Hi Five

Games require skill. Running requires endurance, character, pride, physical strength, and mental toughness. Running is a test, not a game. A test of faith, belief, will, and trust in ones self. So hardcore that it needs a category all to itself to define the pain. When game players criticise, it's because they aren't willing to understand, not because they're stronger. Running is more than a sport; it's a lifestyle. If you have to ask us why we run, you'll never understand, so just accept. - Jessica Propst

In 2006
I ran 3800kms altogether. That's an average of 73km per week. Not too bad. And in 2006 my weight dropped from a consistent 67kg to a consistent 64kg. (This weight reduction all happened in the first three months.)

Here are my New Year Resolutions for 2007
1. Stretch,
2. Stretch, and
3. Stretch.

FOOTNOTES

1. I will be looking to exceed 80km per week all 2007.

2. I would like to spend more quality time with my friends.

3. I am aiming for ten grandchildren by the end of the year.

...and I will not take myself too seriously.

one, two, three, four, ... HI FIVE!

Happy New Year!

Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder (AAADD)

"Sport is not about being wrapped up in cotton wool. Sport is about adapting to the unexpected and being able to modify plans at the last minute. Sport, like all life, is about taking risks." - Sir Roger Bannister

flashgoose

AAADD
People! You know I am always busy. Because/despite the fact that I have been retired for nearly four years now. But what have I achieved? The following is an analysis of a typical day in 2006. I have worked out that I suffer from AAADD: Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.

This is how it manifests:

I decide to water my garden. As I turn on the hose in the driveway, I look over at my car and decide it needs washing. As I start toward the garage, I notice mail on the back door step that I brought up from the mail box earlier.

I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car. I lay my car keys on the table, put the junk mail in the rubbish bin, and notice that the bin is full. So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the rubbish first. But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the garbage anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.

I take my cheque book off the table, and see that there is only one cheque left. My extra cheques are in my desk in the study, so I go inside the house to my desk where I find the cup of coffee I'd been drinking. I'm going to look for my cheques, but first I need to push the coffee aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over. The coffee is getting cold, and I decide to put it in the microwave to warm it up.

As I head toward the kitchen with the coffee, a vase of flowers on the bench catches my eye... they need water. I put the coffee on the bench and discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning. I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers. I set the glasses back down on the bench, fill a container with water and suddenly spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table. I realise that tonight when we go to watch TV, I'll be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the dining room where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers.

I pour some water in the flowers, but quite a bit of it spills on the floor. So, I set the remote back on the table, get some paper towels and wipe up the spill. Then, I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do. At the end of the day: the car isn't washed, the bills aren't paid, there is a cold cup of coffee sitting on the kitchen bench, the flowers don't have enough water, there is still only one cheque in my cheque book, I can't find the remote, I can't find my glasses, and I don't remember what I did with the car keys. Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day, and I'm really tired.

I realise this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail.

FOOTNOTES

1. In yesterdays storm, Holt got the most rain in all of Canberra. The rain gauge in our back yard measured 21mm. More today would be welcome!

2. This morning I measured out Aranda oval (East) ready for the new year. I am looking forward to some real sprint training!

3. The next stage in fixing up this blog is going to be to add some location maps to the sidebar.

See you at Parliament House on New Year's day! 4:30pm and/or 5:30pm as usual.

Actively Ageing

"Sports do not build character. They reveal it." - John Wooden

Actively Ageing Framework
Actively Ageing is an ACT initiative to encourage older, less mobile, people to get involved in physical activity. Here are some details.

The Actively Ageing Framework for the ACT was officially launched by the Minister for Sport, Mr Ted Quinlan MLA on 15 August 2003. (The full article is here, where you will also find a link to the Framework document.)

The Framework aims to increase the participation of older people in physical activity and has been designed to develop a coordinated approach, with the involvement of key stakeholders and other interested sections of the community.

Mr Quinlan said “The Actively Ageing Framework is central to the Government’s efforts to improve the health of older Canberrans by getting them more involved in physical activity."

Great Training Venue - to be.

Why do I run? Why do I breathe? - Nike ad

Stromlo Forest Park


"Stromlo Forest Park is a world-class multi-use, recreational sporting facility available to both recreational and professional users.

Built as a result of the devastating 2003 bushfires that destroyed the Stromlo Forest, it boasts a purpose built event pavilion, criterium cycling circuit, grass cross country running track and mountain bike tracks to suit any level of rider.

