What's happening?

(1) Thursdays at Dickson oval is happening each week: 4:30pm for an easy 7k run; 5:30pm for training on the track under lights. We are doing long intervals there. Anyone can turn up and join in.

(2) This Saturday 2nd May I had planned to do the Shellharbour parkrun.
But...

Shellharbour parkrun is cancelled on 2 May 2015: Course has been damaged by torrential rain.

Nevertheless Jenny and I will have a few days' holiday in Kiama and Jamberoo, having a good time. Rain or shine.

(3) This Monday 4th May at Parliament House I will be bringing champagne for my birthday! We encourage everyone to do that on their birthday week; some "forget". May the fourth be with you.

(4) Our next group dinner will be another informal one at the Yacht Club, after training on Monday 11th May. Anyone may come; no need to confirm in advance.

(5) There's a "May Challenge" starting tomorrow of course. Please join in; many are! To print it, you can press "file"... "download as" "PDF document", and print that.

See where I ran - this is yesterday's 12k run after gym work at Kippax. I hadn't run up that hill through Flynn to Mount Rogers for many years. It's another sign my fitness levels are improving.

speedygeese training

On Thursday 23rd, another session at Dickson. Miranda, Thea and I ran early, up Antill street, down the tree line to Northbourne Avenue, and return. Then at Dickson oval interval training we ran 850m with handicap starts enjoyed by Bronwyn, Janene, Jen, Julia, Louise and the improving Susan.

On Sunday, Andrew was at Stromlo Forest Park running 3 x 1k.

Monday we resumed at Parliament House where I ran 8k early, then because many had raced a hilly 10k the previous day, we did an easier session of up to ten x 200m at the Rose Garden. Participating were Andrew, Andy, Dan, Diana, Isaac, Jen, Julia, Marie, Mick, Nicole, Peter, Pieta, Ruth & Susan. Cookie made an appearance, too, in high heels!

speedygeese race results

Tuesday 21 April AMRA Black Mountain Run-Up 2.6k
26 finishers

Friday 24 April Customs 5k
Peter Thomson 22:27
Bronwyn Calver 29:47 (fell)
Caroline Campbell 33:10
26 finishers

Sunday 26 April ACTVAC Handicap Majura 10k
2 William Arthur M60 58:25 64.5%
5 Helen Larmour W55 47:56 84.5 **gold**
8 Janene Kingston W50 53:45 71.1
11 Mick Charlton M60 59:49 62.7
27 Nadine Morrison W45 50:47 69.9
32 Gabrielle Brown W50 55:00 70.3
42 Margaret McSpadden W65 70:35 67.2
44 Peter Thomson M50 49:01 70.4
47 Andrew Matthews M55 61:36 57.1 (extra distance)
49 Geoff Moore M65 51:45 74.5
51 Louise Sharp W30 44:00 74.4
54 Ruth Baussmann W60 67:04 66.9
57 Stuart Doyle M45 39:17 84.8
61 finishers

Sunday 26 April ACTVAC Handicap Majura 5k
4 Gwen Vines W65 34:08 69.0%
10 Cathy Montalto W60 26:45 81.0 **bronze**
12 Jill Pearson W55 26:54 75.9
44 finishers

My first Vets Handicap since June 2012



Cooling down with Louise



Hanging out with Ron, Margaret and Gwen. Ron and Gwen return home to Brisbane today.

Now, where are my flared trousers?

Song of the week: “Play That Funky Music”, by Wild Cherry

At https://youtu.be/qe1ScoePqVA

YCRC News

1. YCRC Winter Series 2015 - Saturday 2nd May - Kingston Physio West Basin 5k/10 Miler – 8am John Cardiff Close, Black Mountain Peninsula. Please note start time. 10 Miler includes lap of West Basin, Lake Burley Griffin on the bike path. 5k is 2.5k out and back. The 10 Miler (16.1k) is a senior club point score event and the 5k is a junior club point score event. A 2k event for young children will be held as part of the 5k if needed. Craig Wisdom from Kingston Physiotherapy and Sports Medicine and Sports Injury Centre will provide some barrel draw prizes.

