Thursday 27 July: At Parliament House, we ran 5 x 600m with a 300m jog, then finished off with a fast 300m Participating were Brendan, Isaac, Jen, Jennie, Brownie and me, with Dave running around the House as well.
Sunday 30 July, the distance group. Dave’s report
The Speedygeese were at it again today, albeit somewhat disjointed. Sandeep was doing a recovery jog after getting in early with a practice run on the Bush Capital half marathon course yesterday, so was conspicuously absent today. Bron was also absent without a note, doing the Vets (now “Masters”) athletics monthly handicap.
This morning in the “official” long run in Gungahlin, Bronwyn and Angus did a flatish 15k, and Giles and Thach knocked over 17k at 5:15 pace, while Peter pulled out injured after 10k. See Bronwyn’s detailed run report on the Speedygeese facebook page. [below]
Meanwhile Mhairi and Jen did a leisurely “happy run”, completing 21k from Mawson shops to Mt Taylor, Farrer Ridge, Mt Waniassa, Isaac’s Ridge and back to Mawson (600m elevation). Jeff Grey joined them for his first Speedygeese long run.
A third group did a run from the arboretum to Molonglo river and back, with Graeme doing 14k, Sammy 18k and Narelle 20k.
The rest of us were killing ourselves at the Sri Chinmoy “Gungahlin Gallop”. Conditions were perfect for the 32k out and back course (750 metres vert, give or take), with a sub-tropical 14 degrees at the start, overcast and still, although the wind picked up later. Apart from a few falls by unknown runners and one of the front runners failing to turn when the marshall went to help someone who hit their head (I think his name was forest 🤣), the event ran smoothly.
Knowing that last year was a debacle, as everyone had to line up for 5 to 10 minutes to cross the stile 500m from the start, Ewen and I devised a strategy that couldn’t fail. We found a perfect spot to jump the fence (ie cheat) with no barbed wire, hidden behind a tree. Closer to the stile, Ewen used a stick to hold up the barbed wire precariously, as a decoy so others wouldn’t notice our secret spot. Just to make sure, I sprinted the first 500 metres to get ahead of the queue, just in case some official was watching. Predictably, I was devastated to find that they had changed the course so we didn’t have to cross the stile at all. 😂 😂 🤣
There were plenty of gongs again this week, with Ewen getting third 60-69 male in the 10k (1:01:37) and Andrew finishing in 55:41. In the 32k, Shiree (3:16:09) took a Sri Chinmoy gold cup for 7th female overall, Jennie (4:25:05) placed second 60-69 female, and Kerron (4:02:02) just missed a gold cup with 4th female 50-59, having chosen a very challenging course for her longest ever run.
I finished 2nd male 50-59 in 2:52:04 (beaten by an old bloke from Wagga again), which was 10 seconds per km faster than last year. Luckily for both of us, the fastest 50-59yo changed his shirt at the last minute but forgot to change his bib, so didn't get a place. 😯 With a much drier course than last year, I figured that there was no harm in testing the new shoes I bought yesterday on the 32k course – probably not smart. That could have been one reason my legs were wrecked at the end. 😫
Shiree took one for the team by going the wrong way at the end to ensure our reputation for getting lost remained intact, although I suspect she wasn’t the only one.
Thanks everyone for the run and thanks to Bronwyn and Australian Mountain Running for the photos. Looking forward to a non-race day next weekend. 😁
Bronwyn’s report
Today's speedygeese long run was held in Mulligans Flat...in what I think is a first for the speedygeese we actually started on time (if not a fraction early!)...our small group was made up of Giles, Thach, Angus and Browny (aka Peter)...conditions were quite pleasant as we made our way around the boundary, sometimes inside the fence, sometimes out...as predicted I was the sweeper as well as the navigator (yelling out turns to Angus who passed them on to the front)...we stopped for the obligatory group shot (once I caught up)...unfortunately Browny did a fetlock and had to cut his run short (ending up with 10k) while the rest of us continued back to the start as planned...Angus and I did 15.1k while Thach (17.1k) and Giles (16.9k) did a bit extra running back to me a few times.
Monday 31 July at Parliament House: I ran early; then I was joined by Bronwyn, Isaac, Jen, Warrick and Pieta for 16 sprints down and up out favourite 100m hill. It was damp and cool!
The House With Annabel Crabb - a must watch. We may see people we know!
Series 1 | Episode 1
Join host Annabel Crabb on an all-access visit to Australia's Parliament House. As the 45th Parliament opens with a cast of apprehensive new MPs & an unpredictable Senate, Annabel takes us on a tour of the engine room.
