Oh January, don't go, don't go

Well well well. I am pretty pleased with my running, statistically speaking.
January 2010 saw 270k, which is a new record for January and the most k's run in a month since August 2008. It must be my Brooks shoes.

Additionally I managed a 15k run yesterday, which was my longest single run since early October 2009: the famous one on holidays to Mooloolaba which generated much discussion on CR about non-friendliness of Mooloolaba runners.

I managed 15k on Friday too, but that was split into two runs: an easy 10k in the morning, and the CR Twilight #11 Doonside 5k in 26:00 min. Weather then was about 14 degrees cooler than last year's run. A nice relaxing run, with even split of the 16-strong group into 5k and 10k. saw Tesso, Johnny Dark, Eagle, Joestat (well I hope so, I gave him a lift), KatieR, Colin & Yolanda, Emjay, Cazzy1; ran the return leg with runhard, marvelled at (winner) Daniel's sharp haircut, and laughed heartily at HillsAths1's 55min 10k prediction. He managed 47:27. Maybe he lifted his legs more.

So one more CR Twilight for me: the Bay Run Reverse on 26/02. Before then, I should be doing a couple more races, such as the Girraween Athletics Club's 3k pre-West Met series in Feb. Then late March, West Met starts. Can't wait.

Good weekend with BB snr visiting: family BBQ, a couple of quiet, reflective drinks and a little bit of shopping. Nice photos of me, Mrs BB, YD, Son, BB snr, and the returned travellers: ED and her boyfriend, a nice guy. You'll notice a couple of staged smiles - all in good fun.

This afternoon's entertainment was a family viewing of "G Force". Recommended for families with youngish kids.

Holidays are over. Back to work tomorrow. Holidays get you to look at things in perspective more, when you aren't caught up in the minutiae of work pressure. What is really important in life?

Bertrand Russell got it right:
If I were a medical man, I should prescribe a holiday to any patient who considered his work important.

"Exit, stage left"

Squashing the whining

Who posts more on Facebook than Blogger? Me. It isn't the same though - Facebook doesn't permit the searing insight and deep analysis one finds in most blogs. Except perhaps Tony Abbott's. If he has one. I know he talks to the Women's Weekly. And that's entertaining enough. I think there's some kind of metaphor in all that, but I might let my educated readers work through it.

I've managed 137k in 14 runs since last post, plus 4 weights sessions. The runs have included 3 races
* SMC 10k (#4)- 53:35 min, pretty tough conditions and satisfying
* Hills 3k time trial - 14:22 min, first one of these for over 2 years, happy with time
* Australia Day Regatta Centre 10k - 49:54, oppressive, humid, no water, very pleased with effort

Tomorrow night is CR Twilight Doonside, with a 10k planned for the morning and just the short (5k) option in the evening. BB senior is staying with us over the weekend. He has holidayed in Melbourne and is travelling home to loved ones in Queensland.

We will discuss the current parlous state of the Victorian squash scene while contemplatively sipping a quiet semillon chardy or so.

in vino veritas

"Exit, stage left"

Satirical sailin' for Palin

Oh the delicious irony: Sarah Palin, that multi-talented Alaskan hockey-mum, that slightly right-of-centre politician, has joined Fox News as political commentator.

Fair enough you say: no ability, should fit in well.

But wait, here's the line that resonates so well:

"I am thrilled to be joining the great talent and management team at Fox News. It's wonderful to be part of a place that so values fair and balanced news."

Superb. Further commentary is redundant. I can't even write about running, my sides need sticky tape, it'll have to wait for another day.

From rags to riches

Happy 2010 friends and family!

In Sydney, we've had mixed weather: good for NYE with a bit of rain, sun and humidity thrown in.

First race for the year was January 1: the CR Twilight series, held this time at The Bay, running the famous monthly CR 5k challenge in reverse: Hawthorne Pde to Drummoyne Rowers (and back, for 10k starters like me).
I completed the 10k, unlike some who had good intentions but piked out at the 2.5k mark. A shame for me, as I was leading a few of them. Oh well, 54 minutes and comfortable. I managed 11 straight running days (103k),which is my longest streak since 12 in-a-row in Sep 2004 (did 123k then).
Anyway, I went to the Twilight with Joestat and our families, and enjoyed Sook54's tofu kebabs, and a lengthy chat with a few CR's including Rags, whom I had seen but never spoken to before.

Readers with good recall would know Mrs BB's best friend (and her family) moved back to Melbourne a year ago. We were looking at various options for getting down there soon, when out of the blue came an email: "here we come". They drove up for a short visit and we were lucky to see them on Sunday. We hadn't seen them since we went to Melbourne in April, but good friends slot straight into the groove. It was great, hence the "riches" header. Hopefully we'll holiday in Melbourne again in early April.

For now, all planning centres on the "Masterpieces From Paris" exhibition in Canberra. Looks like a February trip, perhaps with a couple of decent runs around Lake Burley Griffin. YD suggests other interesting activities too e.g. Questacon. Should be a good trip.

That's all for now. I'm still overcome with excitement by the stirring second test win today. I think I'd like that DVD...

Ludo Lusi Lusum

"Exit, stage left"

PW = PW

Isn't it funny? PW = Personal Worst and also something similar - synonymously speaking - to watered down urea.

