Bob’s bike, used for commuting and for a recent day trip to Wee Jasper via Uriarra, was carrying semi slick tyres, and the front wheel was a flat as could be. What started out as a simple task of changing an inner tube, turned into a long surgical procedure of removing fine thorns and burrs with a pair of tweezers. The collection was truly impressive!
An investigation of the rear wheel, which was still highly inflated, revealed a similar impressive array. The removal of one which was acting as a plug to keep the air in the tyre resulted in a similar slow leak and a second flat.
I had one spare tube, and Bob had one. However just as Bob started to fit the tube that was on his bike, I saw a large, unfixable crack, probably caused by him carrying it on his bike and it rubbing. The days bike ride was off, and it was getting late!
Study of the local yellow pages didn’t provide for many local bike shops – in fact it looked increasingly likely that we would need a trip into Hobart. With a quick change of plans, the four of us – Bob, myself, mother duck and Rex – piled into the car and headed off. Rex was quite comfortable in his position in the wagon boot section of the Outback, he had panoramic windows to enjoy the view and was quite settled. We found a good little bike shop just past the hospital in Hobart, and bought the tubes and a repair kit. I avoided the 50% off sale rack of Pearl Izumi gear.
A bottle of water and back to Sorrell for the Vet, a cup of surprisingly good coffee at the Chilli Pepper Café in Sorrell ($3 each) and a little more shopping. Bob had squeezed in an early morning run, however I had had no exercise all day, so despite the late hour quickly changed and headed off for a 30 minute jaunt. It was humid again in the late afternoon early evening, yet I was sorely tempted to run on. Reluctantly I knew that time was against me, it already being after 6:30pm and turned to return. Not as sprightly a run as the day before, and too short, but still satisfying. I covered about 6km in around 34:55, so OK as a training pace. Bob and I managed to get going very late in the morning, after Bob spent a very frustrating, but ultimately successful prolonged period on the phone in getting the car fixed. It turned out that it was only a flat battery, however we eventually managed to get it sorted out.
We called in to “Drfters” Internet Café, just off Salamanca Place as our next port of call. Bob was unable to connect his computer through WiFi, however he was able to use a terminal and get his order in for the compulsory uniform items for the Duathlon World Championships in Györ, Hungry in May this year.
We were then on our way, stopping at the Woolies at Sorrell to buy some food, and were soon on the Tasman Peninsula en route to Port Arthur.
Bob fell asleep in the car, (I was driving at the time), and after brief greetings, he was off to bed for a much needed nap. I changed into my much neglected running gear, and gadgeted up to the max, was off for an hours run along the well graded dirt road with no traffic. It wound it’s way around the nooks and cranny’s of the bay staying just adjacent to the water. I made it to the end of Conical Point, where an assortment of old machinery littered the track near the rusting jetty out to the water.
There were three vehicles, one young bloke and his dog . . . who seemed most excited to see me (the dog that is), as sweating heavily in the unfamiliar humidity, I turned around at 30 minutes and 30 seconds having run just a tad over 5km.
Although I was tempted to take an alternate turn to the right at the nearby junction to extend my run by a kilometre or two, I had both said that I would be an hour, and was already very thirsty. With no chance of a drink before I got back, I knew that I had to continue. The road was essentially flat, although undulated up and down with short gradients. Thinking about that drink I didn’t slow, and began to hit my stride just towards the end. A small negative split was satisfying, as was the 10kms + that I covered in the hour.
Our room/apartment in Hobart wasn't ready, so we left the car there and wandered the kilometre or so to Salamanca Place where we had a good lunch in Drifters Internet Cafe (photos of Errol Fynn everywhere), of smoked salmon on bagels (Bob) and sandwiches (Me). The coffee wasn't bad either!
The Motel (Woolmer's Inn on Sandy Bay Rd) looked really good fromt he outside, although it failed to live up to expectations once we were inside. It was 25 years old, and very, very tired. The hot water was hot, but that was about it. In a rare Tasmanian heatwave (apparently the only three day stretch of weather over 30 degrees C in 30 years or something), the rooms were stiffling hot.
The most spectacular electical storm on Friday evening cut off the transmitters for SBS TV during the news and caused havoc most everywhere.
Saturday was a quietish day, Bob riding with the Tridents over the course in the morning, and going to registration and checking his bike in the afternoon. The weather was very humid and an unpleasant surprise for we inlandlubbers. I didn't get out for a run (again!), being busy in the morning, and finding it too disruptive in the afternoon.
