Flash Duck

2006 Blog now active

2006-01-03T22:14:00.000+11:00

2006 Blog is now at

http://www.flashduck.blogspot.com

Happy Old 2005!

2005-12-31T21:40:00.000+11:00

It was forecast to be hot today - 38*C - so getting out early was the best plan. I failed, the combined effects of night sweats and a (more moderated, but still out there) sinus headache. The kitchen was scrubbed thoroughly though in the process.

I left on my road bike, hoping to get in the first of many decent rides, with no clear plan of a route, however being prepared to take it as it comes. Given the weather, I headed north instead of towards the Cotter / Uriarra Loop to ensure that I had the option of shortening the ride, access to cold drinks and fewer hills to begin with.

With this in mind, I rambled through Gungahlin and out onto the Federal Highway, where I topped up my now hot an empty bidons at the 'servo at Eaglehawk Hill. A smooth roll down the freeway to the Tulip Farm, and then back along the highway. I was greeted with genuine disbelief when I rode through the 'drive thru' at McDonald's at Dickson for another refill of cold drinks with Ice. I got a great reception, and it was a good move, time and cost efficient.

Despite lots of traffic lights, I continued on through civic and up the parkway (memories of the Canberra Marathon), before clicking over my planned 60km for the day.

I felt magical! Perhaps it was just that I kept amply hydrated, however there was nil fatigue, heat effects or anything. Getting smart in my old age?

Bob and I took in a movie (an annual event for us I'm afraid) that afternoon and decided not to see in the new year with a cycling race on tomorrow (for Bob) and another scorching day predicted.

Here's to 2006!

Duck to Cloud City

2005-12-30T21:31:00.000+11:00

It was an unusual start to the day, the morning spent unexpectedly cleaning and then catching up with a friend who had moved to Vienna and was briefly visiting Canberra. Bob was going camping with his nephews, however this kept changing and then contracted to a day trip.

Keen to get to Customs, I was madly changing when an email from Aki alerted me to the fact that it may not have been held - a phone call confirmed this and I regrouped to plan the remainder of the day. A game of telephone tag resulted in me arranging to cycle over and be inducted into the lore of Star Wars (the movie trilogy trilogy). I did see the original in about Year 8, but that's it. Aki thought that I needed education.

It took a lot less time to cycle to Aki's new home than I anticipated, despite getting every red light along the way! We had a great day (well I did!), finishing off with ice cream before I hit the road again to make sure that I got home in the light.

2005 - A Retrospective / 2006 - A Prospective

2005-12-30T12:00:00.000+11:00

Well, the time has come to analyse and hopefully do things better.

Importantly - from Sunday my blog will be at a different address: http://flashduck.blogspot.com.

This is just a pinnicking housekeeping event to keep it to a reasonable size and make it more manageable for me.

I will also reset the totals on my watch from 1 January (somewhat reluctantly), erasing the 8,000 + kilometres on my cycling totals for a fresh new years start.

(to be continued)

Yuletide - Improves!

2005-12-29T22:00:00.000+11:00

We left on our bikes later than planned (as expected!), without firm plans, to just enjoy ourselves and see how the traffic and day went.

First, from Exeter to Fitzroy Falls `~ the road was fairly busy at this time of year and it took me a while to get my bike legs back. Just before entering the Fitzroy Falls environs, the unaccustomed breakfast decided to exit, stage north, without fanfare and relatively little disruption, but necessitating a need to stop for drinks and to wash out my mouth at the visitors centre at the Falls.

We looked at the tourist map, and then headed up a quieter road past a fragrant lavender farm and winery to Robertson where we stopped again to purchase more bottled water and a couple of bread rolls at the bakery.

From our departure here, we joined the Kangaloon Rd which was certainly undulating, yet quiet, sheltered and scenic . . . perfect! I dropped behind Bob as I took a phone call from a neighbour over one of the sweeping descents around the reservoir, but we were just enjoying the day.

It was something of a rude shock to hit the built up traffic of the road into Burradoo, however the surface was good and there was a wide, smooth shoulder so the ride was fairly easy, if uneventful. The built-up new suburbia started to encroach, and the high cloud cover had cleared and the sun started to belt down. We decided to make the diversion through to Bowral to get more to drink, having exhausted our supplies.

Bowral was frantic in the post Christmas period, and we made the mistake of following the signs to Woolworth's for a drink, resulting in a magical mystery tour of endless car park ramps and paying top dollar for something to drink. We backtracked past the country club to the Burradoo roundabout and found something like nirvana for a while on a road with no traffic and smooth fast hot-mix. It was rather luxurious! I was excited to see the Chev oval where our own Lucky legs did her track work, but the smooth road surface was too good to last as we continued our way to the section of Highway to Moss Vale.

The busy road was at least improved a little with the addition of bike lanes. Another stop at Moss Vale for water and a check of the map; turn before crossing the railway line and it should be easy! Not as straightforward as expected, but we made it, finding the last couple of k's impossibly difficult as we backtracked to Exeter into a raging, hot headwind with some traffic thrown in. All up ~88 kilometres at a pedestrian, but pleasant pace.

A very welcome shower, a few cashews for a salt loading and then off to the Sutton Forest Pub with the household for a short, but competitive trivia night with impossible questions about obscure music and no politics, television, science, geography (insert all other things I know plenty about here). We was robbed. Lost the $100 prize by one point!

Yuletide - Continues!

2005-12-28T17:00:00.000+11:00

It looks like Wobbly's (et al) get well wishes did some good, as we arrived at my sister's in Exeter mid-afternoon. It was the first time that we had visited here, and the first time that we were on the home turf of her newish (to me) partner, so we didn't quite know what to expect.

Upon arriving, two more chairs were pulled up for us at the kitchen table ~where twelve people were already sitting down and starting to serve themselves from large platters groaning with food. Rather magnificent food at that. After introductions (with all names quickly forgotten), we joined in, feeling very conspicuously under-dressed in shorts and t-shirts. We weren't warned about the 'company'. A very pleasant extended afternoon concluded with a guided tour as we walked around the grounds, already grand, but definitely a vision in progress.

And so it went into the evening, eventually saying goodbye to couples here and there, as neighbours and others continued to drop in. Finally it was apparent that there were three other house-guests that night, and we settled into our room, had a welcome bath and an early night.

Wednesday, 28 December

(but pleasant enough) sealed road. I was very sluggish to start, but, as per usual picked up as we went. Bob insisted we turn around after about 4.5 kms as I had been so crook, and I out-sprinted him (you have to pick your time for the challenge!) in the final dash.

Breakfast with the rest of the household, before changing into cycling clothes and heading out on our Touring machines (Cannondale F600 Mountain bikes with slicks and racks) for an exploration. There was a fair amount of holiday traffic, but I was keen to get onto some of the cycle friendly roads that I had seen around Lucky Legs' part of the woods and just get some time in my legs. Although hot to start the day, extensive high cloud cover meant that it was very pleasant for cycling.

Yuletide - A Retrospective

2005-12-27T16:00:00.000+11:00

Yuletide – A Retrospective

Christmas itself was something of a write-off; Christmas Eve Saturday saw me in greater sinus pain and in bed. Still hopeful of getting to Sydney for Christmas day we didn’t make any arrangements. I struggled up indecently late (I’m still like a kid and like to be up early on Christmas morning to spread cheer), and barely lasted to drink a bit (water and coffee), in an attempt to assuage my big bad sore head. No luck.

Bob rang my sister to reluctantly explain (I have a super cool nieces sister and nieces and was really looking forward to it), while I staggered downstairs once more to rest a while. Bob went over to his nephews place in southern Canberra for lunch, at which time I feel deeply and thoroughly asleep, not waking until after 6pm, many hours after he had been home. I still felt pretty crook.

Boxing Day was a mixed bag; I felt even worse if anything until about 6pm, when I picked up, and just kept improving. My sister had suggested we could join her and her partner in the southern highlands a day or two later, and it was looking feasible for once.

The now-usual every-bone-battered with a baseball-bat feeling engulfed my morning face on Tuesday, but I did try to everything I could to feel better. I realised that if we were to go away for a night or two, I needed some more medication first and drove, and then waited, around to get the prescription filled on the public holiday. It was pretty late by the time we got away, but we diverted via Aki’s place so that I could drop off my Christmas pressie that I hoped would have some use over the next few days. She very thoughtfully gave me a very nice bracelet with which I am immensely touched.

Revenge of the Sinusitis

2005-12-23T20:13:00.000+11:00

Nothing much to report (Bah, Humbug).

I was failing rapidly this week, and although I put on my running gear and cycling gear early with the intention of cycling to the shops and then do the BBQ Stakes . . . . I ended up lying down before I got on my bike, even though I had the bike ready with the garmin on to lock onto satellites.

And I lay down, and lay down and lay down . . .

When it was apparent that I wasn't getting to the Stakes, I took my contact lenses out and stripped off the layer of cycling clothes, and promptly slept for three hours or so in my running gear. My face had been aching for a while, but the sinus pain had really started to hit me overnight on Tuesday.

If Wednesday was bad, Thursday was terrible. Panadeine Forte didn't take the edge off, as I awoke with a shocking head before 4:00am. It was a shocking day of pain, only eased by sleep. Bob was able to take me to the doctor today, where I got my ?fifth course of antibiotics. I don't feel up to talking or moving - yet. So much for days 3-7 of my training!

Hopefully they'll kick in soon and I will be up and about. But in the meantime, it hurts :(

Tasting by the Lake

2005-12-20T21:35:00.000+11:00

Training Day 3 81 Days to the Six Foot Track

Well, I had planned to do a morning run, but night sweats and the resultant morning fatigue conspired against me. Instead, I busied myself, somewhat groggily in starting to make batches of Almond Bread and Char Grill and Roast Vegetables for my signature Terrine.

Despite feeling like crawling back into bed for a restorative snooze, Bob and I left home on our bikes and cycled down the bike paths through Acton to “The Boathouse on the Lake” restaurant – a frequent site visited for the start of various Cross Country races and on the East Basin running route.

We had only had a little finger food at the meeting last night (fine for me, although Bob missing a meal is a biennial event). He went into Civic for a pre-Christmas breakfast with former/current work colleagues, however seemed to have mixed up the venue and came home rather frustrated and very hungry!

We changed into casual gear (an advantage of warm weather is the ease of carrying clothes), and we first in for our midday booking. We were offered a table outside, and despite there being a somewhat gusty wind off the lake from the southwest, opted for this scenic, and rather exclusive option!

All alone on the deck outside, it was if we were on our private beach, with attentive staff topping up water and bringing a procession of food as part of their lunchtime ‘tapas’ style menu. Dual portions of three or four dishes were presented on platters and presented; to begin with:

one large pacific oyster natural with rock salt and lemon;
a small demi-tasse of warm vichyssoise (almost a contradiction there) with a poached oyster in the cup;
a tiny ramekin of an intensely flavoured tomato and basil consommé.

An ordinary white fluff breadroll was served with this course, which was the lowlight of the meal.

Next came a dish with lightly tempura battered reef fish on sliced potatoes (stated to be kipfler, but more like desiree), accompanied by a mass of salad leaves with prosciutto. There was a zig zag of a creamy saffron sauce providing more style than flavour.

A couple of large Prawns were on a platter with another salad of small arugula, thin slices of chorizo and mildly melted buffalo mozzarella. This was also good.

Two final plates rounded out the tasting lunch menu – one had two moderate sized tarts of a light puff pastry and a (rather too eggy for me, but fine by Bob) filling of feta with a side of stunning caramelised onions.

A dish shaved sweet potato chips accompanied two small medallions of kangaroo, on segments of pink grapefruit. Although described as a ‘rocket and soft herb salsa’, the attendant sauce had the consistency and taste of a sophisticated guacamole – certainly avocado was a star ingredient.

On the other side of this platter was the other red meat – similarly small medallions of beef, with a flavourful mash of potatoes and capers, and a stunning jus of red wine and sage butter.

Bob had a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with the food, while I stuck to water. We were busy watching a young family of ducks enjoying the day, in the water, out in the shade, back to the waters edge again. A group of lunchtime runners, many familiar bods from Customs, ran along the back of the restaurant in a large pack. We hoped to see them return in front of us, but alas did not see them again.

Onto dessert!

Another single large platter with an assortment of tiny delights.

Taking centre stage was a fan of finely sliced pear, roasted with vanilla and saffron with 2 melon ball sized scoops of a rose scented semi freddo.

In the East corner were two gems of chocolate and chassis pudding, the blackcurrent flavour coming through the fudgey chocolate orb.

To the south were the same tiny handled ramekins used to serve the vichyssoise. This looked somewhat like a raw egg had been cracked into it ~~ a slightly opaque clear liquid surrounded a yolk coloured ball. This dish was amazing! Intoxicating and intense in flavour, much more would have been too much. The ‘ýolk’ was a seedless passionfruit sorbet, suspended in a albumin of a White Port and champagne Soup, still with the slow rise of bubbles rising in the mouth. Stunning.

Pots of Crème Brulee were not caramelised on top, and had an orange liqueur escaping through to the base, served with small wedges of dark chocolate wafer.

The western edge of the plate was the chocolate fix – although my decision to leave it to last was perhaps a mistake as it was (an originally) frozen terrine of lush valhrona chocolate. Napped in a toffee sauce, it stood better on it’s own, and should have been eaten earlier rather than melted. The intensity of the flavour was fantastic though!

Bob had a generous glass of sticky with this, and then excellent coffee to follow. A great meal to celebrate.

As I changed to cycle home, I knew that if I had the option of crawling into a vehicle then and there I would have weakened, and was very slow and labourious as I started. Bob stayed with though, and let me have a ride on his wheel for most of the trip. Not long home though, I crawled into bed again with the cricket on the radio and slept for another 2 ½ hours or so. I keep thinking of the John Lennon song with the lines transposed to ‘sleeping my life away’.

Left over pumpkin and tofu curry with soba noodles for Bob’s dinner – I had an apple and finished the grilling and roasting of zucchini, eggplant and red and yellow capsicum.

No running (dash it), but a lovely day!

Happy Anniversary Darling!

2005-12-19T21:55:00.000+11:00

Just back from a meeting ~a glorious evening to walk the 3km each way, and a fairly painless meeting with a stunning evening teal sky.

Tomorrow is the 13th anniversary of our marriage and it just gets better! We are having lunch at The Boathouse, and in typical fashion are cycling there. This means that we shall miss the monthly Lake Ginninderra Handicap again.

Probably not much to report until tomorrow night. May it be another great 33 years and then some.

Training continues today!

2005-12-19T18:52:00.000+11:00

Training Day 2 82 Days to the Six Foot Track

Purpose: Recovery Run
Stats: Garmin Polar
Start Time: 11:18:21
Total Distance: 15.38 k 14.922 k
Total Time: 1:32:16
Avg Pace: 5:59 mpk 6:19 mpk
Total Calories: 994 kCals 934 kCals
Avg HR: 162 bpm 143 bpm

G’Day, Rip van Duck here.

Just ‘rested my eyes’ what seemed like a few moments ago when Hodge was quietly noodling his way past his century. Next thing I know, he scores a double and Punter declares!

Without the car, I went for a run from home today, close to lunchtime. The weather was still very mild, although it is expected to warm up during the week. It felt a little silly heading out the door in full battle dress; Fuel Belt with 2 300ml bottles; mobile; camera (to see how it was to carry); earphones and radio clipped on to my HRM strap; and a comprehensive ‘dashboard’ of Polar S625X™ on my left wrist, and Forerunner 301 on the right. I haven’t been so loaded up for ages, perhaps since last summer, but as this was the first ’training’ day in my Six Foot Track assault, I needed to get used to building up my training runs after a very slack month or six weeks.

Despite the temptation of heading up to Black Mtn Tower to get some serious hill training in, I just wanted to get some slow miles in my legs today after the Tour de Mountain yesterday. I set my imaginary friend to let me know when I had covered 10kms in one hour, I hoped to put 10k under my belt, although didn’t have any plans or route in mind.

As usual I was delighted with the getting out for a nice, solo run in the great bush around home. It was as spectacular as usual, and I soon felt thirsty and was pleased that I brought water with me. I seemed sluggish, and doubted I would make the 10k, however trundled around the start of the Aranda bushland and planned to just follow my nose.

I was annoyed with myself to find that I had suffered from time-zone amnesia once again when I attempted to tune in to the cricket at 11:30 am and only then remembered that with the difference in time to the West, it wouldn’t start for hours. There had been considerable work on the Gungahlin Drive Extension (GDE) around the underpass of Caswell Drive when I found my way through this morning, and turned south with no route in mind.

It was a lovely ramble, although as usual it was nearly 10kms into the run that I started to wake up and seemed to hit my straps. At this stage I was on the loop around Little Black Mountain and checking the Forerunner found that if I really pushed it, I could just about crack it up to an average of 6 minute pace. Start slow, finish strong!

I took a couple of photos along the way, however was not prepared to stop, so they are rather shaky. No problem in carrying the camera though! I felt like I could go on forever, however had to remind myself to hasten slowly, and not do too much today. I humoured myself by not backtracking, and ended up home with 15 slow kilometres under my now long empty Fuel Belt.

Tour de Mountain (Training Begins Today!)

2005-12-18T12:53:00.000+11:00

With essentially no training for over a month, it may have seemed foolish to commit to the John Harding Production of the Tour de Mountain around the suburban ridge-lines of Canberra. The organised event nevertheless provided Bob and I a good impetus to get out of bed, and out of the house, early for the 6:30 am start. Starting at a satellite shopping centre, there was plenty of parking and access to toilets - always a good start. We got underway on time, and although I had not done the event before, was only concerned with following those in front of me, and the fluorescent orange and yellow arrows.

I stuck at the back as many runners flew up the roadway in their starting sprint. So underdone, if I could do about the same time I took in the 20k run leg in the Triple Tri (1:55), I'd be happy. If much slower, I couldn't really worry about it ~ ideally, I didn't want to come last.

The first of the road crossings took us over a thankfully quiet Yamba Drive, and then through the suburb of Isaacs (after the first Australian born Governor General, Sir Isaac Isaacs - about the time have an Australian Head of State, not just an Imperial representative!) to Isaacs Ridge and the start of the trails, real climbs and fantastic views. Even though we had only travelled around 2.5kms, the field had already spread out enormously, so that only a few runners were visible on the long track ahead. Fellow six foot track slow version trekker Ewen passed me at this point, as the track began to rise precariously and I slowed to a snails pace. Wombatface walked up the worst of the hills, and was gaining on his lead with every step. I must learn to walk up hills (faster than jogging, and less tiring).

As the track continued to climb to the first of the Trig Points we were to tour, the ground was blanketed by both the fields of golden grasses which had so rapidly changed from their lush emerald growth, and the surrounding meadows of bright yellow flowers which were knee deep as far as the eye could see. The first of the welcome descents meant that I could make up some time on the female runner in front of me, although a few more climbs and declines were necessary for me to finally make up enough distance to pass her.

The views over the heads of the yellow flowers was spectacular, and I wished I had a camera with me (although the likelihood of me actually stopping to take a shot is very slim!). To the north was open grassland and a scene pastorale, whereas to the south and west, the suburbs of Canberra spread out like Lego set at the base of a dramatic backdrop of the brooding mass of the Brindabellas and countless local hills and mountains in the middle distance. You got to love living in Canberra when you are part of an event like this. We are so lucky to have so many wonderful places to run, right where people live and work.

A descent through the pine trees and across the romantically named Long Gully Road provided access to the first water station and onto Wanniassa Hills. I stopped briefly for a sip of water, not wanting to spread the cups too far and wide for the hard working volunteers manning the table. Here I passed a guy who was running around Ewen's pace up until that point as he stopped and spent longer drinking and chatting. A more forgiving climb to the next Trig Point followed, and long stretches of an orange single track cutting it's way through vast open stretches of native grasses already displaying a far more sun-bleached image of the golden fronds than those on the more sheltered Isaacs Ridge.

An underpass provided an easier route to cross the next road, and we crossed into Farrer Ridge, briefly skirting the rear of some houses. The guy who had stopped at the drink station trundled past me steadily here, and I doubt that I saw him again, even in the far distance for the remainder of the event. Once over Athallon Drive and on to familiar tracks at the base of Mt Taylor. At one early stage here I could see five runners in front of me, winding their inexorable way up the track before it turned to an all-weather concrete track up the eastern face of Mt Taylor. We had run down this path in the second leg of the Triple Tri , and I was pleased that we were doing it in this direction today.

There were quite a few Sunday morning walkers out on this narrow track, although we were able to pass without too much drama, and the dogs were well behaved. Early on the sealed section I saw Ewen in front of me, and another runner in a sweat stained grey T-shirt. I set myself the goal of catching up, and hopefully passing, the grey T-shirt by the 15km mark. This was a seemingly luxurious 2.5k away, however I knew of my weakness on the climb, and how long it can take to make up relatively small deficits. The path changed to wide, shallow steps and I changed to walking, there being no real alternative going up with my short legs. I kept walking, as fast as I could, for most of the way to near the summit, passing another woman at the same time as Ewen. It was only when the descent started on the old roadway (a bugger to run up), that I managed to pass Ewen, although I knew that if there were any more climbs he would be far in front.

I was on a roll, literally, but my right shoelace had loosened it's double knot and was adding a dangerous dimension to the fast descent. Another woman was in front of me, and I reluctantly stopped at the next fence-line to tie it up, fumbling childishly as the fingers did not wish to obey me and taking far longer than I could have thought. Thankfully, I caught up to the other woman before too long and then spied a guy in front. I enjoy the feeling of running on my own, but with people around to push me from behind or to realistically chase. Around the base of Mt Taylor, I saw a a line of runners making their way up the mountain. For one brief, but disconsolate moment, I thought that we were to climb to the summit again; analysis of the Forerunner indicated that there was only around 2.5kms to go, which put that idea to rest. Thank Heavens!

The final drink stop, and the turn off the trails to rejoin footpaths and road running. I caught up and passed the grey T-Shirt, even later than I had hoped, and enjoyed the ease of running relatively fast on a quiet road, essentially downhill. I spied a guy in the distance, and managed to just reel him in near the final, and most dangerous road crossing. From his breathing I could hear him breathing hard and managing to keep up with me (and not be passed by a fat duck in a skirt). Around the final corner to the home straight - we both sought to go well. There was a large crowd at the finish - I could see Bob standing at the line with his camera yelling - and I knew that I wasn't going to make a pretty picture as I threw myself over the final few metres. I think I may have taken him by a nose, but it doesn't matter, I did myself proud, even if I was running myself Ugly!

A finish (by my watch) of 1:55:02 was a poor time, and so far behind the leaders, but one I was fairly happy with. It was spot on what I had predicted, not knowing the course, and once I had warmed up (about the 10k mark), just felt better and better. Love the trails, love the long stuff. The dark side is singing it's Siren's song.

Afterwards, a good social occasion and chance to catch up with some people I see all too rarely. The unintended break will probably do me good long term, and as Diana said, my Training Starts Today!

Train the Trainer

2005-12-16T21:27:00.000+11:00

I learnt a very good lesson today ~~ and it is all thanks to Aki. Bob and I cycled down to Customs today, sans motorised vehicle, and I was disappointed with the time it took me to run the 5km. Having been (a tad) warmed up from cycling there, my time, 23:32 was a full minute and a half outside my Customs PB, I was going HARD!

Only afterwards, having a short black with Aki as I was lamenting my lot and enviously thinking about how much allrounder has improved. Riding past her on Tuesday and seeing the pace at which she was doing her intervals, I thought aloud that intervals must be the answer. My advice to Aki a year or so ago was then to come back to haunt me as she, now the seasoned runner, gave me advice. Big picture stuff . . . likelihood of injuries, need for endurance and distance. Smart girl.

I was too inward focused ~ I think I had some guilt about being such a bad friend (to Aki) over the last week. I had been really looking forward to doing lots together, and ended up caught up with family stuff or worse, sleeping instead. Must remind self that I was around 45 seconds faster than last week (at least it's heading in the right direction), and I can't expect to run well without training!

So much to do, so little time. Managed to get some more gifts at the Gallery this afternoon, which demanded a very cautious ride home with a box sticking out of the back rack.

Now, for some training and a consistent 2006!

Better, not best

2005-12-16T11:01:00.000+11:00

I feel l much better physically, although am still under the hammer time-wise and slept for four hours or so yesterday afternoon.  I’m sleeping my life away!

Another biggish night sweat last night, with horrendously dry eyes which prevented me from sleeping for long tracts of time.  As a result I am really groggy and tried again today.

Bob and I cycled down to the hospital yesterday morning to see max and his Mum, however she was understandably exhausted and visitors were off limits.  I spent the afternoon asleep.

I took the last of the current course of blunderbuss antibiotics today ~ hopefully it shall improve from here.  We have just found out though that the car needs a new power steering pump (or some such).  We negotiated to have the car on the weekend to get to the Tour de Mountain on Sunday.  We are likely to be without a vehicle for the whole week, not ideal before Christmas, so will need to be organised.   I’ll do my best to get to Customs at lunchtime today, and stay awake!

Sleep, sleep, perchance to run

2005-12-15T13:20:00.000+11:00

God I hate these night sweats! They make me so tired!

Bob and I went out to visit a twelve hour old Max this morning, and picked up the presents from Civic on the way home. I lay down, just for a minute mind to you to rest my eyes, when (İwhoosh!), the next thing I knew Bob was waking me up and it was closing in on 5pm. Where did the day go?

Although groggy, I struggled into some running gear and wandered down to the annual BBQ Stakes Christmas Handicap (with barely a second to spare). Once a year before Christmas, the regular 6km lunchtime run is moved to the late afternoon, and run as a ‘Turkey’ relay handicap; teams of two predict their total time to complete the course as a relay of 3kms each; and start off a handicap to finish in 40 minutes. Bob and I joined together, neither feeling fast or flash, and arbitrarily predicted a total time of 28:30.

A last minute trip to the bathroom meant that I had a decent warm up jogging to the start of my run leg to catch the others up. Although Bob was not in the first wave of runners coming through, he did appear after a miraculously fit and flash looking Phibes, fresh from his fantastic run on the weekend from the Coast to Kosciusko. He tagged me and I bumped straight into another finishing relay runner. Once I had disentangled myself I was off, rather too fast on the uphill start, but feeling surprisingly fresh.

I kept going, and passed many of those who had been tagged before me. While many were taking it easy to get close to their predicted time, I couldn’t see the point and just ran. In the end, I crossed the line in 3rd place, a gross time of 38:47, well under the required 40:00 minutes. A short, quick hit out over three kilometres, this wasn’t surprising, however the relative heat suits me and made many of the others suffer.

Off a 11:30 handicap start, Bob did 13:17 for his relay leg, and I managed 13:48. Not a great time, but I felt good. Some strong gut pain from the 2km mark on, but not too bad considering. Thankfully I finish this last course of antibiotics tomorrow which should help. They have really knocked me around.

Sweat, Shop and Tears

2005-12-14T21:57:00.000+11:00

Some more of Bob’s computer equipment arrived on Tuesday morning and he needed quite a bit of assistance in setting it up.  I could have done it quite quickly on my own, but he wanted to see how and what to do which took ages.

I have been having drenching night sweats again which mean that I wake tired and groggy, and can’t get going all day.  There is also so much washing to do each morning as well . . . . sigh.   I had an afternoon appointment in Civic, and we were keen to get as much Christmas shopping done as soon as possible.  Bob’s namesake nephew was also expecting his third child and she was already a week overdue.

I cycled in and dropped by the National Gallery of Australia shop to pick up a gift for my sister for Christmas, thence to my Civic in the nick of time for my appointment.  Locking up my bike and changing from lycra to floral dress was quick and without drama.  I stayed in my frippery to knock over most of the rest of the shopping for extended family, leaving much of it at the store for later collection with the car.  It was a long, long afternoon, but I felt pretty damn impressed with what I achieved (especially as shopping is not my favoured activity, I missed out on that female gene).

Home late from Christmas shopping, I still had to stock up on groceries, so showered quickly and headed down to the local for the boring stuff.  Not an exciting day, with little exercise to speak of (and NO running!), but I feel satisfied and virtuous.

Baby Max finally arrived that night, which was pretty exciting.  A great big bruiser like his sister, he is going to be a handful.

