More Philosophical Jokes

A man does a good deed and as a reward his guardian angel appears and offers him the answer to any question he wishes to ask. But she says to take his time and she will return in two days. Well the man immediately realized he could become very rich: Which stock will go up the most over the next five years? Which horse will win the Kentucky Derby? Who will win the next Superbowl? etc. But then he thought, why waste this chance of a lifetime on money? After all, money is only a means to happiness. With the right question he can determine the secret of happiness itself! But the more he thought about it, the more he worried about tricks the angel might play: for example, suppose he asked, "What will make me the happiest man in the universe?" And she answered, "Go live on planet Rigel III" - perhaps true, but perfectly useless.

So our careful questioner decided to take this problem to the nearest philosophy department for assistance. He put the problem to the chair. The chair loved the challenge and as it happens, they were having a departmental meeting that evening anyway, so he told the man to return the next day. When the man returned, the chair beamed and informed him that the department put its best minds together and came up with the best possible question to ask the angel - and naturally he told the man the question to ask.

The next day the angel appeared and asked, "Well, do you have a question for me?" "Yes," the man replied with a great deal of confidence in his voice. "What are the members of the following ordered pair: the first member of the pair is the best possible question I could ask you, and the second member of the pair is the answer to that question?" The angel smiled and said, "You know, you couldn't have asked me a better question. In fact the first member of the pair IS the question you just asked. But that means the second member is the answer I'm giving you now."

12k cross country result
44. Roger Pilkington 47 M45 50:51 4:14/km
47. Geoff Moore 58 M55 51:42 4:18/km
54. John Kennedy 56 M55 52:36 4:23/km
58. Alan Green 57 M55 53:09 4:26/km
71. Geoff Sims 57 M55 61:19 5:07/km

Note that the results published for the Vets in today's Canberra Times are not necessarily correct. The above are.

8k cross country result - tomorrow hopefully

Running this Saturday?
Late entries for the Bush Capital Bush marathon close on Wednesday. I still haven’t decided if I am going to run the 16k or the 25k, it depends on what others want to do…. I will probably jog the 16k with others, the late entry for that is $25 compared with $50 for the 25k…

Convergence

A mathematician, a physicist, and an engineer were asked to review this mathematical problem. In a high school gym, all the girls in the class were lined up against one wall, and all the boys against the opposite wall. Then, every ten seconds, they walked toward each other until they were half the previous distance apart. The mathematician, physicist, and engineer were asked, " When will the girls and boys meet?" The mathematician said, " Never."The physicist said, " In an infinite amount of time." The engineer said, " Well... in about two minutes, they'll be close enough for all practical purposes."

It all came together today in the Cross Country Championships for those who ran, with everyone running good times on a better than usual day for the events. Bright sunshine made for a mild start and a light breeze kept us relatively cool. 12k is a long way to race on grass, so it was good to have firm footing for much of the run. 8k is still a long way for the women and the over-60 men on this course which takes a lot of concentration to keep the pace going.

I was pleased with the efforts of our elite women in the 8k, who pushed each other along to excellent performances and finished close together. Maria with a bit of a cold pushing through well in the second half, Katie who rarely races this far putting in surges early then hanging in well in the last 3k, and Helen sustaining a fast pace though exhausted and kicking home strongly. Annette stayed with them, and the others a little further back in the field did well too.

I was pleased with my effort in the 12k, although not terribly quick, it was a good sustained effort and I managed to pull away from many of my rivals in the second half. Roger ran well despite injury and was one of a few who did pull away from me while I was passing others. I have run many more ACT 12k Cross Country championships than anyone else, having missed very few since 1969. I will be relieved next year to run it for the last time, if I decide to do so, as after that I turn 60 and can run the 8k. Because, after a race that long off road, ....

Running Commentary

Thought for today - "Anyone can run 100 meters. . . . It's the next 4900 that count!"

Here's Saturday's program again for you locals, copied from "Coming Events".
Cross Country Championships, Weston Park.
10.15 am Under 12 Girls 2k, Under 12 Boys 2k
10.35 am Under 14 Girls 3k, Under 14 Boys 3k
10.55 am Under 16 Girls 4k, Under 16 Boys 4k, Under 18 Women 4k
11.25 am Under 20 Women 6k, Under 18 Men 6k
12.10 pm Under 20 Men 8k, Open Women 8k, Veteran Women 8k, Veteran Men (Over 60) 8k
1.00 pm Open Men 12k, Veteran Men (30 – 59) 12k.
Entry for veterans who are members of ACTVAC is no extra cost, but all veterans wishing to run as veterans must register before the start. They will then be tagged so as to be identifiable to the recorders. One day membership is $1.00 for non-members.

After publishing yesterday the photos of a seven year old grandaughter doing gymnastics, I took a grandson, who is about to turn six years old, to see the movie "Cars". Another high quality Pixar masterpiece. With a great message for pot hunters!

He laughed at the same bits I did. Scary! We laughed all the way through it. At the end (and we stayed to the very end for some very funny scenes after the credits) he said, with a wide smile, "Can we watch it again?"

It is great being a grandfather, rubbing shoulders with the young and learning again to think like a little child, one keen to explore everything around them and gain a larger understanding of reality.

Imagine you are six or seven years old, experiencing challenges for the very first time!

Recapture that sense of wonder, of wide eyed adventure, of openness to all the novelty that real life has to offer.

Stop watching that stupid "reality" TV program, don’t let them script reality for you, get out there and find the real reality.

Encounter the freshness of the new day, see the world with inquiring eyes, hear the sounds with new ears, realise that today has never happened before!

That's all I have to say today.

The view from the summit is worth the effort

"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure . . . than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in a grey twilight that knows not victory nor defeat." - Theodore Roosevelt

My granddaughter Kayleigh (age 7) at the NSW State gymnastics titles, on bars

Kayleigh on floor

Kayleigh on beam

Last Word
We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing. - Benjamin Franklin

My mother reads my blog

Excerpt from email -

"I have also been reading your webpage again, Geoff. I do look at it
about once a week...."

Goodness earth! What have I said!

Checking my jokes, quotes, and photos, phew they look OK. And I said channel nine were stupid, I didn't say what I really thought.

Isn't it funny how you will say anything and everything publicly in a blog that you might not say if you were talking to individuals. Like, your state of health, for example. Or whether Mr Flibble is very cross this week.

Even though I know my daughter reads my blog, that's never made me stop and panic. But my mother??

Does your mother read your blog?

Listen very carefully, I will say this only once!

Every so often I have been asked, "Do you think I would be able to run a marathon?"

Usually I say, "Yes anyone can run a marathon".

Although there's a lot of pain in the preparation. And time, and sacrifice.

If you have never run a marathon, but feel it is something you need to do, here are a few hints off the top of my head to indicate how to go about it.

1. Do you want to run a fast time?
Then to do yourself justice you need to build up your strength in training over many years, keeping up your natural speed while gradually extended the frequency and length of your training runs. Continue this for some years until you can run 600 kms per month while continuing to improve at short races, particularly 5 kms and 10 kms. Then ease off training and race the marathon, throwing caution to the winds by running evenly at a very fast pace to the half way mark and seeing if you can kick on from there.

After a fast marathon race take a month to recover before you revert to full speed training and racing again over shorter distances. And maybe only one or two marathons a year should be raced.

2. Or do you want to complete the distance whatever the time?
Then slow yourself right down and start running longer and longer in training, until you can run at least 300 kms comfortably per month without any trouble. Then you could run a marathon, but remember to run at a very conservative pace.

After such a marathon, ease back into the training again, noting that your preparation should have ensured you can get back into the long-easy routine within a few days. Don't attempt another marathon run though until you are well and truly ready.

And don't expect to excel over shorter distances.

3. Do you fall somewhere in between? Or are you unsure which category is you?
Then talk it through with your coach before making any long term decisions.

"Anyone can run a marathon". Perhaps. Not something to be taken lightly, though.

Edit: This article HAS been published in the August Vetrunner after all. So I WILL be saying this more than once.

A better week? Let's hope so.

My training progress

last week's target n/a actual 58k including a 10 mile race & one gym session

this week’s target 70k, 12k race, two gym sessions
quote of the week "Trample the weak. Hurdle the dead." – unknown, but has apparently experienced a “City to Surf”.
weight 64.5kg and falling
song of the week Anchor – Lifehouse – Stanley Climbfall.