"Stromlo Forest Park also has various trails suitable for equestrian riders, runners and walkers keen on exploring the Canberra countryside.

"Only ten minutes drive from the city, Stromlo Forest Park will be available to the public at most times.

"It is planned that the Chief Minister for the Australian Capital Territory Government, Mr Jon Stanhope MLA, will officially open the Cross Country Running Tracks in October 2007.

"The reason for the extended opening period is to ensure the turf has matured and root growth is sufficient to allow running on the surface without causing detrimental effect to the running surface."

Follow the link for more information.

The correct use of apostrophe's

Few of us know what we are capable of doing… we have never pushed ourselves hard enough to find out. - Alfred A. Montapert

Today my writing laments the continual misuse of the word "its" for the third person neuter posessive, when everyone knows its the contraction for "it is". I's hair stands on end everytime I see someone use it in they's sentence. Ive even heard one grammarian state that he's book says that personal pronouns all have a special posessive case form that doesnt use "apostrophe-S"--hes off he's rocker! Youre well aware whatll happen to you's reading material if this becomes common. Were going to have to keep we's guard up, until its clear that peopleve gotten this straight! Its dreadful!!

Not only that, some peoplere even forming they's contractions with an apostrophe. When they have a word phrase such as "it is", and they want to write it's contraction, they's spelling is "it's"!! Ill never see where they couldve gotten such atrocious grammar from, when if theyre unsure of how to use "its", they only have to look it's meaning up in they's dictionary!!

An apostrophe is a single inverted comma used in punctuation to signify a possessive: that bag is her's or a plural: he has two brother's; three bus's came at once. There is widespread confusion as to where it is appropriate to use an apostrophe. The simple answer is whenever you see a word ending in an 's', e.g. I spy seven sailor's, you shouldn't run with scissor's, the hardware store sell's video's, the planet Mar's. An apostrophe may not be used in abbreviations where it is substituted for deleted letters, as when 'did not' becomes 'didn't', and 'he is' becomes 'he's'. It may however be used liberally where the presence of the letter 's' in a word creates doubt, as in the'se are the shoe's you ordered.


It's usage rules remain a mystery to most, but here are some suggestion's:
.Use one to show plural's (You have two cow's.)

.Use one in the middle of pronoun's (The dog is her's.)

.Use one in verb's (Bobs dog overeat's.)

.Use one in front of s'es, to warn the reader's eye that an s is coming up ('She goe's to the 'store to get apple's)

.Use one at the end of any word to show the speaker is a genius (I's fixin' to be goin' to the sto'.)

.Use one after numbers' with no exceptions (I have two' cows, The 60's were a great decade, 1' + 3' = 4')

.Use several to indicate the speaker is an alien ("Kh'aaa'rr'ghh," said Deb Foskey.)

Surround text with double apostrophe's to provide emphasis, especially on a sign ("Fresh" Fish!, "Cheap" Price's!)

.Surround text with double apostrophe's to suggest irony, e.g. on a sign ("Fresh" Fish!, "Cheap" Price's!); implying that the good's sold are neither fresh nor cheap.

famou's picture of a praying manti's

Rudolph

There once was a czar in Russia whose name was Rudolph the Great. He was standing in his house one day with his wife. He looked out the window and saw something happening. He says to his wife, "Look honey. Its raining." She, being the obstinate type, responded, "I don't think so, dear. I think its snowing." But Rudolph knew better. So he says to his wife, "Let's step outside and we'll find out." Lo and behold, they step outside and discover it was in fact rain. And Rudolph turns to his wife and replies," I knew it was raining. Rudolph the Red knows rain, dear!

speedyJarodFalconer at our Christmas celebrations.

FOOTNOTES

1. Today I ran along a track I hadn't tried before, the horse trail from Dunlop (Fessifern pond) toward Parkwood (the horse place near the power station.) Nice views to the West into NSW and to the South to the Brindabellas.

2. Tomorrow I plan to have a run at the Cotter, fairly early. It will be my first run there since the fires nearly four years ago.

3. The Greatest of Gifts
Well Christmas day has been and gone. There's no doubt about it: Christmas is my favorite time of year. I enjoy hanging out with family; just the best bunch of people around. And despite all the busy-ness, I have had time to reflect.

