Park it, Mrs BB!

Two races in two weeks!

1. Girraween Athletics Club have a short series, sort of West Met warm up, each Saturday at C.V.Kelly Park. A tricky 2k loop, I did the 2k run (they had 2k, 4k, 8k) last Saturday in 9:35, so pleased with sub 5 min/km. It is a mixture of deep grass and road, but well worth it and a very welcoming club. Missed yesterday's because we went to the Castle Hill Show, but will probably do next week's (last) run.

2. SMC today, with the hamstring feeling much better until Thursday, when I mowed the lawn on my day off running. Just proves I should hire a professional (mower).
Still, 5k in 25:45. At first glance, quite an ordinary result. Second glance doesn't improve it either. However, I am more concerned at how the hammy recovers tomorrow, because priority #1 is to keep running, not jog, race, get injured, don't run, light jog etc etc. So I took it reasonably easy. Splits 5:20 1k, 10:40 2k, 13:20 2.5k turnround, 21:00 4k, 25:45 5k. So a decent negative split and the last km in 4:45, without stress and no elevated heartbeat (164/104). Comfortable, and enjoyed a brief chat before home to wash my car, swim with YD and start work on her school project.

Cap'n Bligh created history by being the first elected female State Premier in Australia. Amazing it's taken so long. Joan and Carmen were Premiers but not through state elections. Good luck to her and I hope she jettisons a bit of flotsam in the next few weeks. It would also be good to have a strong opposition but I just can't see it. At least The Borg is apparently stepping down. Maybe he's going to volunteer to look after mental patients. Oh no, that's right, that policy won't be implemented because his side lost... What a cracker - untrained volunteers reading to mental patients and no guards required. I think someone needs to read a few things (Riot Act to start with) to the LNP policy development loonies.

Just finished reading Philip Matyszak's "Ancient Rome On Five Denarii A Day", a classic travel guide for Rome if you plan to travel there around 200AD. Simply a clever history book which details many interesting social customs and mores. Look for the companion piece "Ancient Athens On Five Drachma A Day". Just the ticket if you're in 431BC and hoping to drop in on Pericles or Thucydides (better go there before the Peloponnesian War begins).

And finally, for those that still think the LNP merger in QLD was the worst invention of all time, please check out this list.

My vote goes to the Dog Riding Outside The Car.

Canis hominum optimus amicus est.


"exit, stage left"

Half a mo, where'd Feb go?

It's been some while since last post. Since then, three races. Funnily enough, all three have been CR Twilight ones, not SMC.

The darned hamstring tendonosis caused problems during February, leading to a scratching in the SMC and CR Twilight Silverwater events. Very aggravating you might say.

As for the three:
* 30/01 Parramatta 5k in 24 flat. Surprising to see Tesso drive all the way for the run, but considering she ran her fastest for some time, I guess it was worthwhile. A nice break from her day job. You might even say, from rags to riches.
* 06/02 Doonside 5k in 25:55 and stinking hot - about 37 degrees at 7pm. The following week my leg got worse and the rest you now know.
* 27/02 Bay Run 5k in 24:40, beating the previous race's 25:15. Brilliant. I wasn't sure how I'd cope, but went through comfortably, reeling in quite a few and not being overtaken. Chatted afterwards with mate Joestat, Coogee1979M and Tomomi. Very relaxing, enabling me to thoroughly enjoy my first Margaret River cleanskin at the school Bush Dance a little later.

I'm running to avoid injury now, so no long ones and no off road. I tried that late January, just for a km or so on XC in Quakers Hill and look where it got me. Home in a hurry.

Most runs are 8k, with the occasional 10k on weekends. Plus plenty of physio-approved stretching, and weights at the gym.

With all the predictability in Federal politics at present, where can one turn to for a good laugh? I know, Queensland. They've got a state election coming soon. And some sterling candidates have announced their candidature. Notably Pauline Hanson. She still has that old media savvy in spades (but spades filled with what?).

Warwick Capper announced he was standing for Beaudesert, but forgot to register.
Maybe he's going back to something similar yet more lucrative.

The latest and yet oldest Opposition Leader in QLD has come up with another brilliant financial plan to weather the storm : a government efficiency drive! $1b a year, 3% efficiency. Why, if public servants could be 30% more efficient, they could start writing big fat cheques to pay for all the infrastructure Queensland could ever need. Truly a visionary. Alis volat propriis.

For more laughs and decent insight, try Crikey's new election blog Pineapple Party Time.

Exit, stage left.