Pictures at an Exhibition (for the musicians)

2005-12-14T21:15:00.000+11:00

A relatively early night for Bob and I on Sunday resulted in a better night’s sleep, and neither of us were feeling not too shabby on Monday morning.  We had arranged to meet my sister for lunch, and we had to make the executive decision about what to do earlier.  While we both wished to go for a run (Bob had gone for an exploratory run west of Kirribilli on Sunday), however we knew that we couldn’t fit in that and get to the Pissarro exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW.

We walked across the bridge, and through the Botanic Gardens to get to the gallery, and got to the exhibition without too many crowds ~~ there was a group of girls’ school students (which was pretty amusing to watch) and we made our way from one chronologic period gallery to another.  Frankly, with the benefit of 200 years, the early stuff left me fairly cold, however once we hit the print /etching room I was transfixed.  The later work though was fantastic.  Both Bob and I were impressed with the same elements in similar works, and we unfortunately had to rush through the best stuff in order to get back to the hotel in time to check out and get to my sisters for lunch.

We had a very pleasant lunch of a small portion of the mountains of leftovers, before we headed back to Canberra.  We didn’t arrive home until quite late  . . . a run tomorrow!!!  Please

A weekend duck tale

2005-12-13T19:45:00.000+11:00

An uncommonly late night for us on Friday, having spent a pleasant evening at the ACT Sport Stars of the Year Awards Dinner. We chatted with some running luminaries (by my estimation), like Trevor Jacobs and Emma Murray (gasp!). Oenene Wood isn't too bad on the bike either!

It was a pretty good night, although getting to bed so late meant that we were behind the eight ball for the rest of the day. We figured that we could catch up and nap in Sydney before the party. This didn't quite come to pass, so another day without exercise and going into the evening tired. Luckily, my body held together and it was a great night! Too much food, but it was all good, and further supplemented my Claire's boyfriend's mother homemade houmous, kofta and kibbe (which I missed out on, damn!).

To fit in with the Garden Party theme (lots of fairy lights, cucumber sandwiches and floral dresses) Claire opted for lolly-pink iced cup-cakes. The speech made by her best friend from school revealed some things that perhaps a mother shouldn't know. When these friends put on the greatest hits of 1984, I was amazed at how well I knew them. I then realised that I was Claire's age (20) in 1984 (it was still a few days to her birthday) ~ when I told her this she was as disbelieving as I was (Thank goodness) . . . after we did the maths, she said kept saying "but you're my age . . ."

Although we were both really tired and didn't expect to stay for long at all, we left after 11:30pm to walk back to our hotel. Another v.e.r.y. late night. this was to tell on us later.

We had organised to meet a friend of Bob's from Queensland Uni (during the Punic Wars methinks), who has been an academic in Vermont (USA not Vic) for last many decades. He has a habit of coming back to Australia regularly for his sabbatical, so we keep in fairly frequent contact. Although not meeting until midday, there was no way I could get for a run that morning; my head was suffering terribly, sinusitis raging throughout the bones of my head and neck, which stopped me getting out of bed and I spent the morning in bed and asleep.

I stumbled downstairs and joined Bob and the Prof for a cup of coffee and glasses of water before stumbling back up to our hotel room and crawling into bed. To everyone's surprise, Bob woke me up when he and the Prof returned to our room at 6pm. While they retired for yet another cleansing ale at a nearby pub, I got up and groggily had a bath and dressed. Still tired and sinusy (the pain, the pain), I met the boys and we had an excellent Thai meal of Chilli Basil Kangaroo, Chilli Salmon, Jungle Curry Vegetables and fresh Spring Rolls. It's great to eat, but I wish that I was running too!

Gelati

2005-12-12T21:24:00.000+11:00

Customs on Friday was excellent as usual, despite the fact that Aki was there looking resplendent in her civvies, (having left her running shoes at home), and me going very, very slowly. ‘A’ for apple, allrounder and I were each slated to leave off the handicap of 13:30 . . . their form was so much better than me at the moment, and this was to be proved true within a few minutes.

I stayed with them for about 600m, before they drew away, allrounder in front followed by ‘A’. The gap continued to increase, however I kept working at it. A steady stream of other runners managed to pass me at regular intervals, including the distinctive huff-puff of Bob bearing down within the first two k. I was secretly delighted to see ’A’ gaining on allrounder (who went out too fast in the first kilometre or so). Not far after the turnaround at the willow tree she overtook allrounder. Allrounder has just been going from strength to strength, improving with every run, and I knew that ‘A’ would use allrounder to run another PB.

My lack of fitness was testament to my being passed by an increasing stream of runners from behind. Despite my best efforts, I finished the slightly amended course in a pitiful 24:17, a full 75 seconds behind ‘A’ and allrounder who battled it out for a sprint finish. I was fairly pleased with my run, regardless of the slow time and the lack of training in the last two weeks. The antibiotics are still knocking me around, so maybe I shall have to take life (and training) somewhat more soberly.

Bob had arranged to meet a fellow M55 triathlete who was visiting from Adelaide for the Half Ironman on the weekend, for a coffee at The Deck at Regatta Point. Aki, ‘A’ and I all ended up there joining them, before I whisked Aki away to assist me on a number of errands around Canberra including picking up my ‘refurbished’ orthodics from the podiatrist. They were marginal before the six foot track, however since the rain, and the river and creek crossings they were very sorry indeed!

After picking up my gift for Claire’s 21st, we stopped for a restorative gelato. Mine – a catholic combination of caffé and bacio was excellent.

Life slowly Returning to Normal

2005-12-08T05:18:00.000+11:00

I went for my first, albeit short, run yesterday in ten days; a hot and windy hit-out over the BBQ Stakes course at lunchtime.

Boy it felt good!!

I think that I wasn't allowing myself to do the 'fun' things until I had managed to get the internet connection up and running first . . . and whilst there are still many things to do, I 'rewarded' myself. Slow, although I worked hard and consistently, and finished 28th (maybe 60th percentile), so the weather may have worked against me in my finishing time of 31:17 for the 6km course. I have been eating too - and although I did the Imodium / no food in the morning thing yesterday I had no problems. Looks like my body is still busy fighting the sinus infection instead of itself!

I love the hot weather, even if it is only forecast to max at 24c today. I will get out for a soul restoring ramble in the local bushland early this morning before knuckling down to do more of the myriad of chores, such as repopulating the computer, and helping Bob with getting the garden in some sort of order.

I am still so behind in the blogosphere and generally I think that I shall just have to write the month off.

So good to be running!

Bigpond 0 FlashDuck GOLDEN GOAL

2005-12-06T19:45:00.000+11:00

What a frustrating five days . . . sparkling new computer with no legit connectivity. We did occasionally hit upon (quite unintentionally) some unsecured neighbourhood wireless networks, but in this time I have done NO exercise (despite some good weather), eventually and reluctantly ringing the tech support people.

Can't complain about the attitude or helpfulness of the techies. Unfortunately the result yesterday after heavens knows how much time, was to contact the computer manufacturer. I was exhausted by the end and decided to sleep first. I am on another course or two of mega-antibiotics for the continuing sinus' saga, and am still sleeping a lot.

Without Centrino support offered by Bigpond at all, and nothing performing according to Hoyle, I slept on it and decided that I would cut some losses and purchase an authorised' wireless adaptor to get at least one laptop up and connected. Another phone call to Telstra didn't prove too fruitful, but I went to a Telstra shopfront and (eventually) managed to find one.

It didn't work. I had all the original disks, keys passwords etc, but no dice. Ggggrrrr. Really nice techie guy helped me this time. Confirming that I was doing all the right things instead of stuffing it up was consolation at the time, but not lasting. After much farnarkling, we got one laptop connected with an Ethernet cable, But that was it. Advice: go to supplier and get them to help.

I had a nap.

Embiggend with the restorative powers of sleep, I twiddled and twitched. Then; Ay Curumba! This is looking good. I was so excited as I was prompted for the WEP key and saw the flashing of the wireless LED on the router that I kept emitting little noises of excitement. I was connected!!!!

Got the printer set up to the network without too much drama, and spent another half an hour or so tweaking Rob's laptop. Woo Hoo! I feel really proud of myself, and all without (an outdated version I suspect) Wireless Adaptor. Centrino up and atom.

Gloat Gloat Gloat.

Now to catch up on others blogs and do all those other important things in life!

Not Drowned. Wave. Wave. Wave.

2005-12-03T17:41:00.000+11:00

(Wobbly Man ~~ this is a reference to both the 80's band and the original Plath poem).

I haven't posted for a while, although I am alive and generally very well (sinus infection again, but that doesn't count). I am just busy trying to configure the new computer, and not having much success with setting up the Centrino Wireless Network with Bigpond. Everytime I get to stage 2,386 (actually I'm exagerating. There are only 47 steps), I stuff something up and need to restore to an earlier point and start again.

Very frustrated. Don't want to ask for help. Techno Spouse.

So, little or no access to update. Or time. Gggrrrrr.

Good meal last night at Chill at Campbell shops. Review later.

The Six Foot Track - The Slower Version

2005-11-28T07:30:00.000+11:00

ALMOST THE LAST DRAFT

The date of the long awaited Six Foot Track - The Slower Version! had arrived, and an anticipatory group of excited Cool Runners descended on an unsuspecting Katoomba on Friday night for a pasta meal and recognisance of the next days activities.

Lucky Legs, Peter the PRB, Wombatface, Wildthing and the ‘worth-his-weight-in-chocolate’ Mr Wildthing and I met for dinner at The Hatters Cafe a few doors up from our quirky, but entirely adequate, accommodation at the Town Centre Motel. Late 50’s red brick motel rooms provided plenty of opportunity for Lucky Legs and I to giggle like schoolgirls sharing their first dorm room for most of our time together, whilst the Wildthings were in the penthouse garret in the adjoining 1930’s St Elmo Guesthouse.

A buffet breakfast was included, and with the ‘Heritage’ Dining room opening at 7:30am, we were first in to ensure that we could get to the Explorer’s Tree meeting place for the 8:00am start. I was resolute in sticking to FortiJuice for the day or two pre-run, however others tucked in to a ‘Big Breakfast’ of sausages, eggs, bacon and toast. I made the unfortunate error of drinking the very bad instant coffee, which was particularly foul – not recommended and not to be repeated!

We piled into the ideal transport of Mr Wildthings’ Pajero and drove to the Explorers Tree in steady drizzle. My main concern was getting too cold during the day if the rain continued, and I hadn’t finally decided what to wear. At the designated meeting point were Horrie and Belinda and Chonky. After introductions or re-introductions all around, we posed for a group photo next to the tree, huddled close together as the rain fell down from the trees overhead in huge globs.

Reluctant to carry too much, I settled on keeping on a Cool Running Tri Top over a singlet, with a R4YL cap to keep the worst of the rain off my face. At around 20 minutes past eight we started in the wet and slippery conditions, jointly surprised at how quickly the wider section of track gave way to a series of steps descending into Nellie's Glen. This was incredibly beautiful, although slow going. While Chonky ran off ahead to get to the river and back for a ‘quick’ run, our group of six stayed together for safety. This was an experience not a race!

The descent into Nellie's Glen was spectacular through the deep gorge with the rock walls rising vertically on either side. With the rain continuing it was sometimes difficult to tell where the creek ran, and what was run-off from the rain on our course. Good track markings of a Red Hiker and arrows led the way at intervals to ensure that we went along the correct water course!

The path widened, and Horrie and I were delighted to finally be able to stretch our legs, and jogged along comfortably, climbing through a gate on the first barrier, and then finding green metal stiles at all the others. In one stretch, the sound of birdsong was deafening, with Bell-birds and Whip birds dominating the raucous. It was good to move along, and the track moved through varying countryside, still wet from the deluge before emerging at the dark stripe of bitumen to mark the roadway at Megalong Valley where Rob Wildthing was waiting for us, camera in hand.

Here we shed rain-jackets (Yay!) and Wildthing (Sob) as the sky had cleared and we were eternally optimistic. Another group photo shivering together at the Megalong Valley sign as we gazed off to the mist rising from the mountains and we were off, through the fence and past the historic cemetery. A 4WD with car trailer came along and past us soon as we were moving, indicative of the grazing land that we were to encounter over the next few kilometres.

A wide firetrail style track was marked by PRIVATE PROPERTY - NO TRESPASSING signs on either side, easily ensuring that we wouldn't make a mistake diverting up the driveways to the farm-lets in the Valley. I began to feel cold with the light breeze on my sodden Tri Top, so unzipped this to my waist leaving only a relatively dry CR running singlet next to my skin. Cattle grazed all around, which meant that as we regrouped for a photo op at the cattle grid which marked the start of our trek along a single track surrounded by the vivid purple haze of Paterson's Curse we were all covered in a fine black film of flies. Supported by the cowpats which we were soon to become vigilant in avoiding, the number of flies was enormous and very annoying.

A track led up through the spring growth of still-green grass over a hillock and alongside a ridge-line. Eventually leading to a forested area of narrow single track through bushland. Mysteriously, a cow or cows had preceded us, and we were alerted to the occasional huge globs of dung along the narrow path, one with a large footprint (?Chonky's) in the middle. Nearing the river, as we had just traversed a gully, Chonky came bounding along in the other direction and we stopped and chatted briefly before he continued on his speedy way.

He had advised us that a small party of young hikers were ahead, and sure enough, as we rounded the bend to the dramatic sight of Bowtell's Suspension Bridge. Built in 1992 by an army outfit, it is named after the first soldier of the unit to have been killed in Vietnam. A couple of young guys in camouflage fatigues were snacking at it's base. Peter announced that he was going to cross, and as tempting as this was (the sign indicating that it was strictly for one person at a time), I decided that we didn't have time for too much play, with another 30kms+ ahead of us. When I told Belinda and Wombatface what Peter was doing though when I caught up to them on the track, each turned back to try it as well.

I was only seconds behind Horrie when I got to the designated crossing point at the Cox's River, about 1.5km along from the bridge. A good opportunity for an excursion into the bushes, and I then sought to find which of the trails led to to the best way across. With the river level somewhat higher than is usual in March, this was not obvious. I did some scouting before starting to cross, then heard the call of the ChickyBabe as she made it down to the river. I backtracked, and we crossed together, hopeful that the Polar footpods would continue to work at the other side. (They did). Horrie settled on a log, squeezing out his socks and refueling, whilst LL sought the water tank adjacent to the camping site.

After a long delay, the group of 3 bridge walkers came through and crossed the river. Five Trail bike riders were having a break here as well, and after we studied the maps, topped up water and posed for the obligatory photograph with my low resolution phone (sorry for the quality!), we were on our way to start the traditionally hardest part of the track. Horrie and Belinda came along for a short distance to 'just see' what the hills were like before turning back. We were now a rag tag gang of four, bright is CR colours of Yellow, Blue and Green.

This point marked the climb up Mini Mini, and wound its way through the bush from the 15.5km mark (from the river crossing at the lowest elevation, right) to a saddle with a dramatic, large, overfed Red Bellied Black Snake on a wall adjacent to the track. I was alerted to the fact that we had mobile coverage here on receiving a text from Aki and attempted to call the Widthings to let them know where we were. Rob let us know that he was at Pluviometre, and with the hills continuing to rise, it seemed a long way away.

We had committed one of the first crimes of distance running 101, and underestimated our water needs for this leg. The verges of the tracks were dotted with the tall straight trunks of majestic eucalpyts, and the ground littered with a colourful carpet of native flowers in a spectrum of mauve, purple, violet and yolk-yellows. I started to collect these at one point, putting sprigs in the band of my now-empty fuel belt. Despite only picking one, invariably small bloom of each type, my waist was soon laden with dancing flowers.

Around this point, our favourite ChickyBabe was beginning to wane and kept entreating me to go on ahead as she rested a little. With the long lean legs of Peter and Wombatface striding off in the distance I insisted that the first law of bush-trekking was never to leave someone alone. When sitting on a pretty stone 'bench', fatigue and the big breakfast came to haunt her, and concerned about dehydration, I headed off to find the Wildthings, an estimated 3 kilometres away with Peter when he and Wombatface had returned to view. We walked, rather than jogged this section, and I was fascinated to note that we were doing a comfortable 13-14:00 minute pace walking easily, whereas my usual insistence on 'running' (a loose term) often had me at well over 15 and even 18 minute pace.

On a bend we came across a couple of hikers, weighed down with backpacks and camping gear, stopping to munch a apple. We bid them farewell, and continued, rounding yet another bend to see 'something' in front of us; I discounted it being the Pajero, rationalising that it was a rusted structure or Workman's donga instead. Wildthing's CR Tri Top drying on a log meant that we were in no doubt that we had come across our wonderful support crew. It turned out that we were only 1.9 km away, so before too long, Wombatface and Lucky Legs came striding up as well to rest, rehydrate and recuperate in our designated lunch stop.

I changed into blissfully clean dry socks, and left my Tri Top and singlet on a sign to dry out a little in the emerging sun. Although not especially hungry, I used the opportunity to have a FortiJuice, Fruit Squeezy and risked a Special K bar for something solid. I had had two Gu's along the trail before this. I drank plenty of water though, and ensured that my fuel belt bottles were full. Wombatface made himself a couple of tomato sandwiches, Lucky Legs was introduced to the low GI wonders of creamed rice, and Peter had a couple of bread rolls with cheese. I Stripped down to a crop top, we were off once again, this time with Wildthing jogging with us. My Forerunner indicated that I had stopped for over 56 minutes at Pluviometre.

There was another 220m climb to reach the highest point, but this was spread over the luxury of around 8 kilometres. We all jogged and walked in a companionable fashion, with Rob Wildthing leapfrogging ahead every few kilometres, allowing us to refill water bottles and for some to munch salty potato crisps. Wombatface, the resident expert having completed the last two six foot track runs kept reassuring us that the last significant hill was over, and once we turned the next left bend . . . .

We crossed a number of creeks and welcomed the cool water on our hot feet. After Alun Creek, we came across a gully full of ferns which was a vibrant luminous lime green in the late afternoon light. Tree Ferns stood sentinel overlooking the thick coverage of ferns covering the ground across the gully and up the banks of the trail. It was rather surreal . . . .

We noticed the stand of pine trees and a sign looking as though it indicated a forestry coop, and could hear the sound of what seemed like traffic in the distance. Not too far along the trail with the pine plantation on the right hand side, we saw a solo runner travelling light, carrying only a water bidon. Then, at crossroads was the welcome sight of the Pajero and and the wildthings chatting to a bearded guy called Alan. After introductions all around, we found that he was camping at the nearby campsite here at the Deviation, and was here hiking with a few mates from Canberra.

Checking the map for distances, our gang of four headed off again, meeting the Pajero at the roadway to Jenolan Caves, and agreeing to 'pick up' Wildthing further down the track where it veered off running parallel to the road and we had around 4 kilometres to go. The track in this intermediate section was a surprising mix of steps and tight single track, relatively slow going as we now neared our destination. Where the track widened to open, spindly forest, everybody was able to move along pretty well.

After around 3 or 4 kilometres the trail came to a clearing where it veered away from running parallel to the roadway. Here we met the Pajero, Wildthing joined us, and we were all exultant with the prospect of finishing soon. Close to the start of the diversion, a sign on the left hand side of the trail indicated that there were 4 kms to go. A wide undulating trail led to a clearing where there was a toilet block and an open field with the Jenolan Cabins backing on to it. Through a fence, and the quality and width of the track changed, followed later by the thickness of the vegetation. Cracks of dramatic thunder broke through the late afternoon silence, sometimes developing into an extended rumbling which never seemed to end. I wondered if Town Hall Station was nearby and the world's longest train was about to arrive.

It apparently became fairly fairly loose and shaley along here, with a few steep descents, however I was too busy chatting to the wonderful Wildthing to notice! At some point the track changed to a sealed tourist path which wound it's way down to Caves House. A mixture of sloping narrow track and occasional steps, the track afforded some spectacular views over the valley and to the lake. We had to stop at Carlotta's Arch for yet another group photo, where we could see the lake framed by the dramatic limestone.

Over the final few hundred metres we probably slowed down in reverence of the gravity of what we, the Lucky Legs six foot track assault, had achieved. Dusk was descending in the valley, and a few flashes of lightening lit the sky which was already a luminous azure. All our senses were overwhelmed, the creak of crickets no match for the wall of honeysuckle to our right. We (mostly!) joined hands as we walked the final steps down to the roadway at Caves House where Rob and his camera met us.

To 'do it properly', we jogged down to the correct finish point and celebrated. The odd couple came out of Caves House for a postprandial stroll, and we rejoiced in every strange look. Our group at the finish were wearing matching Blue and Yellow tops and caps, under-dressed for the cooling conditions, and smiles as wide as the Mammonth Cave ahead of us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Off to the Explorer's Tree!

2005-11-25T07:42:00.000+11:00

Cool Running Royalty and I are heading off this morning to Katoomba for the slow six foot track, as drizzle descends upon Canberra.

Let's hope that the weather forecast current at 7:45am on Friday holds up for tomorrow:

Saturday
Late thunder 11°C - 21°

Tuesday's forecast is for a maximum of 13!

The weekend will give Bob a chance to update the computer without me lurking around, toe tapping, waiting to blog. Hopefully, some of the replacement equipment will start to arrive next week and we'll be able to be truly productive in repopulating them with data (and backing up!).

I feel as though I am well and truly out of the loop of the blogosphere these last few weeks and know that I can never catch up.

Roll on summer and the six foot track!!

Sri Chinmoy Triple Tri - Run 2

2005-11-22T13:30:00.000+11:00

I met up with Bob preparing to do the 40km bike leg, Rad and the PRB awaiting their team swimmer at Acton Ferry Terminal where there was a huge congregation of supporters at the transition point. News came through that Ron had cramped in the swim and was receiving assistance in the water. With another bike leg for him to do, this was a concern and we looked at alternatives.

He swam up confidently though, in a very credible 1:21:57 for the 3.5km leg and Bob was off on to the trails and mountains of Canberra’s western fringe. Despite the changes to the swim legs and Milly’s illness, we were still 7 minutes ahead of our draft schedule.

There was around two hours before Bob would complete his cycle, and the waiting is always the hardest, especially when unsure of the time. The PRB and I went for an enjoyable coffee at The Deck at nearby Regatta Point, before popping by Rad’s place to check on how things were going. I was starting to get anxious about the time though so we didn’t stay for long.

The 5th transition area was a buzz with activity; bunting marked the changeover chute, and relay runners were nervously lining up for the port‑a‑loo and seeking to warm up whilst keeping a watchful eye on the mountain bikers coming through for the end of their leg.

I had changed into dry clothes as soon as I finished the first run, and although disappointed to have ‘ditched’ the Cool Running Crop Top, the clean clothes and socks were very welcome. My Garmin 301 had also not coped very well with the previous run leg; it was set on auto pause, and my ever-so-slow movement forward up the steepest sections had caused it to stop, no doubt exacerbated by the thick tree cover and poor GPS signal in some places. The footpod of the S625x coped better, underestimating a little (I had not recalibrated it for the Asics Foster shoes I was wearing during this leg), but very consistant and close. I turned auto pause off, and hoped for a better Garmin result.

There was no news about the location of the riders, as they trickled through as individuals or in small packs of 2 or 3. Bob’s distinctive red Swiss jersey and knicks with yellow helmet came into view just before 2:00pm (original estimate 2:15) and I left him to collect the car keys from a friend and dashed off to follow the PRB and David Baldwin who had already started their run.

I had become a bit stiff in the intervening 3½ hours, and knew that some light jogging would help to begin with. David and the PRB slowly increased their gap to me, and I was overtaken by a couple of young women with team numbers on them. Slow and Steady Carolyne. Big Picture.

Maybe a little unfortunately for me, this run leg only had one mountain climb, however it was right at the beginning and unrelenting. We were immediately required to climb up the northern face of this hill, and while I lost ground to those in front and to those who passed me, I keep moving my legs in a running motion (I’m sure walkers would have past me), and made it to the Trig Point at the top and a welcome drink station without too many ill effects, even though the pace was painfully slow.

Now the long steady downhill section began, blissfully steep at first on the SE slopes of Mt Taylor to begin with, and then over the rolling tracks at the base and onto a series of bike paths traversing the Tuggeranong suburbs. This was alien territory for me and I was reliant on following those in front and for the white arrows that marked the way. This was fairly boring and having passed one woman in front I found it hard to concentrate and focus on the run – it was flat to slightly downhill, but over concrete paths between houses and green belts with few people in sight. I was very annoyed when a couple of guys on mini-bikes the size of a clown’s bicycle came tearing past me, spewing noisome two stroke fuel and plenty of noise pollution into my face.

Eventually, the Lakeside path came into view and a number of wetsuited swimmers were visible on a sandy beach area around the other side. With the finish within reach I was inspired to pick up the pace and finished within my anticipated time of 1:15. Bob was wearing the Team’s Aqua Blue Cap and went bounding off into the water when I tagged him.

Post leg nutrition: 1 Special K bar; 2 Gu; Saxby's Diet Ginger Beer; 1 FortiJuice; 1 litre Mineral Water.

Sri Chinmoy Triple Tri - Run 1

2005-11-21T08:00:00.000+11:00

The weather gods were smiling on us for the Sri Chinmoy Triple Tri; light cloud cover and mild conditions with a light breeze greeted the over 900 competitors (21 individuals and 131 teams of 3 to 9) for the 5:30am start at Lake Ginninderra on Canberra's northside.

This remarkable event is a crazy concept and logistical nightmare; swims in each of Canberra's man made lakes, linked by arduous and often technical mountain bike legs traversing the hills and nature parks and runs over the peaks of Mt Majura (824m), Mt Ainslie (814m), Mt Taylor (855m) and Red Hill. The amazing Sri Chinmoy Team here in Canberra organise this extremely well, with busloads of helpers, eight transition points and many intermediate aid stations. Amazingly, it works.

The tradition of previous years had established that "Rad's Ravers" had to be entered; a fun team of friends and supporters of the inimitable Rad Leovic, the inspirational 78 year old triathlete of all of us in Canberra. Last year was my introduction to this event as a participant, where I had elected to do the first run leg, the most stunning tour of northern Canberra over the summits of the the two peaks as the event of the same name. The point to point Sri Chinmoy course is more interesting however, with a portion through the single track of Majura Pines and final kilometres past the War Memorial and along Anzac Parade and around a portion of Lake Burley Griffin.

I did well last year, and thought that it was one of the best events I had ever been a part of. I longed to be more involved this year, and having seen Mister G take off on each of the run legs secretly held this to be my goal. With a running focus in Rad's contacts, we were able to stitch together two teams this year; an over 50 team of eight competitors (one swimmer doing the 2 shorter swim legs); and a 'family' team of four - Father Ron electing to do two bike legs, daughter Milly each of the swims, and Bob taking the other bike leg whilst I ran. The lead up and preparation hadn't been ideal, although I was keen to do it. Bob wasn't so optimistic and kept reminding me that he could/would do the final run leg. Having competed (and won) the run legs in a team of 3 during the first year he knew what was involved and expected me to crash and burn. Spouse of little faith.

Milly's wave started at 6:05am and she was not well from the outset. Tagging Ron for the bike leg, she was taken home to bed, hopefully to recover from a 24 hour lurgy. I was oblivious to this as I started my first run; very slowly and conservatively over the stiles and along the orange trails around the base of Mt Majura. I counted those who passed me in the early stages, and concentrated on 'pacing myself' and taking it very easy. I wanted to do all the legs and there was a long day ahead. I couldn't mind when Emma Murray came flashing past with a smile on her face!

Slow on the ascents, my fitness had deteriorated over the last few weeks, however nearing the end of my second course of antibiotics meant that my wheezing had ceased and I was breathing more easily. Slow and Steady. At Mt Majura we clambered over a sharp rise to circumnavigate the Trig Point, before descending again to begin the welcome roadway descent for a kilometre or two. I was concerned to see individual competitor, super volunteer and Bilby supremo, David Baldwin walk/jogging backwards on this stretch; he had been far behind his partner at the start of the run and had problems with both of his glutes. To need to walk backwards so early in the event did not auger well and was of great concern.

Despite dosing up on too much Imodium (as usual), a wombat stop was necessary in the thick bush between the Majura bushland and the lush needle carpet of the mountain bike tracks of Majura Pines. I adore this section of the course, it has a sense of a magic forest while one searches out the white arrows on the ground.

