Gallingly accurate

Slightly less k's than average since last post; 77 in 8 runs. Like 2P, feeling run down and quasi-flu like. That unpleasant disoriented, congested feeling. Can't stop running though: that wouldn't be obsessive, no...


No exciting courses to report; mainly Clean Streets plus an M7 lunchtime run. The Clean Streets have seen an increase in magpie activity, and one plover attack, near BLC. Armed with mainly full Fuel Belt, it was a draw.


At least the weather has been kind to runners, and forced us out early. Predicted high 20's temps will probably see more people out exercising.


Rouse Hill Town Centre (Stage One) opened Tuesday, so we checked it out. Not much different shopping wise, although some decent food court eateries have opened. At least JB HiFi is there, so that's one less trip to Castle Hill. Stage Two opens in March, and that's when it gets interesting: fashion stores, cinemas, library and plenty of greenspace/walking tracks. Might open up more running courses for me...


The faux election campaign is in full swing, so plenty to choose from for sport there. If you wonder why the Fed Govt is on the nose, it's because its senior Ministers can't get past the notion of job/money=happiness. Full stop. If we have full employment, we're okay. Job satisfaction? Life satisfaction? Huh?

Rather than remaining confused by their continual obfuscation, I've made comparisons easy: read this by Happy Joe Happy, and then this from Lindsay Tanner. Lindsay isn't the Shadow Minister for Basket Weaving, he's the alternative Finance Minister... HJH must simply be very dizzy with all his spin...


Finally, to put it into further perspective, try this. I like Tanya's cut-through comment..


"I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians" Charles De Gaulle, French Military leader and President


"Exit, stage left"

Bizzaro run

I expected to see Bizzaro Jerry, George, Kramer AND Superman at Roxborough Park last night...

After a hard weekend's running (18k Saturday, the 8k race Sunday) and then backing up with 10k Monday and 8k Tuesday morning, I expected my legs to be very tired. They agreed, especially my quads.

Heading down to the Hills Club 3k time trial last night at 7:30pm, for my first go at it since March, I expected a pretty poor result. Previous results: Jan 14:25, Feb 13:37.

One positive was that the weather was mild and no breeze swayed. Good running conditions. I motivated myself by thinking that the next day was a rest day. All I had to do was finish the race.

As it turned out, I went along reasonably well. I didn't really pace myself against the lap clock, but knew I did 2200m in 10:01 and 2600m in 11:53. Motoring around the last 400m, I finished in exactly 13:37! Sounds as unlikely as the 1977 tied test centenary repetition, but there it was. Pretty happy with the time too. Didn't really hang around after, just time enough to have a quick post-fun run chat with Steve and thank him for the cap I won in the draw afterwards. So, with a couple of Bakers Delight samples in my hand, I headed home to read YD a story and look forward to a Rest Day Thursday. And it was gooood!

Not sure if Tip Costello should really taunt Kevin07 about his lack of tax scale knowledge, when his own estimate of the deficit is out by $4.5b...

Exit, stage left...

Citrus sinensis

In a blow to the averages, I've covered 78k in 7 runs, so a 10% increase on the norm. Fairly happy too:

* Mon 13k work/WSP/M7 jaunt, taking in the new Parklands from Nurragingy to the previously-untried loop through to Quakers Hills Parkway. Found out it doesn't link to the M7, just cuts through farmlets with horsies and other interesting sights. Sadly, it even goes past a horse grave, complete with bridle on the large cross.
* Tue 8k at 6am through the Clean Streets; ducked a maggie swooping (nil all)
* Wed rest day!
* Thur 13k to Patterson Res Quakers Hill return: nice extension of the Clean Streets run, with picturesque Lemon Grove and parklands for scenery (weights 6am)
* Fri 8k 6am Clean Streets again
* Sat 18k home/M7/work with a lift from Mrs BB and YD, followed by shopping (just a lazy $1,300 outdoor setting purchase) and weights again
* Sun 8k Orange Blossom Fun Run at Castle Hill Showground. I'll keep it brief:

A beautiful day, and the benefit in hindsight was I'd forgotten how tricky the course was. As I ran it, I recalled the tough inclines and difficult footing (even the Showground Ring was slippery). Still, I managed a PB from last year: 39:35 vs 39:53. Good to see plenty of CR's there as well as other runners/colleagues.