I know that I'll never be alone
you will never let me go
you are my anchor
hold my hand
while I'm sinking in the sand
no one else could understand
you are my anchor

I was really looking forward to watching the Crows play the Kangaroos this Friday night. Guess what time the game is on? 5am Saturday morning. Unbelievable. Stupid channel nine. How pathetic. If they don't want to show the game at a reasonable time, let Foxtel take it. That way I could go down to Wests, find a small tv well away from the big screen showing NRL, and watch another thumping Crows victory. The Year of the Crow continues!

And I got it right with the "tumbles down" prediction two days ago, hey!

See you at training tonight rain or (moon) shine, and don't forget to look at "coming events" to see details of the cross country championships coming up this weekend.

Team Moore Ten Mile

Today's ten mile result highlights - not all that cold, very light drizzle if any, little wind, no officials, no km marks or other course markings, nothing. Thea's best ever run ever, well on target for a sub 1:40 half marathon soon. No casualties amongst the group after the sprints and surges we did in training last week.

Women
3. Thea Zimpel 1:14:19
5. Charlie McCormack W40 1:15:24
8. Maria O'Reilly W50 1:15:55
9. Cathy Newman W45 1:16:51
14. Kathy Sims W55 1:22:16
16. Caroline Campbell W60 1:25:08
17. Annemarie Calnan W50 1:25:23
20. Gabrielle Brown W40 1:26:13
21. Charmaine Knobel W50 1:26:16
23. Pam Faulks W45 1:29:02
25. Ruth Baussmann W55 1:30:20
26. Margaret McSpadden W55 1:30:21

Men
17. Richard Faulks M45 1:06:44
22. Bob Harlow M55 1:09:31
24. John Kennedy M55 1:09:51
35. Geoff Moore M55 1:14:06
37. Alan Green M55 1:14:52
45. Geoff Sims M55 1:23:45
46. Geoff Barker M60 1:24:02
47. Peter McDonald M50 1:24:26

This was a pathetic run from me, although certainly not my worst ever run ever, however everyone else was brilliant of course. On current (two weeks ago) form I should be able to run approximately 1:06.43 for this race. The fact that I had more pit stops during the run than I have ever had in all other races combined in a 45 year career is no excuse. Five pit stops! The good news is, I still felt better than I have on any day for the last two weeks.

Oh, I nearly forgot the 5k that was on at the same time.

Women
1. Katie Forestier W40 21:52

Men
6. Graeme Small M65 28:10

Yes those age groups are correct! And what a good turn-out from our team.

Run like a BIG CAT

Poetry in motion!
Percy Cerutty loved animal images. On one of my visits to Portsea, he showed us movies of leopards, cheetahs and tigers, to inspire us to run naturally and instinctively with power and relaxation. See yesterday's post!

Percy

Short post for the attention-deficit. (long post follows)

Q. What tumbles down in July?
A. Collingwood.

Philosopher and Coach

An Article by Col Davies
The Olympic movement has not been spared … in modern times drug programmed athletes of science have been engaged in never ending warfare with drug free athletes of natural excellence.

The drug controversy surrounding the Sydney Olympics would have angered and saddened legendary Australian athletics coach Percy Cerutty, whose unconventional methods were studied and copied by the best coaches in Europe and America. Fully acquainted with the darkness of the night, Cerutty discovered within the human soul there existed something greater and more powerful than any scientifically produced performance enhancing drugs.

In his best selling book “Beyond Winning: The Timeless Wisdom of Great Philosopher Coaches”, which profiles the lives and achievements of the world's few truly great coaches, American author Gary Walton said of Cerutty: “In the 23 years Cerutty actively coached at Portsea, 30 world record breakers followed his methods and fell victim to the Cerutty virus. Some men thought him a crank, many viewed him skeptically, but all agreed he was unique. A philosopher and a poet, an athlete and coach, and above all an individual, Percy Cerutty was a force in athletics like few others. Cerutty and the Stotans raised horizons and pushed forward our conceptions of human limits. They did it by living and believing in the Stotan Creed."

At the core of Cerutty's romantic philosophy of personal triumph through adversity was “strength through nature”. His Stotan creed, which borrowed much from the ancient Greeks, especially the Spartans, emphasised the values of persistence, self-denial, strength, simplicity, and fearlessness.

Sitting around the flickering camp fire at night in the peaceful salty air, Cerutty would inspire his athletes with stories about those non-conforming individuals whose fearless actions changed the course of human history, and quote from Plato, Aristotle, Buddha, Jesus, Einstein, Freud … and especially St Francis of Assisi. One of the athletes inspired by Cerutty was a 17-year-old Western Australian schoolboy champion, Herb Elliott, who in 1955 made the long journey across the Nullarbor to Portsea.

What was not readily discernible to those who gazed upon the gladiators of Portsea storming the windswept sand dunes of the rugged coastline was the hidden spiritual message of Cerutty's coaching.

At Melbourne's Olympic Park two years later, Elliott took on Australia's best in a race the media promoted as the ultimate contest between science and nature. The sporting world was shocked when the highly fancied Melbourne University trained runner, Merv Lincoln, was narrowly defeated by the nature hardened Elliott, whose sights now extended far beyond Australian shores.

The following year Elliott travelled to the United States, whose military and economic power dominated world affairs. That dominance had been threatened several months earlier when the Soviet Union became the first nation to put a satellite into outer space. The Soviet satellite sent shock waves through the corridors of power in Washington - and American self-belief was further eroded when Elliott comprehensively beat the best America had to offer.

The Australian champion and his coach were utterly appalled by what they heard and saw: life was focused on the mindless acquisition of material possessions, self-esteem was based on wealth, the pursuit of pleasure had resulted in most Americans being fat and flabby, the pace of life was frenetic, children were pampered and babies as young as six months were being propped in front of television sets.

Both Australians refused to remain silent and their unflattering observations about America's self indulgent life style received widespread coverage in the American press.

Their outspoken comments would make a powerful impact … especially on a youthful American Senator, John F. Kennedy, who would later win the 1960 presidency by asking his fellow Americans to walk beyond the narrow streets of personal self interest and travel together down a higher path of compassionate sacrifice.

Voicing his deep concern about the growing dangers posed by the soft nature of American society, Elliott said: “Money seemed to play far too important a part in the way of life. It appeared to me that the people were forgetting the simpler pleasures of exercise, family life and the observance of nature in their pursuit of material possessions. … A people who so thoroughly mollycoddle themselves must steadily become weaker, physically and spiritually. The Americans are not the only people who are insulating themselves from their environment; the tendency exists even in my own country.” The truth of Herb Elliott's convictions would be tested by his deeds and his ultimate challenge was soon at hand. There have been many great moments in Australian sport but few have rivalled Elliott's performance in the 1500 metres at the 1960 Rome Olympics. More than 90,000 spectators watched in sheer amazement as the young Australian powered away in the final lap from the star-studded field. Elliott went on to win by more than twenty metres, and his world record was hailed by experts as the most emphatic in Olympic history.

Soon afterwards, against Cerutty's advice, the 22-year-old Elliott, who remained unbeaten in races over a mile and 1500 metres, announced his retirement.

It was the end of an era and for the next 15 years. Until his death in 1975, Cerutty lived at Portsea where his radical teachings impacted significantly on all major areas of Australian sport, including, swimming, tennis, cycling, and football. Nevertheless, the wisdom of Cerutty would soon be forgotten and speaking about the essential difference between Cerutty and other coaches, Elliott said, “Percy coached the spirit.”

Even more amazing than Cerutty's spectacular success as a coach of sportsmen is the story of Cerutty the person. At the age of 43, while working as a government telephone technician, Cerruty suffered a nervous and physical breakdown. He was unable to drive and it was only with great difficulty that he could walk to the front gate to collect his mail. The smallest physical exertion left him totally exhausted. Doctors gave him but a few months to live. Cerutty refused to accept the medical verdict. As he clung desperately to the last tormented threads of an unfulfilled life of quiet desperation, he knew his only hope was to drastically change the way he lived. This was the defining moment in Cerutty's life … he took himself off all prescribed medication and embarked upon a radical journey of self healing.