I grew up in the church and have heard the nativity story countless times, but I never really "got" it until my mid forties. Jesus could have been born in a palace, but He wasn't. Instead, He was born in a stable to a teenage couple in an obscure town southwest of Jerusalem. His birth could have been announced to the political and religious leaders of His day, but it wasn't. Instead, the good news was proclaimed to a band of frightened shepherds on a hillside. The greatest of gifts came in the simplest of ways, to ordinary people.

It's so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of holiday activity that I forget the mystery of the season. Christmas is a needed reminder that God delights in using ordinary people and circumstances to do extraordinary things. I hope the holidays always excite me, and I hope I never lose the sense of awe and wonder that God became flesh to redeem and restore us.

God turns my “has-been” into a “will-be”.

Merry Christmas!

Jesus is the Reason for the Season

My training progress
last week's target: 90k, actual 77k
this week’s target: 100k
weight: 65kg - too much turkey!

Christmas is a time of celebration. But ignore those who only celebrate consumerism and self indulgence - spending and spending, eating and drinking. Celebrate the true spirit of Christmas by living simply, humbly, and lovingly. As Jesus did and taught.

song of the week: Radiohead- Lurgee, from "Pablo Honey"

I feel better, I feel better now you've gone
I feel better, I feel strong

I got better, I got better now there's nothing wrong
I got better, I got better, I got strong

Tell me something, tell me something I don't know
Tell me one thing, tell me one thing and let it go

I got something, I got something heaven knows
I got something, I got something I don't know

How many cats does it take to change a light bulb?

Cats do not change light bulbs. People change light bulbs. So, the real question is: "How long will it be before I can expect some light, some dinner, and a massage?"

800 posts

Human beings are made up of flesh and blood, and a miracle fiber called courage - George Patton

SpeedyTylerMoore and SpeedyLianaHall at our family Christmas party.

Training today, I saw on three occasions other runners training around West Belconnen, and they were all people I knew; Tom Lane, Chris Yardley, and Jeff Gardner. My run today took me along old Charnwood Road, and around the ponds at Dunlop.

How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb?

14. Poodle: I'll just blow in the Border Collie's ear and he'll do it. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.










FOOTNOTES

1. OK, I am experimenting with the layout features of the new blogger. I will try all the standard stuff before I have a go at changing html. Something to do between Christmas and the new year, unless we go away somewhere!

2. Remember 8am Christmas day, a run from the Raiders oval at Bruce.

3. I see from a comment on flashduck’s blog that Ewen is still obsessed with the six foot track. I think he must be an insectivore.

“once was wombat”

Keep On Running

"The marathon's about being in contention over the last 10K. That's when it's about what you have in your core. You have run all the strength, all the superficial fitness out of yourself, and it really comes down to what's left inside you. To be able to draw deep and pull something out of yourself is one of the most tremendous things about the marathon." - Rob de Castella

Some results from the last T&F night
3000m Steeple
M45 Roger Pilkington 13:08.20

1000m
M50 Ken White 3:17.61
M45 Rod Lynch 3:18.63
M45 Richard Faulks 3:26.18
M45 Roger Pilkington 3:39.55
M45 Mick Horan 3:40.76
W40 Katie Forestier 3:45.86
W50 Maria O'Reilly 3:47.44
W35 Amanda Walker 3:56
M55 Neil Boden 4:03.87
M50 Peter McDonald 4:22.97
M65 Tony Booth 4:43.34
W45 Pam Faulks 4:58.29

party on

speedyJacksonMoore in party mode yesterday

Speedygeese training over Christmas/New Year
Monday 25 No PH. The geese are in hiding. No they're not, a few of us will be flapping around from the Raiders Oval at Bruce at 8am.

Tuesday 26 Yes! The Vets will still be meeting at 9am

Wednesday 27 No BBQ Stakes. Canberra has closed down.

Thursday 28 No Vets track. Not until next week.

Friday 29 No Customs run either. No one is at work.

Saturday 30 I will be running at Aranda oval at 9am. A "familiarisation" session in preparation for the new year.

Sunday 31 Don't know. Something will be organised.

Monday 1 Yes! Back into the normal routine for the new year.

How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb?

13. Australian Cattle Dog: First, I'll put all the light bulbs in a little circle...

FOOTNOTES

1. Coolrunning has a World Masters Sydney 2009 thread.

2. Christmas festivities in the Moore household have continued for two days already with more to come. Yesterday I managed to fit in a Customs 5k run in about 20:45, fairly slow but everyone was slow. I have put on 2 kilos already. So it's time for a run, before the "widespread rain" arrives.

