thing.
My ride was not as I had hoped since I was aiming for a 20 min best effort, but the after effects of the previous day's hilly ride were still lingering in my legs and so it became a ride of mini efforts. I started and finished my ride at work, going in and checking my computer to see if any more TRAC entrants had popped up over the weekend, but no, the tally remains at 67 teams.
I had planned to get up early today to do cruisey laps around the velodrome, but when I still couldn't get to sleep by 0100 and needed to be up at 0430, I pulled the plug. My latest training program has arrived by email this am with an upward alteration to my training zones...it appears that I have improved on my L2-L3 numbers and here was I thinking I was going backwards.
Today is not going to be a clinical day for me..I'm at a course all morning and then we pack the TRAC show bags. Now if only I could remember what the course was all about ..I looked at the email and couldn't make much sense of it and can't recall why on earth my manager wanted me to go. I guess all will be revealed I just hope I don't fall asleep, and that the food is good.....
Seen here drinking from a tap, Flea has yet again managed to rid the place of 1 rat...what a warrior, what a legend! just wish he'd stop bringing the carcasses into the house.Sunday, 25 January 2009
beautiful weather again and TRAC
Yesterday's ride was on the turbo as the wind was up again and it even rained for a while. I opted to do the virtual reality type ride..43km long and my opponents were me and me(!)from my previous attempts at the ride. The first try had been with the steering set at "on" which made me slower for two reasons..I kept crashing going downhill and my virtual opponent had very bad racing manners and we kept colliding or rather he kept getting in my way..I was, of course, riding a straight line(?!)
Anyhow I killed me, beating my two rides by 2km and 4km....can't keep doing that of course, but its fun while you can.
Yesterday afternoon then became what used to be called a spring clean since we've yet again hired a skip to get rid of a load of rubbish. The catalyst this time is 'cos Alex, the landscape gardener, has transformed a set of concrete steps and a path into a beautiful paved area so we now have a load of concrete to get rid of. The smallest walk-in skip I could get was bigger than I thought we needed so a general throw out was the order of the day.
Today has been a long ride day, re-doing the Yarra Glen/Xmas Hills/Warrandyte ride, taking 10 mins off my previous effort.. more the result of knowing the way and the slope rather than an improvement of fitness. There seemed to be a huge amount of traffic about, ? the economic downturn has resulted in less people going away for the long weekend? My only moment of panic was when a car towing a really wide trailer passed me..the driver didn't allow for its extra width....
This afternoon has been "watch the TDU" and then "fill the skip" time. I had told Ben he could bring rubbish over but now I have to tell him not to bother as its full already..so much for thinking it was too big! ..Ben and Melissa are moving into a different rented house at a MUCH better rent...the rental market in Melbourne has got to be waaaay too expensive....
TRAC news : I drafted a sponsors' thank you letter early today and received another bag of goodies yesterday both for the show bag and some individual prizes.
As I'm writing this I'm also watching the Edinburgh Tattoo..what is it about bagpipes that bring a tear to my eye and a lump in my throat? can I blame my Scottish mother and her family or am I just an emotional old softie?
Tmw's session is to be a 20 min road TT best effort which I'm going to do from work along Springvale road..it's really straight and flat as it gets closer to the bay....and if I'm early should be relatively traffic free....
Anyhow I killed me, beating my two rides by 2km and 4km....can't keep doing that of course, but its fun while you can.
Yesterday afternoon then became what used to be called a spring clean since we've yet again hired a skip to get rid of a load of rubbish. The catalyst this time is 'cos Alex, the landscape gardener, has transformed a set of concrete steps and a path into a beautiful paved area so we now have a load of concrete to get rid of. The smallest walk-in skip I could get was bigger than I thought we needed so a general throw out was the order of the day.
Today has been a long ride day, re-doing the Yarra Glen/Xmas Hills/Warrandyte ride, taking 10 mins off my previous effort.. more the result of knowing the way and the slope rather than an improvement of fitness. There seemed to be a huge amount of traffic about, ? the economic downturn has resulted in less people going away for the long weekend? My only moment of panic was when a car towing a really wide trailer passed me..the driver didn't allow for its extra width....
This afternoon has been "watch the TDU" and then "fill the skip" time. I had told Ben he could bring rubbish over but now I have to tell him not to bother as its full already..so much for thinking it was too big! ..Ben and Melissa are moving into a different rented house at a MUCH better rent...the rental market in Melbourne has got to be waaaay too expensive....
TRAC news : I drafted a sponsors' thank you letter early today and received another bag of goodies yesterday both for the show bag and some individual prizes.
As I'm writing this I'm also watching the Edinburgh Tattoo..what is it about bagpipes that bring a tear to my eye and a lump in my throat? can I blame my Scottish mother and her family or am I just an emotional old softie?
Tmw's session is to be a 20 min road TT best effort which I'm going to do from work along Springvale road..it's really straight and flat as it gets closer to the bay....and if I'm early should be relatively traffic free....