The starting point for Cerutty was food to energise his sickly body. He made radical changes to his daily diet, which now consisted of boiled fruit and vegetables. Gone were animal fats, red meat, white bread and chemically produced foods. Recognising the long forgotten truth that the quality of our daily food determines the quality of our daily lives, Cerutty wrote: “We believe that the closer to nature our food is, the better it is for us. Closer to nature means, as we find it in nature, out in the gardens, fields, the woods and the sea. That means raw, unadulterated, unrefined, unprocessed. We are not vegetarians, but I say we could be and perhaps should be. We do not rely upon meat of any kind at all for strength … I seem to have read that in countries where the incidence of meat consumption is low, and the incidence of vegetarianism is high, there also the incidence of cancer is low. The high incidence in our country of deaths from cancerous growths is rather significant. I personally prefer to take no chances.”

To re-energise his depressed state of mind, Cerutty methodically devoured more than 200 of the world's great books of wisdom on subjects ranging from philosophy, autobiography, poetry, physiology and religion; to revitalise his broken spirit, Cerutty ventured alone into the bush in search of inner peace and to experience the awe-inspiring power of nature. Finding harmony in nature, the legendary Australian philosopher coach was born and the man who had risen above the limitations of medical science, said: “There are two schools of thought in this world. The first believes that the brain can think up all that is needed; that the brain is all – has superseded nature. … Then there is the other school, the mystical natures and it is to this category that I belong. I learnt early that nature is within us. Nature can bring the mind and body into perfect harmony and balance within the universe. This is one of the factors that allows the athlete to reach new levels of excellence.”

The old energy gradually returned but the anxiety attacks continued and, to overcome his personal fears and paranoia, Cerutty taught himself to dive. Starting on the three-metre board, he methodically edged higher and within two years had mastered his great fear of heights by diving off the high tower at Melbourne's St Kilda's baths. Determined to improve his stamina, he began to run again … seven years after his breakdown, Cerutty became only one of three Australians at that time to run 100 miles in less than 24 hours.

Though it seems incredible, at 55 years of age, Cerutty was now running longer distances and faster times than he had when at his prime in his early twenties.

Running alongside some of Australia's greatest racehorses, Cerutty learned the importance of relaxation and rhythm; from anthropoid apes he discovered the importance of no shoulder or body movement; from the antelope and gazelle he observed the critical importance of running over the ground rather than upon it. And from the leopard, cheetah and tiger, Cerutty learnt the secrets of rapid down-to-earth power and speed.

The natural talent and lightning speed of Australian Aborigines have in recent times been nurtured and developed by several AFL coaches, but 50 years earlier that speed and talent had been a vital source of inspiration and higher learning for Cerutty, who revealed:

“ I teach an original technique based on my own researches, as to primitive man, animals and, above all, our own Australian Aborigines. This race, cut off from all other cultures and civilisations for countless thousands of years, is, as far as I have discovered, the only race of people from whom we can learn how God or nature truly expected us to move over the ground. In a word, they appear to me to be, until contaminated by our civilisation, the only perfect movers, posture, walking and running, in our world. And they move differently to all other people. Put their feet to the ground differently. Hold themselves differently. Carry their arms differently. This is what I teach.”

Challenging his athletes to open their culturally imprisoned minds to higher levels of learning and wisdom, Cerutty would never tire of emphasising: “The power rests within us."

Such was evident to Carl Jung, the great Swiss psychologist, whose research led to the discovery that all human wisdom, past present and future, was contained deep within the human spirit in what he called the supra-conscious mind. Yogi Ramacharaka, the revered Indian philosopher, spoke of the spiritual mind that elevated the human mind above the heartless logic of the physical brain and was the loving source of everything good and noble in human society. Many of today's elite coaches still believe that the secrets of victory are to be found above the shoulders, but the Australian coach whose athletes collectively broke a staggering 50 world records knew differently!

Questioned about this mysterious inner force, Cerutty said: “What is this power within us? Some call it God. Bergson calls it the elan vital. I see it as the life principle and its measure is in the degree of intensity in which it is found within us. … In athletics this spirit will find its outlet in competition and achievement. Commencing with capital we possess, we nevertheless press on. The impossible is reasonable to these people.”

A prophet without honour in his own land, Cerutty fervently believed that everyone had the power deep within to be successful in something, sometime and somewhere. His unquenchable thirst for universal wisdom made him increasingly critical of modern scientific coaching methods, whose 'controloholic' and fear-driven training shackled individual spontaneity and trampled the natural joys of sport.

Individual self reliance was paramount and Cerutty recognised that the will to win could not survive unless the human spirit was constantly nurtured by inner peace and harmony.

Finding inner harmony has many sources and for Cerutty it was acquired in the outer world by listening to the music of Beethoven or Verdi or admiring the great masterpieces of da Vinci or Michelangelo.

In the inner world it was acquired by being at one with all people and all races. But most of important of all it was being at peace with nature. Outlining the cornerstone of his creed, Cerutty said: “My Stotan philosophy is based on communication with nature. This communication takes place when the person sleeps under the stars at night, hears the birds in the morning, feels the sands between his toes, smells the flowers, hears the surf. Nature can bring the mind and body into perfect harmony and balance with the Universe.”

Col Davies is a co-author of "The Three Minute Coach".

I visited the training camp at Portsea many time during my years at High School, and Percy Cerutty's style of coaching led to my 4:32 mile at the age of 16; barefoot on Adelaide Oval.

Form is Fading Fast

The only thing speedy about speedygeoff at the moment is his fast fading form.

Having run shocking times at BBQ Stakes on Wednesday and Customs today, I have to concede things are looking bad.

It's only two weeks since I ran my third best Customs time, 20.10, yet today I ran 23.59.

It's only two weeks since I ran my best BBQ Stakes time, 25.40, yet this week I ran 29.33.

Not even close!

This Sunday's ten mile road race doesn't look too hopeful.

Colds and flu aside, I say the reason is the lack of bananas in the diet the last few months.

Banana is the perfect food!

I found a web site to prove it.


Import bananas now!

Nostalgia and Notoriety

I told someone the other day I was 57. Then I thought, "Wait on, I'm 58. I think I am. How did that happen? I don't remember turning 58?"

I was asked a little while ago to return to the ABS and give some reminiscences about the mainframe computer. How can I do that, it was so long ago, a world away?

In the mail arrived a Flinders University Alumni magazine with a 2005 annual report. Another time warp as the photo (below) had the following caption, "1966 founding students Geoffrey Moore and Elizabeth Hannan with Founding Vice-Chancellor Emeritus Professor Peter Karmel AC CBE, Founding Professor of English Emeritus Professor Ralph Elliott AM, and current Vice-Chancellor Professor Anne Edwards." Phew. I am not sure what half the words mean, but the key word is the first, "1966", proof I have been around for a while.


Christopher Lang, Phill Toomey and Janet Perfrement were all at the function where the photo was taken, so they can vouch for its validity.

I think I will dig out some more photos in due course of the very old days before I forget about them completely. It seems nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

Meanwhile, in case your short term memory needs a boost, here is a communication from Ken Eynon.

"Finally we have been able to put the half marathon, half marathon eve 5k and 1k Mini Jog photographs up on the website www.canberrarunner.com.au. There are some very good photographs taken by David Appleby, Ian Fletcher and Michael Rybinski and they can be downloaded for free."

Zel's Gold Coast Marathon

Zel won't mind me publishing this here. He is most grateful to all the people who helped get him to the marathon, including a few of those who will read this. It was a pleasure to be one of many contributing to Zel's progress.

Hello all,

Just to let you know, I managed to finish the Gold Coast Marathon in 3:40:11 but failed to qualify for the mother of all marathons - Boston 2007. I will try to do 3:30 in Sydney or Melbourne later this year.

It was, really, fantastic event with 20K+ participants. The temperature, for us Canberrans, was less impressive - in the last two hours of the race it reached 20+C°.

Overall, it was easier then I suspected. It is funny how occasionally fear of the unknown can be more horrifying then the unknown. From the beginning of the race I waited for something to happen to me after the 36th kilometer, but instead of a big bad wolf, I was humiliated by number leggy blondes who breezed by.

The pacers in my running group were horrible. We have been constantly running at different pace ranging from 4 .25 min/km to 4.50 min/km. After 15 km we were 4.5 min ahead of our targeted time...Until I dropped out, after 33 km, we haven’t run even two minutes at 4:58, which was my and their target.

I wish to sincerely thank you all for all your support in helping me get from 0 km/Hr to almost 12 km/Hr over 42 km in 14 months.

See you all in a month’s time.

Best regards,

Zel

Crazy Griffin and Gourmet Green Shoes

Philosopher Humour.

What? No comments on my philosopher post of a few days ago? Obviously one can only make some of the people laugh some of the time. I suppose I could admit that my university degree was in Maths and Philosophy. Let's try just one more time, aimed at the audience ....