A quiet meal of pasta for Bob and Soup for me before a better sleep than the previous night when we had no fan nor airflow in the room.
Hobart International Triathlon
It wasn't too early a start for the Tri on Sunday, and the water was relatively warm for Tasmania and the swim at Constitution Dock.
The tight bike course was 8 laps of a technical city route, with many U-turns and hill climbs. Having completed in the inaugural Hobart Triathlon in 2005, I positioned myself on the base of the sharp, short climb up Willmot Street, where I remember many people coming a cropper the previous years. With an out and back U-turn before hand, I was likely to see many people clearly as the passed three times each lap, and travelled fairly slowly up the ascent.
Before long, I struck up a conversation with a very genial race Marshall, Frances and we enjoyed each others complany between my calls of support to Bob and the other Canberrans as they rode past. After I assessed that Bob had completed his 8 laps, I made my way down to transition, a large shed on the pier, and positioned myself near the exit to the run where I knew one had to pass twice each lap.
It was a good location, and I saw Bob and his cute, choppy little running style easily as he made up ground on many other stronger runners and swimmers. It was difficult to tell what age groups others were in, But I cheered as loudly as I could.
At the end of the race, Bob was third in his last hurrah for the 55-59 age group. It was all very confusing, as he raced in the 60-64 age group in Canberra a few weeks ago (and was better in Hobart). There was widespread confusion, as we know of at least one other fellow, a few months older than Bob who was on the podium for the 60-64's!
We raced back to the motel, showered, and prepared to visit our friends Alan and Penny at their beach house for lunch.
The car wouldn't open electrically and was as dead as a dodo when we tried to start. Plans were reluctantly cancelled and we joined the other Canberra old folks for fish on the wharf before watching the elites race in the afternoon.
A frustrating morning spent ringing around the Subaru dealerships, roadside assistance, Automobile club and back again eventually got us started, although underway far too late. We are both looking forward to our holiday on the West Coast, and I am anxious to run this afternoon when we visit my mother at Murdunna. My feet are itching and the standard summer weather of Tasmania (cool and low to lower 20's) has returned.
I didn’t have another coffee at the gardens, despsite the lovely setting, so that Bob and I could have one together when he arrived. It wasn’t until I got to the airport that I realised that I was a bit hungry, and the airport cafeteria was as uninspiring as one expected. I just felt like something fresh and cold, perhaps a salad sandwich, or certainly a cold drink! However as I am now restricting my caffeine intake, and carbonated beverages are not great for me since the operation (cue the Ansett theme from the 1970’s “Up, up and away . . .”) the options were limited to . . . nil.
Bob was on time, and we hit the road south, keeping our eyes open for cute little villages for coffee or to stay overnight. We rang our accommodation in Hobart to see if we could extend our stay to four nights from Thursday, however they were booked out. We stopped at Cambelltown for a coffee at a reasonable looking café, and realised that the village we were looking for was Ross off the highway only a short distance away.
8:00am, Thursday 15 February
I was in a 'business class' seat overnight from Melbourne to Tassie, and slept surprisingly well (until I woke up in the early hours). Having had no time to spare on reaching the ferry on leaving Canberra at the far-too-late time of 11:00am after collecting some medical supplies in Civic, there wasn't much time to spare.
I remember a rushed trip to the Raspberry Farm complex after a Devonport Triathlon many years ago. Knowing that it was opened for breakfast, I headed here directly after refilling my very empty fuel tank (needing 61 litres for a maximum capacity of 65).
More touristy than I'd recalled on my rushed visit last time, it nevertheless provided a pleasant spot for an early morning break. This was noisily interupted by the arrival of a small, elderly tour group. I'm onto my third bottle of iced water, have finished a serve of expensive, but good muesli & raspberry yoghurt (with fresh raspberries) ($9.00), but am blown away by the excellence of the coffee! Mugs are a reasonable size and the espresso has a good full flavoured body, with no bitterness or strong aftertaste. Although severely tempted, I avoided ordering a second so that I could enjoy another café with Bob this afternoon.
I'm collecting him from Launceston airport at 1:30pm, so I have the morning to myself!
After a quickish coffee with Bob at Hansel and Gretal, Belconnen before he headed to his doctor to get a mark on his back checked out (he had a very aggressive melanoma a few years back, so is extra careful), I drove into Customs for my "wouldn't miss it for the world" Friday lunchtime.