SMC #2 for the season produced a PW: 54:08 for the 10k, with a final K in 5:03. Much slower than before, but a glimmer of hope. Excuses? Yes: in the middle of the Christmas festivities, indeed straight after the family get together. Sluggish. Plus, now the right leg is causing concern with strained calf and chronic soreness around the hip/glute/hammy.

Fear not, all will be well. I visited my chiro yesterday for my regular donation, so felt lighter on my feet and in my wallet.

So, since last post, 120k in 13 runs, plus weights. Highlight: work in Melbourne gave me the chance to do a couple of Tan laps. What a superb course. At this time of year, you just have to make your way through the crowd, even at 6am.

Hope everyone has a great Christmas/New Year (of course I'll be seeing some of you anyway). Better get to bed soon: Santa's on the way!

Vere, Virginia, Sanctus Nicolaus Est!

"Exit, stage left"

Reverse reminiscing is better than it used to be

Hosted a wonderful reunion last weekend: by coincidence, 30 years since we got together at my 21st.

Here I am referring to the sterling Alumni from Dunmore Lang College, a residential college of Macquarie University.

After some detective work by me and another colleague, we were able to get a handful together. One friend from the Snowy region couldn't make it, although we have kept in regular touch. I'm hoping we can expand the group and make it a regular thing.

All looked well: fit, healthy and enjoying life. A few photos from now and then. Can you pick who is and was who?

message to Roozendaal: there's no M in Vaccuum

I've had just about enough of this state Labor government. There are many reasons for feeling this way, and Roads is one of them. Pathetic. I foolishly assumed 1 hour 30 min would be adequate to get from home to Rozelle for the CR Twilight Run #5. Wrong. Try 1 hour 40 min, with all sorts of traffic snarls and problems. Off peak, it takes 35 minutes. In peak against the traffic, see above.

So I missed the run. Apparently it was "challenging". This means hilly. Joestat didn't really enjoy it, and the CR feedback confirmed it was tough. As I missed the start, I did a lap of the Bay Run instead; much more enjoyable. After that, our two families enjoyed an evening picnic with a small glass of white to sooth away the anger and/or weariness.

Next CR Twilight I'll be at will be #7 on New Year's Day, although my last race this year will be SMC #3 20/12/09.

Since last post, 114k in 12 runs, so getting dangerously close to the 10k average I used to hit before Hamstring Tendonosis. It's manageable, but frustrating. I can do the usual training stuff, and the regular race, but I'm not where I want to be. So - 2010: back to sprints, although easing into it. Squash may get a look in too, depending on several factors.

The great satirist Tom Lehrer once said that satire became obsolete when Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. This week, satire took on a whole new meaning with the unexpected election of Tony Abbott to Opposition Leader. Naturally the MSM RW columnists - notably Ackerman and Shanahan - have been cheering him on. I just wonder what on earth makes the Australian Right fly in the face of world opinion and fact. And it's not a debate. I'd like to think there's a world left for my children to grow up in, and even their children. So, I'm sorry, but Abbott isn't amusing, he's dangerous and I don't want to consider the possibility that his hardline Catholic misogynistic DLP-style views get any traction. When the next election is called, I'll be fighting the good fight. And it will be against him, Minchin and their troglodyte cronies. Here endeth the sermon.

A final word from my old friend Marcus Tullius Cicero:
Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum.

"Exit, stage left"

Vivian Greene is probably a runner too

Two races to report since last time.
1. CR Twilight #2 Bay Run: 5k in 25:30. Surprisingly slightly slower effort than last time, but felt good in mild conditions. A nice family "picnic dinner" with the BB and Joestat families afterwards. The New Year's Day Twilight promises to be Daryl Eastlake-style HUUUGE!.
2. SMC today: 10k in 53:20, slightly slower than last month, but be fair: the weather was too hot, too greedy.
Joestat did a little under plan, as did other CR's I spoke with. I feel okay after that survey. It couldn't be simply age.

Friday night saw me host CR Twilight #2 at Glenwood. A comfortable jog along the M7 with a small hill to keep runners honest. The weather was quite uncomfortable: 33 and high humidity, with storms around. Total runners: eleven - one louder.
Everyone did the 5k; it was just too uncomfortable! You'd have to be mad to have run then; fortunately I didn't, I just co-ordinated the event. Great help from Joestat at 1/2 way and Mrs BB with marshalling and catering. A good social event.
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain"

Next social event: we're hosting a Uni college 30 year reunion next Friday, with some guests making the intrastate trip. BBQ, a few whites and tall stories. Plus photos for posterity and comparison, plus the intent of making it bigger next year.

Thanks to eBay, CDWOW and Fishpond, I can buy hard-to-get CD imports quite cheaply. Just arrived: Manhattan Transfer's new one "The Chick Corea Songbook". I'd expect to pay $35 imported through regular channels; it cost me $25 including postage. Mairchick. Next one: 09/12 Jimmy Buffett's new "Buffet Hotel". That's Buffet, not Buffett. Naturally a compulsory purchase.

Lindsay Davis has bounced back with a huge new novel, and I mean huge. At 730 hardback pages, it's a story set during the English Civil War: Rebels and Traitors.

Wow! If only I could have studied history this way at school and Uni, I would have enjoyed it even more. You might say that there is plenty of background information and that it leaves you better informed. It is well researched, and a good read too. Recommended. Now I've just started the Medieval Murderers latest: "King Arthur's Bones". Good reading!


Cave ab homine unius libri

"Exit, stage left"