2. Women’s and Girls’ Jogalong –Sunday 3rd May- 6k/3k/1.6k - Three events starting and finishing in Weston Park, at the Junction of Prescott Lane and Weston Park Road. 6k the popular handicap where the walkers and slower runners start from the early groups. 3k not a handicap and starts at 9am, which is the same time as group one in 6k. 1.6k Mini Jog for young children starts shortly after 9am.

3. YMCA Canberra Half Marathon Weekend 23rd/24th May 2015 – Lennox Gardens – Yarralumla behind Hyatt Hotel off Flynn Drive. A 5k Fun Run and a 1.6k Mini Jog are held on the Saturday. Entry to these events are free for club members and paid up half marathon entrants. YMCA Canberra Half Marathon starts at 8am Sunday 24th May.

Full details and a course description can be found on the club website. Entries are now open and all early bird entries stand a chance to win one of two $200 Mizuno Shoe Gift Voucher redeemable at the Canberra Runners Shop. The registration for the half is: https://www.registernow.com.au/secure/Register.aspx?E=15477 Early bird entries close Friday 24th April at midnight with draw for Mizuno prizes to take place at YCRC Meeting on Thursday 30th April.

4. Helpers/Volunteers Club Events - With the exception of admin assistance from YMCA Canberra the YCRC is an all-volunteer organisation. You do not need to be a committee member to play an active role in helping your club. Our Winter Series of events starts on Saturday 18th April at Stromlo Forest Park with a 2/5k at 1245pm. If you can help please contact David Osmond.

5. Club Winter Program – If you are planning to run in our Winter Series events, please ensure that you check the location of the event on the club website during the week of the events. The small card ‘Calendar of Events’ which was printed in early 2015 might always be correct. Approvals for events are not always forthcoming and one known change is on 9th May. Due to the unavailability of Stromlo Forest Park on 9th May we will have 2k/3.1k and 6.2k at North Lyneham. Then on 6th June instead of the North Lyneham events we will be at Stromlo Forest Park for 2/4/6k events.

yellow fin tuna

My son-in-law and grandson enjoying Fiji.





They "trawled the reef using plastic lures"*. Now that they are back home, seems they have enough food to last a few weeks. For the new kitten.

*Or so my son-in-law says.

Where we went 7 June 2014: Northumberland tour

After running the Gibside parkrun, we kicked on to explore many dozens of back roads, villages, castles and other sites in Northumberland; ancient roman ruins, and places where many of Jenny's ancestors resided.  We took many hundreds of photos. My camera ran out of battery, so after a few of my photos below, the rest are Jenny's. Which is why I am in a couple of them.

As a fan of Neil Gaiman's "Stardust", I was intrigued to discover there is actually a village called "Wall". We had to stop and I got Jenny to photograph the sign.

We got a bit wet in places, but it didn't matter.

Announcing the May Challenge #GMMayChallenge2015

Friday next week is the first of May. It is also the start of the May Challenge, linked here.

If you wish to print it, try "File" "Download As" "PDF document", and once downloaded, print that.

The May Challenge is more or less a repeat of last November's Challenge, the first one we did.

speedygeese training

Training on Thursday 16 April: At Dickson.
Running early were Miranda and I. Then on the oval were Colin, Janene, Jen, John (new), Julia, Louise (new), Stuart (new) and Susan. They ran 5 x 850m (two laps in lane 4) all off scratch, timed, a lap or so jog between each as they regathered. In future we will run these long intervals, not necessarily two-lappers, with handicap starts.

On Sunday at Stromlo Forest Park:
Dave, Andrew and I ran km intervals, with Dave continuing on to run some 400s. I was happy to average 4:15 for the kilometres, a real improvement.

Training on Monday 20 April at Parliament House:
Thommo and I ran early, 8k about 4 minutes quicker than usual. Then for the main training session on the hills, a repeat of last week, we had Andy, Diana, Jen, Nicole, Pieta, Ruth & Susan participating. Another good training session; it was nowhere near as cold as we imagined it might be, with Parliament House sheltering the west side hills from the strong wind.

My training is going well. I am on target this month. Two or three sessions in the gym each week, and each day's April Abs Challenge being completed despite how difficult it looked at the start. And I have felt strong since Friday.

