Training Log Archive: Bruce

Australian Middle Distance Champs - Pewsey Vale
4th place (3rd Aussie) behind Matt Crane, Simon Uppill and Kerrin Rattray.
My best ever result at this event, improving on 5th in 2004 at The Cascades.

I lost about 30 seconds on #2, and was another couple of 10 second hesitations in the first half. However, I was very pleased with the second loop, making up a minute or two on most of the top 10, by selecting some safe track route choices.
My foot is not yet 100%, but it didn't trouble me too much over the middle distance course. These are the type of results that I was looking for last weekend before my injury struck.

SA won the team NOL category today, but VIC still gained some ground on NSW.

Early morning run and stretch.

A slow jog down to Golding Oval, and then I jogged the bends and surged on the straights around the athletics track.
I got through it ok, but I didn't want to do too much at this stage.
I think I'll start today's race, and see how it goes.

I'm pleased to get to this stage after 4 or 5 medical appointments, 30 or 40 ice treatments and 2 types of antibiotics.

Due to popular demand, here is a photo of my foot, and the responsible stick. Only the last 5mm was not inside my foot!

A successful comeback today, coming 4th in the ASC Galaxy Sprint at Nuriootpa. My foot was still a little sore, but I was able to block it out for the race.
I was quite smooth on all controls, with only slight hesitations on 4, 14 and perhaps 5 seconds lost on a route choice to 22. I ran fast, but in control, but started to do it tough from 16 to the finish (I was in 2nd place at #20, but lost about 10 seconds in the last 1km). I caught a glimpse of Adrian about 1 minutes ahead of me near 20, so perhaps he extended the margin slightly to the end.

The results were controversial, with several runners ignoring the instructions and crossing uncrossable features.
Congratulations to Leon, Toph, Warren, Ryan and Matt for being honest and admitting their indescretions. These guys should be commended, especially the juniors. It must be tough to own up and void your results, especially when you are trying to post some good results.
Unfortunately the same can't be said for several others who broke the rules and kept quiet. They know who they are.
This comes up almost every sprint race, so there is no excuse for not knowing the rules.

It was a great day for the Victoria Nuggets, taking maximum points in each of the 4 divisions. Leon did not run in uniform, but his DSQ resulted in Victoria gaining the bonus point as the next runner to count was in uniform and was still fast enough for the team win. We are starting to build up a nice buffer at the top now.

C • Come on Brucie 14

The doctor reviewed my results today and concluded that there was a local infection that caused the swelling, but the antibiotics should be taking care of that. The swelling and redness had certainly improved though.
We took the kids down to Port Noarlunga for an adventure playground, and a swim at the beach. Marvelous weather for April - perhaps a tad too warm.
I managed a couple of run throughs at the playground without any discomfort, so I'll give myself a fitness test tomorrow morning.

Better news today. $198 later, the ultrasound revealed no foreign bodies in my foot. I think it was just the trauma of the wound that caused the swelling.
It is definately better today. I can walk fairly normally, but I'll just have to wait and see if it recovers quickly enough to make a comeback this weekend.

C • Foreigners 1

I went to the doctor today to get the wound checked out. My foot is still pretty swollen, although it is much more bearable to walk on.
I spent most of the morning trying to find a doctor that would see me. Eventually I found a clinic. I got a tetanus booster, 2 types of antibiotics, and an appointment for an ultrasound tomorrow to check for any hidden foreign objects in my foot.
I then need to go back to the doctor again on Thursday.
I'll need to improve fairly quickly if I am to be any good for this weekend, so it's not looking too good if I'm in your FOOL team.

C • you FOOL 4

I watched the last day of the Easter 3 days. I had no hope of running with my injury. It was hard enough walking around the stony assembly area with a badly swolen right foot.
I managed to ice my foot 5 or 6 times throughout the day in an attempt to keep the swelling down.
Apart from the injury, I actually felt quite fresh - unusual for an Easter Monday.

Easter Day 2 Long Distance
A good start, moving through controls 1 to 7 quite well. Then disaster struck - my right foot crashed into a stick as I was running. After 100m I wondered why the pain was not going away. It was bearable on the flat, but on hills it was severe I was surely losing time. I continued on trying my best to keep up my speed, even keeping with Julian for about 5 minutes. Then it got steeper, and the pain increased. I stopped a couple of times to consider whether to continue. I told myself to go on, but eventually at 16 I sat down for a drink, and took my shoe off. I saw a stick in my foot surrounded by blood. Initially I couldn't even pull it out. Jimbo saw it as he went past. I pulled the inch long stick out and put it in my pocket as a souvenier. Feeling a little better, I pushed on and continued my course, but at a much slower pace than I'd originally hoped for.
Very dissappointing considering that I was fit and looking forward to this race.
Now I'm just hoping to be fit for the races next weekend.

C • bad luck 3

Early morning jog and stretch.

How good were the Crows today!

a much better warm up today.