3. Merry Christmas!

Comparing Years

The following is terribly American, also a bit dated. But despite all that, some of it is funny. And true.

26.2 Ways You Know You Are A Runner
1. You know how many miles there are in a marathon.
2. Your weekly mileage is how much you run, not your commute to work.
3. You know how many miles you get out of a pair of running shoes.
4. You can convert Kilometers to Miles in your head.
5. You measure your running route in your car to get the exact mileage.
6. When someone tells you their age, you automatically know their Boston qualifying time.
7. You know Grandma's as the route from Two Harbors to Duluth, not the person.
8. You can drink, blow your nose and pee on the run.
9. The problem with the treadmill is there's no place to spit.
10. You have less than ten toenails and that's normal for you.
11. Body Glide is your friend.
12. Ibuprofen is affectionately known as "Vitamin I".
13. Navigating walkers, dogs and baby strollers annoys you because it interrupts your pace.
14. When you participate in an organized event, you know not to run in your race t-shirt.
15. You have a favorite energy gel and flavor.
16. The "Picasso" above your fireplace is last year's TCM poster.
17. You have pre and post race rituals.
18. The journal you keep is in miles and pace not feelings or thoughts.
19. When you look at the weather conditions, you calculate how many layers to wear.
20. The pride you feel after a good run is worth the pain it took to get there.
21. You have more t-shirts than you could possibly wear.
22. When you hear the word "bib", you think of race numbers not babies and Gerber food.
23. The "no carbohydrate diet" does not apply to you.
24. You know that Fartlek is not vulgar terminology.
25. A hill is an opportunity just waiting to be challenged.
26. You know the phrase "you're almost there" only applies when the finish line is in sight.
.2 Your vacation destination is determined by your race schedule.

How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb?

12. Greyhound: It isn't moving. Who cares?





Goals (cont): How did my 2006 plans go?
Twelve months ago I said "Training will build up to 110k per week and all current speed sessions will be maintained. That should do it."
This time I have said: "Run between 100 and 120k per week"
Same plans, really.
In 2006 I didn't have many consistent 100k+ weeks. Why? Mainly because of injuries, even minor ones.
So part of the plan will have to be: "don't get injured!"
And I think that means: "race less regularly". As well as taking the obvious precautions.
Hmmm. The strategy of doing tempo runs rather than races is a good one.

Partying today. Back tomorrow!

"I don’t train. I just run my 3-15 miles a day." - Jack Foster

How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb?

11. Chihuahua : Yo quiero Taco Bulb. Or "We don't need no stinking light bulb."

FOOTNOTES

1. I ran BBQ Stakes in a satisfying 25:32 yesterday. Maybe run Customs on Friday?

2. I sent in my Canberra marathon entry today. Estimated 3:26.

3. Still waiting for "Oh! Gravity" to arrive before Christmas...

Partying today. Back tomorrow!

Running Start

"A coach can be like an oasis in the desert of a runner's lost enthusiasm." - Ken Doherty

The major races of 2007
Having decided how I am going to maintain or (hopefully) improve my fitness, the next task is to decide what events I am going to target.

Track season 06/07 - play it by ear, run some short races, try and peak for the 5km ACT Vets championships at the beginning of March. I cannot get to Hobart for the nationals, so I will make the 5k here my main goal.

Winter 07 - I am thinking of running the Canberra Marathon; I will certainly enter it; an entry form is in the mail. Will I try for around 3.30? Whatever, I will have a go at several half marathons again: I can make Weston Creek in March, Canberra in May, Doomben in June, and the Vets in August. I cannot get to Gold Coast in July, so I will target Doomben as a potential M55 pb.

Masters Games - this is the big one, the Australasian Masters Games in Adelaide in October. A fast 5km on the track; and a fast half marathon at the end. So after I run Doomben, I will get into serious 5k training.

Track season 07/08 - if I can come through all that unscathed, perhaps I can run some 800m races next season? Dream on.

How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb?

10. Cocker Spaniel: Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in the dark.

FOOTNOTES

1. You can register an “expression of interest” for the Australasian Masters Games, in Adelaide in October 2007,at http://www.australianmastersgames.com.

2. Congratulations to Peter and Maria's daughter Juanita McDonald, there was an article about her hockey successes in yesterday's Canberra Times.

3. BBQ Stakes is on today I assume. It's cooler; I will see what I can do! Then it's off to the airport to collect speedygreatgrandmother, who arrives today for two weeks holiday!