Question: How do you get a philosopher off your porch?
Answer: Pay for the pizza.

Well, assuming that missed the spot too, here's something I found funny at Monday training a couple of weeks ago.

Griffin
Griffin comes up to me and says, "wasn't it great that everyone got their photo on the front cover of the half marathon results booklet".

It took me a few moments before I realised why he was saying that. When I explained, Griffin would not believe, and probably disbelieves me still, that he had scored his photo on every copy!

Green shoes
I just love this cake.

What are you running in?

Bush Marathon
Early (cheaper) entries for the Bush Marathon and associated events close today.

July Jogalong
69. Sarah Pau W30 30:32
84. Helen Larmour W45 27:32
100. Charmaine Knobel W50 30:36

Pennington 12k
28. Bob Harlow M55 53:16
32. Roger Pilkington M45 54:27

Longstaff 8k
5. Annette Sugden W40 36:44
12. Caroline Campbell W60 44:23

10. Geoff Barker M60 41:22
11. Peter McDonald M50 42:11
12. Geoff Sims M55 42:16

Gold Coast Marathon
415. Roger Pilkington 3:26.39

Gold Coast Half Marathon
409 Bob Harlow 1:32.55
524 Jeni Greenland 1:35.14
693 Ron Vines 1:38.00
2041 The Barbara 1:54.55 W60 bronze
2298 Kiwi Barbara 1:57.57

My training progress

Here's the story

last week's target "jog as able" actual zero
this week’s target don't know
quote of the week “God put me on this earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now I am so far behind, I will live forever."
weight 64.5 kg and falling

That's blown the weekly average! I have been - in one word - sick. Eating has been singularly unattractive the last few days. Energy levels fluctuate. I will still try and get to the training sessions this week, if at all possible.

Arrivals and Departures

Arrival - Tessa Deanne Lowes, 4 July
While I was in Sydney, my wife's brother (at the age of 47) became a dad for the first time.

Congratulations to Bruce and Trina.

Departure - Allan Sherriff, 4 July
Also on the same day the ACTVAC's oldest member Allan Sheriff, aged 92, passed away with kidney failure.

Staying Put
I am not going anywhere! I will be continuing to improve and develop this blog for the primary purpose of inspiring, encouraging and informing my training group. Stay tuned, the best is still to come! This is something I never intend "finishing".

4 Hours

Confused Goose leading the pack

Causes of Death for Some of the Great Philosophers, by Stiv Fleishman
Thales: Drowning
Parmenides: It wasn't anything at all
Ockham: Cut while shaving
Russell: Cut while being shaved by one who did not shave himself
Descartes: Stopped thinking
Spinoza: Substance abuse
Leibniz: Monadnucleosis
Darwin: Natural causes
Hume: Unnatural causes
Kant: Transcendental causes (although it was his own idea)
Paley: By design
Heidegger: By Dasein
Meinong: Climbing accident
Neurath: Boating accident
G.E. Moore: By his own hand, obviously
Sheffer: Stroke
Sartre: Nausea
Pascal: Became despondent after losing a wager
Wittgenstein: Tried to see if death was an experience one lived through. (Alternate: fell off a ladder)
Hegel: Collision with owl at dusk

Googong Dam Half Marathon

Geoff is away at the moment, which means that his poor blog is open for me, as a co-contributor, to destroy...

The first Googong Dam Half Marathon was held on the weekend by Ken and other ACTCCC members and was a fantastic opportunity for a run in the bush. The event was rather affordable, indeed for quite a few, free, and it proved to be a great work out for any other runners similar to me who are still developing their hill running muscles. In fact, I'm still walking a bit strangely, and I believe a few others are as well.

I do not have Geoff's extensive knowledge of Team-Moore-ese runners, so I may have missed a few of you out. If you wish to be included, e-mail me at akipk@yahoo.com and I'll get around to it, or better still, e-mail Geoff and annoy him. :)

Googong Dam 21.1k

37. Alan Duus 60 M60 1:58:44
40. John Alcock 60 M60 2:00:00
45. Geoff Barker 61 M60 2:04:58

5. Cathy Newman F 45 W45 1:53:33
15. Thea Zimpel F 23 2:11:48
16. Caroline Campbell F 63 W60 2:12:04
18. Carolyne Kramar F 42 W40 2:16:50
19. Pam Faulks F 46 W45 2:21:27

I also spoted Magaret and Ruth in a team, doing a challenging Saturday run, and Maria O'Reilly and Peter Hogan were a welcome sight at the half way mark with drinks. Thank you to both of you.

Gold Coast

Well I am off to Sydney for a week and may not post... there is an internet cafe at Acer stadium where I will be daytimes, but there will be a queue I expect.
Last week I only managed about 65k due to wet days, back problems, and being busy.
But I still managed a BBQ Stakes pb of 25.40 and a 20.10 5k at Customs which is clear third best time for that course and included a "dance with a dog" for more than a few seconds.
My weight is 65 kilos and falling. Good.
And while in Sydney I plan only to jog most days.

Gold Coast results
I will update this part of the post if and when more information comes through. All I know so far - unreliable -
Lee Troop won the marathon in 2hr 14min ish, 2nd Gemechu Woyecha (ACT) in 2hr 17.

In the Half the first four Australians were all from the ACT.
1 Marty Dent 62m 57 (1min pb and world 20k road champ qualifier)
2 Japanese runner second
3 Anthony Haber (64m 20 massive pb also with a 20k road qualifier)
4 Japanese fourth
5 Scott McTaggart 64m 50 ish
6 Phillo Saunders 66m 5 seconds

Bush Marathon News

Bush Capital
Bush Marathon Festival
5km, 16km, 25km, 42km marathon & 60km ultra runs;
16km & 25km bush walks
Campbell High School, Canberra
SATURDAY 29 July 2006

7.30am Early bird start for slow runners in 60km ultra and 42km marathon
8.30am Bush marathon; marathon relay; 60km ultra; 25km bush walk
9.00am 16km and 25km bush runs and 16km bush walk
9.15am 5km run

The Jaggad Bush Capital Bush Marathon and Ultra is an exciting off road running and bush walking event from the centre of Canberra through Mt Ainslie, Mt Majura, Goorooyarroo and Mulligans Flat nature reserves. Apart from a short stretch of bitumen in the area connecting Mt Majura and Goorooyarroo Nature Reserves, the events are fully off road, nearly all on well-maintained management trails in the nature reserves.

Although organised by the Australian Mountain Running Association, the courses do not take in the peaks, instead sticking to the undulating trails on the lower slopes. Various sections of the courses offer spectacular scenery, both from the higher points and in the valleys as the trails wind between imposing hills.

The major goal is to offer a very enjoyable running or walking experience for all participants. The secondary, but nevertheless very important, goal is to raise funds to assist the Australian Mountain Running Team. Each year members of the team have to self finance up to $4,000 each to represent Australia at world mountain running championships. Hopefully funds raised from the voluntary organisation of the Bush Capital Marathon and Ultra will enable significant subsidies to be provided to our Australian mountain running representatives.

The support of Canberra Nature Park and the ACT Parks and Conservation Service is greatly appreciated in providing access to some of the most beautiful areas of Canberra’s nature reserves and other support assistance.

Information on Canberra Nature Park is found at http://www.environment.act.gov.au/bushparksandreserves/parksandreserves/canbnaturepk
Maps of Mt Ainslie, Mt Majura, Goorooyarroo and Mulligans Flat nature reserves can be downloaded from this site.


Race information
Start/finish
Campbell High School, Treloar Crescent, Campbell ACT. This is adjacent to the Australian War Memorial and the headquarters of the CSIRO and less than one kilometre from the city centre.

Maps
See www.mountainrunning.coolrunning.com.au

Facilities
Change rooms, toilets, showers, gymnasium hall for race administration.

Weather conditions: excellent for long distance running
Average temperature on 29 July at 9am: 5.1 degrees
Average maximum temperature: 12.5 degrees
Average daily sunshine: 6.5 hours
Sunrise: 7.00am Sunset: 5.20pm

Events
60km ultra run (time limit 9hrs; finish cut off 4.30pm)
42.2km marathon run (time limit 7 hrs 30mins; finish cut off 4pm)
25km run (time limit 5 hrs; finish cut off 2pm)
25km bush walk (time limit 7 hrs 30mins; finish cut off 4pm)
16km run (time limit 3hrs; finish cut off 12 noon)
16km bush walk (time limit 5 hrs; finish cut off 2pm)
5km run (time limit 75 mins; finish cut off 11am)

Age limits
Minimum age of 18 years for the marathon and ultra, and of 16 years for the 25km events.