Joe from YD's netball team did well, finishing in 34:40; work colleague Deanski managed to complete the course after Brick training Saturday in Parramatta Park, so her 48:xx was solid. A former Crestwood jogger-in-passing comrade Silvano had a huge improvement on last year, getting third overall in 31:08. Superb. Still haven't met Ratdog...

I thought Hills Club put on a great day, with good markings and marshalls - a pity the water ran out at the end! Still, congrats Steve on an excellent day and a 50% increase in numbers. Some photos courtesy of Abbey Digital (start and finish):

Oh, and this evening I did 10k Clean Streets. Felt okay but quads a little heavy.

Next up, 3k time trial at Roxborough Park Wednesday night. I've done it twice this year for 14:25 and 13:37. Right now I feel like it's going to be 14 flat, but maybe I'll get a burst of speed and get closer to 13:30. I'd like to do 13 flat but that's not going to happen until I do some more sprint training and work on my technique. Lifting my legs would help...

Looks like Happy Joe Happy aka Joe Hockey Team Member For Full Employment has decided there's plenty of good quality work for those who want it. Those who don't, well... they're "job snobs". I guess that's a step up from Dole Bludgers. Sounds good too. Nice rhyme.

"Some of it requires a little bit of pressure to be applied, for others, it just means providing greater opportunity to move to jobs." If that doesn't sound sinister, what does?

And in breaking news, The Team led by Team Leader John has made up ground in the latest poll: champers are in order as they have picked up 8%!!!

Oh yeah, they still trail by 10%, which would mean a whitewash and quite possibly Bennelong changing colours. Maybe Sub-Prime Minister Tip Costello is hoping for a tiny swing around the country and a massive reaction in Bennelong. That way, he never has to challenge. Oh if only he hadn't accused Labor of having no Ticker...

Faber quisque fortunae suae

Exit, stage left

RMC at SMC

SMC beckoned irresistably and I entered the 10k race. First time at this event after much buildup via coolrunning, and it's all true. Great value for $9: level on-road course, well marshalled, drink stations (glad neither silver fox nor vat got happy snaps of me drunkenly attempting to sip sports drink), fruit and of course running bonhomie.
I ran the race with Tesso, who treated it as a light training run, backing up after a 35k session on Saturday (roll out Wayne's World quote from a couple of posts ago). Once again, great company with enjoyable conversation and running encouragement, as we did the last km in 4:33 to achieve an overall 49:37, just under plan. Hopefully we'll see more of her before her return; Mrs BB still hasn't met her and is keen to discuss all things Brady and Braithwaite. I feel a BBQ could be in the offing.


Great also to see other known CR's such as HillsAths1, Sailaway and NTR, as well as meet quite a few previously only read about: Gnome, seagull, Horrie, Superflake, Rags (hope the stomach's better), Papa Luigi, Vat, Silver Fox and of course the famous Johnny Dark. Maybe we can get you to that barbie JD?
Disappointing GoGirl wasn't there but maybe her ITB is still no good; as for my mate Joe - mate, all that sub 20min 5k work, weekly conversations at U7 netball training about SMC and I'm the one who fronted!!! Next month?


Next week is the Orange Blossom 8k Sunday at Castle Hill Showground, through Fred Caterson Reserve. A great course with a mix of paths and off-road and a few twisty hilly things. Have to do it just because HillsAths1 has put so much effort into organising it again. Last year was 39:55, so looking to better that...


Mostly quiet on the blogging front: Marcia is still holidaying in England enjoying the White Cliffs, and most of the running blogs I check out are back to my normal level of frequency: things are so slow Miners is threatening to return to Guess The Movie Quotes. 2P must have run with rags as he's struggling and Robert Song has gone quiet since his Muswellbrook trip. The Hunter does that to people.


Laura Joh Rowland has kindly placed her latest novel at my disposal (via Blacktown Library) so I am engrosed in Sano Ichiro's latest exploits. The Samurai code could be his undoing, although I doubt it - he's in her upcoming new release.