The Busy Season

“The other runners are not the real enemies. His adversary lies within him, in his ability, with brain and heart to master himself and his emotions.” - Glenn Cunningham

Five Australian records
After checking eligibility of all runners involved, it is confirmed that five Australian records were set in our 4 x 1500m relays last Thursday night; by the M45, M55, M65, W65 and W70 teams. Congratulations!

Novelty events in the final track night for 2006
6.00 2000m & 3000m Steeplechase
6.15 Lord Burley Hurdles
6.30 10 x 100m Walk Relay
6.45 100m President's Handicap
7.00 1000m Turkey Handicap, Standing Triple Jump
7.30 300m
7.45 Left Hand/Right Hand Shotput
8.00 Parlauf Relay - Free Format
8.15 Twosome 2k

Christmas should be a time of reflection....Yeah right! In the last couple of weeks every parent has been to a variety of plays, dinners, graduations, awards, performances and special excursions. Then the barbeques for departing friends, staff parties and the looming presence of the day we give something to most people in our worlds thus shopping and searching ...... Add to this the constant demand of watching cricket....Let's get to boxing day quick....

How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb?

9. Old English Sheep Dog: Light bulb? I'm sorry, but I don't see a light bulb!





Speedy Geese seen Touring d' Mountain (19k)
47. Mick Horan M45 1:45:38
48. Cathy Newman W45 1:46:09
56. Emma Adams W35 1:51:57
57. Carol Baird W55 1:52:11
60. John Alcock M60 1:56:12
62. Charmaine Knobel W50 1:56:48





FOOTNOTES

1. “You” are Time magazine’s “Person of the Year”. “You” have been named for “seizing the reins of the global media, for founding and framing the new digital democracy, for working for nothing and beating the pros at their own game”. “The creators and consumers of user-generated internet sites showed a community and collaboration on a scale never seen before.” “It’s about the many wresting power from the few and helping one another for nothing and how that will not only change the world, but change the way the world changes”.

2. If you are getting a feed error in bloglines for this site, you could try deleting the entry and subscribing to http://geoffmoore.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/full. It worked for me.

3. Commiserations to my old friend, and Mountain Running Guru, John Harding, who fell on a run around Mt Ainslie last Wednesday, fracturing his hip. Please be careful on rough surfaces!!!! There have been far too many falls lately.

"Have a very goosy Christmas"

unique

quote of the week: "A lot of people don't realise that about 98 percent of the running I put in is anything but glamorous: 2 percent joyful participation, 98 percent dedication! It's a tough formula. Getting out in the forest in the biting cold and the flattening heat, and putting in kilometer after kilometer." - Rob de Castella

My training progress
last week's target: 90k, actual 106k

this week’s target: 90k
weight: 63kg and falling

A better week; partly because the temperature dropped enough to make running relatively comfortable. And on Tuesday I had my first run in the Parliamentary relays for many many years, then on Thursday I assisted a team of old 55s to break a relay record. Now I am planning next year.

Even if I do all the training I plan to do, and remain injury free, there are still some obstacles to overcome if I am going to attain my goals. I think a significant obstacle is the immobility creeping into my lower back and hips. Plan A will be to research some ways of becoming more mobile while continuing to train. Any ideas from you the reader are welcome!

song of the week: Evermore – Know It’s True, from "Dreams"

Moonlight shines down in rays
Fire I see in your gaze

And I know it’s true, believe it too, can feel it too
And it’s clear to me, no fantasy, reality

As a child I had a dream
I saw a bird with broken wings
I woke up

And I know it’s true, believe it too, can feel it too
And I know it’s near, I’ve felt it here, ‘cause it’s in the air

Tonight, to feel alive
We try again
Tonight, to be alive, to live inside
We die again
A sign, in your eyes
Oh, a fire will rise again

It’ll take you over, and it’ll burn away tonight…

How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb?

8. Jack Russell Terrier: I'll just pop it in while I'm bouncing off the walls and furniture.

FOOTNOTES

1. Aki cannot stop smiling. Why is this so? See Aki’s post, enjoy the yuptypng.

2. At interclub on Saturday, in the 800m Kathy Southgate ran 2:31.40, an ACT W50 record, breaking Maureen’s time by 3.8 seconds. Also in the 800m Roger Pilkington ran 2:37.97, and in the 3000m Roger ran 11:24.07. And I noticed in the 800m John Lamb ran 2:18.19 – just 2 seconds outside Kevin’s ACT M55 record.