Entry fees
By 11 July
Ultra $60; Marathon $50
Marathon relay runners, minimum team 4 runners, $15 per person
25km run and 25km bush walk $40
16km run and 16km bush walk $20 adults; $10 juniors (under 20 years of age)
5kms $12 adults; $5 juniors
Late: From 12 July to 26 July
Ultra $80; Marathon $70
Marathon relay runners, minimum team 4 runners, $25 per person
25km run and 25km bush walk $50
16km run and 16km bush walk $25 adults; $10 juniors
5kms $15 adults; $5 juniors
Very late: 27, 28, 29 July
Ultra $99; Marathon $99
Marathon relay runners, minimum team 4 runners, $30 per person
25km run and 25km bush walk $60
16km run and 16km bush walk $30 adults; $15 juniors
5kms $20 adults; $10 juniors

Note: Late entry penalties reflect the considerable organisational difficulties of catering for late entries for refreshment stations, awards and transport. Late entrants cannot be guaranteed awards.

Marathon relay
Legs: 11.2kms, 5.8kms, 15.0kms, 10.2kms. The 1st leg change over is at the drink station at Mackenzie Street, Hackett. The 2nd leg change-over is just after runners cross Horse Park Drive, at the entrance gate to Goorooyarroo Nature reserve. This is also the 3rd leg change-over, as 3rd leg runners will run out and back from this point to the marathon turn-around point. The 4th leg finishes back at Campbell High School, following the marathon course.

Race registration
12.30pm Tues 18 July at Black Mountain Run Up, Clunies Ross St, Acton (100m from Botannic Gardens entrance)
12noon to 2.30pm Sat 22 July at the ACT Cross Country Championships at Weston Park
10am to 11am Sun 23 July ACT orienteering event at The Sandhills west of Bungendore
4pm to 7pm Fri 28 July: The Runners Shop, 76 Dundas Court, Phillip ACT ph 6285 3508
7am-9am Saturday 29 July: Campbell High School gymnasium, Treloar Cres, Campbell.

Accommodation and information on Canberra
See http://www.visitcanberra.com.au/

Course information
5km course: out and back from Campbell High School.
16km course: a circuit around Mt Ainslie, along the eastern slopes on the way out, returning along the western slopes.
25km course: this follows the 16km course until the 11.2km drink station at Mackenzie Street, Hackett. It then goes out and back to the drink station at the Federal Highway underpass at the north-western end of Mt Majura reserve. On returning to the Mackenzie Street drink station, the 25km course follows the 16km course back along the western side of Mt Ainslie to the finish at Campbell High school.
42.2km marathon course: This is the same as the 25km course, with the addition of an out and back section across Horse Park Drive and through Mulligans Flat and Goorooyarroo nature reserves to the 24.5km point. Runners should take care crossing Horse Park Drive both ways as this is an 80 km per hour major road.
60km ultra course: Same as the marathon with the addition of an out and back circuit through Mulligans Flat nature reserve to the 33.4km point.

Awards information

All events
Souvenir Jaggad Bush Capital Bush Marathon coffee mugs for all finishers who have entered by 11 July; late entrants cannot be guaranteed a mug — those who miss out will receive a certificate. .

5km, 16km, 25km, 42km and 60km runs
• Jaggad zone top for the male and female winners of each race. These are comfortable and breathable and perfect for runners.
• Trophies for first three male and female finishers.

16km and 25km bush walks
Miscellaneous random draw prizes. No awards for fastest finishers as there is no policing of walking action.

2006 JAGGAD Bush Capital Bush Marathon entry form
Enter online at www.mountainrunning.coolrunning.com.au

Narnia

'Are you not thirsty?' said the Lion.

'I'm dying of thirst,' said Jill.

'Then drink,' said the Lion.

'May I - could I - would you mind going away while I do?' said Jill.

The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl...

'I daren't come and drink.' said Jill.

'Then you will die of thirst.' said the Lion.

'Oh dear,' said Jill, coming another step nearer. 'I suppose I must go and look for another stream then.'

'There is no other stream.' said the Lion.

- C.S. Lewis The Silver Chair, ch. 2

I have finally seen "The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe". It was as good as I expected; even better.

The first C. S. Lewis Narnia book I read was the first he wrote, and the first film installment, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

My favourite is “The Silver Chair” but they are all excellent.

I first read them not that long after they were published, and have re-read them many times since.

Published order:
1. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (1950)
2. Prince Caspian (1951)
3. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)
4. The Silver Chair (1953)
5. The Horse and His Boy (1954)
6. The Magician's Nephew (1955)
7. The Last Battle (1956)

Chronological order (now sold in this fashion):
1. The Magician's Nephew (1955)
2. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (1950)
3. The Horse and His Boy (1954)
4. Prince Caspian (1951)
5. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)
6. The Silver Chair (1953)
7. The Last Battle (1956)

Film installment plans
1. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005)
2. Prince Caspian (2008?)
3. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
4. The Silver Chair
5. The Magician's Nephew
6. The Horse and His Boy
7. The Last Battle

Here is a quote from C.S. Lewis himself regarding the position of "The Magician's Nephew", when asked if the books' internal chronological order (not the published order) is preferred:

“I think I agree with your order (i.e. chronological) for reading the books more than with your mother's. The series was not planned beforehand as she thinks. When I wrote The Lion I did not know I was going to write any more. Then I wrote P. Caspian as a sequel and still didn't think there would be any more, and when I had done The Voyage I felt quite sure it would be the last. But I found as I was wrong. So perhaps it does not matter very much in which order anyone read them. I'm not even sure that all the others were written in the same order in which they were published.”

- from C. S. Lewis' Letters to Children

There is some debate around what the order should be, but I think Lion should be read (and viewed) before Magician’s Nephew.

Heights

quote of the day. "The heights which great men reached and kept, Were not attained by sudden flight, They, whilst their companions slept, Were toiling upwards in the night." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.


A young Ron Clarke lighting the Olympic Flame at the MCG in 1956

I thought. I ran. I conquered.

"Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or gazelle - when the sun comes up, you'd better be running."

Today I ran.

Yesterday my back was so sore I didn't even run. Today my back was so sore I decide to take it easy. After running, my back is no longer sore. Today I ran the BBQ Stakes in a new PB. And I thought I was taking it easy! It was 5 seconds faster than the previous pb run in August 2005.

What is going on?

Before we forget who the socceroos are

Socceroo sayings
These have been reported over time and collected by "sources" around the world.

"My parents have been there for me, ever since I was about 7." Tim Cahill.

"I would not be bothered if we lost every game as long as we won the league." Mark Viduka.

"Guus Hiddink is the best manager I've ever had at this level. Well, he's the only manager I've actually had at this level. But he's the best manager I've ever had." Lucas Neill.

"If you don't believe you can win, there is no point in getting out of bed at the end of the day." John Aloisi.

"I've had 14 bookings this season - 8 of which were my fault, but 7 of which were disputable." Ned Zelic.

"I've never wanted to leave. I'm here for the rest of my life, and hopefully after that as well." Mark Schwarzer.

"I'd like to play for an Italian club, like Barcelona." Vince Grella.

"I'm as happy as I can be - but I have been happier." Mile Sterjovski.

"I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel." Craig Moore.

"I took a whack on my left ankle, but something told me it was my right." Harry Kewell.

"I couldn't settle in Italy - it was like living in a foreign country." Vince Grella.

"Germany is a very difficult team to play . . . they have 11 internationals out there." Zeljko Kalac.

"I always used to put my right boot on first, and then obviously my right sock." Jason Culina.

"The Brazilians were South American, and the Ukrainians will be more European." Scott Chipperfield.

"All that remains is for a few dots and commas to be crossed." Marco Bresciano.

"One accusation you can't throw at me is that I've always done my best." Craig Moore.

"I'd rather play in front of a full house than an empty crowd." Mark Viduka.

"Sometimes in football you have to score goals." Harry Kewell.

Guts on Display

Best effort
Socceroos. All guts. Some glory.

Not so best effort
This about sums it up
Quote of the day. "A lot of people run a race to see who's the fastest. I run to see who has the most guts." - Steve Prefontaine

We are a flourishing training group

We are a flourishing training group - just look at the runners in Sunday's race! Lots of excellent performances on a freezing morning.