For the May Challenge this year, I will repeat last November's, which I called the #SpeedyGeoff30DayChallenge, the first we did. I will set up a link to a spreadsheet soon.

See where we ran - more "new courses".
Thursday's 8k run from Dickson, avoiding the rough tracks around Mount Ainslie and Mount Majura.




Saturday's Tuggeranong Parkrun 5k course




My Tuesday 7k run from Energy Gym Kippax along the Ginninderra Creek and back, more sheltered than the golf course might have been (we have had quite strong winds the last few days)

speedygeese results

Sunday 5 April YCRC Women’s 6k Jogalong
Nadine Morrison W45 27:59
Caroline Campbell W70 34:46
Ruth Baussmann W60 35:47
Margaret McSpadden W65 36:36
73 finishers

Tuesday 7 April AMRA Mt Ainslie Run-Up 2.2k
2 Peter Burke 15.26
Only 5 finishers in heavy rain.

Friday 17 April Customs 5k
Caroline Campbell 30:33
Bronwyn Calver 26:10
Jen, Isaac, William & Laura ran as well.

Saturday 18 April 5k Ginninderra Parkrun #156
77 Thea Zimpel 27:20 W30
94 Ruth Baussmann 29:41 W60
98 Margaret McSpadden 29:48 W65
135 Gwen Vines 36:48 W65
155 finishers

Saturday 18 April 5k Tuggeranong Parkrun #113
11 David Clarke 20:06 M55
18 Peter Thomson 20:48 M50
24 Geoff Moore 22:06 M65 **new (Tuggeranong) PB!**
28 Julia Anderson 22:16 W40
30 Ewen Thompson 22:45 M55
91 Pieta Smith 28:37 W40
101 Kayla Anderson 30:11 W11
135 Nicole Robinson 36:19 W40
170 finishers

Saturday 18 April 5k Gungahlin Parkrun #79
30 Nadine Morrison 22:23 W45
35 Janene Kingston 23:01 W50
44 Gary Bowen 24:20 M55
106 Brett Morrison 30:19 M45
160 finishers

22 years ago when I was 45...with Rob Ey


"You don't stop running when you get old; you get old when you stop running"

The Wolf

Song of week: "The Wolf", by Mumford & Sons. From their new album "Wilder Mind" to be released on 4 May.

Video at https://youtu.be/wRgJZFpoBxg

Grandchildren update

While one family of 3 grandchildren, the Halls, holidays in Fiji...






Another family of 6 grandchildren, the Falconers, records some sporting success...


Liv finished 7th overall at State Championships International Level 8 placing 6th on Floor, 6th on Beam and 3rd on Vault. She also qualified for National championships in May. Great result for all her hard work at training. Fund raising ideas anyone??


Jarod Falconer had a great State championships with three pb's. Placing 11th 400m, 10th High jump, 7th 4x100m relay, 6th Long jump, 6th Hurdles, and State champ 1st in triple jump 12.02m (the second picture is all the kids measuring out his jump.) Not going to specialise yet.


From the tip of Jarod's hands to the tip of Liv's toes is 12.02m The length of Jarod's Gold medal triple jump.

In Case You Didn't Know

Major: "I didn't see you at camouflage training this morning, Sergeant!"
Sergeant: "Thank you, Sir!!"

Told my wife I thought her trousers needed taking in
"Do you think I've lost weight?" she smiled
"No" I said "it's started raining"

My wife told me to stop impersonating a flamingo. I had to put my foot down.

See where we went: Morning of June 7, Gibside parkrun

On the morning of 7 June 2014 I combined running and touring, by visiting the parkrun at Gibside, not far from Gateshead, across the border in Durham. The run was within a national trust area and was most scenic.
Details of the history of Gibside are at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibside. We did some exploring but were not aware of the history at the time!
To get to the start we had an uphill walk from the car park into the national trust area, passing through some touristy weekend stalls, then around the back of the walled garden.

There are also parkruns at Gateshead and Newcastle, as well as further south in county Durham, but I thought Gibside would be more fun.






It was a steep course! 
The time at the top of the altitude chart is Canberra time, not British time.