3. Happy Birthdays to Roger - yesterday - and Katie - today.

"I have no favourites. Everyone's my favourite!"

Humilty

"Marathon running is a terrible experience: monotonous, heavy, and exhausting." - Veikko Karvonen, 1954 European and Boston Marathon Champ

"I definitely want to show how beautiful the marathon can be. I am the opponent of all those who find the marathon bad: the psychologists, the physiologists, the doubters. I make the marathon beautiful for myself and for others. That's why I'm here." - Uta Pippig

"I was unable to walk for a whole week after that, so much did the race take out of me. But it was the most pleasant exhaustion I have ever known." - Emil Zatopek's description of the Olympic Marathon win in Helsinki

Louise Silver winning the 1990 Canberra marathon in her pb of 2:54

Same marathon, my only recent fast time, 5th at the age of 41.
Note the band-aids!

How will I achieve the goals I published yesterday?
Some readers are interested in how I structure my week. I plan to run weeks of 100, 110, and 120k as follows:
Mon 15k including longish intervals at Parliament House
Tue 18k easy at Vets Tuesday group
Wed 15k including a 6k tempo run at BBQ Stakes
Thu 15k including a race at Vets track
Fri 20k run from home, or possibly including a 5k tempo run at Customs
Sat 12k including short sprints at Aranda
Sun 5k, 15k, or 25k easy, to make up the distance to 100k, 110k, or 120k.

Humility: Rabbi Rafael of Barshad (19th century Europe) summed it up as follows: "When I get to heaven, they'll ask me, why didn't you learn more Torah? And I'll tell them that I'm slow-witted. Then they'll ask me, why didn't you do more kindness for others? And I'll tell them that I'm physically weak. Then they'll ask me, why didn't you give more Tzedakah? And I'll tell them that I didn't have enough money. But then they'll ask me: If you were so stupid, weak and poor, why were you so arrogant? And for that I won't have an answer."

How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb?
7. German Shepherd: I'll change it as soon as I've led these people from the dark, check to make sure I haven't missed any, and make just one more perimeter patrol to see that no one has tried to take advantage of the situation.

FOOTNOTES

1. I ran into Louise the other day at the shops, then she came out and had a look at Vets track. Maybe she will start jogging again? She looks very fit.

2. Louise and I trained together for that marathon. There are not many people who ran the Cotter 18 miler as hard as she did!

3. That 1990 marathon was a comeback race for me, and followed a win in the Weston Creek Half marathon in March that year. If I run another comeback race in the April 2007 marathon, I don't think it will be quite as fast!

three feet

Only those who attempt the absurd will achieve the impossible. — Escher

Anybody can do just about anything with himself that he really wants to and makes up his mind to do. We are capable of greater things than we realize. - Norman Vincent Peale

No one knows what he can do until he tries. - Publilius Syrus

Start of plans for 2007
I will not be racing again in 2006. So it is time for a re-valuation and re-setting of goals. Looking at my 2006 targets for specific distances, none of my goals for 1500m thru Half Marathon were achieved! But the goals needed to be there to give me something to work towards.

I am setting new targets to March 2007. My races in January thru March will be 1500m, 3000m, 5000m, and possibly a 10000m. The targets are faster, because I am expecting (hoping on reasonable evidence) that I will get fitter and not fatter.

1500m was aiming at 5:20; now aiming at 5:17
3000m was 11.15 now 11.09
5000m was 19.10 now 19.00
10000m was 39.30 now 39.15

How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb?

6. Lab: Oh, me, me!!!!! Pleeeeeeeeeze let me change the light bulb! Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? Huh? Can I? Pleeeeeeeeeze, please, please, please!

FOOTNOTES

1. full results of the 4 x 1500m relay
M45 Colin Farlow
M45 Amalendu Edelsten
M45 Mick Horan
M45 Paul Considine 18:53.20

M50 Trevor Jacobs 5:03
M35 Chris Newton 4:58
M50 Ken White 5:23 (error fixed)
M55 Geoff Sims 5:38 (error fixed) 21:01.34

M55 Paul Archer 5:28
M55 John Lamb 5:09
M55 Trevor Cobbold 5:08
M55 Geoff Moore 5:32 21:14.88