My training progress
last week's target 110km actual 64km. heh!
this week’s target 120km. hmm!
weight 65kg and falling
song of the week One Last Breath – Creed
quote of the week “run to the half way mark as if it were the race itself” - Percy Cerutty

Last week I had a bit of a cold because of long runs in the cold! The race at Mt Ainslie (see below) was a struggle and not as fast as I ran as an M50 once. However I am happy with the time and seem to be still on track. This week I hope to run extra kms, if I can find any spare time, because we are off to Sydney next week and I won't be doing a lot of running there, probably. Hey Sydney readers, any good runs around the Baulkham Hills area? Early mornings, Tuesday 4 July and on, will be my only option. This week's training plans may disappear out the window if I get no sleep tonight watching the soccer. Go Aussies!

Yesterday’s Vets Handicap – Mt Ainslie
Long course – 9.3k
3 Barbara Tucker W55 50:18 gold
10 Barbara Williams W60 49:47
12 Alan Duus M60 45:04
14 Roger Pilkington M45 38:50
15 Cathy Newman W45 43:31
20 Rod Lynch M45 36:49
21 Kathy Sims W55 46:10
27 Ruth Baussmann W55 53:07
31 Geoff Moore M55 39:45
37 Jill Brown W55 54:27
40 Pam Faulks W45 52:52
46 John Kennedy M55 39:59
50 Maria O'Reilly W50 42:22
54 Christopher Lang M55 50:07
57 Graeme Small M60 55:30
64 John Alcock M60 47:14
65 Helen Larmour W45 44:40
66 John Stoney M40 46:26
72 Geoff Sims M55 49:07
73 Colin Farlow M40 37:43
77 Peter McDonald M50 48:11
79 Margaret McSpadden W55 55:06
81 Neville Madden M50 46:02
83 Geoff Barker M60 51:33
88 Charmaine Knobel W50 50:11
90 David Webster M50 42:47
94 Amanda Walker W35 50:42
98 Alice Scott W60 68:00
108 Tony Booth M65 54:58

Short course – 4.5k
4 Amanda Chew W45 26:11 silver
21 Neil Boden M55 20:14
22 Katie Forestier W40 19:11
30 Gary Bowen M45 18:56

Food for thought
In our Veterans athletic club, three very important things to foster are
...1. A good (welcoming) (supporting) atmosphere, as in our motto "Fitness Through Fellowship", and
...2. good communications by EVERY means possible, and
...3. good solid contemporary rock music. (sorry, a minor typo, that should read “flourishing training groups”).

Tuesday Run
Given the soccer, a sleep in will be called for tomorrow. Here is the perfect way to start the day: (from Ian Clout, ABS)
"With a sunny day forecast for tomorrow, what better way to spend your lunchtime than having a go at the Ginninderra Handicap. As the bikepath is still unavailable for the first half km of the course, meeting place is in the car park behind Bella Vista restaurant, from about 12.10pm."

Barbaras Beat the Best

Barbara ("The Barbara", see photo below) was belatedly declared the winner of last month's Vets Handicap.

Meanwhile, "Kiwi Barbara" was the worthy winner of this month's Vets Handicap.

They train together. Go Barbara go Barbara go!

Oh, and Mandy won a short course silver.

Footnote - a group dropped in to see Peter after the run today. See Tuggeranong Don's article & photo.

ANOTHER training group engagement /wedding announcement!

I have heard a rumour that last weekend Joel Pearson & Yelena Valdivia announced their engagement.

I have further heard a rumour from a very reliable source that they will be married at 12pm November 4th, 2006 in La Molina, Lima, Peru. (3am Sunday November 5th our time).

Joel you didn't tell me!

Congratulations, how fantastic, imagine the honeymoon options in the Peru mountains!

Rain at last

Where's the sun? Not here. No I didn't run at Customs today. Maybe if I were nearby I would have, but it is wet and gloomy out there today. I stayed home and dry instead.

Tomorrow is a 30th birthday party for my youngest daughter, then Sunday I WILL run at Mt Ainslie whatever the weather. If I am going to slip down from second place in the point score, I would sooner do it after running and trying to hold off the inevitable, than by missing the race altogether.

Cool Kewell

Twenty Twenty
Set the group a twenty twenty run last night; as a bit of a break from the longer training sessions we usually do at this time. Twenty seconds "on", twenty seconds "off", for twenty minutes.

Two Two
The draw sufficed for the Socceroos to make the round of sixteen. Another night of little sleep coming up!

Happy Harry
"STUTTGART (Reuters) - A late equalizer by Harry Kewell gave Australia a 2-2 draw with Croatia on Thursday to put his country into the last 16 of the World Cup.

"Kewell scored from close range in the 79th minute of the Group F match after Croatia, needing a win to qualify themselves, twice took the lead.

"Croatia went 1-0 up through Darijo Srna in only the third minute but Australia equalized with a Craig Moore penalty after 38 minutes. Croatia's second goal was scored by Niko Kovac in the 56th minute.

"Australia go on to play Italy in a second round fixture in Kaiserslautern on Monday.

"Croatia finished with nine men after Dario Simic and Josip Simunic were sent off and Australia ended with 10 after Brett Emerton was dismissed in the closing minutes."

Footnote
Peter is scheduled to have his operation at 11am today.

Obesity Obscenity

So I'm gonna buy a gun and start a war

If you can tell me something worth fighting for.

- Coldplay, A Rush of Blood to the Head.

With childhood obesity in Australia dramatically rising, and adult obesity at disgraceful levels, why do we continue to hear promotions by unethical food companies such as McDonalds who have been primarily responsible for this epidemic, along with the stupid people who fall for it and consume far more food than they need?

It is time we started a war!

I reproduce an article in one of today’s papers. Does it make you as angry as it makes me?

UP TO 50 Victorian schools have signed up with Krispy Kreme doughnuts to raise funds, leaving health experts and parents' groups furious.

The American doughnut chain - which opens its first Victorian store in Narre Warren today - will provide kids with cut-price doughnuts to sell to raise cash for their schools.
Nutritionists are horrified the international chain is encouraging children to eat fat-laden doughnuts while the nation is in the grip of an obesity crisis.

Almost 400 New South Wales schools ran Krispy Kreme fundraisers within months of the first Australian store opening in 2003.

A glazed Krispy Kreme doughnut has about 836 kilojoules (200 calories), with half coming from fat.

A fundraising box of a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts costs $8.

Schools on-sell them for $13, netting a $5 profit per box. There is a minimum purchase of 50 boxes.

A company spokesman yesterday said about 50 not-for-profit Victorian organisations had registered to raise funds through Krispy Kreme, but would not disclose how many were schools.

The company will launch the details of its Victorian fundraising policy in the next two weeks.

Statistics show about 10,000 Victorian children become obese or overweight every year.

Kelly Neville, from Nutrition Australia's Healthy Eating Schools program, said the Krispy Kreme fundraising was appalling.

"It is horrifying. Krispy Kremes are very high in saturated fat and are larger than other doughnuts," the dietitian said.

She said the fundraising program would encourage children to eat more doughnuts and contribute to the obesity problem.

Nutrition Australia recently released a Fundraising Ideas for Healthy Kids manual which lists a number of alternatives.

"We have seen some schools take the risk and drop hugely successful junk-food drives in favour of staging a fun run," Ms Neville said.

Obesity expert Professor Boyd Swinburn said Krispy Kreme was undoing the programs to reduce childhood obesity.

"They are undermining all the hard work that the State Government, schools and parents are doing," he said.

"All junk food should absolutely be banned from school fundraising."

Parents' groups have joined the experts in calling for junk-food bans.

They say chocolate, lolly, pie and especially doughnut drives should be dropped.

The State Government plans to ban sugary soft-drinks at schools.

But parents say schoolground bans are pointless when their children return home with boxes of junk food to sell.

Parents Victoria president Elaine Crowle said schools with good healthy eating policies were hypocritical by raising money through junk-food drives.

"They really defeat the purpose of having healthy eating at school," she said.

Ms Crowle urged schools to be wary of Krispy Kreme.

"I suggest schools look very carefully at the nutritional value of Krispy Kremes and not just at the dollar signs."

Victorian Parents Council executive officer Jo Silver said junk-food drives should be used in moderation.

"Parents need to consider the health food messages their children are learning at school and should think about other fundraising alternatives."