Musically, I am somewhat embarrassed - having bought Paul Kelly's new CD some weeks ago, I find I still it's still in the car unlistened to, and Tesso knows more of its contents via his recent concert...


For those who showed some concern, Max is fine and enjoying contributing to our stress levels. He feels wooden objects are placed in his path to assist in his teeth-strengthening efforts, and Schmackos are placed on top shelves of wall units to simultaneously help his leaping and eating ability. Mrs BB seems to wear increasingly forced smiles when asked about his health, while YD finds it all rather risible... (segue approaching)


One of the funniest things I read last week was Lord Downer Of Baghdad's swipe at Kevin Rudd for speaking Mandarin during his meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao.

And the piece de resistance:
"I did the French language course and Mr Rudd did the Chinese language course. I did mine in two months and he did his in two years, that could say something about him and me or something about the two languages. I think the former but that sounds a tad partisan."

Gold, Lord D, gold!!! I guess you must be smarter than Kevin since you did your paint-by-numbers course in two months whereas poor KR went to all that trouble of enrolling at the ANU and studying Chinese language and history. Oh, and was posted with DFAT during the 80's to Beijing. I can hear Australia's diplomatic corps collectivelly cracking up at Lord D's new clanger.

"Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects" Lester B. Pearson Canadian PM 1963-68


Exit, stage left

A timed runout

No wild variances have occurred in the training regime: 157k over 16 sessions since last post (and a brief apology for the absence).
Major highlights:
* 8k in pouring rain to Norwest Business Park one Sunday. My experiment proved the theory that rainjackets are waterproof but - even with hood active - let in water via driving rain at face. If only one could could temporarily weld them on.
* 7 x M7 runs, mainly lunchtime work ones, sometimes incorporating Nurragingi
* last Saturday, a 5k lap of the Sydney International Regatta Centre in 24:02 min with a detour up around the hill as the path was shut. Not bad time, especially after doing a 10k run earlier in the morning.
Of course, runs around The Clean Streets make up most of the other runs, however commenting on these would leave readers clamouring for a reviving beverage. I can report, however, that magpies are out early this year and have resumed their yearly battle with my CR cap. So far it's BB 1, birds 0.

Upcoming?
* SMC 10k this Sunday 09/09
* 8k Orange Blossom Run the following Sunday 16/09
* 3k Roxborough Park time trial the next Wednesday 19/09
* late Sep: holidays to far North Coast!

Don McLean is experiencing a renaissance on my car CD player; I am also purchasing his DVD and looking forward to a planned new release in 2008. So many great songs and not all from American Pie.
The Blacktown Library came through with the goods and so I have three new release books on loan; I've just started :"The Third heaven Conspiracy" by Giulio Leoni. Intriguing.
Two others on the pile are by Laura Joh Rowland and David Wishart. So I guess I'll be off to late 17th century Japan and early Imperial Rome. can't wait...

Modern day politics has been just as interesting as anything Cicero and his pals could conjure up before Octavian stepped in.
The Book currently has The Election down for October 27: announced after APEC finishes, and held before the Reserve Bank has a chance to put up interest rates again in November. There is a fascinating mix of resignation, pathos, hubris and steely determination in the Governments' pronouncements. It reminds me of the early 1970's (perhaps more from when I was later studying Australian Politics than experiencing it as 13 year old).
We have Honest John begging for one last chance, Lord Alexander Of Baghdad pulling a switcheroonie, and Tony Abbott the Battlers' Friend. Meanwhile, the polls are going the wrong way. Time for the Libs to get some new pollsters. Failing that, they need to learn from Republic Rome: just create a few thousand more citizens and get them to vote for you. Let's see, where could they import these from:
Boat People? Doctors? Tradies? Unskilled workers? Hmm, probably not a lot of love sharing there. Oh well, it's JUST possible, they may have to face the fact that they may be out of power (sorry, office) for at least three years. And I'm not sure the world will stop turning if that happens...

Auget largiendo

Exit, stage left AND heavens to Murgatroyd