Through the open trails around the base and on the slopes up Mt Ainslie. It is a good route up the northern side, partly on narrow, shaded tracks. A steep clamber over to the roadway at Mt Ainslie, and another circuit to the Trig Point before beginning the long, steady descent down wide shallow steps, and a winding sealed path to the War Memorial, dodging many Sunday morning walkers looking on with surprise as they were passed by a succession of sweaty runners with race numbers barrelling down the track. Over a grassed section, and we were then on the homeward stretch. Supporters sat on the edge of some of the national monuments to nurses and seaman cheering as we went past, and the lake beckoned in front. Around "Blundell's Cottage" and on to the north shore of Central Basin. Not far to go now.

I had estimated around 2 hours 10 minutes for this leg, and knew that I had to be much slower than the 1:50 I flew through last year. Nearing the business end and knowing that it was flat, it looked as though two hours was in reach, a good measured and sensible result. I called out for Milly as I came to the transition chute, not knowing that Ron was doing the long swim (3.5km) leg. We tagged and changed over, and I went and drank dozens of cups of water in the little marquee.

One down!

Pre Leg Nutrition: Demi-tasse of espresso. Water.

Post Leg Nutrition: 1/2 Endura Energy Bar. 1 'Fruit Slurpy' (apple puree). 1 FortiJuice. 1.25l Mineral Water. 1 Long Black. 375ml Saxby's Diet Ginger Beer.

Wired/Unwired

2005-11-19T08:04:00.000+11:00

Firstly, How can one thank Peter, the PRB sufficiently? Thanks to him, I am now able to tap away (albeit briefly) update the blog, catch up on news, and type out the lists we so desperately need!

Thank you, thank you, thank you a thousand fold!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Thursday last week (10 November), some person or persons unknown illegally entered the house through a window on which they broke the lock. Despite me only leaving for the pool (on foot) at 2:15pm, and Bob and I returning home together exactly 2 hours later, the place had been ransacked and thieves took off with all portable and attractive items of computer equipment (3 laptops), and small peripherals; camera equipment and lenses; items of jewellry; watches and a Polar HRM; and a number of digital tuning shortwave and other radios.

Whilst we were quite fortunate in many ways, our entire life is digital these days, and being unwired has been a challenge. Ironically, doing what is required for insurance, replacement equipment and research for increased security is far too time consuming and difficult without the computers.

As of yesterday (Friday 17 November), we have ordered new computer equipment from the insurance agent, however it may take a couple of weeks for delivery. Peter, the PRB brought over a highly spec'ed desktop last night for us to use in the interim. Have I said thank you?

Needless to say, the loss has had quite a significant effect on our available training. Luckily, there have been a few short events on which got us out of the house and focused on something else over the week, but that has been it.

In Summary:

Thursday, 10 Nov Cancelled going to Vets Track. Only a short walk. Bob cancelled his camping trip.

Friday, 11 Nov Turned up for Customs 5k. Trouble breathing and felt terrible after a hard run in 23:45 (4:45 pace). Great coffee and chat with Adrienne afterwards on The Deck at Regatta Point. Bob had to stay home for forensics, the insurance assessor, and we needed to replace the window lock before we could leave the house.

The PRB came around 'now' and fitted a new lock for us.

Saturday, 12 Nov I had pre-entered the Belconnen 6k Fun Run and we both went along. Huge turnout, although there were the usual suspects, the 'good' runners were focusing on the AIS track meet that night and the bulk of the 1,000+ field were walkers and also-joggers. Felt good to begin with, but my breathing became increasingly laboured and wheezy. Finished well behind fellow Cool Runner CJ in (approx.) 28:38. This infection is taking it's toll. Met up with Cool Runner Scott who had a great run in around 24 minutes.

Very pleasant afternoon with CJ and Mr CJ, Strewth and Mr B., Aki and the PRB. I ATE without ill effects, although the service and coffee at e musica was not up to standard. Feel gipped when I raved about it for so long. CJ and I received medals engraved with 2nd (and 1st) Veterran (sic) Females. In the afternoon, Bob and I cycled down to the Yacht Club to collect my registration for the Tour de Femme. Very pleasant.

Sunday, 13 Nov Despite feeling flat, Bob did decide at the last minute to go along to the Vets Cycling Criterium at the Sutton Rd Driver Training Centre (sounds like a lot of fun). He drove there, and I rode on the quiet Sunday morning roads to the start of the Tour de Femme. It was endearing to see the only cars on the road having old bikes hanging out of the boot, in trailers and on the back seat. A great community participation event! (Why did I finish so far back then?).

Caught up with the rest of the unofficial Team - CJ and Strewth in our great looking Cool Running Tri Tops. Was passed by CJ yet again near the finish. I was happy though to maintain (barely) 30kph over the course, and felt 'hungry ' on the bike. Breathing difficulties again as I went on.

Sunday Night Developed sudden, crippling headache. Went to bed and sought relief in sleep. Terrible pain during night and on waking.

Monday, 14 Nov More of the same. Nauseas, and very crook with headache. Not optimistic.

Tuesday, 15 Nov Remembered that Dr John had speculated that one of the medications I was prescribed may interact with another I am on long term. Couldn't recall the list of side effects (apart from ending in coma and death), but thought that it could be the cause of (?hypertension) causing the headaches. Stopped taking that medication. Began to feel better. Almost, but didn't quite, make it to Cross Country that night.

Wednesday, 16 Nov Felt great. Annoyed that I had wasted two days. More research etc, for computer replacements. Bob and I lobbed up for the Bonshaw Cup at HMAS Harman. I had left it too late to cycle, and an officious guard threatened to shoot and/or put the dogs on me. Reluctantly let me in to the compound. It was a good event, very well organised and very military. The lovely Adrienne was there and she ran vey well from the start, chasing down other runners and pushing up the hills. The 4 mile course was quite interesting, although my breathing was still laboured at the end. Adrienne managed to beat me by around a minute and pick up 2nd Masters Female and a fine trophy. I was third in the catagory. Lots of barrel draws, although we missed out again.

Thursday, 17 Nov The day was spent chasing up computers, and we didn't get to the Hartely LifeCare Fun Run. Decided what we needed however, brand model, rank and so on. Wrote it out labourisously by hand and tried to fax it off and play telephone tag again. Rad picked me up and we went to the Vets Track together. Entered the 3,000m (so slow), lots of solo laps, the 800m, and the '6 lap spiral', a neat little Tony Booth designed handicap event where one starts running in Lane 1 (the inside lane), move over to the next lane after about 300m, and then continue doing this until the laps are completed. I was warmed up now, and felt ready and rearing to go by the end. Felt enthusiastic and comfortable about the prospect of the Triple Tri on Sunday.

Friday, 18 Nov Morning spent on the phone organising the fax from last night. Found more serial numbers, instruction books and tossed lots of stuff out. Very productive. Rode the commuter bike into Customs - great weather and really enjoyed it. Four of us started from a 12:30 handicap - the lovely Adrienne, SpeedyGeoff, Mike S. and I. I felt good from the off, and ran easily and well, breathing normally and only spitting twice towards the end (unheard of by me - during the peak of the sinus problem it was every 10m!). Still lots in the tank, and able to go forever. 23:04, 40 seconds faster than last weeks harder effort, and infront of Adrienne this week. Whoo Hoo! I'm back! Cycled back after coffee and sunshine on The Deck via Scrivener Dam. Great to be alive. Can't wait for the six foot track next week! The PRB delivered his computer that night. Can it get any better than this?

Update

2005-11-10T08:30:00.000+11:00

Amidst the “barking like a sick dog” (my GP’s description), the umpteen hours of sleep, and the euphoria of improvement through medication (drugs=good); a few things have happened which effect life on planet duck over the next month or three.

Firstly, my super cool niece Claire (CJ) is having a 21st celebration on the night before the Canberra Half Ironman ~ in Sydney. I have been a notoriously bad friend / aunt over the last 21 years, not made easier by being in different cities, and my extended periods of illness where travel and even talking were not feasible. However, that is all in the past!!! So, Bob and I had no compunction in deciding to go and thus are somewhat reluctant scratchings from the Canberra Half Ironman.

Bob is going to head bush this weekend camping with his nephew namesake, Rob, so I am keen to recover quickly and have a good weekend book ended by the Belconnen Community Fun Run on Saturday morning, and the Tour de Femme on Sunday. I must check to see if CJ and Strewth are going to wear their Cool Running Tri Tops!

Bob is now giving very serious consideration to attending an intensive Teaching English as a Second Language Course in Sydney over January 2006. He knows someone who did this course and spends a few months each year in places such as China and Russia. As an inveterate traveller, and besotted by the places such as this that he has visited, the thought is that we may spend some months living overseas (in the Canberra winter??!). At 58 ½ years of age, this is not an insignificant undertaking, both in time, commitment and money. It is many decades since he has done any teaching, so that is also an unknown quantity.

If he decides to go ahead, the course runs throughout January from the 3rd to the 27th. It would preclude him doing any serious training for the Long Course Triathlon Champs at Jervis Bay in February (which is significant), especially as the World Champs will be held in Canberra on 19 November 2006. The application needs to be submitted (with funds) soon, so a decision will be imminent. He will need to find somewhere to stay, fit in morning runs and hopefully some swimming and return to being a student after many years. I would probably go up every second weekend, and maybe get Bob to travel done in the middle. It is a work in progress anyhow.

So – for now, gradually increase suitable exercise (staying out of the water), and be fit and fighting to go for the next big thing – the slow assault on the six foot track.

Late Breaking News: Just spoke to my sister, and we are going to spend Christmas together at her place in Sydney. Whoo Hoo!! Time for me to think about the exciting food to make!

Wednesday Morning.

2005-11-09T08:41:00.000+11:00

Homer Simpson once said
"There is a time for many words, and there is also a time for sleep".

Horecek has it about right too.

I'm much better already. Drugs. Good.

Trip to the GP for 'the Usual, Thanks'

2005-11-08T15:22:00.000+11:00

Spent pretty much all day Monday in bed and asleep. Boy do I have an enormous capacity to sleep whenever I get the slightest bit crook!

It is pretty tricky to get an appointment with our GP; if you know you need an advance or future appointment, make it now and you might get in within the next two or three weeks. The alternative is to ring at the dot of 8:30 am; too early and you get a pre-recorded message, too late, they’re all booked up, on time, you’re likely to hear the engaged signal but keep trying.

Managed to get in at high noon – enough time to do a couple of loads of sheets from the night before (dragsville). To keep it simple, I stated that the heavy cold seemed to leave a legacy of a painful ear, and I was getting it checked out to see if there was an infection. To my great surprise, the ears were normal, but the ol’ faithful sinus’ had a massive infection which was referring pain to the ear. Of course. They’ve been cleaned out twice, and there is not enough bone to remove anymore. Constant infections, resulting in chronic post nasal drip (spit, snort, spit) and sore head, eyes, nose, throat . . .sound familiar?

A two week course of y old friend, antibiotics, a steroid nasal spray and psuedoepherdriene tablets should help. In the meantime, I’ll probably stay out of the pool, and only do some gentle stuff when the stuffed nose goes.

Bugger.

The Cotter

2005-11-06T14:00:00.000+11:00

After 12 hours sleep, I was very unrefreshed and had had night sweats once more. Thankfully, my new whiz bang summer haircut (Thankyou Angelo!) had cut off the hair around the nape of my neck where the sweating was worst, ensuring that I was a bit more comfortable. I confirmed with Bob that I was required to attend the family picnic at the Cotter. Warren, Bob’s eldest nephew was visiting from Nowra for the weekend, and it was the first time we had a chance to see Bri, the very pregnant partner of cycling nephew Rob since her birthday during the week. Bob reproduced his picnic fare from earlier in the week (and very good it was too!) of a long of hot-from-the-oven Turkish Bread from the Pide House in Jamison and tub’s of houmous and tabouli.

I was very hungry again, and ate a bit of the bread, although my throat was very sore and complaining loudly. I stayed with the gear while others went for a walk up to the dam and then downstream. Despite putting on a heavy jacket, I started to get very cold once more, and was keen for the others to return so I could at least huddle up in the car (I didn’t even know the cricket score – surely it could end any moment). While it was good to catch up,.I felt pretty shocking, and the pain in my right ear had returned with a vengeance and the sense of blockage was making hearing very difficult.

Once home, I crawled into bed and slept heavily for another four hours or so. Up briefly, I returned to bed for an early, sweaty night and slept for another 16 hour stint. One thing that is certain when I am not too flash is my capacity to sleep for unimaginable periods, even days at a time. Methinks that my plans were a little too ambitious. Maybe a quiet week and a trip to the long suffering Dr John to make sure that I don’t have a treatable ear infection is in order.

After Mt Majura

2005-11-05T23:30:00.000+11:00

I drove home, slowly, through Gunghalin and prepared to pull over in case the nausea decided to need freedom. On returning home, I took my Blood Glucose and found it to be low, although not significantly so. Had some yoghurt and broth when I felt able to eat, and felt much better. I would have loved to have crawled into bed then and there, but I had volunteered to marshal at the Triathlon ACT’s first race of the season, the all-too-short Spring Fling. I didn’t feel too bad, and Bob decided to cycle down to the race venue at the Yacht Club, giving me a good reason not to ride as I had intended; he needed to have his wetsuit and race gear carried in the car.

Despite arriving well before 2:15pm as required, there was the usual waiting around. Eventually allocated our positions, I walked quickly the 25 minutes to the corner of Commonwealth Ave and Parkes Way in my high visibility vest with red flag in hand, concerned that the first wave of cyclists might come through before I got there. With only a 400m swim, this was quite possible.

Of course, I needn’t have worried. The race started late, and the front markers whizzed through miles ahead of the others, seasoned locals (such as Gareth Halverson) who knew the course backwards and had exemplary road skills. I called out support where I could, especially to the ever smiling Pete who was backing up from a fine finish in the 26km Mountain Run that morning. Ten minutes or so after the last rider came through, the sweep van advised that I could go, and I wandered back the slightly longer and more peaceful route via the lakeside and Lennox Gardens.

Bob and I got away fairly quickly, although it was still late for us to shower and ready ourselves for the next social activity of the day, a housewarming for a friend in one of the new north western suburbs of Dunlop. A 6:00pm start to avoid too late a night for the all-runners in attendance was good, although I just wanted to go to bed. Bob promised that I wouldn’t have to stay too long ~ having missed out on social activities after 5:00pm for nearly a decade when I was too sick, getting along to social engagements had a special significance these days. It was a very pleasant evening, but unfortunately not an early night. I was very hungry by the stage that food came out (8:00pm), and opted to eat the ‘most acceptable’ for my gut option of boiled white rice, an allegedly Thai chicken curry, and a good mix of salad leaves. Mmmm. Food, Good.

A barking cough developed and I started to feel very ordinary. We got home at 11:00pm and I fell asleep immediately, not waking until 12 hours later. So much for my plans to go to the Jogalong!

Too much, Too soon

2005-11-05T12:06:00.000+11:00

Bob was planning to sleep in, horrified at the prospect of my waking at 4:20am to prepare for the Mt Majura Vineyard Two Peaks Classic, a 26km trail run up the summits of Mt Ainslie and Mt Majura. I did both of these summits fairly regularly, so it was neither novel nor daunting. Just another day at the office, with drink stops provided, in a beautiful part of the city. I slept in my study (new bed still to be delivered), with Lucy the cat, and the kettle set up on my desk with coffee at the ready to be made. I needed to start taking large quantities of Imodium no later than 2 hours before the start of the event. With a slated 6:30am start, 4:30 was a bit late to be roused. However, I woke up to go to the bathroom around 1:30am . . . my mind started to whirr, and sleep did not return.

Felt pretty good when I got up, around a quarter past four, and fiddled around updating my blog entry. A cup or two of (yuck) instant coffee, and a steady stream of tablets until I left home about 5:30am. I drove via Dickson, in the vain hope that there would be somewhere that sold decent espresso open, and then continued up the Federal Highway to Mount Majura Vineyard. It was a beautiful setting, and there were quite a few cars already parked on the paddock near the road. Many of the cars were familiar belonging to the usual suspects from Customs, BBQ Stakes and Cross Country Club runners. I wasn’t very sociable at first, racing up to the “Cellar door” to pick up my registration number (207), seeing the PRB on his way back and loads of people registering late. There was a good buzz of excitement in the still early morning fresh air.

The start of the measured 26km course was closer to the roadway, and I stripped off to shorts and a crop top. I was shivering during the briefing, but knew that I would quickly warm up. With both the One Peak (Mt Majura 15km) and Two Peaks (Mt Ainslie and Mt Majura) runners starting at the same time, there seemed to be a huge field, with many excellent runners amongst them.

We started conservatively enough, the PRB staying with my slow legs, and I was content to start slowly and warm up knowing that there was a long way and some big hills ahead. The familiar trails of the Mountain Running Championships were at the start, and I was surprised at my pace of 6 minute k’s on the flat, although less so at the number of walkers passing me on the climbs as I kept chugging away in a running motion. Mrs Mountain Running, Carol was manning the first drink stop and here I could tell that I wasn’t right at the back but close to it. No worries. I always improve, don’t I?

Well, suffice to say, I didn’t really improve. A bit better on downhill sweeps, I just couldn’t get going, and the PRB who insisted on staying with me the whole way, suffered silently as I spluttered an endless stream of gunk ~ spitting on a metre by metre basis, and using the melodic “bushies blow” in an attempt to stop the constant post nasal drip that was making me feel pretty crook. We had travelled over 10kms before the climb up Mt Ainslie started. There were quite a few Saturday morning walkers coming down from the summit, and as we made our way up the sealed track there were many ‘G’Days’ exchanged, including a short conversation with Emilio, the brother of my hairdresser, Angelo who is also a runner and member of Team Moore.

I was drenched through, my sweating mechanism was working overtime, and my socks were holding a surprising amount of water, especially the left which made an audible squelch with every foot fall. Despite the brief reprieve at the summit of Mt Ainslie (814m), I wasn’t feeling so good. I was really struggling, the drip down my throat was making me feel very nauseous, and I was not travelling very well. Only Mt Majura to go! My stomach suddenly made a loud, long rumbling reminiscent of thunder for a prolonged period that did not sound organic. There was some pain associated with it over the left lower quartile. This was disturbing, but there was nothing to do other than finish.

In one part we ran through rye grass up to my knees, then waist and then skimming my (short) shoulders. Horses corralled at the paddock at the end of this stretch were spooked and galloping frantically from one end of their enclosure to another. Just before the start of the climb up Mt Majura, I had to stop and walk, something I’ve never done in a race before. I was overcome with an overwhelming nausea, faintness and chills. The PRB insisted once more on staying with me, although I didn’t feel that I would pick up too soon. Occasional attempts at slow jogging after this were quickly terminated. We resumed walking. At one point I was icily cold – I asked the PRB to feel my hands which looked white and bloated to my gunky eyes. He helped my trying to warm them and I attempted to stop my teeth chattering. So cold . . . .

There was a big silver lining in this enforced break however; with so much recent rain and warmer conditions, not only did the hills shine with an emerald glow, but there were masses of wild flowers everywhere. Nowhere was so blessed with masses of wildflowers though as the slopes of Mt Majura, where meadows of massed colours carpeted the sides of the narrow track. Without the constant need to check ones footfall from running, we could really enjoy the spring bounty.

David Baldwin was manning the last drink station at the top of Mt Majura (824m), we advised him that we thought that we were last, and with a sealed road down to the finish to go, I was able to jog, slowly, for the first time in around 45 minutes. Despite a long downhill stretch, no land speed records were broken, but it was able to carry me though to the recently mown strip of paddock parallel to the busy roadway and up (it seemed up!) to the finish line among the young Pinot Noir Vines. The vineyard owner handed us each a bottle of 2002 vintage Pinot, with a great smile and ‘well done’, although I didn’t feel like I had done well, nor much able to smile. Lots of water later, I headed down to the parked car, where I faded further and only focussed on getting home.

Brief note while Blogger is up!

2005-11-04T08:27:00.000+11:00

I'm very well, very busy and very slow!

Blogger hasn't let me post when I've been able in the last few days, so this is just to let you know that I'm alive and kicking very hard!

Swim a bit (no faster than 3 minutes per 100m), run a bit (5 minute / km pace even when on the track), cycle a bit for transportation.

More later.

November off to a good start

2005-11-02T23:15:00.000+11:00

Wednesday.

Second day of the month, feeling good. Time to bring Plan E to the fore.

Primarily because of the good weather (26-27°C), I decided to resume using my bike for transport whenever possible. I rode out to the BBQ Stakes at Woden today, conscious that I would be very slow after last nights effort. Enjoyed the cycle, out on the bike path and arrived in plenty of time today. On registering, saw Bob’s friend and very talented Triathlete, Shell, who had recently started to work locally and was there for her first Stakes. Despite my protests, she left off my handicap (she did a formal brick session that morning, and was doing a run Time Trial that night), wanting an easy run. Perhaps because we were chatting, but I got around the course feeling more comfortable than during the Cross Country the previous night, with frequent spitting, but more regular breathing. At 31:17 for 6km, it is not good, but a slight improvement in time from the previous week when I was feeling shocking and trying hard.

Although I had thought about cycling home through the trails of Stromlo, my still uncut hair was driving me nuts. Changed my plans and rode along the Deakin Yarralumla Shores route to Civic to plead my case for another appointment. Thankfully, I was able to weasel my way in for Friday lunchtime – a successful outcome. I will be so relieved when it is thinner.

Having had perhaps the greatest night sweat in my life last night – four loads of washing – I didn’t think that I should ‘dive in at the deep end’ and go to the Bilby’s Swim Squad that night, although thought that I should test the waters. I suggested to Bob that I go along with him to the pool that night, but just swim and do a little to start with while he did the squad. All agreed, we spent Wednesday evening at the pool, which was a little like running central. I was interrupted (my foot was pulled at the turn) by those seeking to start the Females in Training (FIT) squad in my lane, and then the PRB, Aki, Rabbot and Roy B. were there were I got out at the conclusion of a 30 minute 1,000m. I got cold quickly though, and found my new secret weapon; breathing deeply in the steam room. I had been using the steam room to warm up for a while, but I found that if once I had returned to something resembling warm-bloodedness I took deep, controlled breaths it cleared my sinus’ and helped considerably. I had a couple of sessions of this and feel so much better!

I couldn’t find Aki and the PRB when I got out, and Bob’s squad was still going, so I did a few more laps, once again interrupted after 350m, this time by Bob who needed to go home. I steamed my nasal passages while he changed and I was smitten. A little bit of swimming and a bit of cycling for transportation everyday makes Carolyne a happy girl, and feeling very virtuous!

Run 6km
Cycle 32km
Swim 1,350m

Feeling Very Happy!

Tuesday - the wonders of fresh air!

2005-11-02T09:30:00.000+11:00

Hmmm.

This is most curious, although I feel pretty damn good at the moment.

Another mega hyper night sweats on Monday night, leaving me drained, groggy and feeling pretty terrible for the morning. Bob had gone for a cycle, and suggested when he got home that we go for a picnic when he got home. Not showered or dressed, he thought we should go straight away, and with the bulk of the country caught up in cup fever we were confident that it would be pretty quiet. Still with a shocking ear ache and bad eyes, we dropped by the local Turkish Pide House for a warm loaf of turkish bread and a small container of houmous and tabouli. We then drove down to Uriarra Crossing and sat by the river on the eastern side.

The river gurgled, there was birdsong from innumerable species, and the weather was fine. Although a kilometre or two off the 'main' Uriarra Road which carries very little traffic, at late lunchtime on Melbourne Cup Day, there was none. I didn't have much houmous or tabouli because of the fibre content, but I really enjoyed having something solid to eat. Feeling so delicate, I didn't think that there was much danger of doing much activity too soon.

Then an amazing thing happened; I began to feel better and better. The sharp ear pain and sinus pain ameliorated, which might have been due to the Panadeine Forte I had popped on leaving home. But this couldn't explain it all. We wrapped up our rubbish and returned to the car to put on shoes and grab hats and went for a walk along the river. We didn't get too far, heading south, but there was a carpet of wildflowers for much of the way; Canberra violets, vivid egg yellow native poppies and much more.

In the other direction we came across a board indicating the Murrumbidgee River Walk, a 6km return walk along the river bank. Although heavily overgrown, it was signposted and we found our way to the roadway where we lost the trail. Not to be walked this time, we must return to find the trail!

Feeling so much better (fresh air?), we left just as the 3 o'clock news started, and reluctantly switched over from Radio National to the local ABC at the conclusion of the news to hear the final 1,200m of the Melbourne Cup. The result surprised us both. Feeling better, I decided to give the ACT Cross Country Club's first twilight run of the Spring Series a go, albeit slowly. Changing the flat tyre on my bike, Bob and I rode down (separately), me arriving as people were lining up to start. With the PRB's help, I changed my shoes, took off the layer of cycling clothes and was there for the start. Peter and I ran together as usual, me holding him back, and although only a flat 5k, I found the going pretty tough. My legs were fine, but breathing was difficult, and I attempted to hide the pipe reverberating wheeze which I felt compelled to make.

We crossed the line in 24:09, and it took me some time to recover. Water helped! I was pleased with my legs, but concerned about how hard I found a slow, short run. Thank heavens to daylight saving, Bob and I did cycle home together. I felt great up until my bath, where I submerged my head. After that the sinus pain was once again immeasurably bad, and I was quite deaf in my right ear. I couldn't work this out. More Forte to get to sleep, and again when I woke to change the bedclothes during the night. Not feeling so optimistic - my doc doesn't work on Wednesday, so I would have to wait. Very frustrating.

On the eve of a hallowed day

2005-10-31T19:00:00.000+11:00

I had been disappointed to see that the Bonshaw Cup had been moved from it's original (for me!) running at Lunchtime on Melbourne Cup Day, which served a few simultaneous purposes. One was able to extricate oneself from the office without being too much of a party-pooper, in the name of a 'Run for Charity'. This had the great added benefit of doing something you really liked to do (run!), while everyone else in the office is doing the round of bad food, silly hats and countless sweepstakes and one-day-a-year experts. For those who like it, great, but it just ain't my scene.

With some despair I found out that this years event (not being well enough for many years) is on the Wednesday, the week following the race. Friar pointed out that the move may be because of the race now being run later in the afternoon ~ good point, but now I'll have to look at what else to do to avoid the call and the the wall-to-wall media coverage throughout the day. Even the Mt Ainslie run-up which takes (the winner - NOT me) 10-12 minutes to complete has been deferred for a week. Truly the race that stops the nation.

Bob has gone, somewhat reluctantly, to swim squad tonight. I am feeling much better, although I did have another long afternoon nap. The throat / glands aren't great, but the ear is manageable with pain killers, and although gunked up this morning, the eyes are OK (but then I haven't tried to read / drive / see anything much). I'm pretty confident that I'll be right for the Cross Country Club's summer series of 5k runs which kick off tomorrow night. It was good to read that allrounder is now planning to go, as well as Aki.

A comment on my sense of humour

2005-10-30T21:00:00.000+11:00

I admit it. I’m sick.

‘Just’ a cold I think/hope, although even a cold knocks me around a lot. Sunday saw me with (slightly) improved eyes and greatly improved voice, although the right ear was angry and extremely painful. Strong Analgesics permitted me to get back to sleep, so I was able to sleep through the whole morning once again, missing Bob’s departure for the Vets Handicap at Bluett’s Forest, his early return having only jogged 3km, and trip to the fresh food markets and (eech!) supermarket.

Bob was unable to run more comfortably, and we are both very pleased that we didn’t try to venture to Wagga where we would have felt under more pressure to compete and see how we go. It would not have been a good idea, and having seen that there was nearly 18mm of rain yesterday, we feel even better about having blown our dough on the pre-entry fee.

In the afternoon, apart from trying to keep my fluids up, Bob and I wandered out for a social coffee instead. I suggested ‘Musica é’ on the shores of Lake Ginninderra. Although I checked out the website yourRestaurants.com.au to see that it was open Sunday (having found it closed on Monday in the past), when we lobbed up around 3:30 pm, the place was empty (= good = quiet), however the sign on the door indicated that it closed ‘for lunch’ at 3:00 pm and opened for dinner at 6:00 pm. We kept walking the few metres to ‘Black Pepper’ which we found was open ‘just for coffee and cake’ and was readying to close at 4:00 pm. We ordered a couple of long blacks, grabbed a bottle of water from the ‘fridge and stayed for a few minutes.

