The Back-on-back weekend

The weekend just gone was due to be the pinnacle of our OXFAM Trailwalker training; walks on both Sat and Sun of about 40klms each. We had planned to use sections of the trail, but the fires put paid to that. So we opted for a few laps of climbing Mt Dandenong on the Saturday and about 40klms along the Dandenong Creek bike trail on Sunday.

I missed most of the Saturday walk after getting on on the overnight flight from Singapore. The guys were planning three laps of the mountain; twice up the steep track and down the winding one, and then one up then down the winding one. A nice mix. I had hoped to catch them sometime on their way down the second time and join them for the third loop. Unfortunately my power nap, and the guys being faster than planned, meant I caught them halfway down the third loop. So my half-up and half-down the mountain resulted in some sweating and burning of calves, but not the workout required for the weekend.

We opted for a simpler approach for Sunday. We met at Fiona & Brett’s place to walk the Dandenong Creek trail. I’d used Google Earth to work out how far to walk. Stud Road via Jells Park measured at about 19klms and Jells Park itself measured about 12klms. These distances were significantly optimistic as they didn’t take in all the bends and curves of the paths as they followed the creek. We decided to do Jells park and back, thinking it would be more like 15-16klms (i.e. 30-32klms total).

We started at about 8:45 with most of the crew; Fiona, Evan, myself, Maz, Bec, Todd, Julie and Simonetta. Brett’s hamstring was playing up after the hill climbing of the previous day. Most we’re struggling to get going due to the previous day or a night out, and the light drizzle didn’t help. However we were soon in our stride and progressing nicely. The walk down to Jells Park was reasonably uneventful, other than the occasional collision with cyclists screaming up behind with out warning. I understand this leg was a bit like the Warburton trail in some areas, just a long boring slog where you can see how far the track continues forward. The track is a mix of gravel and bitumen, with one or two minor hills but mostly flat. Lunch was at Jells Park, and this was the first time we’d been able to get a coffee at a stop. Very nice. The return was also uneventful, but the legs were starting to feel it. My right ankle and knee were starting to ache towards the end.

The consensus is that the flat sections are harder on the leg muscles than the up/down sections that work lots of muscles. We started analysing the actual walk. The first section (Jells Park to CP1) is mostly flat and a good chance to get into a stride. After that the next 50 or so klms is undulating to hilly, rising up to Olinda and then down to the Warby Trial. This should be ok and work the legs. Then there’s 30ks along the trail which will be very hard going, and then the last section up and over Mt Little Joe. This will be draining.

One of the important things about training as a team, as is becoming apparent, is that it allows the team to set it’s pace and rest requirements. Most folks can do the distance with a bit of personal training, but if the rest of the team is used to walking at a certain pace and one or two have their own pace, then the rest of the team has to adjust their pace or wait longer at stops. Most of the team has been training together but there are one or two who haven’t and will challenge the team on the actual walk.