M45 John Parker
M45 Don Smith
M45 Roger Pilkington
M45 Dave McClelland 23:05.99

M65 Roger Abbott 6:20
M65 Bryan Thomas 6:10
M65 Richard Hilhorst 6:16
M65 Tony Booth 6:06 24:49.77

W65 Val Chesterton
W65 Francis Harris
W65 Sue Counsel
W65 Jennifer Odgers 34:09.33

W70 Cory Collins 7:53
W70 Anne Young 9:28
W70 Alison Ide 8:50
W70 Consie Larmour 8:05 34:20.42

2. The official results are incomplete and don't show all individual times or who set records. Obviously the M50 team didn't set a record, because there is an M35 runner in the team. The first M45 team smashed their national record; as did we old 55s and I believe the M65s as well. The W65 and W70 runners would have established national records I expect. I am surprised no M60 team ran; that age group is quite strong now. If they had Kevin Chamberlain, Des Brown, Kent Williams, and Garry Hand, for example, they would have beaten the M55s! No younger women's teams too is a bit disappointing.

3. Other Team Moore results from Thursday night:

400m
W40 Katie Forestier 74.07

3000m
M45 Amalendu Edelsten 10:24.39
M45 Roger Pilkington 12:12.67
M65 Tony Booth 15:04.74
W40 Katie Forestier 12:12.41
W55 Margaret McSpadden 15:11.94

triple jump advantage

postscript: spiral 8
2 Katie Forestier W40 15:14
3 Ken White M50 15:14
4 Ruth Baussmann W55 17:14
5 Margaret McSpadden W55 17:36
8 Roger Pilkington M45 14:59
11 Amalendu Edelsten M45 12:29
12 Geoff Moore M55 14:12
14 Amanda Walker W35 15:08
18 Tony Booth M65 16:49
20 Kathy Sims W55 16:38

New Australian record - ACHIEVED!

"People don't know why we run, but it's the hard work you put into practice, and the reward you get from the race." - Courtney Parsons

"I run because it's my passion, and not just a sport. Every time I walk out the door, I know why I'm going where I'm going and I'm already focused on that special place where I find my peace and solitude. Running, to me, is more than just a physical exercise... it's a consistent reward for victory!" - Sasha Azevedo

"People ask why I run. I say, "If you have to ask, you will never understand". It is something only those select few know. Those who put themselves through pain, but know, deep down, how good it really feels." - Erin Leonard

Another dinner photo

Mark and Barbara Tucker at our Christmas dinner.

Mission accomplished! Our M55 team managed to break the National 4 x 1500m record by about 18 seconds. Conditions were not as hot as expected; but it was warm, humid, and smoky from all the bushfires, with a strong breeze from the west. Nevertheless we ran about 21:23: Trevor Cobbold around 5:07. Paul Archer 5:26, speedygeoff 5:31, and John Lamb 5:08. Each runner ran above themselves considering each individual circumstance!

Other age group teams in the same race may also have broken or established Australian records. I think the M45 and the M50 teams broke their records by a considerably larger margin than we did; and overshadowing all these great performances was the run by the W70 team; yes a team of women aged 70 and over completed the race and established an amazing National record which other states will surely find hard to beat.

I will publish the full official results when they become available.

How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb?

5. Boxer: Who cares? I can still play with my squeaky toys in the dark.











FOOTNOTES

1. Zatopek men 10k some good pbs here!
1, Galen Rupp, USA, 28:28.18.
2, Bret Schoolmeester, USA, 28:46.26.
3, Lee Troop, VIS, 28:53.31.
4, David McNeill, VIC, 29:05.32.
5, Kim Gillard, TAS, 29:11.49.
6, Russell Dessaix-Chin, NSW, 29:15.59.
7, Michael Chettle, VIC, 29:22.61.
8, David Ruschena, VIC, 29:25.61.
9, Jason Woolhouse, NZL, 29:32.08.
10, Jeffrey Hunt, NSW, 29:32.24.
11, Liam Adams, VIC, 29:35.58.
12, Rees Buck, ACT, 29:48.99.
13, Erwin McRae, ACT, 29:49.41.
14, Anthony Haber, ACT, 29:51.01.
15, Scott McTaggart, ACT, 29:52.60.
16, Brian Livingstone, QLD, 29:57.54.
17, Andrew White, VIC, 30:02.35.
18, Matthew McDonough, VIC, 30:14.94.
19, Scott Rantall, VIC, 30:17.09.
20, Ryan Jackson, VIC, 31:23.59.
21, Linton Gloster, VIC, 32:06.16.
--, Youcef Abdi, NSWIS, DNF.
--, Mark Tucker, VIC, DNF.

