Another month gone …

Started off this morning going for a bike ride with my mate Herb. We left from his place in Essendon at just after 8am, and rode the Merri Creek Trail, Capital City Trail, stopped at Docklands for a coffee, then back up the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail. All up a loop of 37km.

It was an interesting ride to say the least. Let’s just say that I ain’t no bike mechanic, and my gear adjustment efforts yesterday left a lot to be desired. This lead to some interesting gear changes along the way. Add to that the fact that my hands were numb from the cold within about 10 minutes of starting, despite my winter gloves, and the fact that my glasses kept fogging up in the cold. Surprised I made it back alive. Seriously though, a cold, but enjoyable ride.

This afternoon was spent trying to fix up some of the old paintwork around under the eaves of the house, so mainly the painful preparation part -  scraping, sanding, filling gaps and holes …. the bit that I hate, compared to this, the painting is bundles of fun. At least I got to listen to Geelong cream Essendon while I was doing it!

Monthly Summary

Running: 53 kms at 5:45 min/km (YTD 272 kms at 5:44 min/km)
Cycling: 158 kms at 23.9 kms/hr (YTD 1934 kms at 25.2 kms/hr)
Other: 7 swims and 12 home workouts

Another low running month, and also less kilometres on the bike. This was due largely to the knee rehabilitation, a week of sickness and crashing the bike, so not too bad a month considering. Pleased to see the number of swims on the up, and particularly pleased to have got back into the core/weights workouts at home for the first time this year. I need to keep this up – my core and upper body strength is not as good as good as it should be.

A good run …

Today was a good day.

It started as most Saturdays do with a trip into the Victoria Market. Then a trip to Highpoint with Chris, with a stop off at Dan Murphy on the way home.

Then I did some adjustments on my gears on my bike. I think I made it better, I can actually change into them all now, and the derailleur doesn’t seem to be too close to the wheel when on the largest sprocket, but I think I might still get them serviced.

A trip to Bunnings to buy some white paint to repaint under the eaves – I told you that the new pergola would lead to a desire to repaint everywhere!

A great run tonight, only 6km again, but went out (in the almost dark) with the goal of running sub-5 minute pace, and I managed this, coming home with an average pace of 4:58. This is my first sub-5 run since the Burnie 10 in October last year, since I’ve been trying to rehab this knee (which feels good by the way).

Here’s the picture anyway …

Here’s the picture I was trying load in the previous two posts. Thought I’d post it anyway, just cos it’s so cute!

Edit: The pergola is just about finished! Will try and post a photo tomorrow. Back on the bike tonight, for the first time since the fall. Just a 15km ride as the light ran out on me. The gears do need some adjustment, so I’ve just watched a few good YouTube videos on how to do it – will try myself tomorrow before paying money at the LBS.

Aaron wants to know if it does pictures … second attempt

On the last post the picture was an attachment in Outlook, let’s try it again with an in-line picture.

Edit: That didn’t work either, it did put a HTML image link in, but it didn’t display the image. The announcement says that both in-line and attachments should work, but I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.

Further Edit: Based on the message in the confirmation email for each of the last two posts, I’d say that you have to have paid for one of the WordPress “space upgrades” for posting of pictures via email to work – so that explains why they didn’t work.

Aaron wants to know if it does pictures …

To answer Aaron’s question about whether this post by email feature does pictures, let’s try it!

If you can see Jackie when she was a gorgeous little puppy, then the answer is yes.

Edit: Well, that didn’t work, not even a hint of a HTML image link.

Testing the post by email feature

This is really just a post, from my email client, testing the new “Post By Email Feature”. Could be a nice way to generate a post!

Can’t fault the maths …

I had a breakfast seminar in the city this morning so I headed in early for a swim. I swam 60 laps instead of my normal 80 to allow myself 15 minutes in the steam room, figuring it might help clear the head-cold. Felt good.

So then I headed up to the Grand Hyatt for the breakfast seminar. Seminar content was only average, and I was boringly good with the breakfast limiting myself to copious amounts of coffee and the fruit platter.

Before dinner I went for a 5km run with Chris. Unfortunately it was cut short when Chris stepped on a rock in the dark and sprained his ankle. We walked (he hobbled) home and we are RICEing it. After dinner a short workout including my VMO/Glute and a few core exercises.

A work colleague sent me this today. I can’t fault the mathematics

Twitter maybe ?

My posts the last few days have been so short, maybe I should switch to Twitter?

Not much to report today either, I arrived home really feeling like a run, but this would mean breaking Dr K’s “not running two consecutive days” rule, so instead I just opted for a home workout after tea.

I did manage to fix the brake/gear shifter on my bike tonight, but I still think I might visit the local bike shop to get a good gear adjustment done, but the bike is rideable at least.

Now a question for Stu or Jo. Is there something you’re not telling us? Why was “Stumac+millionaire” one of my  search engine terms today (things people typed into search engines that found my blog)?

A run always makes you feel better …

I finally got out for my first run for a few days tonight and it really did make me feel better. Amazing the effect a run can have, even if it is only 6km @ 5:16 min/km average pace.

Nearly time to collapse in front of the TV.

Miserable

Pretty crap day all round today. Really can’t be bothered posting, oh hang on, I am!

A pretty decent home workout tonight, over twice as long as normal. I wasn’t going to run out in the rain and cold with my cough the way it is, so chucking some weights around the front room seemed like the only option.

Tomorrow will be better.