Saturday, 24 January 2009
Australia Day=a long weekend of training
Normally at this time of the year, we're off up to the Victorian Alps for a spot of hill climbing in Audax's Alpine Classic. However 10-15 years on and the interest has waned more than somewhat, so here I am at home ready to get 3 days solid training in before having another go at DISC. The weather remains hot and windy so I've no doubt I'm not the only cyclist to have punctured there since the wind blows down little metal shards from the roof, where they've stayed since its construction. Eventually none will be left, but when that will be I guess, will depend on how many windy days we get.
One of Thursday's disasters was that my car decided to die electrically and it remains that way since I've been far too busy to do anything about it. Luckily since Phil is off in Laos I can use his car which meant that at first I ended up listening to a different radio station than usual....and heard the following 2 gems:
*****Teenagers.....I think they're god's punishment for having sex in the first place......
and as an indication of just how dire out drought situation is:
*****Lake (please note LAKE) Wendouree is on fire! (this lake was where the 1956 olympics rowing was held and is not really all that deep at best).
TRAC..67 teams. Yet more show bag goodies have arrived. Maps, flags and team lists up at both campuses. Welcome speech and powerpoint slides completed. List of sponsors completed but I'm struggling with gettingtheir logos onto an email template.....
There's no doubt that had we realised just how big it was going to be, we'd never have started it and I'd have to say I am well and truly "over" it and am having to resort to comfort food of a chocolate nature to get me through the day.
Pinnacle days are the launches this coming up Wed and Thurs......
One of Thursday's disasters was that my car decided to die electrically and it remains that way since I've been far too busy to do anything about it. Luckily since Phil is off in Laos I can use his car which meant that at first I ended up listening to a different radio station than usual....and heard the following 2 gems:
*****Teenagers.....I think they're god's punishment for having sex in the first place......
and as an indication of just how dire out drought situation is:
*****Lake (please note LAKE) Wendouree is on fire! (this lake was where the 1956 olympics rowing was held and is not really all that deep at best).
TRAC..67 teams. Yet more show bag goodies have arrived. Maps, flags and team lists up at both campuses. Welcome speech and powerpoint slides completed. List of sponsors completed but I'm struggling with gettingtheir logos onto an email template.....
There's no doubt that had we realised just how big it was going to be, we'd never have started it and I'd have to say I am well and truly "over" it and am having to resort to comfort food of a chocolate nature to get me through the day.
Pinnacle days are the launches this coming up Wed and Thurs......
Thursday, 22 January 2009
windy hot and uncomfortable
Today's ride at DISC was sadly a fizzer.
I was going well in my warm up.
Grooving happily around and around until 16 minutes into a 20 minute warm up on an easy gear when I had to deal with a sudden inability to hold the black line...yup a front wheel puncture.
The "DISC in a high wind syndrome" had hit again. What happens is that small crescent shaped bits of metal rain down from the roof every time there is a high wind..and there was.....a high wind that is. And my front tyre was a victim..prob not the last for the day either.
Sad. I get really aggrieved when I get up and out extra early (0530) and then have a negative experience.
TRAC..66 teams. My other project, and somewhat different is the PJC singing group. We met for the first time 8 weeks before Christmas and moved from a rabble to a choir in that time, giving carols performances across the PJC/WH campuses to great acclaim. Now we have to decide where to from here and what will we sing. Looks like Aussie songs for Anzac day is the next target.
I was going well in my warm up.
Grooving happily around and around until 16 minutes into a 20 minute warm up on an easy gear when I had to deal with a sudden inability to hold the black line...yup a front wheel puncture.
The "DISC in a high wind syndrome" had hit again. What happens is that small crescent shaped bits of metal rain down from the roof every time there is a high wind..and there was.....a high wind that is. And my front tyre was a victim..prob not the last for the day either.
Sad. I get really aggrieved when I get up and out extra early (0530) and then have a negative experience.
TRAC..66 teams. My other project, and somewhat different is the PJC singing group. We met for the first time 8 weeks before Christmas and moved from a rabble to a choir in that time, giving carols performances across the PJC/WH campuses to great acclaim. Now we have to decide where to from here and what will we sing. Looks like Aussie songs for Anzac day is the next target.
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
rest day
Today was a rest day..from training anyway....I was so busy at work that the day went by so quickly I didn't realise it was 5pm until I found I was the only one left in the department. Tomorrow I'm out to the velodrome nice and early in order to see what I can do at my current state of fitness...hopefully I'll be solo on the track.
TRAC.....65 teams and a week to go til the first of the 2 launches. Yet another person reckons the project should be presented at some conference or other..shudder....this is where I suddenly disappear/allow others to take the credit.
TRAC.....65 teams and a week to go til the first of the 2 launches. Yet another person reckons the project should be presented at some conference or other..shudder....this is where I suddenly disappear/allow others to take the credit.
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