From the start I felt good, had remembered to take my Ventolin and had the puffer in my back pocket in case. I worked hard, but the legs had a spring in them that I hadn't noticed for far too long. I passed Friar far earlier than expected at the 1km mark and was concerned that my quick start would be my undoing later on in the run.
Despite seeing Yumiko for the entire run, I never could quite reel her in, although I tried! My heart rate was high, although not alarmingly so, and I took some Ventolin after I completed 3km, and after that. It seemed to silence me and give me a good kick to continue.
All in all, I finished just under 5:30 pace (27:22), and felt wonderful. It seems strange to be so thrilled with a supra-5 minute pace result, but there has been a long period of this poor performance, so hopefully I am heading in the right direction for rapid improvement.
4:00 (7:30) 7:00
1. 5:59 (6:23) 6:16
2. 6:35 (6:33) 6:56
3. 5:35 (5:47) 6:11
4. 6:37 (6:33) 6:27
5. 5:11 (5:14) 5:27
6. 5:40 (5:50) 5:12
36:29 (35:43) 36:25
It was run in reverse this week, with the easiest kilometres being the last one and a half.
Labels: BBQ_Stakes, Customs, running
Rudi is not an adorable skunk, however he has shown a great ability since he arrived at quickly "growing" and then "shaving off" a dashing looking black moustache which makes him look quite the french monsieur.
Went for a 'brisk' walk around Black Mountain Bushland with the PRB on Monday afternoon. A few hills and a tad over 10 kilometres covered.
Today was the monthly Mt Ainslie Run-Up in hot conditions. I felt really well today, but my legs had no juice when I started to move. As those walking sped past me I kept churning on, although I too started to walk as the mercury rose the sweat poured and the legs had turned their knees back to front and were urging me to in reverse.
Eventually I finished in what must surely be a considerable PW of 24:46! I doubt that there would have been too many PB's today. The jog down was so welcome - I do love running down hills! A small swimmette in the afternoon followed by a belated visit to my GP in an attempt to seek an answer to the spasms that have been crippling me of late. It seems that it is common after the type of procedure I had, and another patient would went through the same thing around the same time is going through the same thing. It could take a year to settle down.
I drove down to the Cross Country at Woden, arriving just as the first runners were crossing the line. Double parking, I changed into my cycling gear, and left my keys with Bob and rode his bike home. Bob was going to take the car to his swim squad and we decided on the swap.
As my daily alarm for my "it's not really a sedative" sleeping miracle pill went off at 6:55pm, I discovered that despite multiple trips to the pharmacy this week and three prescriptions filled, I had run out. Doh!
Labels: Customs
It was late by the time I managed to get away for a run, however the weather was milder than all for the last month and an early afternoon departure wasn't a problem. I was running for fun and vowed not to be concerned about the distance I covered. Good theory, however as I wound my way up the steep tracks which lead up to the summit of Black Mountain, I seemed to barely cracking a slow walking pace. Surely I will speed up on the way home without the hills?
It didn't seem to make any difference though. I was enjoying the run enormously, despite the lack of pace. With the Gungahlin Drive extension road works, I certainly didn't take the quickest way home.
Labels: running
About me
- I'm Carolyne
- From Canberra, Australia
- I love to run! Staying in Weymouth, Dorset on the South West Coast of England until October. I'm 46, live in Canberra with Bob and have been running since 1990. This has been interrupted by long periods of illness, however I am extremely stubborn! I'll never be a fast runner, however I give it everything, and am slowly learning to read my body better and adjust my training and expectations accordingly. Or rather I would, if running were possible at the moment - I will retuyrn soon.
- My profile
Upcoming Events
Wish List
Recent Events
Hartley Lifecare Fun Run 5k 17 NovemberWagga Tri-ants Duathlon 10k/40k/5k 30 OctoberACTVAC Half Marathon 21.1k 28 AugustCanberra Half Marathon 15 May injured
Results
moon phases
Kilometres Run
January
212
February
199
March
214
April
201
May
188
June
182
July
255
August
246
September
155
October
159
November
200
December
62
Year to Date
2,267
PB's
Chip Time (3:47:13) Sydney 2005
Days Sick
January
10
February
10
March
10
April
4
May
7
June
8
July
9
August
11
September
11
October
11
November
9
December
Lots. ?15