Williamstown North Primary School scrapped its chocolate fundraiser - that netted about $4000 per year - in favour of staging a Golden Circle fun run that earned them just as much.

I saw a "Krispy Kreme donut" once and it was disgusting looking. How can people bring themselves to swallow such junk?

Three Fifties

The latest group to reach the 50 runs status at Oakey Hill are all Team Moore members, from the left, Neville Madden (married Jill Brown last Saturday), David Webster and Mick Saunders.

A bit of a wasted day; I didn't run the BBQ stakes today; I arrived late at Woden then got a phone call asking me to return home because the plumber was arriving. Before returning home I had time to go shopping and didn't find what I was looking for. Aaaaargh.

Great to see you there today Charlie. Looks like you ran well. Also I saw Peter last night and today; he goes in to Canberra Hospital on Friday and should be operated on the same day.

If you missed Monday's Canberra Times page three photo, here's another photo of Barbara. She's a popular girl this week!


See you all at Mt Ainslie on Sunday, if not at training this Thursday.

Terry Fox times

one photo they didn't publish.

click to enlarge.




Some of the results for Team Moore and friends

Female 10km
6 Melinda Cockshut 41:48
14 Bronwyn Calver 45:00
16 Cathy Newman 45:20
Gabrielle Brown ~48.20
Charmaine Knobel 50.08
Pam Faulks 51.11
Barbara Tucker ~51.59
Margaret McSpadden 54.49
Ruth Baussmann "55" she said

Male 10km
Richard Faulks 39.44
Geoff Moore 40:56
John Kennedy ~41.20
David Webster ~41.30
Bob Harlow 42.35
Dave Baussmann ~46.20
Alan Duus 46.48
John Stoney ~49.59

Female 5km
6 Kathy Southgate 19:13
14 Katie Forestier 21:08
23 Barbara Williams 24:02

Male 5km
20 Roger Pilkington 19:29
Graeme Small "28"

There are many I do not know.
eg Neil Boden?

Quite a few pbs here, congratulations.

Moore updates

My training progress

last week's target 100km actual 94km

this week’s target 110k
weight 66kg and rising
song of the week Come Back Down - Lifehouse

"When you come around

I'll be there for you

Don't have to be alone with what you're going through."

I must reverse that weight gain - it was 62 or 63 before April's marathon, and has gone up to 65 or 66 since. There are ten weeks until the Vets half, my next challenge. I should be able to get down to 60 or 61 kg by then. I can come back down!!!!! My times have been improving despite the weight gains, but it would be so much easier, were I lighter!

My best time in the Terry Fox Fun Run as an M50 was 41.46, and so far as an M55 was 43.37, so yesterday's 40.56 is all the more pleasing for bettering both those times.

Lastly, I hope to see Peter today and again tomorrow to see how he is doing and offer him all the support we can provide him. I know he appreciates all your kind wishes and expressions of concern.

footnote - I see that one of my favourite songs, The Hardest Part, which I quoted in my coaching essay, entered the aria singles chart this week. It is the only decent new lyric being played today. But it has a very weird video clip!

Terry Fox

The bravest story in running is the story of Terry Fox.

Terry Fox was a young Canadian who, having lost a leg to cancer, began a run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. After running two thirds of the way (more than 5,000 km) he had to stop, stricken by lung cancer, and shortly thereafter died on 28th June, 1981. Terry captured the hearts of millions of people and through his "Marathon of Hope" raised more than $24 million for cancer research. Terry Fox Fun Runs are now held in 58 countries around the world. Please visit the Terry Fox Foundation's web site for further information: www.terryfoxrun.org.

The Fun Run
Today's Fun Run to raise money for cancer research was organised by the Canadian High Commission, Canberra, the Cancer Council ACT, the Australian-Canadian Association in Canberra, and the ACT Athletic Association and the ACT Cross Country Club.

I ran, and managed four minutes faster than my year's previous best official 10k, although I was only about half a minute faster than my Doomben half marathon 10k split would have been. Anyway, my time of 40:56 was good for me; I usually have trouble with the Terry Fox course (hills!) but today was better.

Sad Irony
One of the runners in the training group (who is known as "PRB" - "Perfect Running Buddy") told me at the Terry Fox run today, that he has just been diagnosed with cancer of the bladder. We wish Peter all the best as he starts urgent treatment asap.

Full Results?
There won't be full results of the Terry Fox 5k or 10k as only the top 25 men and 25 women have their times recorded. So I will be asking everyone who ran what their times were, and in due course publish a list. If you see this, please, please send me your time and any others you are sure of, to save me some time chasing you up! There are lots of excellent runs to report.

Huge Support
I was pleased to see large numbers of Team Moore members running today. Even though the Fun Run is not a "major event" on the calendar, and we don't train specifically for it, the run is seen as a significant one and heavily supported.

Who is in the new banner?

CJ & Strewth
Colin
Aki
Kevin M
Matthew & Son
Speedy Goose
Roger
Maria
hem hem
Mr B
Annemarie & Tony
Helen, SG, Charlie & Gabe
My Jenny
Mr Flibble

second row
Dash
Buster
...
Our Lauren
...
Luckylegs
Southy & li'l Southy
Chris

Sprinklers and Splices

I went to the Customs 30th anniversary run today, it was nice to see the sun and a temperature in double figures (yes, ten degrees!). A lot of people turned out who don't normally go, as well as old faces from the distant past, and regulars. In the new-comers category there were many Team-Moore-ese friends such as Jimbo, Geoff "six foot" Barker, Helen, Cate me Mate, and even Jill the day before her wedding day.

Flashduck produced some cleverly hinged results boards she had made which she can carry folded up on her bicycle. Oh if I only had half the brains she has.

Excuses first. I had a hard training session last night, had two errands on the way into town and did not have time for more than 3kms warmup which given the cold day and my state of soreness was too little, sprinklers were on over the track, and part of the path behind Regatta Point was covered with machinery and closed forcing a detour up and down the icy grass.

So with all that in mind (blow by blow description coming up) I decided I would jog and not race, and picked Phill to run with. But he left early and I missed him, so I decided to start with Jodie. I got ready but she'd gone early too! Then I decided I would run with Helen, but she started too soon too, with Rosemary, and I missed her as well. So then I decided to start with Allrounder. Any later and it would be up to my real start time! The brain was surely in slow motion today. At 14:30 we set off, Allrounder taking off (as usual) and at 2km I finally caught her having had to push it to keep her in sight! Then I more or less ran with her to the end. 21.59 is OK for a "jog".

Next - Terry Fox 10k on Sunday. Can I persuade myself to race this one?

Have you tried the blogger spellchecker?

Blogger Spellchecker suggestions for this post are as follows.

Jimbo - jumbo
Cate - CAT
Flashduck - plastics
Phill - Philly
Allrounder - alarmed
warmup - harrumph
blogger - blocker
and finally, spellchecker - splices

All very apt I think.

Square One

“Under the surface trying to break through”

Reading other runners' blogs is something I do every day. It is a good way to get inspired to carry on, whether it is one of those rare blue days one would have thrown in the towel, if one had a towel, or whether it is one of those happy days when everything's fine, the kitchen installers have done the right thing, and my training is up to date.

This blog's right hand column has a few links (see "blogroll"), and if you want more, you cannot do better than browsing the cool running blogging guide.

Speaking of which, I see Strewth has joined Team M. Welcome!

“You just want somebody listening to what you say”

I do have a towel by the way, a nice new blue Doomben Half finisher's towel. That was a good idea, race organisers, prizes should be things you can eat, and/or wear, and/or carry around with your racing kit.

I see that Belconnen's weather yesterday ranged from minus seven to plus eight. That's almost illegal, isn't it? It was OK though, there was no wind. One had to be very careful, however, not to slip on the ice on the front steps when retrieving the morning paper.

"The future's for discovering the space in which we're travelling"

My eldest grandchild (of the nine we currently have) is seven years old today. Phew! Makes one realise the days are ticking past fast. Happy Birthday Kayleigh.

“You wonder if your chance will ever come
Or if you're stuck in square one”

I do feel like I restart from square one after every hard effort requiring recovery. Oh for those younger days when I could bounce back to form in minutes!!

3-1

“I Told You So” - Johnny Warren

I didn’t make it to the BBQ Stakes today. I had wanted to go and catch up with my good friends, check out Lowes and their "Girly Girl" T-shirts, not to mention buying some new gear at the Runners Shop! Having workmen around to fix our kitchen intervened.