Although the coffee there is the right price ($5.60 for two long blacks), I found it bitter and rather weak. Bob didn’t notice it with his sweetener. I would still rather have the good Italian style caffé at Musica é though, despite it being $3.50 a cup. Next time! Maybe with Strewth ~ I was jealous about their post-handicap breakfast!

Another early night, and I do feel better, although will ensure that I don’t do anything on Monday to give myself a better chance of recovery and so that I can get to the Cross Country Club's summer series run on Tuesday evening, and if not that doesn’t matter. Big Picture stuff. The Slow Six Foot Track is still the priority and not-too-many sleeps away.

I didn't say it often enough . . .

2005-10-29T20:30:00.000+10:00

My fault after-all.

Needless to say, Bob and I are non-starters for the wonderfully named "Palm and Pawn" Duathlon tomorrow. I'm keen to visit Wagga again, ("Why? I hear you ask") as my sister went there to lecture around 1979-ish, and I have fond memories of finding out that what I considered be be the end of civilisation had a surprising amount going for it. When I then met and started going out with one of her colleagues, I got to know some aspects of the restaurants and countryside even better.

But I digress.

No night sweat early on, but a huge one later during the morning. My eyes were/are the worse they've ever been, stuck together with mucous, constantly blurred and hard to focus. I jumped (OK, slight exaggeration) out of bed still planning to go, but by the time I made it up the stairs to the kitchen I knew that this was a foolish pipe dream. As soon as Bob helped me re-make my bed and I had a bath, I went back to bed and stayed there all day.

Aki rang me to say that she and the PRB were going for a swim. I declined, although it was a lovely idea. Bob headed off to the pool at the same time but didn't see them. Otherwise, not much to report. It's more important I recover than put miles on my legs, in the pool, or on the bike. As Lucky Legs says it's only four weeks to the main event - the slow six foot track.

So, rest (boring), fluids and limited reading (thankfully I touch type) for a day or three.

If I say if often enough, does that make it true?

2005-10-28T18:30:00.000+10:00

It's all above my neck.

Really it is.

Not much brain or brawn in evidence this week . . . perhaps the lovely Adrienne was right, and I picked up some bug in the water at the pool on Monday night. Once again this morning was spent in damming the flow and doing multiple loads of washing. Ironic on the day that it has been announced that the long drought in the ACT has broken. Throat was once again pretty scratchy and my voice was a whisper (or sexy, husky, I think not!) at best.

Bob is a bit of a sook today I think ~ good for him, he isn't like this much, and has a niggling injury which is annoying him enormously. He saw the physio on Tuesday to look at his piriformis, translated by his friend Jude so eloquently as his "right arsicle". He has been vacillating all week about whether he will be alright to compete in the Wagga Duathlon, and he was miserable about the lack of code for the car radio after the battery replacement. The notion of a drive to Wagga without the CD or radio was too difficult to contemplate.

He dropped the car into the dealership and reluctantly trudged off to the pool for a swim. I thought that I didn't need my voice for the Customs run at lunchtime, and thought that it would be a fair test for the weekend. I got out the mountain bike, and found that the front tyre was quite flat. I pumped it up after riding down to the Lake Stakes on Tuesday, so a tube replacement was called for. No time, I threw my gear into a backpack and took the road bike instead.

Enjoyed the ride, travelling on the main roads (Bindubi St and Parkes Way) instead of the bike paths without too much traffic. I was there in plenty of time to change shoes and gear, although didn't get a warm up in. Walking to the nearest toilets in the Regatta Point centre, I thought I saw Friar walking towards me, however my vision is still terribly blurred and I only half-waved unsure of whom it was. After my string of poor performances, I had been re-handicapped to start off 12:30. Adrienne had a blistering run last week and left off 13:00. With my voice straining, I expected her to fly past at any moment.

My breathing was laboured, and legs slow, but I got through it OK, a few seconds faster than last week. Afterwards I rode through the late lunchtime crowds in Civic to collect some contact lenses I ordered and rode home - at first through the back streets of O'Connor and then on the empty main road of Belconnen Way. I do like riding my road bike, and the weather was great!

I didn't continue the ride though today, but fell into bed after a bath and slept for a couple of hours. The car has been fixed, and Bob seems to be in chipper (sp?)spirits . . . and planning to head to Wagga. We'll see what happens!

My husband has no respect for me!

2005-10-28T10:00:00.000+10:00

My husband has no respect for me
Originally uploaded by FlashDuck.

Ducktastic!

2005-10-27T20:21:00.000+10:00

Maybe a role for me in the future? Ducktastic!

Thursday - sick

2005-10-27T18:40:00.000+10:00

2005 10 27
I kept waking during the night with my dry eyes disturbing me ~ although there was little night sweating.  My throat was getting worse and worse though, and I felt decidedly poorly.  At 5:00am I couldn‘t return to sleep, so wandered up to the kitchen, but this disturbed Bob too much.  I took some analgesia and managed to sleep, although this time I did loose quite a few litres of perspiration in the process, waking up in a babbling brook.  My throat seemed a bit better though.

I was groggy for most of the morning, and my eyes didn’t improve; vision was compromised, blurry and hard to focus, and artificial tears didn’t make much of a difference.  I still felt good about getting to the track that night, and baked a batch of small bread rolls to take along for supper – better than the processed packages of biscuits that often turn up.  I set my phone/computer to beep and warn me at 3:30pm to start taking the Imodium so I could run.

Bob went for a quick swim in the morning, and then managed to get a physio appointment at 11:00am.  By the time he returned I had crashed in bed, feeling much better after a thorough soaking in the tub, and a good scrubbing of my face and to remove the caked up layers of gunk around my eyes, but had become exhausted as a result.  Slept solidly, through my Imodium alarms and didn’t wake until about 5:30pm.  Too late to go to track, and once again my throat was really bad – almost can’t make any noise out of my mouth, so I back to a complicated range of charades to communicate with Bob.

Wednesday

2005-10-26T20:00:00.000+10:00

I 'popped' out to do the BBQ Stakes at lunchtime - in the midst of much ado at home, I didn't have time to cycle (good thing too as it turned out; frequent heavy sun showers) and arrived when those off a handicap of 4 minutes were already out on the course.

I knew that I'd be slow - no stiffness in the legs, but a significant loss of leg speed. No problemo, all events done over the next 136 days (approximately) are leading up to the Six Foot Track next year. Once again I got faster as I went:

1k 5:57
2k 5:56 11:53
3k 5:34 17:27
4k 5:30 22:57
5k 4:42 27:39
6k 4:15 31:54

More encouragement for the long stuff! I spoke to Phibes briefly, and congratulated him on his well measured run in the Brindabella event. Then off quickly (there was light rain during the run) to get home and attend to the batch of bread dough I had left to rise. First, a diversion to drop a bag of T-Shirts into a charity bin, and to Rad's place to leave a far-too-big-for-me pair of knicks and jersey that he might be able to wear. I left the bag on Rad's doorstep and then - the car had died. I thought (hoped) that it was 'just' the battery, although my concerns about starting the car recently (never a problem after a long drive, frequently when not used for a day of three) had been dismissed by Bob as 'not being the battery' whenever I raised it.

With Rad off to the Masters Cycling Championships in Ballarat, I tried to ring Bob at home, and on his mobile with no luck. He had left for a cycle mid-morning, so this was a bit of a surprise. I started walking down to the nearest Service Station, which had a fair sized workshop, although my requests for a jump start were not met too favourably with the boss away. I gave Bob's cycling nephew Rob a call, but he wasn't able to help. Just as I thought about "holler for a Marshall", Bob returned my call (huff, puff, huff, huff) as he had cycled back into mobile range. He was still a little sceptical about the battery being responsible, but he was actually quite close by now, and we agreed to meet at the car. I walked back in light rain via the Hughes Bakery and bought a ricotta and spinach pastie and a couple of plain bread rolls for Bob to keep the wolf from the door.

I had just arrived at the car, and was putting the rear seat down for Bob to put his bike in the car out of the rain when he rolled up. A quick turn of the key convinced Bob that it was the battery! Thank heavens for mobiles, a quick call to Call Connect got us connected and a guy on the way ~ within an hour and a half.

It rained whilst we were waiting, both quite damp and under-dressed, but it was pleasant being together. Eventually it all got fixed, and we were on our way home, to move the washing now sodden from the rain, bread rolls over-riz, and showers much needed. It was nearly 6:00pm, so our planned Swim Squad tonight was off; a pity, but an easy decision to make. Tomorrow I hope to go for a swim in the morning and track in the evening. One thing urgently needs attention though: replacing the battery meant that the radio/CD player 'lost' its security code. Without it - nada. I've checked all the car's paperwork at home with no success . . . hopefully the dealer will be able to help, although I have a sinking feeling that the unit was replaced under warranty in Cairns. A car without sound is like a fish without a bicycle.

Play Dough and T-Shirts

2005-10-26T09:50:00.000+10:00

I am doing a few vaguely incompatible things at the moment; having eventually sourced the 20kgs of bread making flour that I wanted to make Bob's rolls for lunch (a mixture of soy, rye, linseed, and whole grains), I am in the process of bread roll production for a week or two's supply for Bob's lunch. This invariably means lots of dough under the finger nails and flour up to the elbows in the kneading process. Using Rye flour also means that I have quite a wet dough to begin with, which makes it a tad messier!

After having been unable to find my cycling gloves yesterday, I am clearing out my clothes from my study and doing a T-Shirt Audit. About this time last year, Bob and I tossed out around 100 T-Shirts (recycled them anyway). Although we got rid of so many, lots slipped through because of sentimental value (overseas events, or first something typically), despite being of poor quality and too large. (When will running and Triathlon event organisers realise that all entrants are unlikely to be XXL?). I've done /am doing lots of sorting out, but still haven't found my yellow cycling gloves.

Mega+++ Night Sweats last night; fairly predictable I suppose, although I am extremely tired after a very unrefreshing sleep. I changed the bedclothes a couple of times during the night, AND lay down on a towel, and still have a couple of loads of washing. My throat is better than when I went to bed last night although seems to deteriorate as soon as I start talking. Feel pretty good otherwise though.

I got cracking on Rad's Ravers Team for the Triple Tri yesterday, being concerned that the entry closing date was looming. It turns out that entries don't close until 11 November (what a significant date!). We have too many starters for one team, and not enough for two. I enjoyed myself so much last year; Bob was away Triathloning (Port Macquarie? Forster? Shepparton? Wherever there's a Half Ironman, there's Bob), with our team of Rad (Team Captain), Friar, Ron on the MTB for the 1st two legs, Caroline C. (not me) on the last bike leg, husband & wife Lindy & Peter for the swims and Ron's daughter Milli doing the long swim.

Rad was uncharacteristically injured, and I got the go ahead (sort of) to run for the first time in 7 weeks since my op. from the doctor 4 days beforehand. (Surgeon: "I'd take it easy. Don't do a half marathon or anything" Me:thinks "It's only 20km . . .). I did the first run, and then Rad's last leg. I was looking jealously as Mister G was warming up to do his second of all three legs. Next year . . .

So, Friar is a possible non-starter due to a family visit to Sydney, although is really integral to the team. Rad has run the first and 2nd legs in previous years and is keen to now do the third. I am keen to do all run legs. We are lacking some (slow and social cyclists and swimmers) for two teams, but at the moment it looks like:

Rad's Ravers - A Team
Swim #1 1.5k Peter D
MTB #1 35k Michael D
Run #1 20k The PRB
Swim #2 3.5k Lindy D
MTB #2 40k ??
Run #2 12k Friar
Swim #3 1.2k ??? Peter D
MTB # 3 24k ???
Run #3 13k Rad

Rad's Raver - B Team (Family Brent/Harlow/Kramar)
Swim #1 1.5k Milli
MTB #1 35k Ron
Run #1 20k Carolyne
Swim #2 3.5k Milli
MTB #2 40k Bob
Run # 2 12k Carolyne
Swim #3 1.2k Milli
MTB #3 24k Ron
Run #4 13k Carolyne

Looks good, and at the moment I can't wait! Later!

Short Post:

2005-10-25T21:31:00.000+10:00

I almost expected the dreaded DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) to come and bite me on the bum, quads and calves today after my arrogant assertion about pulling up well. Once again, nothing. Legs are slow – did the 7k Ginninderra Stakes today at around 5 minute pace, but certainly not stiff or sore. Weird.

This has started to crystallise a few thoughts as a result. My endurance seems pretty good, and I love the long stuff, particularly the long stuff on trails in the bush. I think that Ultra’s are calling me!

One of the downsides of the weekend run doesn’t relate to injury or soreness, and perhaps it’s after the swim last night, however this afternoon I have developed a very sore and raw throat, and my voice has gone west. Good news for some – getting a little peace!

I will try to sleep as much as I can tonight, and hope that I feel better tomorrow. I will have to seriously think about whether to go to the BBQ Stakes tomorrow, even though I was only concerned about the rain and riding this morning!

To bed, to sleep, to recover!

Is that a muscle I feel?

2005-10-24T22:04:00.000+10:00

More of an effect from the Bulls Head downhill today than any other recent run (Sydney, Fitzroy Falls), however nothing that can be interpreted as stiff, sore or even tender muscles. Did you know I love downhills?

Worked my way through a long “To Do” list today, not completing it, however making significant inroads. Joined Bob for lunch at home today – yep, I actually ate some Turkish bread straight out of Mama’s oven at the Turkish Pide House at Jamieson. Bob had strongly recommended that I didn’t run today, and whilst I don’t take all (or much!) of his advice, I listened to him today. I had hoped to go for a decent cycle, however the great conditions for the run yesterday had vanished overnight in a swirl of storms, rain and hail. Being the wimp I am, I didn’t venture out into the tempest on the bike. I felt great after yesterday – no muscle soreness again (I’m sure that there is something wrong with me!), however that annoying headache on the right temple persisted all day. The large quantities of Imodium I necessarily take may be acting as a diuretic as causing me to be effectively dehydrated after these events.

Both Bob and I bit the bullet and committed ourselves to attend our first Bilby's swim squad at CISAC (Canberra International Sports and Aquatic Centre). We didn’t know anybody there well, and I was by far the slowest swimmer in the slowest lane, but enjoyed the discipline of getting there. Bob pulled me out before the end of the set, us both having swum 1,800m on this occasion, and look forward to attending again on Wednesday and future Monday evenings.

I’m still concerned about the PRB bonking after 17kms or so during long runs. He certainly has the ability and the endurance base to continue at the same level, but is running short of nutrition or has suspect iron levels or something. I’m very keen to keep running with him, especially over the longer distances such as the Cotter runs (15, 18 and 21 miles) in preparation for the six foot track.

Tomorrow – Lake Ginninderra Stakes at lunchtime with Bob.

Bulls Head Challenge Part II

2005-10-23T22:30:00.000+10:00

The cry of Black Cockatoos was easy to hear overhead. Glimpses of the Molonglo River winding its way through the valley came in and out of view, and the track maintained it’s excellent surface of fine even gravel throughout. A long descent began just before the 10km mark, and it was around here that I first felt that I had ‘warmed up’ and settled into an easy stride. Rounding a sweeping bend, just past ‘map top’ Hugh who was favouring his gammy knee on the downhill stretch, the PRB stopped to retie a shoe lace. I slowed right down to an almost stationary jog, but did not stop completely, as I always find that starting again is the hardest thing!

On this long sweeping stretch of downhill track winding through the tall trees untouched by the 2003 Bushfires, we also managed to catch up with Geoff who was running really well, belying his 61 years. We had passed through the first 10k in around 49 minutes and I felt really good. I had set the Polar to beep at each kilometre and also at 5 minute intervals, and it was very even, the two sounds occurring within seconds of each other. Eventually the thick forest thinned, and the downhill continued providing an opportunity to pick up the pace. Splits over the next few kilometres were significantly faster (gotta love downhill).

Lap Time Lap Time Altitude Avg Ascent Grade %
1. 0:04:34.5 0:04:34.5 1194 1242 0 -8.4
2. 0:08:28.5 0:03:54.0 1109 1144 0 -8.5
3. 0:14:28.5 0:06:00.0 1135 1121 28 2.6
4. 0:20:24.5 0:05:56.0 1160 1156 31 2.5
5. 0:25:14.5 0:04:50.0 1130 1136 11 -3.1
6. 0:29:22.5 0:04:08.0 1073 1107 0 -5.7
7. 0:34:09.5 0:04:47.0 1065 1069 5 -0.9
8. 0:40:04.5 0:05:55.0 1071 1066 15 0.6
9. 0:44:28.5 0:04:24.0 1020 1049 0 -5.1
10. 0:48:30.5 0:04:02.0 963 990 0 -5.7
11. 0:52:38.5 0:04:08.0 904 934 0 -5.9
12. 0:56:36.5 0:03:58.0 851 874 0 -5.3
13. 1:00:52.5 0:04:16.0 817 832 0 -3.4
14. 1:05:22.5 0:04:30.0 792 802 0 -2.6
15. 1:09:54.5 0:04:32.0 760 777 0 -3.2
16. 1:14:40.5 0:04:46.0 737 750 0 -2.3
17. 1:19:36.5 0:04:56.0 721 726 5 -1.6
18. 1:25:18.5 0:05:42.0 719 733 20 -0.2
19. 1:30:10.5 0:04:52.0 692 700 5 -2.7
20. 1:35:10.5 0:05:00.0 664 691 5 -2.9
21. 1:39:48.5 0:04:38.0 619 634 5 -4.5
22. 1:45:04.5 0:05:16.0 575 585 5 -4.5
23. 1:53:36.5 0:08:32.0 643 609 63 6.8
24. 2:05:16.5 0:21:54.0 604 619 123 1.1
25. 2:11:54.5 0:06:38.0 624 622 31 2.0
26. 2:16:18.5 0:04:24.0 540 576 0 -8.4
27. 2:20:40.5 0:04:22.0 482 501 0 -5.8
28. 2:20:49.3 0:00:08.8 484 484 0 12.7

After we had run about 14km – a mental half way point – Emma Murray came springing past, smiling, looking as though she was having a walk in the park, relaxed, comfortable, and gorgeous. Sigh . . . .

The forest had given way to some burnt out sections and was quite exposed in sections; I was pleased that I opted to wear little to begin with as it was quite warm. The PRB started to fade around the 16-18 kilometre mark, despite the gradient being generous and the conditions good. A section of gravel was quite rough at a bend, apparently set down to fix the road up from flooding recently. Grumphs (Trevor Jacobs) trotted past us at this point, disappearing quickly as he powered up the short climb while my speed dropped back to that slower than a walk once more. Jackie Fairweather then ran past, working harder than Emma although looking very strong and determined in fourth place overall.

Just after 18k, Peter insisted that I go ahead, and rather reluctantly agreed. The changeover point was just ahead, with a great selection of cars, supporters, and volunteers on folding chairs, and well stock drink station with water, Gatorade, jelly beans and fruit. Unable to eat, I grabbed a couple of cups of water and continued on through an exposed section where those in front were no where to be seen. I kept expecting to see the PRB come up behind me once he had rehydrated and regained his energy at the aid station, although this didn’t occur.

Nearing the 21km point, the track deviated to the right, with the Y-junction marked off with witches’ hats. Three trail Bikes came roaring through here as I rounded the bend, and sped off in the direction from where I came and the other, tired runners still were. I called at them to be careful, but am equally sure that this was unable to be heard above the roar of their unmuffled engines. According to the reasonably accurate S625x, I went through the 21.1k point around 1:40:30 which may neither be accurate nor fair given the downhill nature, but I am happy enough to take it nevertheless.

I had been wondering how close to the finish was Vanity’s Crossing, as Bob had warned me that it would be quite high, and even suggested that I take off my shoes and socks for the wading. Around a sweeping bend, the river was in view, with a guy in front of me wading across the knee deep water. The depth gauge near the bank read around 0.6m, and I firmly planted my foot in the water to cross, before remembering that I was wearing the footpod. I thought that it was water resistant, but at that moment couldn’t recall exactly, and, being too late plowed ahead through the refreshingly cold, clear river that reached my mid-thigh. (Ducks Disease – curse of the Seagoons).

It was a relief to see two familiar faces manning the aid station at the other side, Narrelle and Diane, spouses (pl spice?) of two Canberra running identities. I stopped and drank two full cups of water, and then continued on, wondering if the footpod would still work, and how the feet would respond to such a drenching with around 6kms to run.

The pod was fine, and although I found it a little heavy going picking up my sodden shoes and socks with each step on the not-so-welcome uphill stretch, the anticipated blisters did not eventuate. It was a slow old k. though – my 5 minute pace had been maintained pretty well until then, however this ascent with wet shoes took nearly twice as long.

Despite coming across a small group of 4WDs driving on the track, the rest of the run was fairly straight forward, despite the small climb up ‘Ma’ and ‘Pa’, two hillocks after Vanity’s. Here I could see two runners in front of me, walking sections of the hills, and although I didn’t catch them straight away I was to further on. Another river crossing and checkpoint near the finish was far easier, and not even ankle deep. Nearing the end, Cool Runner Phibes came powering past, with a smile on his face and in his voice, cheering me (Go Flash) and a nearby runner (Come on Kez) as his flashed past. There was the welcome sight of Black Mountain Tower and the hills of Canberra spread out before me, and then the roadway ensuring that the finish was just around the corner.

Avoiding 4WD’s and Sunday Motorcyclists tearing up the road, I felt fresh enough to put on a burst, and ‘sprint’ (relative term!) to the finish. Love trail running, love these sorts of distances!

CJ had finished well in front of me, over 4 minutes, and a collection of finishers were cooling off in the cold clear water of the river, using it as a convenient ice bath in the warm conditions. I changed out of my wet shoes, and joined them, tentatively sticking a toe in and then standing in knee deep water chatting to others for a very social bathing ceremony! I think that the Japenese, turks and ancient Romans had it right!

Bulls Head Challenge Part 1

2005-10-23T20:56:00.000+10:00

Bulls Head Challenge Elevation
Originally uploaded by FlashDuck.

Where do I start?

At the last moment, Bob decided to do the Vets Cycling race this morning, and we drove down to the Cotter together with the (road) bike in the car. He then used the track pump and rode up the McDonald Range as a warm-up for the race start at Uriarra Homestead.

Disappointingly, I had missed the start of the Brindabella Classic at 7:00am who were going to have a hard day at the office with the long uphill haul to the Bulls Head turnaround. I collected my number and looked around for people to carpool with up to the start, described as a 40 minute drive. I found the Perfect Running Buddy helping to put up a marquee, and managed to squeeze in to his pre-arranged lift. I searched in vain for Cool Runners, but found that I was too late.

There was a small collection of vehicles at the halfway changeover point, and I saw a smattering of blue and yellow caps and tops, including Bernie G. After a wander off to investigate the bushland on the other side of the yellow poles marking the road above the snowline, I met a lovely little snake slithering across my shoe. Waiting around at the start, Prue thought that we were having a covert secret meeting, talking in code (CJ, PRB, Friar) and all wearing elongated communication devices on our wrists. As the only non-CR and non-garmin wearing runner in the group she really didn’t know what she had stumbled upon!

A few minutes past 9:00am we were off, a mixed lot of all ages and perceived abilities, some wearing camelbacks and fuel belts, whilst others were travelling light. With a downhill start the PRB and I started towards the back and saw most of those in front start fast and increase their lead in front of us. With 27.7kms to go, I didn’t mind settling in near the back for the start. The trail wound its way through thick forest on a well groomed fire trail. A fairly steep climb followed a sharp descent within the first few kilometres, and then evened out to a level track until around 6 kilometres were run.

Before this though, the lead bicycle with it’s maliot-jeuned rider past us close to the start, and then was followed by a collection of many of the usual suspects for this kind of event; David Baldwin, Emma Murray, Trevor Jacobs, Jackie Fairweather and Cool Runner Phibes. I had predicted to Bob that morning a 2:30 finish if all went well, and these guys were nearly at the top in around 2 hours. Wow!!!

As the field had spread out, it was just possible to make out a few familiar figures on the track winding magically around the forest in hairpin bends; CJ, Hugh in his bright red and blue ‘map’ orienteering top, fellow Team Moore member Geoff B. I felt good on the downhills, but once again struggled on the inclines.

A warning at the start of a fallen tree had passed without notice – until it appeared a massive trunk with a litter of branches and twigs. Once under the trunk, the littered debris continued for another couple of metres. I imagined that this would have been very difficult after 20+ kilometres of climbing.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

2005-10-22T17:59:00.000+10:00

Sometimes I get things sooo wrong!

Posted this on the CoolRunning Messageboards this morning:

Add me in to help with the car pool.
The weather this morning is great! Likely to continue tomorrow! Although the forecast still says 'clearing shower', I predict good conditions.

It did start out as a beautiful day. I got lots done in the morning, and headed down to the pool for a swim, a little later than I would have liked, but for a swim nevertheless. I decided to eschew the fins this time when I started, as I found it such hard going without on Wednesday. My first 100m was OK, and I kept going for (hopefully) 1,000m to ease me back into it. While I felt surprisingly comfortable in the water (very good), my times are as slow as they ever have been (bad), and I need to do a lot more swimming if I intend to do any tri’s, such as the Canberra Half Ironman on 11 December and the Long Course Triathlon Champs on 12 February 2006.

In the interests of full disclosure, when I say slow, my 100m splits were as follows:

2:36 2:36 Whee! Flying Start!
2:51 5:27 settling in . . .
2:52 8:19 and in,
2:52 11:11 stroke, breathe
2:58 14:09 slowing now. . . .
3:02 17:09 getting slower
3:03 20:14 and slower
3:00 23:14
3:11 26:26 no excuses!
2:53 29:19 Sprint Finish last 50m!

Enjoyed it immensely though. Bulls Head Challenge tomorrow may mean that the pool is out until Monday. Note to self: Must swim.

Leaving the pool, the sky was dangerously dark despite it nearing midday. The heavens opened up and there was flash flooding obscuring everything in its wake.

Vanity’s Crossing is going to be fun as it is (maybe knee height?), and I don’t mind at all running in the rain (it’s not too cold). It’s the logistics of hanging around at the beginning and the end when it’s wet that I hate.

Que Sera Sera.

Crimes of Passion

2005-10-22T17:22:00.000+10:00

It’s been a disjointed patch this week ~ still no sign of a haircut on the horizon, and it is really starting to annoy me!

Thursday started with good intentions (This is the Road to Hell – Chris Rhea), and Bob and I went out to Fyshwick to buy the multifunction printer/scanner/fax/coffee maker that I had attempted to get on Wednesday afternoon, arriving as they locked the doors. Not a problem – I had contacted Aki to let her know that I would be tied up for an hour or whatever and hoped to catch up that afternoon. More Good Intentions.

As the designated techno-spouse, I then began to connect it and get it operational. Whilst not inherently difficult, it did mean establishing a wireless network and getting everyone to talk to each other. This took quite a bit of time! In a pique of frustration, I ended up turning off the automatic fax reception until I work out what I am doing wrong with that connection to prevent annoying data screeching when answering the voice line.

Installing the full version of the software on my computer took something like 8 hours!? Although I downloaded the diet version onto Bob’s in ten minutes or so. Needless to say, no playtime with Aki and no opportunity to get to the first night of the Vets Track at the AIS.

Anyway, now we can print, scan, fax and order coffee from wherever in the network our laptops may be. Unfortunately, it doesn’t do the coffee.

Friday is Customs Day, and as I said to Aki it is like brushing one’s teeth. Bob cycled down there, and put the bike in the car. Although Floriade is over, the protective fences are still up and we are locked out of our usual course. With the toilets now 1km away, I squeezed unobtrusively through the fence to the nearby block a 100m away. On my return, Nigel C sought to do the same, although unable to fit, a delegation gathered to remove the chain over the top of the rails. After this had happened, with Nigel out of sight, a highly officious STAR security guard marched up, shouting at we rag tag mob of runners about “breaking the law” and being “illegal”. Although we explained about Nigel going to the toilet, this resulted in him barking more Sergeant Major like grunts and locking the hole shut with locks designed to keep those inside interred indefinitely. With a sinister smirk on his face, he marched away to lay pray for his quarry.

On Nigel’s return, we gathered to instruct him to climb on the sub-station box over the top. No problem. We are shameless in our joint conduct of such a heinous crime. Sir!