2. Zatopek women 10k
1, Jessica Ruthe, NZL, 33:04.52.
2, Lisa Jane Weightman, VIC, 33:25.90.
3, Lauren Shelley, WAIS, 33:59.61.
4, Kristy Villis, SA, 34:29.83.
5, Eliza Stewart, NSW, 34:36.79.
6, Jennifer Gillard, TAS, 35:29.39.
7, Robyn Millard, VIC, 36:18.28.
8, Jenny Truscott, NSW, 36:20.90.
9, Sarah Grahame, VIC, 36:55.57.
10, Lisa Dick, VIC, 37:07.88.
11, Greta Truscott, NSW, 37:16.63.
--, Sarah Salmon, ACT, DNF.

3. Back to the 4 x 1500m relay. Trevor Jacobs turns 55 in a couple of weeks. So our record should last until 1 February 2007 the day we run another set of 4 x 1500m relays. Yesterday Trevor ran a time close to 5 minutes running with the M50 team. My challenge will be to improve enough to stay in the M55 team!

Trevor Jacobs

Australian record attempt

"Don't underestimate the importance of easy days. Easy days help you beat fatigue, to keep fatigue from beating you." - Bob Glover

Another dinner photo.



speedy geese times for Tuesday's Parliamentary Relays:
9. Mick Horan M45 5:47
31. Richard Faulks M45 6:24
48. Geoff Moore M55 7:00
54. Maria O'Reilly W50 7:11
60. Ken Eynon M60 7:38 (corrected 15/12)
61. Mark Tucker M50 7:44
62. Carol Baird W55 7:45
64. Ewen Thompson M45 7:57
78. Ruth Baussmann W55 8:40
79. Margaret McSpadden W55 8:45
81. Roy Jones M60 8:50
85. Barbara Tucker W55 9:52
88. Graeme Small M65 10:12


How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb?

4. Rottweiler: Make me.

FOOTNOTES

1. With much apprehension I join the team tonight who will try for a fast 4 x 1500m relay time, and hopefully a new Australian record. This is the M55 age group we are talking about here, you must understand. This would give me a lifetime total of three Australian records: there is in my possession a previous 4 x 1500m record certificate for a time which was subsequently broken; and more significantly, the 3000m M35 individual record, which still stands after 22 years.

2. My 1500m times in the last few years are “very average”; I could run anything from 5:20 thru 5:50 tonight. Or even slower. A 5:50 might not be good enough to get the team through, though.

3. All the same, the current Australian Record for M55 is held by the ACT, set in 2005, the team consisting of Garry Maher, Kevin Chamberlain, Trevor Cobbold and Geoff Sims. They ran 21:42. An average time of "only" 5:25 is all we need to break it.

Save Our Schools

Team Moore dinner

Lots of Italian food was enjoyed last night, and wine, at della Rocca where the speedy geese met for a Christmas get together. The only problem was that my car wouldn't start before we left home, so speedyJenny drove me there in hers. Probably a blessing.



How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb?

3. Dachshund: You know I can't reach that stupid lamp!

FOOTNOTES

1. Thursday night’s track program:
6.00 3000m, heavy weight, pole vault
6.15 60m
6.30 1500m walk
6.45 long jump
7.00 4 x 1500m relay, javelin, discus
7.30 400m
7.45 triple jump, javelin, discus, 200m hurdles
8.00 4 x 200m relay
8.15 spiral 8

2. OK. At last night’s Parliament house relays, I ran well enough to be confident that I can run a reasonable 1500m tomorrow. So the team of Trevor Cobbold, John Lamb, Paul Archer, and myself, has a chance of an M55 relay record. I am the weakest link! My time yesterday wasn’t all that “flash” but “OK” will be good enough on Thursday.

3. Politics rarely gets a mention in this blog because it is so boring boring boring and because of massive overkill elsewhere in the blogosphere. Nevertheless, today is the day our "leaders" in the ACT will be announcing which schools will close forever from 2007 or 2008. The reason for mentioning this is, Team Moore's very own Trevor Cobbold is the fearless leader of the resistance; heading the SOS (the "Save Our Schools") organisation. Boy has he been busy lately, with radio interviews, press releases, meeting etc etc. Go Trevor, you rock! Just get to tomorrow's relay on time, OK?