Already at 5pm, going outside is just like entering a walk-in freezer. At least there is no breeze. I have returned from a 20k run; just me, gloves, long-sleeve top, MP3 music player, and Mr Flibble who told me the distance was the 20km I always guessed it was, or close enough. That's the fifth day in a row I have run 16k or more.

The altitude varied from 560m to 660m above sea level. My house, the start and finish point, is at 600m.

The songs that accompanied me today were
Beautiful Day – U2
Beauty In Me – The Whitlams
Been Away Too Long – The Whitlams
Politik (Live) – Coldplay
Roots In Stereo – P.O.D.
Square One – Coldplay
Talk – Coldplay
Fondness Makes The Heart Grow Absent – The Whitlams
God Put A Smile On Your Face (Live) – Coldplay
Lights Out – P.O.D.
Sleeping Sun – Coldplay
Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of – U2
What If – Coldplay
White Horses – The Whitlams
A Rush Of Blood To The Head (Live) – Coldplay
Beautiful As You – The Whitlams
Elevation – U2
Gravity – Coldplay
If You Could See Me Now – P.O.D.
I Was Alive – The Whitlams
White Shadows - Coldplay
Fix You – Coldplay
Goodbye For Now – P.O.D.
One I Love (Live) – Coldplay
Second Best – The Whitlams
Walk On – U2
Year Of The Rat – The Whitlams - “Everyone’s a Star”

Finally it's great when people add their comments because then it's not just a monologue. Thanks cool Karmin, lovely Lulu, dashing Don, burley Griffin, and every last goose out there.

“Leave the place better than you found it” - Johnny Warren.

Practise Those Starts!

Recent Results

Molonglo Reach 5.0k Women
6. Katie Forestier W40 21:40

Molonglo Reach 5.0k Men
19. Roger Pilkington M45 21:47
23. Geoff Barker M60 23:50

Molonglo Reach 10.0k Women
6. Maria O'Reilly W50 43:43
14. Thea Zimpel 49:27
15. Kathy Sims W55 49:48
29. Barbara Williams W60 55:36
33. Pam Faulks W45 57:35

Molonglo Reach 10.0k Men
43. Roger Pilkington M45 41:05
47. Richard Faulks M45 41:46
56. Bob Harlow M55 43:03
70. Ken Eynon M60 45:59
77. John Alcock M60 48:17
78. Peter McDonald M50 48:25

Goorooyarroo 8.0k Women
6. Thea Zimpel 23 39:58
7. Caroline Campbell W60 43:38

Goorooyarroo 8.0k Men
29. Roger Pilkington M45 34:31
41. Bob Harlow M55 37:25
42. Geoff Moore M55 37:41
47. Ken Eynon M60 40:28
48. Neil Boden M55 40:56

Vets Point Score
After 5 rounds I am still in second place in the Thomas Series, but slipping fast!

The Value of Starting Practice

It's An Honour

Jack, our club Patron, was awarded an OAM today.

Name: PENNINGTON, John Harold
Award: Medal of the Order of Australia
Date granted: 12 June 2006
State: ACT
Suburb: Kaleen
Postcode: 2617
Citation:
For service to athletics, particularly in the area of long distance running, as an administrator, coach and competitor.

Cooler than cool

My training progress

last week's target n/a actual 62k

this week’s target 100k
quote of the week “Don’t bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself." - William Faulkner
weight 65kg and steady
song of the week Year of the Rat - The Whitlams, from "Little Cloud"

Monday and Tuesday were long runs in Brisbane, then three days off running while returning home. We visited Western Plains Zoo on Friday morning. I “raced” Goorooyarroo on Saturday in 37:40, very slow but still three minutes faster than last year when I jogged the last bit. Hills are not my forte. Had a bit of a run with Griffin and Speedy Goose on Sunday before heading off to Scott & Ruth’s engagement party. Can’t say I am feeling all that flash but it’s good to be home, despite the cooler than cool – ice cold – weather.

Tying the Knot

Jill and Neville have just announced they are getting married next Saturday! (Sorry, I cannot find a photo of Neville at such short notice!!) Congratulations and very best wishes for the future.

Let's hope the weather brightens up for your wedding.

It's a very nice venue, the same as where my youngest daughter was married, in 1999.

sub 90 form

The last few seconds.

Congratulations grandma

Sandgate run, bye bye sun.

Our Brisbane holiday has reached its last full day.

We spent the morning and lunch time at Bribie Island, but the wind was too strong to attempt a picnic lunch on the beach as planned, so we sheltered in a park instead, and were hassled by eight white ibises for food scraps.

Mid afternoon I ran 12k from the top of Shorncliffe along the coast cycle path through Sandgate and Brighton to the Houghton Highway Bridge and back, while Jenny walked to the end of the Sandgate Pier and a couple of grumpy old fishermen, before following me along as far as a quaint old Baptist church by the sea.

"Perfect the next"? They must have been kidding. Cool and cloudy and windy today! With all the smoke around, a glorious sunset, but!

Vale Jim Sawkins

Just read this on allrounder's blog - another dear friend departed. Jim was recently, amongst other things, a regular with the Vets "Tuesday group". And very fit and fast.

Redcliffe Run (but no cliffs)

Today I ran along the shore line from Suttons Beach to Albatross Canal and back at lunch time, a total of 17km. This is around the Redcliffe/Scarborough area. There is a 15km cycle track marked every 100 metres! No hills (hurrah!) and the 17k took a comfortable 90 minutes. Obviously I am completely recovered from yesterday's race. Next time I might head south instead of north and do the other half of the track. It was very warm, clear and sunny, with a light easterly breeze off the sea. While we were there at Suttons, men were pulling in, with the aid of two cars, a huge net which contained truckloads of large mullet. We bought six off them for $4.00 altogether. We know they are fresh as they were still kicking! Fresh fish for dinner tonight, yummmm.

Cutting It Fine

.......so I went out at 4:10 pace in the Queensland Half Marathon today knowing I was nowhere near fit enough to maintain it on current performances but interested in how long I could keep it up for assuming that I could get on the pace to start with!

.......and the first four km were on pace, then reaching 5km in 21 mins flat which was perfectly satisfactory, halfway in 44 mins or so; well up on the time in Canberra three weeks ago and well on target for a sub 90.

......not sure what happened after that but just like Canberra the left hamstring seized up after 15k, however unlike Canberra the lower back was alright. And it was getting rather hot.

......at 17k was running about 4:35 pace, up and down a bit, and realised that I needed 4:25s exactly, from that point, to crack the 90 minute mark. So I tried to ignore the pain and make a race of it with the other runners as they continued to pass me.

......and I finished in a time of 1:29:55. Phew!!!!

.... silver in the M55.

Ron Vines (silver in the M60s) and John Diamond were also running, and also I enjoyed meeting (how's my memory?) Eddie, Tesso, Lady Jove, Cato, ILikeToast (resplendent in psychedelic tights), IHateToast, Robert Song, Beagle, Karisma, Run67, Digger, and a few more whose names elude me now.... meeting them all for the very first time. And many other coolrunners I didn't get to meet including a cool cheer squad of two (Davo and Cirque). Thanks to all of you guys!

postscript - I was 88th out of 499 official finishers. An M55 pb at the age of 58, and my second best time since the early 1990s. Can do better!

Old Photographs #5

I like this one because of the good view of the main stadium which is now obscured by pesky trees.

Note the 'tucked in' singlets - very neat.

I'm guessing this was a 1500 metre race. The bearded runner is Andrew S, who, for many seasons had the ambition of running sub 4 minutes for 1500 metres. He eventually achieved this goal due in no small part to his single-minded focus on the event.

Andrew used to 'double' and run the 3k steelechase for Interclub points. His technique was so bad that even a slow wombat could beat him and that was before the said wombat was coached by Geoff to run under 11 minutes for the event.

This is my last post for a while as I have to pack my bags for our trip to THE BIG ONE. Geoff will be back soon to report on his fabulous, fast and hot half marathon.

Old Photographs #4

This one is at the Warm-up track at Bruce when we still had another track in the main stadium - February 1985. Note the lack of a grandstand in the background.

I think everyone wore club uniforms in 'the old days' because they were so trendy. You've got to love those vertical stripes. Very footy-like. There were a lot of female middle distance runners in the 1980s. I'm not sure who the Weston Creek runner leading in this race is but I know the other two.

Woden had heaps of female runners because the maron and blue vertical stripes looked so good. Crop tops hadn't been invented back then.