Customs was good – slow legs meant a slow time despite feeling good, but I have no complaints. (5k in 24:14).

I've been tagged!

2005-10-20T09:59:00.000+10:00

23rd Post from 8 February 2005:

Worn out by the Supermarket . I don't like to shop. But I like to run, cycle and now swim, and that is what I did today . . . starting with a 6k jog in the bush this morning to check that my new shoes were OK. I then went to the pool and did 3k again, however this time I did the warm up with fins (and clearing my goggles) over 500m, with a steady 2.5k freestyle to finish. Worked on my arms and breathing to give me confidence for the Sri Chimnoy Lake Swim on Sunday. Late afternoon saw me out on the road bike for a whirl, although the wind was high and gusty at the time, which made the going hard. Something of a tailwind on the return journey which was welcome. Planned 'quick' trip to the supermarket lasted over an hour and enabled me to stock up on many of those essentials we had run short of. I hate shopping (bike shops, ship chandler's, camping supplies etc excepted). Even if I didn't enjoy it, I felt virtuous and satisfied with what I had achieved. Mad rush home, change into running gear and off to the ACT Cross Country Summer Series 5k. There was a huge turnout ~ 50 women and 86 men ~ and I was pleasantly surprised that I came in at 22:38 and a negative split after such a big day. Especially the shopping.

Gosh, did I do all that?

Here are the rules:

1. Go into your archives.
2. Find your 23rd post.
3. Find the fifth sentence (or the closest one to it)
4. Post the text of your sentence in your blog along with these rules.
5. Tag five other people

I tag Stephen Lacey; MonnyChick; Travis; Travy and Matty.

The genesis of an emerging triathlete . . .

2005-10-19T22:13:00.000+10:00

I dropped Bob off this morning, and then headed straight to the pool for my first swim of the season. Not that I think that swimming in a temperature controlled indoor pool has a season, but, heck I’m slack!

I arrived at a near perfect time ~ the schoolies and office workers were finishing off their early morning training and the pool was calm and light. Conscious of my being an alien in this environment, I started off with a few minutes in the hot spa to warm up eternally frigid limbs. I found a slow lane to myself, and eased myself into it with a lap (100m) with a kickboard and fins. Fun! Easy! Ditched the kickboard and swam with fins for another fun 400m. Sure, the woman in the next slow lane was faster using a combination of breaststroke and freestyle, but I was genuinely surprised that I could do it so easily. I didn’t have to remember to breathe.

Then, off with the fins for the real test. Whether it was the miles in my legs, or just general lack of swimming fitness (and skill!), it seemed that I was going backwards in the water for a long, long time once I didn’t have the benefit of my pink-and-yellow duck feet (see image above). Eventually I was 50m away and only had to turn around to come back! Whew! I kept going, and despite only having to follow the thin black line, I eventually settled into it, and was beginning to enjoy the darn thing! Probably fortunately, I ensured that I stopped after 500m free, not wanted to reproduce Bob’s too-much-swimming-too-soon shoulder injury, and conscious of number of things I needed to do this morning.

I dried off and warmed up in the steam room briefly, stretching and revelling in the warmth.

The first time is always the hardest, a little swimming, often.

Spoke to Aki on returning home and arranged to go down to the BBQ Stakes with her, even though I had to have a check-up of my orthoses with my podiatrist beforehand. It all went well, and although Aki was unable to run, instead race walking over the undulating 6km course. Once again I started very slowly, without any stiffness in my legs, however they were slower than they should have been. It was once again a matter of (not) warming up though – a massive negative split of 16:32 / 14:04 indicates that!

We then sought to hire some kayaks on the lake, although the dull conditions meant that the boat hire kiosk was closed. We moved onto Plan B, and began Aki’s first lesson on learning to ride a bike. We made substantial progress and I think that a new Triathlete is in the making! Watch out Loretta Harrop!!

A good day, feel very healthy, and only a short run and veggie swim, but heading in the right direction.

A Magic Aranda Ramble

2005-10-18T18:30:00.000+10:00

Bob was home today, and we spent the morning organising the bed order in the light industrial area of Fyshwick. Sometimes things can go right, and the bed base I had wanted was 25% off. Bob was happy with my decision. I was keen on a latex mattress having grown up with one. They are very expensive; however I had narrowed it down to three options at stores other than where the divan base was to be ordered from. As there were (genuine!) discounts from the prices I had been quoted the previous week, I did check out their mattresses and found what I wanted at a third off the price! Still an expensive little package, but this divan will get plenty of use in my study here and I am now quite excited. Hopefully delivery will be (well) before Christmas!

Bob is acting as chauffeur tomorrow, driving his (part time) boss down to the rest of the electorate at Jervis Bay for a full 12-hour day of meetings. We decided to ‘celebrate’ (any excuse) with a coffee at The Deck. Along Parkes Way we saw an echidna (we are sure that it’s our echidna) on the narrow nature strip with a high retaining wall on the other side. We were both very concerned, so rushed to the café to get a telephone book and rang the ACT Rangers to report it so he may be rescued. This went well, so we were able to relax over a coffee on a gorgeous looking, although still breezy day. We disagreed about the direction the wind was coming from, so I pulled out the trusty Compass function on Nokia 5140. Cool!!

I had to wait a couple of hours after we got home before I could go for a run and start taking the Imodium. When I did get out, the wind had died down and it was a magical, magical run. Sometimes it is wonderful just to follow one’s nose and (warning: big lie coming) ignore the time (I did have GPS and foot pod technology). Once again, fairly slow to begin with, not made easier by my decision to not follow any standard route and wind up and down single track.

A stunning run, a little over an hour and it felt soooo good!

Not enough time

2005-10-17T21:30:00.000+10:00

I can’t believe how good I feel ~ no hint of stiffness or soreness, the legs were no doubt a bit tired on Sunday, but hey! What the heck, they’re like that for no apparent reason at other times?!

Bit of a moderate night sweat – I’m interested in ?vat_man’s experience of night sweats after hard efforts (he’s talking 100’s of k’s, but still relevant methinks). Tasks around the home took up much of the morning, and then the cricket (was meant to) start . . . Although I had mislaid my radio and spent rather too long looking for it, I headed off on the F600 for a long overdue cycle. It was the last day Bob was filling in the office for this week-long stint, so I asked him where he was planning to run today. If I could meet up with him, great, but I wasn’t going to plan my day around it.

I threw his digital camera in the handlebar bag as I left, (wish I knew what the cricket score was though!), and rugged up with leg warmers and a lightweight long sleeve jacket. Less than a kilometre from home, I saw a wonderful young echidna on the side of the bike path . . . he was quite dark and looked very lively. I was screaming downhill at the time, and it took me a while to stop and rest the bike up against a rail, take the camera out and trot up the path in search of him. He had gone to ground, or maybe I didn’t look far enough up the path.

The rest of the cycle down the Bindubi bike path and along the lakeside from Black Mtn Peninsula to Acton was uneventful, except that I was so cold that I could only think about turning around and warming up riding uphill! There was a stiff breeze, causing serious waves (about 8” high, but rolling, real waves nevertheless) to slap against the western shore of the beachlet between Acton and the NMA. I saw Nigel C just past here and remembered that it is his birthday on Wednesday. Must remember to acknowledge it at Customs on Friday.

Straining against the headwind near the Commonwealth Bridge underpass, 3 roadies rode past me in the other direction, the last one yelling “Hi Carolyne” as they rode past. Just ahead was the familiar figure of Bob and his choppy running style. I pulled the camera out, but the strong wind meant that we were sodden from the spray of the Captain Cook Memorial Jet which should have been turned off today! It was drenching, and riding alongside Bob on the gravel / mud I ended up looking like a legitimate MTB rider with mud caking the rear of the bike and my conspicuous yellow leg warmers.

It was lovely chatting to Bob as he ran around the Lake, although as he was nearing the Merchant Seaman’s Memorial I saw something under a tree ahead. I thought it looked like another echidna, but figured that this was just after this mornings close encounter. A possum? A large squirrel did cross my mind (I was so excited when I first saw squirrels in Washington DC when I first ran. Within an hour, “bloody squirrels” was more the sentiment). I rode over, and dropped my bike, grabbing the camera on the way. It was an echidna, lighter in colour than my morning friend, but stuck out in the middle of Commonwealth Park on thick lawn, not at all suitable for digging in. I took a couple of shots, and he kept following me, pecking at the yellow toe of my cycling shoe. An aggressive nesting starling kept buzzing him and I as we were under it’s tree, but the friendly echidna just waddled off across the grass, swinging it’s ample backside from one side to another with an amazing swagger. Bob had interrupted his run to look too, and he had never seen one in such a central location before.
Canberra, you’ve got to love it!

Resuming our run / ride across Kings Avenue Bridge, and then Bob showed me a gravel trail around the base of (New) Parliament House, seemingly unused. Back to work for him over Commonwealth Avenue Bridge and over Parkes Way at Acton. I continued back home via the bike paths through the inner north and Bruce. It had warmed a little, but not enough to do anything more than unzip the long sleeve top open ‘a bit’.

All up, a very cruisey 29kms over nearly 2 hours. Bob and I were able to catch up on lots of news and the plans of each over the next few weeks; we are looking forward to our (!joint) ‘trip to the country’ to do the Wagga Tri-ants Duathlon at the end of the month together. After snapping on the TV when I got home to see a replay (was it earlier in the day? No! Yet another wicket falling (Boucher), making it 8fa. Bob rang me as soon as he got out of the shower and logged on to Cricinfo to tell me the score in case I was still cycling. As he told me, Vittori went for a duck, and the World XI weren’t long for this match.

Dressed to go for a run, but started cooking up some bits and pieces in the fridge for Bob and didn’t get out.

It was very good though; so here’s a rough summary.

Sweated Silverbeet in a little olive oil in an enamel cast iron skillet
Threw in some slivers of (peeled) chorizo
Crumbled reduced fat feta cheese on top in a light layer
Zapped sliced potatoes in the microwave for two minutes.
Beat a couple of eggs with loads of fresh ground black pepper
Poured eggs over chard/feta mixture
Lay sliced potato over the top in a layer
Pressed down with an egg slice to ensure egg mixture through
Finished off in a moderately high oven and/or under the grill until golden.

It was a ‘what was on hand’ kind of thing, so if I could have been bothered I would have tossed in garlic and onion first. Bob gave it the thumbs up by scoffing most of it at once!

What run?

2005-10-16T17:49:00.000+10:00

As if more evidence was needed, I felt fabulous after a solid nights sleep, and woke feeling full of beans. I decided to join Bob down at the Weston Creek Fun Run in the morning, a low key 6km event held by the popular Weston Creek Athletics Club. I would have liked to have cycled down as Bob did, however we had an important social engagement at 11:30 that morning and was far from confident about how I would be cycling home.

I arrived at the same time as Friar who lives locally and would have pre-entered. With no sign of Bob, I entered and paid for both of us and collected our numbers. There was a fairly small turnout, although Emma Murray was conspicuous as the No. 1 seed. Bob tore up on his bike (just) before the start, and I gave him his number and made my way to the start 300m down the bike path. After a briefing, we were underway on time and my planned 5:30 recovery pace seemed very optimistic. Nothing hurt, but the legs were heavy and tired. No problem, there were lots of casual looking joggers around and I was there to stretch out my legs.

The first kilometre split was very slow, but I was far from lonely and kept plodding along. I picked up as I went along, my muscles warming up and felt better and the ‘dead leg’ syndrome disappeared. Near the half way mark, a massive netball tournament was on, and the path was lined with dozens of sport skirted 7-9 year old girls cheering and raising their hands for High-5’s. Even here, one of them yelled ‘Go Carolyne’! Who, I can’t imagine! The suffering young brothers of some girls were also there to will the runners along.

Near an underpass was the [warning: cliché ahead] evergreen Rick H, Weston Creek stalwart and life member. He stated that the rise to the underpass was the last climb now, which I found hard to believe, however coming from Rick it carried some weight. He was wrong, and a steady, if gentle climb to the finish told in a slow split.

To illustrate my run, my splits were:

5:48 Uphill
5:46 11:34 Uphill
5:11 16:45 Downhill
4:45 21:30 Downhill
4:45 26:15 Downhill
5:47 32:02 Uphill

What was especially interesting, was that the footpod of the Polar S625x recorded exactly 6.00 kilometres on what would be an anally correct course.

Great birthday bash in the afternoon for Connie which took up the rest of the day. Fitzroy Falls? Great day, but run? What run?

Fitzroy Falls from 35km Drink Station

2005-10-15T23:40:00.000+10:00

After my diluted coke (“would you like ice with that?”!) I felt absolutely marvellous. I knew that I wasn’t going to go fast, but I felt really comfortable just plodding along. I maintained a steady pace, despite it being predominately uphill. The last 5kms were marked, with big smiley faces to indicate that there were ‘Only 4kms to go!’ Along here I saw a vision ahead walking, and thought that it may have been a freshened up PRB. It was, and he took off his warm top and jogged alongside me the few kilometres to the finish. This was great and although there must’ve been a thin constant trickle of runners coming through, the few sightseers at the lookout and walking along the track were very surprised to see us.

Coming up to the finish was an amazing, almost tear producing experience. Despite rolling on to something like 4 ½ hours, a huge contingent of blue and yellow garbed Cool Runners cheering and waving pom poms. The cry of ‘Go FlashDuck” led me to form my arms into wings and attempt to flap my way to the finish! I must have just hit the lap button and not stopped my watch so I am unsure of my time. I think that I was about 49th overall, from (maybe 80) starters. Normally my goal is to finish in the top 50% of the field, however given that in no sense was I racing I was pleased. Four and a half hours was the dream, so I can’t complain!

Loved talking to others at the finish, especially Expozay and Eagle, although the many glasses of water I had at the end started to tell on me and despite loving the conversation I started to feel very green again and inelegantly brought it up alongside my car. They politely excused themselves and I sat in the car for a while and pulled off my wet clothes and put on some dry shorts and top.

I grabbed a FortiJuice and joined the Cool Runners sitting on the grass under the Marquee with a great picnic spread of goodies from Lucky Legs. I made a few faux pas’ while on the Cool running blanket, not recognising runners with their clothes on! I could present Lucky Legs with her Canberra Times Cap for being part of the winning team, and in my attempt to get her Polar S625x up and running to its full potential, seemed to cement my image as a fully fledged gadget girl!

We waited until the last runner finished, something over the 5 and ½ hour cut-off, and then for the sweepers. Soon after, the presentations were underway. It got very cold all of a sudden, and I threw on the first warm top I had at hand. The sip of FortiJuice didn’t agree with me, and I was feeling green again. Jo Blake smashed the course record in winning, and presentations including spectacular bouquets of waratahs, as well as baskets of local wine and confectionary. I picked up third woman (how, I don’t know!) and another bottle of wine and Waratah as first woman over 40. Fantastic!

In saying our goodbyes I couldn’t keep the FortiJuice down any longer and found an appropriate patch of garden. The PRB kindly carried my booty to the car, and ensured that I was safely on my way. It was a good drive back to Canberra, and was delighted to see Bob when I returned.

What a great course, and a great day! Fully recommend it and hope to be back for the great country hospitality next year!!

Fitzroy Falls Fire Trail Marathon - Part II

2005-10-15T22:00:00.000+10:00

Very pleasant accommodation at the Sturt Craft Centre on Friday night, peaceful and relaxing with a strong sense of having returned to a National Fitness Camp! It was the smell – vaulted timber lined ceilings and a tiled floor, I couldn’t put my finger on it, either the recently used fireplace or the unflued gas heater?

I didn’t get around to another FortiJuice, so I barely cracked 600 calories in total on Friday. I felt good, but this was to tell later in the race!

I slept well until about 1:00am when I awoke and the brain got buzzing. Listened to a crackling NewsRadio relaying the BBC and Deutsche Welle overnight, and took an excursion out to the home-on-wheels to collect my trusty latex pillow. Fell asleep sometime after 3:00am, and woke with the first rays of light around 4:40am. Having set my alarm for 5:00am, I knew that there was no chance of me getting to sleep again, so bounced into the shower instead.

I had time to explore ‘the other side of the tracks’ for 10 minutes before McDonald’s opened at 6:00am for coffee. Settled on both a short and long black. Drove over Range Road again straight through to Fitzroy Falls, where a large sign indicating ‘Marathon Here →’ marked the spot. Some large marquees dotted the area in front of the Twin Falls cottages marked the race site, and a large paddock was set aside for parking with a few portaloos.

It was still fresh outside, so I relaxed with a FortiJuice and a gel. I saw the PRB’s car arrive and wandered over to say hello. A Canberra couple, Mario and Alice yelled their greetings en route rushing to the Portaloo. A trickle of people arriving soon turned into a deluge ~ many sporting the familiar blue and yellow. On the start line I had hugs and kisses from the Eagle and Lucky Legs. It is wonderful to be able to catch up with some of these special people although living distantly.

We were off on time, with a field of about 80 chatting and carefully winding their way down the start of the track. Once I had removed my long pants about 15 minutes before the start, I began to get very cold. Although I knew that I would warm up quickly, I find it very hard to do anything when cold, so started wearing a CR Tri Top and arm warmers. Soon after the start I found myself alongside Expozay and our foot fall was eerily in step. The field started to thin out fairly quickly and the trail winding up and down through the bush was visible as a long line. Tim was in view not too far away early on, but gradually disappeared from view.

Expozay and I talked easily, about her plans for the Sydney Spring Cycle with Amjam next weekend. Amjam is running so well at the moment that was also the subject of much discussion! I fell right back on any of the hills, and as we turned off the main track where there was a gentle uphill I fell right back and we lost touch from then on. It was nice while it lasted, although too short with about 5.7kms covered! At around 9kms a long downhill section littered with loose rocks began, and I was instantly in my element again with my stride opening and my body relaxing in the drop. I passed Expozay just before the 10km mark, and reminded her that she will catch me soon on the next climb or flat section. This proved to be the case.
The track wound its way around the bush, mainly on fire trails with some slightly rough and narrow sections on the way. Just part the first creek crossing (not sock wetting), a special first aid truck was set up, and this was to be repeated at the other potentially dangerous sections where sharp drops led to a rocky creek. Another example of the excellent planning and organisation of the event.

In this section leading up to the half way point I met CR RB who had completed Melbourne Marathon last week and (rather modestly I was to discover) described himself as a “4 hour marathoner”. It is always good to meet other Cool Runners and invariably it confirms what a nice bunch they are!

At the 20km drink station I saw a small bunch of 3 or 4 runners slowing down to stop and refill their drinks, and check out the jelly beans. An enthusiastic female volunteer went into overdrive when she saw me and cried out excitedly that I was second female. This was a shock, although I knew that Expozay would quickly catch up and that the second half was mainly uphill. I reminded myself what I was there for (a long training run in the bush with drinks provided) and just kept on enjoying myself. It turned out that is was downhill until about 24km, and there was a consistent climb until after 28km. As I had said to others at the start, I will run comfortably in the first half (or downhill stretch) and expect a huge positive split as the climb up to the finish begins.

There was a large, well stocked drink and snack stop close to 25km ~ a group of half a dozen women with ample supplies of mini mars bars, jelly beans, watermelon and other fruit. I think one of the volunteers took a rather unflattering photo of me here: I had long since rolled the arm warmers down to wrists and stripped the Tri Top down around my waist where it was sodden.

Along this stretch Expozay flew past me looking very fresh and fast. We wished each other well as she sped off into the distance. I was concerned when I saw Blue Dog heading towards me, and yelled to ask if he was OK. Silly me, as not too long after I saw other runners also coming back along the track on an obvious out-and-back section. Cheery calls of support from Eagle, who was looking very comfortable, and others on their way back provided a great fillip. The track was very steep and rocky in one area, making it difficult on the loose rocks especially with runners on their return leg. Not long after, Expozay cheered me along as she returned, with the advice that ‘the turnaround was just around the corner, really’! She was right as it turned out, and I had a GU and got rid of the packet at the water available there.

Fewer people around me now, and I’m sure that I was well back in the field. It was fairly straight forward back up to the 25km / 30km refreshment station where we now turned right. I was needing to take two cups of water now, was hot and threw some on my head. I drew level with another runner who was walking ahead and David introduced himself to me. We jogged together and talked for quite a while – it was his second ever marathon, and second time at Fitzroy Falls. Just as he asked me if I had stopped to walk, I was overcome by an overwhelming nausea and spotty vision. I stopped then and there, to prevent an unsocial upchuck, and then started to walk. David kindly walked with me for a while, and I dug out my other GU and gobbled it down.

Still green around the gills, David bid me farewell and jogged away. The trail was easy to follow thankfully as my eyesight was in its splotchy black spot mode. My brain must have cleared up somewhat as I was calculating if I (had to) keep walking if I would beat the sweeper. The GU must have kicked in, and settled down the excess water sloshing around and I started to jog again. It seemed as though I was walking forever, but in reality it was about 5 ½ minutes when analysed on my watch. Despite a steady uphill climb and nearing 34kms I felt fabulous and picked up my second wind. The next well stocked drink station had the usual selection of fruit and also cans of red coke. I knew that it was better to be prudent here rather than run through as I usually did, and when I found out that there was no flat coke, opted for a cup or two mixed with water. I had caught up to David here and left him behind, not to see him again. I hope that he did OK.

(Still to be continued)

Fitzroy Falls Report - Part 1

2005-10-15T18:47:00.000+10:00

A Magnificent Day!! If they could fit another 2 letters on the excellent signs, they could read:
quote:

CRFFFTM -> -> -> ->

as the sea of blue and yellow caps dominated the event. The organisation was exceptional - it gave the impression that there were more Rural Fire Service Volunteers than runners for much of the event. They were friendly, supportive and manned specialised first aid stations near each potentially dangerous creek crossing, as well as well stocked drink stations around every 2 1/2kms.

Expozay had a blinder, with a fast finishing second half on no breakfast. Blue Dog was running really well when I saw him, close to the leader, as was the Eagle, backing up from Melbourne last week. Lots of 'Go Coolrunner' support from other runners, and I shared the trail with RB for a little while, running easily and also backing up from Melbourne. Coming up to the finish, a sea of blue and yellow pom-poms and tops and caps gave everyone the most rousing welcome as they came into view and crossed the line.

Love Cool Running! As Plu says, "Always a Cool Runner First".

A BBQ lunch burger and drink was also included in the entry fee. Afterwards, as Lucky Legs explained, we all feasted under a Blue and Yellow Striped Marquee, with a spread of Bacon Muffins, fast disappearing Banana Bread, and Carrot and Poppy Seed Cakes. It was wonderful!! Presentations were done immediately upon the last runners finishing, and here the organisers excelled themselves again: Bouquets of spectacular Waratahs for the first 3 finishes in each event and substantial baskets of local wine and homemade produce! Wow! Age group winners were also presented with wine and a gift wrapped Waratah.

Congratulations to everyone who came, especially The Owl and Jen Runs who travelled down for Cheer Squad duties, and Lucky Legs who must have spent all week baking such a wonderful spread. Jo Blake blitzed the field and did a spectacular 2:51 and course PB. Kelvin, Bernie G and many other CR's made for a fantastic day in the Southern Highlands!

I will post a personal report later - this is copied from the CR Message Board.

Canberra->Sydney->Mittagong

2005-10-15T17:13:00.000+10:00

2005 10 14 Canberra->Sydney->Mittagong

(Still!) Felt good when I awoke, and packed the car with enough for a year-long trip around Australia.  Always take more for a weekend away than an overseas trip, and with no planning and unsure of the weather at Fitzroy Falls on Saturday, I thought that a kitchen sink might come in useful.  It was just about perfect driving conditions, even cloud cover where I was heading, pleasant temperature, everything.  Even the other road users were very good and sensible ~ tootling along in the left hand lane in a line with evenly set cruise controls (until the Sydney fringe hoons anyway).  It was a great bonus to be able to listen to the Super Test for the first session, after gaining a new perspective on the Sting album released last year, in the way that it is so easy to do when alone and able to adjust the sound surrounding you with impunity.

Arrived at the hospital over two hours early, but after the mix-up yesterday thought that I would check out the location and confirm that I was ‘on the list’.  There were a few things I was happy to do (so too much time was better than barely enough) as it was at Prince of Wales, near my old stomping ground at UNSW.  I was somewhat taken aback to be told to wait, as they didn’t know what order the procedures would be undertaken.  Heightened thoughts of being able to get away early were reinforced when I was called in almost immediately, leaving a full waiting room of pre-existing patients.  The paperwork was quick and straightforward, and I changed in to the funky (!huh) hospital gown.  Then I waited.

And waited.

And waited.

There was a silver lining though, as a tv hung from one corner with the 2nd session of the Cricket Test on.  Kerry O’Keefe on ABC was annoying me with his facile giggling, so the more measured (and hard to hear!) TV commentary was a good change.  I developed a crick in my neck from the acute angle I was holding it up and to the right, so spent the time since drinks standing up to be more ergonomic.  With hideous timing, I was called in as the decision on Michael ‘Pup’ Clarke’s dismissal was pending.  He had been playing some lovely looking shots and looked set for a good innings.

Thankfully, the Assistant Surgeon who first attended to me had been paying a great deal of attention to the TV when he passed, so I could find out the result, and we had a long chat about the series and the Australian team.  Eventually the senior surgeon arrived and we were underway.  The results need to be analysed and compared to previous results of the same procedure undertaken in 1998 and 1994, but he sounded rather more encouraging than two months ago.

A quick chat to Bob, and I hit the road.  Bloody Sydney traffic!  I was in no hurry (the same cannot be said of many of the other drivers), but it was stop-start on the M5 (and its feeders) from Randwick to near the Casula turnoff.  I know its Friday afternoon, but boy I’m glad I don’t have to cop this all the time anymore!

Threw some gear in the room at Mittagong when I arrived, and then did a bit of exploring, first on foot around the village (poetic licence, but it’s more of a village now than when the Hume was the main Sydney-Melbourne route), and up Mt Gibraltar coming back to Mittagong along the eastern side where substantial properties dotted the landscape on large land holdings.

I then drove along the infamous ‘Range Road’ and some of Macquarie Pass used as Lucky Legs long training run.  Not surprisingly, it climbed the mountain range behind Mittagong and wound it’s way through a soft, green landscape, lush with recent rains and dotted with recently milked dairy cattle looking as though they had stepped out of a cheese advertisement.  The most spectacular sun set in the west, encompassing a full third of the sky with a giant orange basketball.  I couldn’t see any of the marks that Lucky Legs had placed on the roadway, or the water tank used for refills, but was impressed with the view and the hilly and undulating nature of the route she traverses.  Turning into Macquarie Pass, the vegetation thickened into eucalypt forest with good shade.  This was great running territory, and cried out  to be cycled over soon.  The road surface was sealed and in very good condition, and there was no traffic.

I came back through East Kangaloon and skirted the edge of the Wingecarribee Reservoir.  As an afterthought, I popped into the Carpark of McDonalds, chocka block with every Southern Highland teenager on an early Friday night, to check if they had WiFi access.  They did, and I shall probably pop by at 6:00am to collect an espresso coffee.  I may try to connect while I am there, but it depends on how I am going for time, so may wait until I get home.

Time has slipped away.  I’ll finish this cup of broth and crack open another FortiJuice.  Lay out my gear for tomorrow, hope that it’s not drizzling (as predicted when I last checked) and get to bed early.

Topsy Turvy Day

2005-10-13T20:26:00.000+10:00

I like to make a decision and know where I stand. I’m flexible, and more than willing to play it by ear, but in some things certainty is best.

It has been a long protracted process for me to ‘do the right thing’ about an appointment make by the specialist (surgeon) for some tests when I saw him two months ago. It was clear that he didn’t think that it would shed any further light on a solution to the problem, and following my disappointment after the last session I couldn’t see any point in going through the whole process of expectation all over again just to be told, yet again, that there was nothing they could do.

I wanted to run this via my long suffering GP first, so that he was kept in the loop, and I wasn’t seen to be cavalier about it all. His basketball injury and protracted break from work delayed things to begin with, and then the specialist didn’t respond to his calls (despite being the best man at his brothers wedding).

Waiting Waiting Waiting.

With the tests due the afternoon before Fitzroy Falls, I was keen to get the nod early to make plans for travel and so on. After nearly two weeks with still no joy, I bit the executive decision bullet and decided not to go through with the appointment and cancelled it first thing this morning.