Episode 1: Tuesday 8 Aug 2017, 8:01pm ABC1
Repeated: Wednesday 9 Aug 2017, 1:29pm ABC1
Repeated: Sunday 13 Aug 2017, 7:30pm ABCnews24
Sunday 30 July, the distance group. Dave’s report
The Speedygeese were at it again today, albeit somewhat disjointed. Sandeep was doing a recovery jog after getting in early with a practice run on the Bush Capital half marathon course yesterday, so was conspicuously absent today. Bron was also absent without a note, doing the Vets (now “Masters”) athletics monthly handicap.
This morning in the “official” long run in Gungahlin, Bronwyn and Angus did a flatish 15k, and Giles and Thach knocked over 17k at 5:15 pace, while Peter pulled out injured after 10k. See Bronwyn’s detailed run report on the Speedygeese facebook page. [below]
Meanwhile Mhairi and Jen did a leisurely “happy run”, completing 21k from Mawson shops to Mt Taylor, Farrer Ridge, Mt Waniassa, Isaac’s Ridge and back to Mawson (600m elevation). Jeff Grey joined them for his first Speedygeese long run.
A third group did a run from the arboretum to Molonglo river and back, with Graeme doing 14k, Sammy 18k and Narelle 20k.
The rest of us were killing ourselves at the Sri Chinmoy “Gungahlin Gallop”. Conditions were perfect for the 32k out and back course (750 metres vert, give or take), with a sub-tropical 14 degrees at the start, overcast and still, although the wind picked up later. Apart from a few falls by unknown runners and one of the front runners failing to turn when the marshall went to help someone who hit their head (I think his name was forest 🤣), the event ran smoothly.
Knowing that last year was a debacle, as everyone had to line up for 5 to 10 minutes to cross the stile 500m from the start, Ewen and I devised a strategy that couldn’t fail. We found a perfect spot to jump the fence (ie cheat) with no barbed wire, hidden behind a tree. Closer to the stile, Ewen used a stick to hold up the barbed wire precariously, as a decoy so others wouldn’t notice our secret spot. Just to make sure, I sprinted the first 500 metres to get ahead of the queue, just in case some official was watching. Predictably, I was devastated to find that they had changed the course so we didn’t have to cross the stile at all. 😂 😂 🤣
There were plenty of gongs again this week, with Ewen getting third 60-69 male in the 10k (1:01:37) and Andrew finishing in 55:41. In the 32k, Shiree (3:16:09) took a Sri Chinmoy gold cup for 7th female overall, Jennie (4:25:05) placed second 60-69 female, and Kerron (4:02:02) just missed a gold cup with 4th female 50-59, having chosen a very challenging course for her longest ever run.
I finished 2nd male 50-59 in 2:52:04 (beaten by an old bloke from Wagga again), which was 10 seconds per km faster than last year. Luckily for both of us, the fastest 50-59yo changed his shirt at the last minute but forgot to change his bib, so didn't get a place. 😯 With a much drier course than last year, I figured that there was no harm in testing the new shoes I bought yesterday on the 32k course – probably not smart. That could have been one reason my legs were wrecked at the end. 😫
Shiree took one for the team by going the wrong way at the end to ensure our reputation for getting lost remained intact, although I suspect she wasn’t the only one.
Thanks everyone for the run and thanks to Bronwyn and Australian Mountain Running for the photos. Looking forward to a non-race day next weekend. 😁
Bronwyn’s report
Today's speedygeese long run was held in Mulligans Flat...in what I think is a first for the speedygeese we actually started on time (if not a fraction early!)...our small group was made up of Giles, Thach, Angus and Browny (aka Peter)...conditions were quite pleasant as we made our way around the boundary, sometimes inside the fence, sometimes out...as predicted I was the sweeper as well as the navigator (yelling out turns to Angus who passed them on to the front)...we stopped for the obligatory group shot (once I caught up)...unfortunately Browny did a fetlock and had to cut his run short (ending up with 10k) while the rest of us continued back to the start as planned...Angus and I did 15.1k while Thach (17.1k) and Giles (16.9k) did a bit extra running back to me a few times.
Monday 31 July at Parliament House: I ran early; then I was joined by Bronwyn, Isaac, Jen, Warrick and Pieta for 16 sprints down and up out favourite 100m hill. It was damp and cool!
The House With Annabel Crabb - a must watch. We may see people we know!
Series 1 | Episode 1
Join host Annabel Crabb on an all-access visit to Australia's Parliament House. As the 45th Parliament opens with a cast of apprehensive new MPs & an unpredictable Senate, Annabel takes us on a tour of the engine room.
Episode 1: Tuesday 8 Aug 2017, 8:01pm ABC1
Repeated: Wednesday 9 Aug 2017, 1:29pm ABC1
Repeated: Sunday 13 Aug 2017, 7:30pm ABCnews24