Relief!

Waiting for the rooms to open meant I needed to drive to the MICE (Mature Individuals Cycling Easily) ride, even though it was only about 3km (downhill!) from home. It was a very gentle re-introduction for me to get back in the saddle, and ride with a bunch. Stops to regroup and wait for punctures to be fixed meant that the 48km was completed at a very pedestrian overall pace.

I didn’t hang around for a ‘cuppa’ (they are a cuppa generation) as there was much to do. When I got home, I was on a roll! Accommodation at Mittagong confirmed; availability to travel with the PRB mostly sorted out (I had been non-committal due to tests); I was feeling dangerously well. A bit of telephone tag, and a plot to get Aki to the CR Cheer Squad at Fitzroy.

Ran this by Bob in his office before my appointment; found that Aki would be doing assignments on the weekend; then the bombshell. GP rang (late afternoon!); contrite, but having spoken to the surgeon this morning (after my cancellation!) and the strong recommendation was to go through with it tomorrow.

Aaaaggghh.

I had an hour or so to consider the issue – after a heap of frustrating phone calls, it was confirmed; my appointment is at 2:30 tomorrow. Things to reorganise (particularly my brain space). It takes time to get on to the PRB (he eventually rings me). But that’s done. Gotta Go, need to pack and make sure I have maps, FortiJuice etc.

Ciao Ciao.

What a Difference a Day Makes

2005-10-12T21:24:00.000+10:00

2005 10 12 What a Difference a Day Makes . . .
♫♪ What a difference a day makes / twenty four, little hours ♫♪♪
(with more of a nod to the Pet Shop Boys than Doris Day!)

Yesterday, well, yesterday I got up, had a bath and was so exhausted that I couldn’t finish dressing and ended back in bed for most of the day.  Painful arms and hands, with especially tender elbows.

Today, slept heaps and groggy when I awoke, but felt really good after that.  Got underway to do more bed research, run the BBQ Stakes if I had a chance, and get back into life.  It (life that is) has been very successful!  Made a few appointments that I had needed to cancel over the crook period (de-fur: tomorrow afternoon; Dentist: 3rd November; Orthothes check-up: Next Wednesday).  No luck with the fluffy duck hair-do though, so I’ll just act like some sweet egg based cocktail.

Bob had lost his keys riding to work this morning (Don’t Panic Lucy), so I spent quite a bit of time searching for them without success.  He retraced his steps (or wheel revolutions) at lunchtime and found them on a construction site median strip where they had bounced out.  I started off my correct handicap at the Stakes (although the number of fast, fast runners heading off before me were a bit of a concern) figuring that I may as well be re handicapped properly.  There was one other runner off my handicap of 12:30 and I was interested that for the first couple of hundred metres there wasn’t much difference between us, despite my bad run of late.  He predictably put a lot of  time between us whenever there was a slight incline (and a far greater gap as the hills got steeper!), but I was feeling incredibly fresh and light of legs.  My breathing was a bit noisy, but none of the wheezing or difficulty in breathing I had been having.

Woo Hoo!

I did a speed session at Woden library on my way through and arbitrarily borrowed a stack of books from the 796.42 shelf (running) and a couple picked up at 915.9 (Travel – Asia).  Partly motivation for me, and mainly to assist me embark upon the ‘training’ of Aki.  A Four Hour Marathon in Four Months was selected on the basis of marathon-type training for half marathon success.  I look forward to checking them out.

When trawling the web (I found a start-up budget airline with flights from Bangkok to Hanoi for US$25) I chanced across the ING Thailand Temple Run which (just happens to be on the Sunday after we arrive on we arrive (very late) on the Wednesday night.  We weren’t planning on staying around Bangkok and were just using it as a staging post for our travel into Laos and Vietnam.  There is a half marathon being held as well, which goes past 10 temples on each way of the out-and-back course.  Interesting prospect.  Must see what there is to do in the area for a start.  We plan on travelling very light, so we would post our race shoes back.  Bob thinks of all sorts of minutiae when planning such things.

I’ve lost my train of thought, so will post this instead of just sitting looking at it.

A quiet, but good day

2005-10-10T21:00:00.000+10:00

Bob and I were tired yesterday, although it wasn’t the world’s most demanding event we were both running on the back of pretty ordinary weeks. I slept deeply, with a fascinating lucid dream of a (small) crocodile coming into our home, holding on to my leg with its jaws, and not letting go. Day 2 saw me direct it to ‘Sit’ and ‘Stay’ which it gladly did, befriending and protecting the cat and being a very well behaved house pet (although being brought home dead – it was a dream after all!).

I must be tired, because I’m not even tempted to give it the most cursory analysis; I’m disappointed we haven’t got a housetrained crocodile ‘pup’ to protect us when I woke up.

Bob made another appointment for us both to see our GP as the test results were in. I was keen to know if I had to travel up to Sydney for tests on Friday (or more correctly be granted approval to cancel). We both went, and there is a bit of follow-up for us both, although unfortunately the surgeon hadn’t been contactable, so that is still hanging. I filled Bob in on the results of my bed hunting expedition on Saturday over a cup of cheap ($2.90) but rather bitter coffee (long black, no sugar) at Black Pepper. é muscia next door was shut on Monday. Their coffee was over the standard Canberra price ($3.50 a cup) but was well made and smooth, with none of the burnt aftertaste of that I had today.

We wound our way home, where I climbed into bed for yet another snooze. I missed having a swim with Just Tri It as I was so tired which is very disappointing, especially as the school holidays have now finished and it would have been very pleasant. I have now read on her blog that she is due to have all her wisdom teeth out so maybe I’ll be able to help out later in the week.

Woke too late to do any exercise, despite it being a very pleasant day. Bob is helping out in the electorate office for the rest of the week, so I’ll have a bit more freedom with my time. I need to test out my diminished fitness and see what happens. Tomorrow!

Learning Something about Myself

2005-10-09T22:30:00.000+10:00

Everything was feeling pretty good when I woke up this morning, my hands and arms were moving much more freely, and I felt confident that I had ‘turned the corner’. Both Bob and I were confident about heading down to Orroral Valley in the afternoon for a gentle trot, even though the weather was not looking at all promising. The predicted ‘clearing showers’ hadn’t seemed to have eventuated, which was an advantage. The localised weather 70-odd kilometres away at the base of the mountain range in a spectacular bush valley could be anything though!

It was spitting with shards of icy rain when we got away – and I think Bob would have been happy to have retreated inside before we got to the end of the grove. Driving the long, scenic route through the Cotter and past Tidbinbilla, Bob punctuated each curve in the road or rise with puffing noises or ‘pedal pedal pedal’ to aurally illustrate his experiences at Vets Cycling Club Races over this stretch of rural road.

The drive through the Naas Valley was gorgeous; the recent rain had turned the surface layer a bright, albeit temporary, green which was almost alien in these parts. Up through Fitz’ Hill (renowned among cyclists in these parts and the focus of the long running annual Fitz' Challenge), we arrived in the valley not long before the 2:00pm start time. Despite miserable conditions; a strong wind that seemed to come straight off the snow, there was a large turnout including some running luminaries such as Jackie Fairweather and Emma Murray.

Rad was looking his usual fit and enthusiastic self, a good foil for Friar with whom he carpooled. Friar had spent the morning helping to set up and run the Mental Health Fun run/Walk at Black Mtn Peninsula that morning, and was a vision before the start in his trusty blue tracksuit with over over-sized boardshorts over the top. Unfortunately no camera was available!

A quick visit to the hi-tech compost-a-loo and we lined up on the start line. In the conditions I settled on wearing my CR tri-top with ‘arm tights’, and a Netti cycling skull cap under a R4YL cap. I wouldn’t normally wear a cap, especially with the wind blowing a gale, but it was cold I the lycra thing on my noggin looked really bad on it’s own!

I wasn’t feeling so enthusiastic now. There were no race numbers (very few had pre-entered so it hadn’t seemed necessary) and as the 8km, 20km and 30km events started together I was starting to think that maybe the 8kms was a good idea as hypothermia set in. Peter the PRB and I huddled together at the start although conversation was nigh impossible with the wind howling. John gave a pre-race briefing but it was impossible to hear in the conditions. Soon enough, we were off.

The first section was on the only part of sealed road which led to the car park. It then led over a boulder alongside a locked gate to the trail proper . . . and the great views and real slog started. We were possibly around the middle of the field at this early stage, however the gentlest of inclines saw me really struggling to breath easily and move forward. My legs were, understandably, dead although on reflection not as bad as during the Sri Chinmoy 10k on Monday. I was trying to run fast then (hah!), and had no intention of during anything of the sort here. The PRB commented with concern at how I had begun to wheeze again, and I was excelling my ‘Gross spitting when running’ habit with the count reaching an all-time PB.

I tried to extol the PRB to go on ahead as we were passed by an increasing procession of runner after runner until we were right back at the end. I felt shocking! The wind blew hard, and showers of rain past over proving the worth of the stiff brim of the R4YL cap to protect from the rain. The fire trail was undulating at best, certainly not hilly at this point, but I considered turning around and pulling out. Around 3k was the turnoff for the 8km course, I slowed here and seriously thought about it but continued on. Just after this, the real hills began. It was just a long, slow slog which I remembered from last year, although on that occasion I was passing others, while today it was a matter of moving forward, ever so slowly, and being passed and watching those now in front disappear from view.

At the top of the rise (around 1,200m elevation) was a water station. How can one thank those who volunteer for these duties sufficiently? While running (or more accurately, just moving) the wind and the rain was OK. Standing, alone at the peak for hours at end whilst dribs and drabs of spitting, huffing, sniffing runners came through deserves much more than thanks!

I took a sip, although couldn’t stomach more, and swished it around my mouth and spat the rest out. A long, essentially downhill section started here, which was especially welcome. My legs were still heavy, but starting to loosen up. Unfortunately, (warning Aki, too much information follows) the ol’ gastrocolonic reflex was sparked into action by the sip of water. Increasing pain led to a sudden diversion into the bushes besides the track requiring some bush bashing and a sharp descent. I felt far more comfortable, and before I caught up with the PRB who had jogged slowly on ahead of me, the sharp drops at the side trail gave way to far friendlier terrain. Doh!

I remembered that the trail turned off on the right hand side somewhere along here, so I was constantly keeping an eye out for the turn-off. It was around the 10k mark, and also coincided with me feeling sooo much better. The long sweeping downhill stretches certainly helped, but my breathing was easier and legs moved of their own accord for the first time. It certainly made me think that just doing 10k at Fitzroy Falls next week (if I make it to the starting line). Built for distance, not speed.

I loved this section, and wished it could go on forever. I kept an eye out for the PRB behind me, and we hurdled a few rivulets in the gullies along the way. Coming up to the next turnoff, a drink station manned by the evergreen Hugh Moore, the PRB and I shared our water with a fellow Team Moore member, Geoff Barker who was moving along well. The trail changed here to a kind of single track in open forest. An elaborate network of speedbumps constructed of hesian and chicken wire, interspaced with logs extended widthways across the track reinforced the sense that this stretch was used for MTB riding.

A couple of runners appeared in the distance, a relief after having been passed by so many in the early kilometres. I recalled that once the open woodland cleared, we were to follow a rough mown section through paddocks littered with kangaroos and frequently boggy ground. I felt great now! The PRB had been his usual accommodating self, restricting himself to painfully slow running to keep me company, seeming to go backwards at times. Now, the slow pace and a long session in a Cotter Run yesterday was starting to tell and he was ever so slightly slowing his pace behind mine. There was a magnificent sight as five runners stretched out across a lush green paddock, dotted with ‘roos and a thickly forested mountain as the backdrop. A perfect arc of a rainbow stretched across the scene, seemingly pointing to the finish at the end of the rainbow.

Around some of the boggy ground I drew even with Anna T running in front of me and we chatted briefly. She had dynamic looking legs! Great shape, great musculature, great tan! I dropped back to keep the PRB in touch and the (alleged) 15km drink station and turn-around came into view. As attractive as the 30km event looked on paper, the turnaround was closer to the 16½ km point, and the hills one needed to do in reverse weren’t encouraging, especially in these conditions.

Too late I realised that it was John Demitriou manning the windswept drink station, before we were off across the paddocks once more, and then on a short climb on a trail which led to the first section of the track we had started along. The PRB had largely run out of juice here, so close to the finish, the Carpark was in sight in the afternoon light in the valley and I was raring to go. I jogged a bit from one side of the fire trail to the other until I looked at my watch and estimated that there would be a bit less than a k to the finish. I vaguely remembered that last year I did 1 hour 53 minutes, and contrary to all expectations over the first 10kms it seemed just possible to equal this if I put on the finishing burst of my life.

Guiltily I bid PPRB farewell and started to run with an energy that surprised me! Onto the final stretch on the sealed road, a headwind struck which required every bit of energy to make any forward momentum! A few friendly, fast faces in vehicles leaving the site waved as I went past, teeth gritted and arm warmers raised for warmth.

Bob was at the finish, and although I missed my finishing time expect that it was roughly equivalent to last years which I have since confirmed as 1:53:55. This was unimaginable an hour earlier when I was doing it really tough. Thank heavens I preserved and continued for the 20k route so that I could hit my stride. The PRB finished soon afterwards, although Bob had whisked me away to put on warm and dry clothes, shoes, and socks. Over the last 7kms or so, I was aware of the fairly unfamiliar feeling of blisters developing as a result of wet socks.

Bob had rescued the PRB to sit in our car as all his warm gear was locked in someone else’s vehicle who was yet to finish and it was freezing. I would have loved to have caught up with people, however after seeing Rad sprint to the finish, leading the Customs Joggers triumvirate of Rad, Friar and NB home, Bob and I retreated to move the car closer to the finish line, and sit there listening to the ODI on the radio. My lips started to turn blue again and neither of us could feel our fingertips. Somewhat reluctantly, we headed off early, just as Mick Corlis had finished the 30k, for the long drive back home to thaw out and scrub the mud off.

To my delight, Aki rang almost as soon as we walked in the door to check how I went and if I survived the outing. Gotta love the CR sense of camaraderie and care that is so evident. It was wonderful talking to her, unfortunately Bob had been rapidly filling my bath which was soon to overflow! I planned to call back, but both Bob and I found ourselves rather exhausted, and I couldn’t even watch more than a few overs of the World XI batting before retreating to bed.

The Verdict?
Loved the event (once I finished). It was good to see how I was once I got warmed up and had done at least 10k. So much of running is mental, although I’m sure that my early malaise was largely physical. It was a good learning experience, although I am worried about the PRB’s health. He had a headache to begin with, and wasn’t well at all at the finish if he would admit it to himself. He is losing too much muscle mass, too fast and certainly bonked before the finish. I hope that he takes care!

I'm being sensible, really I am!

2005-10-08T21:34:00.000+10:00

2005 10 08 I’m being sensible (really, I am).

Long sleep last night, and not too bad this morning.  The cold weather today didn’t agree with me though, and I was about to lie down with Lucy for a noontide nap with Miss Lucy when Bob suggested we head out for a caffé.  I wasn’t too sure, but got him to help me get dressed (my arms don’t like stretching up into sleeves) and we tried out “é musica”, the Italian caffé next to CJ and Strewth’s favourite Black Pepper Café near the shores of Lake Ginninderra.

The stark interior of hard brown floors was not great for acoustics, especially as Bob opted to sit next to the espresso machine.  However with the wind howling outside, it was cosy sitting with the uncommonly good view of the Lake through the window.  Whilst others were opting for good looking salads and pasta (all less than $10), we stuck to coffee and welcome glasses of ice water.  Worth investigating further!

The ‘outing’ did me good, and instead of climbing back into bed as I had planned, I decided to do some research for buying a new bed for my study.  I never imagined that such an exercise would be sooo confusing.  If I wanted to fork out over four or five thousand bucks for a single bed it would be no problemo.    My head is spinning, but I have a better understanding of it now.

While Bob and I caffeinated, we took a notebook and discussed options for the next few days; surprisingly he was not too dismissive of me running tomorrow.  We considered the Mental Health Fun Run (5k from Black Mtn Peninsula) in the morning as alternative to the Orroral Valley runs being conducted by John Harding of the Australian Mtn Running Association.    Although I had been tossing up between the 30km and 20km events, now the 8km looks promising.  Bob is doing inside office work next week so the long drive down through Namadgi and getting in the bush would probably be a good idea.

As long as I kept warm I wasn’t too bad today.  I’m sure that I’ll get better – I’m looking forward to Fitzroy Falls next weekend . . . of I’m not up to either event, then I’ll definitely be there to cheer Cool Runners along and help with cucumber sandwiches.  I’m still waiting to get the word from Dr John about having the tests in Sydney on Friday next week.  If I have to, I’ll go, and drive down to the Southern Highlands that night and then travel to Fitzroy Falls the next day.

So . . . things are looking good, and I’m really excited about the prospect of the slow six foot track with Lucky Legs and co.!

I will take things easily, really I will.  More anti-inflammatories, hot baths, and gentle (!) exercise.

I feel better now

2005-10-08T11:00:00.000+10:00

A little anyway!

Took lots of anti-inflammatories yesterday evening and when I woke overnight. I found that resting in the bath with my hands and arms submerged helped the pain heaps . . . I didn't have the energy to get down to the pool and sit in the Spa/Steamroom yesterday, but will do so whenever I get the chance. Thank heavens school holidays are due to finish!

Thanks everyone for the fantastic words of encouragement; it really helps and makes Plan C(ii) more palatable. Just in case this doesn't clear up as quickly as it started and I am able to resume normal running, I'd like to stay connected as a CR mobile CheerSquad and mentor. I'm sure that it won't come to that, however this is unnervingly like how I was in 1993 when it hit with a vengeance. Sure, there have been a lot of remissions and relapses along the way, but I should try to not get too despondent and toss out all running related info along the way again.

How I feel . . .

2005-10-07T10:00:00.000+10:00

It hurts.

Lots of sleep.

Boring Blog

2005-10-05T21:09:00.000+10:00

2005-10-05
I had a long awaited appointment for a haircut today – and although I can pass muster when it is just washed, it is also much needed.  I felt shocking when I awoke though, and after struggling out of bed and stripping the night-sweat-again sheets, could only manage to throw down a doona on the bed and a sheet on top before crawling back in bed and drifting in and out of consciousness again.

My joints are very painful once more, along with groin and underarm pain from swollen glands and extensive lethargy.  With some reluctance, I stumbled down to the pathologists for my bloods to be drawn before lunchtime, and returned to bed.  Bob cancelled my hair cut (it could be months before another appointment is available, so be warned of the fluffy headed duck) and I spent most of the day in a dopey haze, listening to the One Day Super Series on ABC Radio.

So ~ nothing much to report today, and probably for the next few days.  My hands are particularly bad, and I find that I can’t pick up a cup or kettle.  My typing skills are slowed to a couple of fingers, so I won’t continue.  I will improve but I’ll just have to ride it out!

Don't Run Away From Jogging

2005-10-05T09:12:00.000+10:00

An article from the Washington Post: Don't Run Away From Jogging

One reason that I think that my hands and arms are much worse that my (historically) bad knees at the moment!

Clever Little Nephew!

2005-10-04T18:03:00.000+10:00

Team finishes on top of UCI rankings.

3 October 2005: The final rankings for the UCI Continental circuit have been announced, with MG XPower - Bigpond winning the teams rankings for the Oceania circuit, and Rob McLachlan taking out the individual title.

MG XPower - BigPond finished the season on 105 points, well clear of Italy's Ceramica Panaria - Navigare, the team of Australian Olympic Gold Medalists Graham Brown and Brett Lancaster. After taking the lead in the rankings after the Australian Open Road Championships in January, Rob McLachlan maintained his position to finish on 85 points, well clear of his nearest rivals. MG XPower - BigPond will now start next week's Herald Sun Tour as the reigning Oceania Continental Circuit Champion Team with the Oceania rankings individual winner, Rob McLachlan, as team captain.

Doctor and Sleep

2005-10-04T17:15:00.000+10:00

2005 10 04
Bob is extremely tired and even relatively little exercise is taking a lot out of him.  Although I had an appointment with our very good, although very difficult to see GP on Friday, Bob rang his rooms early this morning to make an appointment to check us both out.  We managed to get a couple of cancellations at 10:30am this morning.

Despite finding it really hard going (in the 10k) yesterday (the most difficult event I have ever done!), I wasn’t too bad when I woke up this morning, although as Bob noted I did have a full 10 hours sleep, on top of a nana nap yesterday afternoon.  Not too long after, I was overcome by terrible nausea once again that stopped me dead in my tracks, requiring absolute stillness.  Any movement was horrible.  Unlike Saturday, I didn’t vomit, although I did have my trusty red bucket close at hand.

Bob can’t understand that I felt too crook to go to the doctor, but as I wanted his advice and consideration of me cancelling the next round of tests in Sydney, finding it difficult to think and communicate wasn’t ideal.  Pathology tests repeated monthly since June were consistently showing abnormalities also more tests were called for; however this was nothing new, so I couldn’t see the point of making my way through every item on the Medicare Schedule and waste community resources further.

Dr John, a 6’4” recreational jogger hobbled out with his leg is a huge brace.  He had a very nasty and significant tear of his Achilles from playing basketball with his 6’7” son!  Ouch!!!  Having returned from Vietnam with his family not long before Bob travelled there, he instantly asked a number of highly pertinent questions.  Bob has a form for tests, which will include comprehensive iron studies and full blood count.

Onto my swollen medical file, we tried to distil the most important factors first.  Dr John hadn’t heard from the Sydney specialist, and I think understood where I was coming from about cancelling the tests.  I mentioned how depressed I was after the last appointment with no prospect of a solution.

He didn’t voice an opinion, but checked the details to ring the specialist and talk to him directly.  He then reviewed the path tests and looked through the cavernous file for previous results.  Somewhat reluctantly, he ordered yet more, although I can’t see the point.

All this took quite a deal of time, and by the time we had finished there was no need for me to negotiate with Bob about getting to the Mt Ainslie Run up in time today; there was no time.  Instead, we went home, had lunch (broth and FortiJuice for me, Bread Rolls for Bob), and I fell into bed for another long sleep.

I’m still tired, and still have the appointment on Friday booked.  If I have a chance when I see him then, I will certainly ask if there is anything else I can do for the arthritis that has flared up in my arms and hands.  It will dissipate in time, but it’s a real nuisance and rather painful.

A slow and hard 10k

2005-10-03T21:14:00.000+10:00

Monday, 3 October

After yesterdays surprisingly fresh run at the Jogalong, I was unsure at how I would go at the Sri Chimnoy 10k today. I had been uncommonly tired after Newcastle, probably the result of a number of factors, including a very poor diet and lots of work in the days preceding the race. I recovered from the marathon instantly, so I was surprised at the need for so much recovery.

Since I recommenced being able to exercise eighteen months ago, I have only given one 10k race a good shot – the Red Cross run at Homebush in July 2004 when I was rapt to be under 50 minutes (49:59 to be precise!) after struggling at 7 minute pace for distances of four and 5 kilometres when I had started 2 or 3 months earlier. Although there have been a few Sri Chimnoy, two Canberra Times, and a Terry Fox runs in that time, I have either been crook or backing up from some bigger, tiring events on the previous day.

I thought it was time I gave 45 minutes a proper shake-up on the way to looking at replacing my 43 minute PB. Today (and I suspect the immediate future) is not going to be the day for that.

There was an enormous turn out today, traditional after the flyers are put in the bags at the Canberra Times Fun Run. The weather was spectacular; an intense blue in the sky and on the lake, and a verdant, un-Australian green hue to the grass and trees that belonged to Ireland, not an inland sheep paddock. With most people turning up at the last minute to register, the race was underway a few minutes late, although it was great to see a large chunk of Customs Joggers regulars there, especially allrounder, Jodie, Aki, Nick, Yumiko, Kym and Friar. Jackie (Gallagher) Fairweather was there warming up to provide truly elite competition, while many were there to walk or jog the 4kms for the first time, one only six years old.

It was very warm at the start, and I linked up with Peter the PRB; we did a short warm-up before the customary moments silence to collect our thoughts at the beginning of the race. Having reminded all of those around me ‘Not to go out too fast’, I took off at 4:30 pace as planned. Even before the Hospital Hill underpass I wanted to stop; while there was no pain or muscle soreness in my legs moving them was a concerted effort with every foot strike. I reminded myself that I always started slowly until I warmed up and attempted to keep going. Through the underpass and at Hospital Hill (only a pimple, really) I was passed my hoards as my struggle to move my legs forward and upward resulted in an 8 minute pace turnover. The PRB commented on my ‘musical’ breathing which was uncharacteristically laboured and noisy. I spitted and splattered at frequent intervals without much relief.

Allrounder passed us early on and then as I crawled up the hill. I was still able to open up my stride a bit on the downhill run and caught up with her then; however this was painfully short lived as she turned on the decades of athleticism and flowed past me. The PRB was kindly staying at my side despite my poor, slow form. It certainly helped enormously, although I feel guilty about dragging his times down so much once more. From Black Mountain Peninsula I was really wondering what I was doing . . . I had to make a decision whether to divert via the toilets there and turn around and leave it a 5k event.

I kept going.

Wombatface (Ewen) passed us here and I croaked out a noise that was meant to be encouraging. Nearing the four km marker, I saw the teal Blackmore's running singlet of allrounder disappearing into the distance, along with wombat. At an inopportune moment I spluttered to the PRB that ‘I would catch up with him’ (a noble gesture, although one that was ludicrously optimistic) and made a quick Exit, Stage Left and diverted some distance away to a large, secluded clump of bushes. Making my way back on to the bike path, I saw the PRB pretending to jog a few metres ahead, and just as I joined him, a great vortex acted like a mini tornado as Jackie Fairweather streaked past on her return leg. I estimated that she had run nearly 6kms in a little over 21 minutes, and found this difficult to comprehend.

A long way behind was the first guy, and none of the men looked nearly as comfortable!

At the turn around, I grabbed a cup of water and tossed some over my head. It was hot. I still struggled on the slightest rise, and found breathing really difficult. I couldn’t see the point of slowing down even further – I was already at a pedestrian pace, and just wanted to finish. Besides, if I tried really hard I might be able to draw level with allrounder! Apart from the ‘musical’ sound of my wheezing, it was a quiet run with the PRB back to the 8km drink station. My enthusiasm for cheerful ‘come on Fred, looking good!’ greeting had not diminished, but just getting to the finish line was taking everything I had. More water in and over at 8k, and a concerted effort to finish. My watch beeping at every 4 ½ minutes reminded me of how close I was to 45 minutes ~ although unfortunately this was at the internationally recognised 8.987 km mark!

Over hospital hill, I knew that it was just downhill and a long flat home straight to go. The downhill through the underpass was my only chance to make up ground on allrounder. I tried to remind myself to relax, and just let myself roll and flow down. I certainly sped up ~ I peaked at nearly 20 kph or 3:00 pace! I seemed to make up ground, but was I imagining it, or did allrounder pick up the pace too? Nearing the line, I knew I had no hope, and faded a bit in acknowledgement. I asked PRB to pick up my number for me (there weren’t any, as Prachar enters every number into a laptop as they cross the line) as I had to dash to the toilets once more with great urgency.

I was knackered! Jodie had a satisfying jog on the 4km course, and her injured ankle didn’t cause any grief. Aki rescued a distressed child who had walked off course, and her ITB was ‘happy’. Bob felt like I was, and couldn’t spark today, and struggled through in a similarly disappointing 42:47, feeling shocking. Jackie Fairweather won outright in around 36½ minutes, not fast for her, but it transpired that she had done a hard 30k on Sunday and ran the 10kms there from home that morning.

The PRB, Aki and I wandered over to the Deck of a humanising coffee – a perfect setting on a perfect day, it was surprisingly easy to get a table with a cast of thousands milling around Floriade merely metres away on the other side of a fence. Aki joined Bob at our place for a sandwich and a pleasant day was had by all.

Exciting Plans

2005-10-02T18:44:00.000+10:00

Uncharacteristically for us, Bob and I bit the bullet (or more accurately hit the "Book Now" button), and booked flights for a full six months hence to Bangkok and return. Travel is usually done with relatively little fore-planning and then we tend to just follow our noses. The later will no doubt still be the case, however having committed ourselves to the flights gives us something concrete to dream about and research around.

Although the flights are to and from Bangkok, this is to staging post to enter Laos and Vietnam after the great success of Bob's cycling journey in Northern Vietnam in June and July this year. The timing is delayed so much because I am thoroughly looking forward to the six foot track in early March. The six foot is certainly my main focus and goal for the future. However, once this is completed on Saturday we will leave Canberra on the following Tuesday, 14 March and return 5 weeks later. We will travel very light, with just day-packs and an open mind, hoping to explore much of the North by train (Thailand and Vietnam), boat and foot.

On completion of the booking, I lassoed Bob to confirm me availability to travel for the "slow Cool Runners partial 6 ft track" thread on the last weekend in November. Accompanying Cool Running Royalty up there, it is sure to be a wonderful weekend!

Supermum to Jogalong

2005-10-02T13:57:00.000+10:00

This morning was the monthly Women & Girls Jogalong at Weston Park. The Jogalong was my first 'race' as an adult, and I recall that I came up with every excuse in the book about why I shouldn't go (it was December 1990 and was raining). The 6km course in the Stromlo Forest included a couple of good climbs and quite a few puddles, but I remember how exalted I felt when I finished in 28:01 on an accurately measured course. I was hooked! I was also much younger, healthier and faster . . . and over the last 15 years I have only racked up about 15 runs, however it remains a sentimental favourite, especially to introduce non-runners to the sight of around 200 women of all ages and shapes getting out there and giving it a go.

Today Aki and I introduced 'Supermum' to exercise at the Jogalong, and, with any luck, may have encouraged a convert! It is such a social event, there is hardly any need to run, and this is clearly evidenced by the number of blokes who turn up to help. I caught up with so many people, running or walking at all didn't seem important . . . until I saw allrounder in her bright Cool Running cap. She hadn't been to the jogalong before, and she is running so well at the moment (about a minute and a half faster than me over the Customs 5k on Friday) I suggested that she leave off the handicap group that I was down for. At that stage I still didn't know that I was going to run. Purporting not to know the course (and as it turned out, neither did I as it had been altered), we both left off group 40 for the 6km course.

The die had been cast.

I had to remind myself that allrounder always goes off too fast, and let her sprint ahead of me over the first 100m or so. To my chagrin, I still had the Garmin on custom page set mode, so did not start it correctly at the beginning. On the gradual downhill sections I edged slightly ahead of her, however was not confident of holding on. She has a fantastic spirit and such depth of fitness that I expected her to overtake me any minute. My "gross and disgusting habit" of continual spitting continued, my mouth was foul despite repeated tooth-brushing this morning, so I was checking around me frequently to ensure that I did spit on anyone!

The altered course (to avoid wet sections I believe) was obviously short by the time we got to the turnaround for the MiniJog (1km for teeny weeny kids) or 3km Walk/Jog. At our turnaround I saw allrounder close behind me. I had ay been overtaken by a couple of fast gals who started from a later group, including fellow Team Moore runner 'Speedy' Katie. I was breathing hard, although still able to chat to many of those along the way. I didn't want allrounder to catch me, and slowed down terribly on the smallest of inclines. The finishing time of 25:53 is virtually meaningless; it was by consensus a bit under the internationally recognised distance of 5.5kms. Very frustrating.

Afterwards, presentations and barrel draws (nothing again, although Aki did miss out on a voucher from the Runners Shop by one place. Next time!) and the Perfect Running Buddy, Aki, Supermum and J retreated to the cafe in the gardens for a social coffee. It was full of cyclists, gardeners and others enjoying the glorious spring weather, and the wait for coffee was lengthy, but it was nice to have further social element. We drove home via the Embassy Belt in adjoining Yarralumla, making it a long mornings' outing for a 3km walk, but very enjoyable. The PRB is also doing the 10k tomorrow morning, and it will be great to run with him. Unfortunately, I don't think I will be able to give 45minutes a shake tomorrow, although my fitness is on the way back, the legs are slower than I would like.

Maps and kilometre markers coming soon!

Stiff and Sore Joints

2005-10-01T21:50:00.000+10:00

An unexpected day, not exciting in a conventional sense, although I am feeling very chipper now as I am feeling refreshed and healthy. I woke quite early feeling good, although was not at all tempted to join Bob on his ride with the Tridents on the Old Federal Hwy Time Trial Course.

It was a wonderful surprise to see the new banner that Hannah had prepared for me. I spent a

little bit of time changing my blog to it’s new clean style. I put on my swimming costume and prepared to go down to the pool earlyish before it was overrun with too many children. With the gear in the car (still too cold for me to cycle wet) I suddenly got extremely nauseous and started vomiting. No idea why, just out of the blue.

While still green around the gills, Bob rang from a noisy Tilley's Devine Cafe where a few had stopped for breakfast. I wasn’t swimming anytime soon, so looking fine for the pool, but super daggy, I drove down with a bucket next to me just in case.

Danealle, Jude and Pete were there with Bob – Bob characteristically eating Pete’s breakfast!

I swung by the pool on the way back, but the overflow car park was overflowing . . . I was not over optimistic about doing too many laps, my hands and fingers were really stiff and sore. My fingers stiffen up when I swim when I’m not relaxed anyway, so I thought that the Spa and Steamroom were more likely to get a workout. With the crowds everywhere, I merely filled up with petrol, cleaned the car, and bought another week or two supply of Imodium. Bob was knackered, and lay down for an afternoon snooze. Although just ‘keeping him company’ I slept for far longer and even though I had lost the day, felt so much better.

Tomorrow, I shall go along with friends to the Women and Girls Jogalong, for a social occasion rather than a race. Hopefully this good feeling will last and I can give the 10k on Monday a bit of a go.

An ode to Hannah

2005-09-30T23:45:00.000+10:00

This fresh, new, funky blogsite is courtesy of Hannah, a gorgeous, talented young graphic artist living in Brisbane. In this global village of the internet and Cool Running’s support and friendship, Hannah has been exceedingly generous of her time and talent in creating banners for fellow CR bloggers, with wit and relevance.

To review some of her great work, consider Lucky Legs or that of Recycled Runners.

WDC Photos

2005-09-30T17:24:00.000+10:00

Friday ramblings

2005-09-30T16:00:00.000+10:00

Super Mega Night Sweat: 3 Loads of washing, Big headache, Stiff neck.

It took me a long time to get going, and my early enthusiasm to move some of the grass/weeds I pulled out to the recycling compost area waned as I struggled to move myself upstairs to make a cup of decaf coffee. Fuelled by guilt, I did manage to haul two metal garbage bin loads out (the closest thing we have to a wheelbarrow), and pulled out some more weeds before exhausted and dizzy. Despite wearing gloves, my nails and hands were muddy, and as I got the second load of washing on I settled into a bath with a nailbrush to scrub and clean. I feel much better now ~ I hope that I will get the second load of washing hung out and another on before I leave to pick up Aki and drop Bob's shoes off for Customs.

Couldn't get the washing out before leaving (front loaders have restrictions), but really enjoyed seeing Aki at lunchtime. She looked cool in her street gear, and she held the watch and timed runners. With Floriade on, fine weather, and school holidays the area around Commonwealth Park was frantic. I missed my start of 13:15, and barely tied my shoelaces to go off 13:45. I went fairly hard, and my RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) was right up there, although I could barely hang on to 5 minute pace. No soreness or anything, just not firing. As I watched every runner pass me (Bob at 2kms, Simon (or "Legs" to allrounder) just before 4km. I could tell that I was much slower than I should have been, although was still fairly satisfied by the effort I put in (5k in 24:46). Great that Customs is on to get me out for a short hit out and remind that that I enjoy running and can get around a course without gut problems if I watch my diet and preparation.

Aki and I retired to The Deck for our usual (the waitstaff do know us well now!), and had a quick chat to Aki before popping into Bob's office to collect his running gear and some paperwork to save him riding home with it, and had a good chat to his boss who I hadn't caught up with for a while. Despite carrying 2 backpacks and another bag of gear, I decided to check out the Korean grocery again at the bus interchange, as I rarely get into Civic. The noodle collection was vast, and highly variable; while most had an appalling profile of fat and sodium content (up to 20g/100g or 45% fat!) there were a few with negligible or no fat or fibre. As part of my newly stated aim to include more food into my diet where I can instead of relying on FortiJuice and getting bored to bits, I'll keep an eye out and try what I can to see what works.

I also bought another Glace rouge d'haricot, or Red Bean Ice (confection on a stick). This is a great little treat for me, surprisingly stated to be free of fibre (I don't believe it, but I'll take it to be low-ish) and only a trace of fat. I love Red Beans, Lotus Seeds and other not-so-sweet Asian bean pastes so this is great. It is supplied as a cylinder on a cute wooden stick and I enjoyed it immensely.

My hands and upper body joints are very sore and stiff - typing is difficult and full of errors at the moment as the fingers are not obeying orders and hitting the keys I direct them too. Luckily my lower body is happily free of pain and it is only having a small effect on my running. Having been so slow today, I think that I shall do little running over the next few days to be as fresh as I can for the Sri Chimnoy 10k on Monday. Allrounder, Jodie and Friar from Customs will be there, and I had hoped to put in a good effort for the 10k after The Canberra Times two weeks ago, although I feel that I shall have to be satisfied with whatever I do at the moment.

Sleep is good

2005-09-29T21:00:00.000+10:00

Lots of things I could have done today, but instead I slept, bit my lip (literally, blood everywhere!) and didn't break anything.

Bob cycled to the office yesterday, however the steady rain meant that he caught the bus today; with a fresh batch of rye and grain bread rolls made (rolled in sunflower seeds) I didn't need to make a lunch run. The arthritic joints have flared up, especially in my hands, no doubt mostly due to a general inflammatory response of dummy spitting. My eyes are enjoying a break from contact lenses and Lucy the Wonder Cat is enjoying me lying around and nodding off, especially having been away for so long.

Cold today in Canberra, although like most of the east coast the forecast is for warmer weather over the next few days. I have been looking at banner alternatives for my blog since Hannah has been creating a few magic items for fellow Cool Runners. Unfortunately, my artistic skills end at food presentation and I can't do anything right. I don't want to ask her while she is so busy, but I might just have to swallow my 8/50 (the mark I got for art in Year 7) pride!

Customs Joggers tomorrow. Bob needs me to drop off some running shoes and his lunch tomorrow, so I will go! Time for more sleep now though.

Catchup Blogup

2005-09-29T10:15:00.000+10:00

Monday 26 to Wednesday 28 September

It was a fairly arduous drive back to Canberra from Newcastle; by the time we left it began to rain heavily, and in the gloom Bob misdirected me to follow the Pacific Hwy around Belmont instead of directly onto the Freeway.

More storms coming into Canberra complete with dramatic bolts of lightening brightening up the sky.  Heavens knows we needed the rain.  Lucy the wonder cat was surprised but pleased to see us home, and keen for us to go to bed and cuddle her as soon as possible.  We pulled the bikes and gear in from the car, and I prepared Bob a meal of Indian chickpeas, potatoes, spinach, and the traditional kangaroo.

The next morning the wheels started to fall off – there was possibly a lightening strike or power surge during the night, for Bob woke me to turn off my computer, or phone or whatever was beeping.  It turned out to be the household cordless phones.  My bedside stereo lost its presets and time, and that morning the Bose system upstairs turned on, but nobody was home.  A quick check of the cables failed to display anything.  Too tired to be productive, I turned it off at the PowerPoint and we attempted to survive on a tinny radio for our morning Radio National news hit.  Walking down the stairs to the lowest level to the bathroom, the central light failed to light.

I spent a fair bit of time trying to fix these, without success.  The light bulb seems to have fused into the socket.  I will need to move the components and sub woofer of the Bose to carefully check the system, and it’s the way I have set up the cables at the moment this is quite a task.  I will wait until I am feeling fully lert so that I don’t stuff it up further.  The microwave had a hissy fit and failed, however after fuming by itself in its cubby hole for a couple of hours, it came out with a guilty smile on its face and asked to be forgiven and have its time reset.

Spent an hour pulling out grass and weeds from the wet ground on Wednesday afternoon, and planting a couple of Callistemon in the bare garden that was ravaged by storms a year ago.  It started to rain heavily almost immediately.

My attempt at the Lake Ginninderra Handicap on Tuesday was not a raging success, having eaten over the weekend didn’t agree with me, and although I knew I was not in fast form and couldn’t stop yawning at the start line I thought that I may as well go off my correct handicap.  Not a good idea in retrospect; I started feeling fine, however after a few metres I slowed right down and was jogging at around six minute pace.  I considered turning around and helping with the finish – the legs felt OK, however my heart wasn’t in it and I felt really tired.  Plodded along fairly happily for the first k, then required an urgent toilet stop before the 2k mark.  This pattern continued for the next 4kms of the 7k course, as I knew that I was well and truly set well back at the rear and holding people up.  With one kilometre to go, my gut was in great pain and my slow jog turned into an uncomfortable limping walk.  Thems the breaks.  I did enjoy eating though!

Addis Ethiopian Cafe

2005-09-28T19:30:00.000+10:00

After the Sydney Marathon I developed a cold sore ~ a sure sign of being run down (appropriate term, isn't it?). Travelling and socialising took up so much time that I didn't run or train much in the week afterwards, and it took a full two weeks for the cold sore to heal.

In these days post Duathlon, I have another thing to contend with: not only are my glands enlarged and I am headachey, but the mistake I made in the days prior to the event in not having enough nutrition has come back to haunt me. I am starving, and feel that no matter how much I eat my hunger fails to be satiated. This is making it more difficult to resume my FortiJuice and clear fluid diet, although I know that continuing to have real food makes it almost impossible to run, or lead a socially acceptable lifestyle.

Being September, it is the birthday season, and coming on the back of birthdays of LuckyLegs (7 September), Minersrun (19 August), Jen_Runs, allrounder (22 September), Tesso (2 October) and The Owl (30 September) is Aki's (28 September - Today!).

Even without the ITB injury and enforced break from running, it had been a shocking week/day for her, with a sole seven days break from lectures filled with due assignments. We met for a quick lunch, and I surprised her with eating in front of her for the first time . . . I 'do' food extremely well . . . food, all aspects of it, is my passion and should have been my vocation. I get a thrill from the sensual shape of a pregnant eggplant; swoon at ripe, imperfect tomatoes and basil growing in the sun; dream of new combinations and melding of cuisines. I can also eat a lot, and at the moment, I can eat an awful lot.

We went to a local Ethiopian Cafe, and ordered two vegetarian dishes; one based on green beans and carrots; another ("Gomen") of spinach and potatoes; and a third beef-based. They were served with side dishes of rice and "Injera", an unleavened, rolled bread with a light pancake-like texture. We were instructed to unroll the Injera and place the food on top, roll it like a cigarette and pop it in our mouth. Although the basis of the food was the same as many dishes from the sub-continent, the spices used were quite different, and it was like a mix of (north) Indian and Moroccan with the Italian influence also evident. The Injera took a little getting used to - it was cold, pale had a spongy texture, and slightly sour taste, however this proved to be the perfect foil for the food.

I still had a persistent and disturbing headache, although made myself to go to the supermarket to buy food for Bob and Lucy (the wonder cat), so that he could eat some decent food tonight. I was exhausted, and think that I will have a few very quiet days to try and knock this on the head. It will also give me the chance to taper my food intake and resume full fluid service to run more comfortably!

To be continued . . .

2005-09-28T08:30:00.000+10:00

Time has just been flying, I can't believe that it's ~~Tuesday~~ Wednesday already!

When the results came through, I did fulfill the final two goals as well - the sad placing of 35th (out of 37 finishers) meant that I was neither last in my age group, nor last placed Australian.

I'm happy!

Bob and I managed to escape for a quick Thai meal at Mon's in Darby St on Saturday evening (!early) and I gobbled up stir fried octopus, a clear vegetable jungle curry and a larb (Thai salad) with lots of rice. Although Bob was uncharacteristically full, I dragged him across the road for gelati. I was still hungry.

The elite race on Sunday was exciting, however the high attrition rate and slow times were testament to the difficulty of the course. It was a modified version of the Age Group route, with a 2.5km run lap and an abbreviated 6 lap cycle course. Young Aussie Leon Griffin put up a valiant effort and was 2nd off the bike, although was run down on the final run leg.

Presentations were held that evening at the local Panthers Leagues Club, and although the auditorium was a good venue the need to sign in 1,000 guests, many of whom did not speak English nor understand the strange Australian licencing laws was not a wise move.

The final run

2005-09-24T23:10:00.000+10:00

To finish the epic of the WDC race, I rather enjoyed the 2nd run, whether only through comparison with how I felt on the cycle or not, I'm not sure! I crossed the line in about 3 hours 10 minutes, a full 25 minutes slower than in April! I felt fine at the end, would have loved a bit more of a run, and when I stopped to take off my chip, the sweat started pouring off. Even if this sounds a bit gross, it was a great relief after my failure to sweat and gooseflesh during the later 2/3rds of the event.

I walked past the medical tent en route to the recovery area for a drink, where there were no fewer than 35 competitors on drips ~ almost 5%! I tossed down lots of water, and was surprised to see so many people still milling around. I found out from a guy from Adelaide ("Wellsy") how Bob went; the Aussie's missed out on the top 3 positions in the M55 age group, but were tight for 4th, 5th and 6th, Bob hanging on to 5th place.

One thing I am sure about - I would have preferred to have run a marathon (make it 55) any day in preference!

I didn't want to shock my system with unaccustomed solids, even fruit, so grabbed my backpack from the compound and took it back to Team Australia Central Marquee to crack a FortiJuice. Then something slightly unnerving happened, chatting amicably with Jude one minute, after I had ingested some FortiJuice I became extremely dizzy, hot, vision blacked out, and so on. I stumbled into the marquee and sat down, then found a space on the grass to lie on. After the marathon an exaggerated version of this happened when I was sitting on a concrete block and swallowed my first bite of a Pria bar. On that occasion I dropped the bar and phone in my hands on the ground, blacked out and (according to Bob) was drained of colour.

After a bit of time, the Team Doctor checked to see if I wanted to lie on a massage table instead of the ground (I liked the ground) and he checked my blood pressure. (lowish). I recovered OK, but it seems as though after extended exertion I have some paradoxical hypotension induced by food. It's a shame - it would seem to make sense to have some calories after three hours of exercise . . . .

WDC - The Event

2005-09-24T18:49:00.000+10:00

WDC – the morning

I set the alarm for 4:45am; thankfully I didn’t have to negotiate with Rad about this (he planned to eat a light breakfast at 5:00am for his race start at 7:00am).  A slight night sweat had resulted in my hair looking like something between a sulphur crested cockatoo and Lee Lin Chin on a bad hair day, so I had a bath and washed my head into “down, girl” submission.  An annoying headache that persisted all yesterday localised over my right eye and temple was still present with some nausea.  Otherwise, I felt pretty good.

I had lain out the gear the night before, and I must admit that the Cannibal race uniforms this year looked pretty damn good!  Predominately blue, with yellow on the back of the torso (for cycling safety), and flashes of yellow down the flanks with “Australia” in green.  I dressed, eventually managed to get my contact lenses in the correct eyes to see, and popped down the hall to kiss Bob good morning and wish him luck.

Transition was a buzz with activity and nervous excitement.  I wondered what I was doing there, having cycled so infrequently in the last six months.  With Bob’s life consumed with the management task, I had a very lasae faire attitude to the event.  If I qualified, great, I may as well do with Bob up here.

Thus, my goals were very modest and realistic:  In descending order:

To enjoy myself;

To finish, hopefully in good enough condition to continue my training and events straight away;

Have reasonable (on a personal level) run legs; and wish list goals

Not finish last in the age group F40-44;

Not finish last among the Australians in the F40-44 age group.

These may seem bordering on the defeatist; however I am not competitive in the sport and in many ways my heart wasn’t in it.

Although I do not have results, I can report that I fulfilled the first three items!

Chatted to Mr Strewth in transition, and keeled over when I bent down to pump up my tyres.  Bob and a fellow Canberran who had racked her bike next to me took over.  Managed to score perhaps the cheapest caffe dopio (double short black) at an espresso van for $2 before the race (it was good, too) and ran into a former work colleague who was there to spectate.

There were 10 minutes between waves, and at 7:30am women 35-44 started.  I started near the back and started slowly.  One of those weird feelings came over me within the first 400m of the run – I felt like stopping.  I didn’t feel that comfortable and was actually going quite slowly.  This feeling was quite a shock . . . I hoped that I would run through it and warm up, although the head still hurt and the nausea wasn’t going away.  The new course went up over a gutter and then up a couple of stone steps before a U-Turn a few metres along before backtracking.  It was very difficult to tell where one was in the field as there were people from each of the previous four waves, some doing their second lap as well.  A straight sealed section then curved to the boundary fence of the transition area, and beyond that the first drink station.  There were no kilometre markers, but I first saw Rad here on his second lap and put my arm around his shoulder.  He was looking comfortable.

After the drink station, one mounted a kerb again, and ran along a bunting chute over sand, grass and a section of woodchips.  Runners were returning in a parallel chute along here also.  A set of wooden steps (16 of them!) led to the breakwater and quite a few others were walking up these already.  Thankfully, there was not a strong wind, so the run out along the 2 metre wide breakwater was not unpleasant and afforded spectacular views.  Another U-Turn near the end meant one got to see lots of athletes heading out and back.  I was more comfortable running now, although still did not feel too good.  I was quite hot and was pleased to unzip my ‘ironman singlet’ (a.k.a. a sleeveless tri top – good too!) right down.  This section of the run continued past the steps to a 270° turn down along paving stones and grass to the return bunting chute along grass and sand.  One lap nearly done.  The second lap was more comfortable for me to run, and I started to hit my straps and overtook a few of those who went out too fast.

I took water at each of the drink stations, two were set up which could be accessed in both directions.  Uncommonly for me, I took water four times each of two laps in a 10km run, sipping at least some, and maybe tossing some on the back of my head or swilling some in my mouth before expelling it on the grass.  There were few bikes around me on the rack when I returned, and although not speedy it when fairly smoothly.  I mounted the bike well and was pedalling quickly from the mount line, although I was overtaken almost immediately.  The long slog began, and I stayed in the saddle most of the time and didn’t push too hard.  With such a hilly and technical course it was actually difficult to find time to safely drink.  By the time I began the second lap I was feeling significantly crook; on the trial course in April I did a total time of 2:45.  I broke the course into 7 sections; three 5km run legs and four 10km cycle legs.  On the basis of my April result and my current running form, I aimed to try and maintain around 23:45 for each section.  I was marginally ahead at the end of the first run, getting through transition and pedalling before the watch beeped for the second time.  By the time the watch beeped to indicate the end of the 1st cycle lap I still had a few k’s to do, which included the new sections of three sharp U-turns and a couple of short climbs.

I had stopped perspiring, had goosebumps and was unable to keep water down.  I was a sick puppy. I threw up a few times, and started to dry retch.  I still stayed in the saddle most of the time, going pretty slowly.  At the U-turns I took the longest outside line as speedy guys (and gals) swung around close to the bollards.  I attempted to smile or look passable when the photographer on the hill coming out of Bar Beach aimed.  It was not sincere!  On the 3rd lap I eventually managed to get a half a packet of Gu down.  Within a quarter of an hour I was feeling considerably better, and picked up enough to marvel at the sight of the bikes winding up and down the road alongside the coast from the higher road near the fort.  It was a magnificent sight.  Another Gu on the 4th lap went down completely this time, and didn’t hurt.  Although the watch had indicated the planned end of the cycle at the 3rd lap, my final cycle leg was the fastest (and longest).

Still with head pain and nausea, I was delighted to get on the last 5km run leg.  I opted to remove my tri top at this stage and run in a crop top, however despite the warm weather I stayed perfectly, and too dry.  There were lots of people suffering on the run leg, and some young guys from the later waves flew past  at a blistering pace.  Although the 40k cycle took me an unbelievable 2 hours, I wasn’t feeling too bad.  More water, tossing plenty over me to evaporate as I wasn’t sweating.

WDC Course and Profile

2005-09-24T02:33:00.000+10:00

World Duathlon Champs (WDC) -1

2005-09-23T18:08:00.000+10:00

Friday, 23 September
Newcastle

Thanks to CJ for alerting me to the Blogger for Word toolbar.  In this mad, mad, mad, mad (you get the idea) environment of assisting to get Australia’s biggest national team ever ready for a multisport event, time for anything, let alone keeping in touch with Cool Running (withdrawal symptoms are severe) or updating my blog has been minimal.  This has helped me to at least try and post.

More of the same in the mad rush department this morning, although I checked in my boike to transition around 11:00-11:30am and most of what could be done had been.  Despite putting in new contact lenses this morning (Alcon 2 week disposables) my eyes were screaming to take them out early afternoon.  I have a damp, but clean Ironman (race) singlet to wear tomorrow, having washed it after Suzie wore it all day tomorrow when all her clothes were in the wash.

I ran into so many people today, including Mr Strewth who I met after the Canberra Times Fun Run on Sunday and happens to be up here as a technical official (TO).  With the cycle course so technical in nature, the TO’s  will be mainly concerned with cyclist blocking or travelling too far on the right hand side of the road rather than draft busting.

I have 2 pairs of running shoes to choose between, and my veggie cycling shoes.  I have done so little cycling recently, and not transitions, that I have opted for my cycling shoes with three Velcro straps (I can get away with adjusting one) and thick soles with recessed cleats.  My Carnac Triathlon shoes are better, but out of practice with putting my feet in the shoes on the bike, on an uphill start, and with a run leg to begin (so I can wear socks) I’ve elected to be a bit safer and slower and put my shoes on in transition.  I will probably wear my Nike flats, although will have the option of my Forster shoes – if using these haven’t decided whether to wear orthoses or not.

Things to Do
Stickers on bike helmet (3)     - Check
Race number on belt (1)      - Check
Bidons for bike (1x sm 1 lge) - Check
Socks and spares          - Check
Polar HRM and transmitter
(Set to beep each 23:45, auto lap off, heart touch on store lap)
Gamin
(on multi sport function)
Sunnies
Race singlet and fatigue shorts
Towel for transition
Bidon for transition
After race change of clothes
(Retrieve floor pump from Bob)
Pack phone and cash, gels, FortiJuice.
Imodium!!!!!

WDC -2 days

2005-09-23T08:14:00.000+10:00

Thursday, 22 September
Newcastle

I had forgotten this: so will insert at the beginning!  In the Duathlon Liftout in the Newcastle Herald on Thursday is a large photo of the selection race in April on the course.  Large, ugly and looking very determined on a bad hair day is one Flash Cool Runner on the final run leg!

Kilometres Run ~ 0.9kms
Kilometres Cycled ~ 17kms
Kilometres Walked ~ 12kms
Time spent not standing ~ 35minutes
FortiJuice Consumed = 3
Powerbars Consumed = 1

I was a little bit selfish to begin with.  Really I was.  (Well sort of).

Joined the designated ‘Group Ride’ at 9:30am over the Age Group cycle course this morning, and kept ‘an eye’ on Rad and another age grouper at the back of the pack who was not a confident rider and did not know the route.  This was quite fun, and I was delighted to see how I could still ride a bike.  Watch out Aki, you too will be hooked soon!

At the first change to the course from April, which took out a dangerous sharp right hand turn on to a heavily cambered road, there was a little consternation and somehow we lost Rad and Sue at this point.  The second change added another hill, and I can see that this narrow section of road may be dangerous with two way traffic coming down again after a U-turn at the top.  All good fun, just need to stay uninjured, finish, and who cares if I come stone cold last.

Rad had not taken his room key, so Bob, Rad, Sue, and I rode back to the hotel.  My helmet was fitting very poorly though – even though an x-small it had flung back on my neck like a bonnet.  I would not be able to check in or race with it like this!  I had a lot of difficulty getting one small enough to fit, so this was a concern.  I suspected that having worn it over a skullcap in the Canberra winter didn’t help the fit, and Bob implored me to get to the bike shop to get it fixed (if possible).  They were flat chat, however I found that they also sold Limar helmets and spent a lot of time there methodically checking the ‘how to adjust the staps’ on their instruction manual and comparing with a display helmet.  By Jove, I Think She’s Got It!

And here endeth the lesson of selfish Carolyne for Thursday.  The rest of the day was just a variation on the theme established yesterday.  Setting up spreadsheets, fighting small uniform fires, automating some functions currently being ‘managed’ with a thousand slips of paper and so on.  I felt useful.  I like to feel useful!  Time flew, Rad and I walked to the gathering point for The Parade of Nations, me taking him on a slightly long route poor fellow!  I really enjoyed the chance to stretch my legs though!  After a very protracted Team Photo Shoot, the parade began, minor local politicians spoke, and the Championships were declared open.  I walked back to the hotel, while others went to get something to eat.  Bliss!

More help required that night just as I was crawling in to bed, Bob knocked on the door again and I did what I could to help.  Somehow I still managed to forget to eat and drink enough – the hydration is far more significant, so I must do better, starting now.  Tomorrow, find a laundry to wash my race gear for tomorrow – the Assistant Team Manager borrowed it to wear yesterday as all her stuff was dirty.  I’m a bit tired, but getting excited!  (Food possible as early as Saturday afternoon!)

I'm Just a Girl who Can't Say No!

2005-09-22T08:30:00.000+10:00

“♫ ♪  I’m Just a Girl who Can’t Say No  . . . “  ♪♪♫

Wednesday, 22 September
Number of Kilometres Run = Ø
Number of Kilometres Cycled = Ø
Number of FortiJuice Consumed = 3
Number of Calories Consumed = 900kcals
Number of Computer Problems Fixed = 5
Number of Good Deeds Done = ???

The morning started well enough:  I was having a cup of instant decaf (save the caffeine for the real stuff later, please) with Rad; replacing the laces in my lairy Forster shoes with elastic and half dressed in my running gear.  Bob knocked on the door in a panic needing computer fix it services for the laptops and a couple of printers among the three members of the Team Management.  Now.  Barefoot, I trot down the hall and start on Bob’s problem.  “Suzie needs you now, her need is more urgent”.  Go next door and start on that.  Most things were relatively easy, although I was still working on downloading printer drivers for Bob on a v.e.r.y. slow dial-up connection at 11:30am.

I then remembered that I hadn’t had my medication, went back to the room and grabbed a FortiJuice, and put on my running shoes.  More running around buying supplies for the overworked management team, a quick registration with Rad, returned to help Suzie with the uniforms and the need to get plastic bags to pack them.  Another trip to the market, and most of the uniforms were sorted out.  I had lost all track of the time.  A mercy dash to deliver a phone charger and I found that I was very dizzy.  Backtrack to grab a second FortiJuice for a very late lunch.  I still had yet to spend any time with Bob (we had been hoping to have a coffee together), he had been called away suddenly when an excellent age group competitor went through the windscreen of a car that morning.  We sought to sneak away for a few minutes (I hadn’t had a chance to speak to him since before the Canberra Times on Sunday); although his phone didn’t stop ringing and we had to wait for a media interview with the local ABC.

It was too late for a coffee, so I suggested a quick pint at the local pub – being Newcastle there were two to choose from within metres of each other.  With the option of The Royal or the Ducks Nuts the choice was obvious.  This proved to be a very interesting choice!  Some sad looking Jatz, cheese, and carbonosi sat on the counter.  I was the only woman.  I had to mention to Bob that a woman in a purple bra had walked past – he hadn’t noticed.  She came around the room a second time, carrying a tray and seeking orders.  Bob did notice this time that she was only wearing a lacy purple bra and teeny weeny underwear (and heels of course!), with very little back coverage.  On her next ‘lap’ Bob ordered another schooner of Old, and gave her a very generous tip (no other change of course).  She was a very pleasant, pretty, and articulate young blond, probably working her way through Uni and with a hell of a lot of self confidence!

This unfortunately had to end, and I undertook to grab Bob some Indian takeaway for his dinner.  I hoped to walk, it being a pleasant evening, and having had no exercise.  We went via the car on the way back to gather the Newcastle Street Directory, and just as I locked up a tearful young woman came up to us.  She knew Bob from Canberra, and her car had broken down on arriving here.  The NRMA were unable to fix it, and it needed to be towed, however she had still to check in to her accommodation on the other side of the Bay at Stockton.  Bob went back to his room to attend to bush fires, and I helped her transfer all the gear, bikes etc from her car to ours and drove her there.  On the way back I drove to Darby St to pick Bob up an Indian feed of Garlic Naan, Palak Paneer, Sag Gogst, and plenty of rice!  I had to dodge flying bottles as a school load of over exuberant peri-adolescents celebrating some milestone spilled from the pub they were being belatedly thrown from (the eldest couldn’t have been 15).  I drove back to the hotel carefully, arriving after 8:00pm  to pass the food on to Bob, had a quick, warm (yuck) FortiJuice in his room before heading back to my room where Rad had already collapsed in bed.

Tomorrow – Must Ride and be a bit more selfish!

Road Trip with Rad

2005-09-20T19:38:00.000+10:00

with Bob up in Newcastle early, Rad arranged to pick me up at 9:00am to drive to Newcastle where we were both to compete in the Duathlon. As usual, he was on time, and I spent a few extra minutes ensuring that Lucy was well catered for (a neighbour shall come and feed and cuddle her each day), the house was locked, rubbish out and all the usual catastrophe. We swung by the local (discount) pharmacy for me to pick up an extra supply of imodium and were off - for some reason I decided to try a new route out of Canberra through Gungahlin and along Horse Paddock Drive to the Federal Highway. I have cycled this way a few times (in a roundabout fashion) and just followed my nose. With the new suburbs and streets constantly changing around here too much forward planning probably wouldn't have been of much use anyway. This route bypassed many traffic lights and the potential traffic problems of Northbourne Avenue and deserves future consideration.

I drove through to Newcastle, and enjoyed the opportunity. Rad and I spent a lot of time discussing future race and travel options and plans overseas which is always exciting. Travel through north west Sydney wasn't too bad, and we arrived in Newcastle around 2:30pm. Bob rang as we were in reception, and we greeted each other as though we hadn't seen each other for months. Aaah ~ young love.

After the unpacking ritual, I thought that Rad may have needed a rest, and grabbed my backpack and went for a walk. Far from being aimless, I did not have a plan, and after grabbing a drink decided on the spur of the moment not to head towards the redeveloped area and walked up towards the athletics field with the slightly aging blue track. I was quite impressed with Newcastle when I was here in April, and I love walking around 'new' places. I think that I have always been a good tourist in my own city, and within Australia. Through walking up quiet streets and following my nose to the scent of jasmine, or the glint of an old stained glass window I saw some wonderful streetscapes and really got a good sense of place. Before I knew it, the sky was darkening and my radio tuned into Radio National was well through the current affairs show 'PM'. I headed back, if not quite lost, then not heading in the most direct direction back to the hotel. My black clothes were not ideal, at least the cycling backpack I had was highly reflective. It was a beautiful night, and the early evening buzz of the Beaumont St restaurants was exciting, the orange and red striated sky dramatic.

Back in the hotel just before 7:00pm, Rad had left for dinner and I was pleased with my 'adventure' which reminds me so much of what I do when I'm travelling.

Low battery!

Canberra Times Cool Runners

2005-09-18T18:39:00.000+10:00

Griffin, Lucky Legs, Speedy Geoff, Aki,CJ,Flash Duck,Strewth, Wombatface

canberra times Cool runners
Originally uploaded by FlashDuck.

Chickybabes Cool Runners & the Canberra Times Fun Run

2005-09-18T10:27:00.000+10:00

Saturday was a day of howling gales and rain ~ although the forecast for Sunday was clear, it did not auger well for the Fun Run. Sunday dawned with the skies clear of rain and uncommonly still, perfect for a spring run. I left early to buy the Sunday Telegraph for the printed results of the marathon weekend, and was buried in the paper checking Cool Running names when Aki found my car parked outside! I was pleased to see my placing of 403rd ~ once all my aims for a faster time were obviously unfounded, during the run I reverted to my general non-time-specific aim, which was to finish within the top 50% of the field overall and better (I haven’t worked this out yet) in the female participants. My 403rd place fulfilled this. I just checked the on-line results and this was blown out to 412th – no complaints as it means that those poor guys who had NO Result recorded would have been included!

Aki and I swung back by home to pick up Bob, who was madly organising himself for an early departure after the run to drive to Newcastle. We dropped Aki at the start (and long wait) of the 5km walk, then continued to the race start at Woden. I kept a large backpack with me, afraid (as always) of getting cold at the finish, and saw Lucky Legs and Wombat near the start as I queued to put my gear on the baggage truck. The bright colours of CR gear meant that it was easy to spot a cluster of Cool Runners including Griffin, Speedy Geoff and Friar. The rest of the CR Chickybabes team however were hidden, although I eventually spied Strewth and CJ on the grass verge. Another Cool Runner, Scott was also nearby.

A low key starting gun was fired by the very pregnant, Sarah Reilly, and we made our way off the footpath and onto the roadway as the run started. The usual bun rush at the start meant that there were lots of footballers and 12 year olds sprinting off at the start, and it was a constant weave through the weft of slower people in the first kilometre of so. I passed a venerable looking older Japanese guy with great care as his bare feet on the pavement made me cringe at the prospect of being stomped on (or rolled over by a pram).

Once onto Adelaide Avenue, the breadth of the carriageway meant that it was fairly comfortable running, with many people around although with plenty of room. I saw CR Scott and Wombat disappear into the distance, and was amused to see the small gatherings of spectators along the spectator un-friendly route, where a few congregated here and there, and larger groups on the overpasses. As usual the scouts were doing a great job of manning the water stations at around 4km and 8km. I was pleased to see off the my right the slight figure of Sue Archer, an excellent F55 runner, and was surprised that she wasn't further ahead at this stage. Another runner, a triathlete who runs close to my race pace was also sighted at this point, and I was able to keep his bright yellow top in sight for the rest of the run. This delighted and surprised me - for although I felt marvellous, my expectations were not high for a fast 10km a week after the marathon.

Coming up to the start of the 5km walk, I caught sight of Aki on the verge and yelled out, but to no avail. This neared the end of the gradual uphill section of the course, which then swung away to a long sweeping downhill along the route used for dozens of triathlon and duathlon events, passing the edge of the Embassy district and skirting along between the (new) Parliament House and the Provisional (old) building. As my stride opened up with much relief on the downhill stretch I found myself running alongside a fellow Customs Jogger who had run Sydney last year, although was lamenting his lack of running since returning from an extended overseas trip.

I caught sight of a man with a plastic sack of what looked like the water sachets used in the Canberra Marathon. He was just settling them down and I yelled "Hey Water Bag! Mate!" as I came up to him, and managed to be handed a sachet as I trundled passed to the cry of "Go Cool Runner!". I thought it may be the CR Water Bag and expect that this was the case. I love the sachets - so much easier to drink from, and after I had consumed half a bag I could easily hold on to it to finish a little later, rather than the difficulty of swilling down the contents of a cup and tossing it aside to be crunched under a thousand feet.

Sue had long since disappeared from view, however I kept in sight of the bright yellow tops of both my Customs friend and the triathlete. This really surprised me ~ I hadn't been paying much attention to the time, I hoped to run under 50 minutes, and would be delighted with 48. I'd thought that I been running around 4:45-5:00 minute pace throughout and did a double take when the finish clock said 46:30 as I crossed. CJ was seconds behind me, and I was even more shocked to find out that the time was actually 45:30 at the timing table. It's probably a good thing, as I'm sure that if I thought I had a chance of running close to 45 today, I would have put more effort into it!

Bob had long since finished and left, and our swarm of blue and yellow gradually swelled to include Lucky Legs exuberant with a 2 minute PB, Strewth, Griffin and this charming partner Patricia, Speedy Geoff and Aki. It clouded over and hypothermia threatened to give us a group discount as we sought to share around our warm clothes. After the presentations (no barrel draws again!) we took a couple of photos, bade Lucky Legs and Wombatface a reluctant farewell, and wandered over to The Deck for the essential java jolt. With Mr CJ and Mr Strewth rounding out our party, I found another Sunday Telegraph insert for CJ to examine the results, and the waitperson once again offered to get Aki "your usual"!

We dispersed, Aki and I walking through the edge of Floriade (somewhere between Strawberry Fields and Brown Sugar) into Civic. Before my bus home came, I ducked into the Korean Grocery Store to check it out. I love exploring and finding new products at Asian grocery stores, and they all differ enormously. This is a very small three aisle basement shop, with Korean products on the left and Japanese on the right. Since the Japanese store at Kingston closed down, I am always on the lookout for other good providores. I found a bowl of Korean noodles which had almost no fibre and very low fat. Woo Hoo! They also had a range of Asian ice creams, and I bought a red bean ice (I love bean paste and lotus seed paste) which according to it's nutritional panel had no fibre and only trace (0.1g) fat. It made me think that I will try to include as much 'real food' in my diet other than FortiJuice as I can and see how I go. Even if it mean a couple of days without running so I can go out for dinner with friends.

On arriving home I received a call from the Perfect Running Buddy who had suggested another trot together this afternoon. He came over soon after, and I was able to show him just some of the magic bushland trails of Black Mountain Nature Park on my doorstep. He was as enchanted as I was with the bush, and before we knew it we had run for nearly an hour (58:49) and covered around 11k. The time had passed seamlessly though, running with him is always so easy. Note to Self: Must run with PRB more when I return from Newcastle.

A coffee to complete the afternoon, and I got stuck into the washing and attempting to work out what to pack (bike, helmet, 3 pairs of running shoes, bike shoes . .. .) for Newcastle. Still working on it. I'm looking forward to Newcastle now, and Fitzroy Falls even more!

A Big Thanks to Aki!

2005-09-16T21:17:00.000+10:00

I had been uncommonly down over the last few days, reactive depression no doubt to the doctors appointment, but an all pervasive lethargy of "why bother" rather than anything else. Thursday had been particularly bad, however the prospect of meeting Aki for a coffee on Friday was set me in higher spirits. I had forgotten, but the local rag, The Canberra Times and the local ABC news was doing a Team Photo shoot of the 30-odd local athletes going to compete in the Duathlon World Championships in a weeks' time.

Bob insisted that we head off on the run early, as we were due at Acton Ferry Terminal at 1:00pm. I felt surprisingly good, and looked forward to a good run with allrounder who had been hit by the handicapper to start just 15 seconds (one group) in front of me. I had been increasingly aware of pain and swelling on the arch of my right foot, and research on the internet seemed to indicate that this was most likely due to plantar fasciitis. I decided to wear lightweight (non-supportive) Nike racing flats, with elastic laces, and once running found that my foot was more comfortable than it had been for days. I realised that the pain was exacerbated my my low mood, however relieving the pressure with the tri laces was very effective.

I headed off with Adrienne again, delighted to see her this week. We ran much easier today than last week, talking constantly, and although our times were similar (around 24 minutes) it was a good run. No sign of Aki, so a quick word to Friar, and Rad, Simon, Bob and I headed over to the Ferry Terminal. Quite a contingent was milling around, in a variety of uniforms. It was a bit of a circus, with the sight of 20 cyclists riding along the bike path 3 abreast for the camera's and then a group photo.

Bob is front and centre in the Yellow helmet, next to our talented young runner and duathlete, Michelle (Shell) Wu. The wonderful M75, Rad Leovic is on the far right of the front row.

After this, Bob piled both our bikes into the car and drove home to change, eat lunch and get back into Civic for a haircut. Aki and I went to our favourite post-run coffee spot, The Deck at Regatta Point. The wind was strong, so I grabbed a pair of track pants from the car, but looked extremely daggy! Luckily, they know as there by now, and told us exactly what we were ordering as we sat down (Strawberry Soy Milk Shake and a short black). Cute.

We talked more, reviewed Canberra Times Fun Run maps and information, commiserated about ITB's and other injuries and planned our next assaults. Fitzroy Falls would be good - Aki has yet to experience the country charm of a community event. My spirits were by now fully restored to normal, and I couldn't give the doc's miserable news another thought. We eventually found where Bob had left the car, drove home and planned Aki's 5km fun walk on Sunday, and all was good with the world.

Taste Testing at the Cafe at Lindt's

2005-09-12T13:25:00.000+10:00

Monday, 12 September

It was a tough assignment, but one that had to be done! As I was eating, and it was necessary for me to meet the CR Gals Jen and The Owl at the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place. Bob was heading off to West Head for a cycle, so I walked across the bridge again, the wind billowing, and around the harbour before heading up to Martin Place. The (breakfast) menu was surprisingly enticing, there were many things that appealed to me, and I did have a hard time deciding, eventually settling on toasted fig and walnut bread, and espresso and mineral water. It took me right back to my time in Firenze where I lived very much as a local, and loved it. The fig bread had run out so, I opted for sour cherry toast instead and was delighted.

Jen arrived, followed by the Owl, and I had a wonderful time. In the interests of scientific research, I then ordered a Dark Hot Chocolate, as did the Owl. To our surprise, this was served as a jug of heated milk and two small jugs of melted, runny dark chocolate. We tested a few alternative methods of preparing this in our cups; simultaneously pouring in the chocolate and milk; adding the chocolate to the milk and so on. We both agreed that it was good. Eyeing Jen's mocha though, with shavings of real chocolate strewn over the top, was too tempting and I tried one of these as well. My verdict was that the mocha won hands down! Of course for a truly scientific result, it will alas need to be repeated.

Marathon Social Whirl

2005-09-11T23:00:00.000+10:00

Sunday 12:30 ~ Kirribilli

Bob and I caught a ferry across from Circular Quay to Milson's Point (Luna Park $4.80 each one way), although we almost didn't make it due the extreme pushiness of a rude, pram-wielding woman who mowed all her wake. We survived, and made our way up to the Hotel to meet Lucky Legs and Wombat for a spot of lunch before they drove back south. We found a small cafe at Kirribilli, and I thoroughly enjoyed my first meal for many months! Bob and I had Thai Fish Cakes with salad, Lucky Legs a toasted sambo, and Wombat some good looking pancakes. Mmmm, food. I especially enjoyed the salad, I adore fruit and vegetables, and this is what I've missed most.

Too soon we had to part, and after hugs and looking forward to catching up at the Canberra Times Fun Run on Sunday I found that my mobile was full of missed calls.

Sunday 1:30 ~ Vibe to Orient Hotel

After a game of telephone tag, CJ wandered down from her hotel at North Sydney to meet me. We walked across a windy Harbour Bridge to meet the 'CR Gals' at the Orient Hotel. It was great to see Horrie and Belinda before they headed off; Belinda's grin was glued to her face and shall always be burned in my memory.

Among those left, were Johnny Dark, Bennyr, Tesso, The Owl and Jen. It was great to catch up, and I was still running on Adrenaline. We drifted away about 5pm, as I was mindful of the need to get ready for dinner at my sister's place that evening. Another walk across the bridge with CJ and plans to meet The Owl and Jen at the Lindt Cafe on Monday. There wasn't too much time to spare, however I enjoyed a good soak in the bath first!

Sunday 6:00 ~ McMahon's Point

Bob and I walked the kilometre or two to my sister's place at McMahon's Point for dinner. We rarely manage to see each other, as she is busy with her career as an academic, so this was a rare treat although I was a little concerned about my staying power! It was a lovely evening; her new (to me only) partner was there, and we christened a new barbeque in a magical candle lit courtyard. Some gourmet lamb cutlets with Rosemary; Thai Sausages and Steak were accompanied by an assortment of vegetable dishes made largely from produce grown on their property in the Southern Highlands. Very pleasant indeed!

As the wind developed we moved inside for desert - homemade plum pudding to be eaten prior the next Christmas batch being made! My two nieces were also there, Ingrid in Year 11, and Claire a totally hip 20 year old. Her boyfriend turned up during desert, and he quizzed us about triathlons. He headed off for the hotel, straining against the wind, I can't remember a more perfect day.

Marathon Morning

2005-09-11T21:42:00.000+10:00

I had an uncommonly good nights sleep, only a light to moderate night sweat, and felt good when I awoke. This was a relief after the previous fortnight’s lurgy, which continued to make it’s effects known the day before. Although coming into Sydney I was excited at the prospect of meeting up with Lucky Legs and going for a walk on a glorious Sydney day, not long after I arrived in the room I virtually collapsed in a heap on the bed and soon slept for quite a few hours. As Lucky Legs and Wombatface were staying in the same hotel, they got together with Bob for an early pasta meal at North Sydney. I continued to rest in the room, and tried to carbo load on FortiJuice. We watched some of the Test Cricket on TV before having an early night.

As Bob was competing in the Half which started 45 minutes earlier, I wandered down with him to Bradfield Park (clutching a drink). It was already warm, and standing around in a Cool Running Singlet was comfortable. In the marshaling area I saw a sea of blue and yellow caps, and met up with Horrie and Belinda; Tesso; Eagle; The Owl and Jen_Runs. We chatted for quite a while before I realised that I needed to head back to the room and get organised for my run.

The time disappeared quickly, and by the time I put my bag in and found the access to the start line it was nearly time to start. I saw Johnny Dark and another Cool Runner, Dave. Soon we were off with the gun, with the usual slow shuffle before the start. Up on the approaches to the span of the Harbour Bridge, saw CJ up ahead and moved over to her side of the lane to catch up. We ran together up until Art Gallery Rd, however she did not feel so flash first up that morning, and started to struggle. Reluctantly I went on ahead; however this was to be radically reversed after the half way point.

I took water for the first time at the station at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, and then at least one cup at each drink stop thereafter. It was particularly fun for the next few kilometres: I saw a young woman in her speedo’s running with large devices on each upper arm covered in plastic bags, and a strange bandanna headpiece in College Street. Then up Oxford St to Taylor Square the real fun started. First the stragglers emerging from nightclubs bleary-eyed doing a double take as a stream of marathon runners jogged past. Tempting cafes lined the strip reminding us of what we needed to wait some hours for. At Taylor Square, a couple of drag queens competed for cheering duties with an odd collection of drunks and clubbers attempting to High-5 those passing by.

Further along Flinders St and Anzac Pde, another guy suffering from the night before lay on the grass verge on his back, naked and waving his legs around. A mat for the 10k split preceded the turn into Centennial Park. It was an interesting figure of eight route and I became conscious here of a number of other runners who I parried with throughout the remainder of the event. Nearing the Alison Rd U-turn I saw another Cool Runner ahead and quickened my pace to say Hi. It was RockDoctor and I remember that he had a goal time of around 3:30:00. Far too quick or me, I bid farewell and let him speed off. A small cheer-squad of “Go Cool Runner!” was at this Alison Rd/Anzac Pde/Dacy Ave set of traffic lights. Moving up towards Kingsford, the urgent need to find a toilet struck. This caused me to slow right down and I lost a great deal of momentum as well as pace when I finally got going again.

After the Dacy Avenue dogleg, I found myself very hot and overheated. It had been raining lightly at the start of the run, with a heavier fall at one stage, however now the humidity was oppressive and I broke out in a sudden cold sweat. CJ passed me at this point, looked like she was doing it easy, and sped off into the distance. Back through Darlinghurst, we passed clients waiting for the Methadone Clinic to open. Stretching out the lane and onto the road where we were running, each group was equally surprised.

Winding through the city was fun until a spread out group of us ran down Liverpool St. and was collectively horrified to see a steady stream of traffic being “managed” along Elizabeth St. I saw CJ ahead of me cross with a small group, although as I approached a policeman and another marshal put their hands up in an arrogant “STOP” motion, whilst signalling for the Elizabeth traffic to flow through. With my momentum established on the sweeping downhill section rudely interrupted, I was impatient and grumpy with this unexpected delay. A fellow runner arrived about 30 seconds behind me, and started to cross anyway, muttering under his breath the sentiments that I too felt. A similar scenario occurred at the Park and George St junction, although the six lanes of traffic being motioned to travel across our path did not allow any attempted heroics. To add insult to injury, when we finally did get the nod to cross, a clueless couple of (American? I bet!) Tourists walked into my path, knocking me sideways and denting my confidence.

A further traffic intersection at King St was marshaled by someone far more “runner friendly” and this crossing went smoothly. Onto the City Link freeway, a few people had started to walk as the roadway rose to an incline and the 27km mark came into view. A reasonable headwind greeted us, and I slowed right down even on the descents fighting against this invisible force. I thought at least there would be a tailwind where we needed it on the way back. (I was wrong).

At least this was now familiar territory for me, as I had done the Half Marathon last year on a similar course. More people were walking, or stretching on the median strip. The field had spread right out, and I was passing a few people (mainly blokes it must be noted. They seem to be the ones who are over confident about their ability and go out too fast and die), but being passed by at least as many (frequently women who had paced themselves more appropriately). My legs felt great, and I was full of beans, however I still had a bit of abdominal tenderness which caused some discomfort. The earlier rain had soaked my shoes and socks, causing a blister to develop on the outside of my left foot. My singlet also weighed a tonne, a combination of the humidity and sustained sweating with frequent cups of water.

I kept an eye out for Plu along this section, he had indicated that he would position himself on this patch of road, and ever reliable, and “always a Cool Runner first” I knew that he would be there as a cheery Blue, Yellow and Green one man cheer squad. An ambulance travelled into view, slowly travelling along the return section of the course. As it slowed to a stop, I saw a vision in Cool Running colours, camera in hand assisting the Ambo’s. I yelled a greeting and waved, then continued along the route to find the elusive turnaround. I kept thinking that I should break the run into sections; with the marathon beginning at the 32k mark. Nearing Plu’s vantage point again, the ambulance was still in place and I saw a bloke looking fairly poorly. As I crossed the Glebe Island pedestrian bridge, a friendly cheer alerted me to Horrie coming in the other direction. With my reflexes slowed somewhat, I didn’t see Belinda and was concerned that something had happened to her en route.

Up through Pyrmont and Ultimo onto the city Link again, the wind continued to provide a buffer rather than assist. The field had really spread out, with some people continuing onto the outward section of the course, walking and stopping periodically. Many of those around me (in an ever widening diameter) were those close by in the Centennial Park Figure of Eight. (Man with Swedish Flag pinned on his T-Shirt; Girl in Pink Top; Bloke with grey shorts and Felt Belt). I had started to miss some of the kilometre markers at this point, and whereas the foot pod of my Polar S625x had been short at the 5, 10, 20 and 21km markers by a small, but increasing value, as we rolled into Sussex St and along the Piers. This was the business end of the run, and my watch indicated 39.2km had been covered. Given the under recording of the watch up until the midway point, I surmised that I had merely missed the 39 k marker. However, as an aid station loomed into view, the 39k marker lay beyond.

The great unknown – the “speed hump” – a.k.a. Observatory Hill – was still to come. This wasn’t too bad after-all, a steady, but gradual climb, with some ‘helpful’ people saying “nearly there now”, and “all downhill from here” as we turned off onto the tunnel leading to the Cahill Expressway. Along the deep stone cutting (I always marvelled at this as a kid), a deep, but subtle fragrance of jacaranda blossoms permeated the closed arena. I enjoyed the steady downhill flow, however this came to an early end and a rude shock as the tunnel inevitably climbed it’s way up onto the Cahill. Now it was exciting! At just the right moment, a sea of blue and yellow pom poms came into sight, with a pod of Cool Runners cheering and supporting us on our way. This was undoubtedly the highlight of the day, and made me swell with pride. SuperFlake, Gronk, the wonderful CR gals Lulu, The Owl and Jen. Now it was only a matter of finishing. Past the Con and into Macquarie St, the noise of supporters on the roadside became deafening, with one section being simultaneously exciting and a little frightening as they formed a tunnel through which one ran, yelling loudly and clacking noise making plastic ‘hands’.

I had been constantly reassessing my target time as the morning had progressed; with a ‘short’ (by my watch) first half done on target pace, I was secretly optimistic. The later section, particularly from the stop-start road crossing had seen me slow considerably and this made me more uncertain as the distance on my watch did not correlate. I had earlier dismissed a dream of a 3:40 run as unachievable on this day, and reluctantly realised that even my stated, and seemingly reasonable aim of bettering George Dubya Bush’s PB (3:44:52) was going to wait for another day. I could tell that I was in better ‘form’ than when I was at the same point in Canberra, with my head and shoulders relaxed and although slow I felt that if there was an option to continue for another 8 kilometres I could do so without horror. The clock however was indicating a time later than my debut of 3:47:56. I had never considered that I would not be faster than this. Although still awaiting my formal results, I crossed around 3:48:25. I saw Tesso and Queen Bee just beyond the finish line.

To be continued . . .