Rudolph

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

speedyJarodFalconer at our Christmas celebrations.

FOOTNOTES

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

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

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

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

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

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

Merry Christmas!

Jesus is the Reason for the Season

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

800 posts

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

SpeedyTylerMoore and SpeedyLianaHall at our family Christmas party.

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

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

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










FOOTNOTES

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

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

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

“once was wombat”

Keep On Running

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

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

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

party on

speedyJacksonMoore in party mode yesterday

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

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

Wednesday 27 No BBQ Stakes. Canberra has closed down.

Thursday 28 No Vets track. Not until next week.

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

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

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

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

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

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

FOOTNOTES

1. Coolrunning has a World Masters Sydney 2009 thread.

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

3. Merry Christmas!

Comparing Years

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

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

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

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





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

Partying today. Back tomorrow!

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

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

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

FOOTNOTES

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

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

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

Partying today. Back tomorrow!

Running Start

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FOOTNOTES

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

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

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

The Busy Season

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

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

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

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

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

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





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





FOOTNOTES

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

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

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

"Have a very goosy Christmas"

unique

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

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

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

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

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

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

Moonlight shines down in rays
Fire I see in your gaze

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FOOTNOTES

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

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

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

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

Humilty

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FOOTNOTES

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

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

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

three feet

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FOOTNOTES

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. Other Team Moore results from Thursday night:

400m
W40 Katie Forestier 74.07

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

triple jump advantage

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

New Australian record - ACHIEVED!

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

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

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

Another dinner photo

Mark and Barbara Tucker at our Christmas dinner.

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

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

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

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

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











FOOTNOTES

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

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

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

Trevor Jacobs

Australian record attempt

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

Another dinner photo.



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


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

4. Rottweiler: Make me.

FOOTNOTES

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

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

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

Save Our Schools

Team Moore dinner

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



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

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

FOOTNOTES

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

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

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

The next "the next generation" generation

"Catch the person in front of you. Stay in front of the person behind you. Beat the shadow next to you!"

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

2. Border Collie: Just one. And then I'll replace any wiring that's not up to code.




Geese seen flying up Black Mountain last Sunday:
16. Richard Faulks M45 22:55
20. Bob Harlow M55 23:11
25. Roger Pilkington M45 24:03
29. John Kennedy M55 24:15
42. Emma Adams W35 25:43
44. Maria O'Reilly W50 25:58
45. Mick Horan M45 26:00
46. Mark Kethro M45 26:12
52. Carol Baird W55 27:13
68. Charmaine Knobel W50 29:20
76. Mick Charlton M50 30:27
91. Barbara Tucker W55 32:04
97. Peter Hogan M55 32:50
106. Margaret McSpadden W55 34:18
112. Rod Gilchrist M60 35:46





FOOTNOTES

1. Cool weather in Canberra today, hurray. Even if only for one day. No rain but.

2. There have been lots of visitors to this blog looking at Nic Bideau's article, or trying out the superhero quiz. Welcome!

3. Dogs will have their day until Christmas.

speedyKayleigh at the races. Not the next generation; the one after that.

What cool change?

quote of the week: " "Believe in yourself, know yourself, deny yourself, and be humble." - John Treacy's four principles of training

My training progress
last week's target: 90k, actual 34k

this week’s target: 90k
weight: 64kg and steady

A combination of feeling unwell, and stinking hot weather, means I have been running very little of late. Reading the blogs of other runners around Australia I see that there has been respite from the heat in most capitals; not here in Canberra though; not yet. Here the maximum temperature has been consistently mid thirties, with smoke from the Victorian bushfires adding to our discomfort.

song of the week: Radiohead - Paranoid Android, from "Ok Computer"

"Rain down, rain down, come on rain down on me
"From a great height, from a great height, height"

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

1. Golden Retriever: The sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our whole lives ahead of us, and you're inside worrying about a stupid burned out bulb?

FOOTNOTES

1. We are back to normal training tonight at Parliament House. "Normal" might mean running in steamy heat. Or avoiding large raindrops. Or both at the same time.

2. Tomorrow is another day. Hopefully I can get a good run in at the Parliament House relays before meeting up with everyone at della Rocca, for our training group dinner, tomorrow evening. But for now, today is your last chance to rsvp for the dinner.

3. If you can start the day without a cigarette,
If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can get going without pep pills,
If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can overlook it when those you love take it out on you when, through no fault of yours, something goes wrong,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can ignore a friend's limited education and never correct him,
If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend,
If you can face the world without lies and deceit,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
If you can honestly say that deep in your heart you have no prejudice against creed, color, religion or politics,
Then, my friend, you are almost as good as your dog.

-Author unknown

Kvack Kvack

"Man imposes his own limitations, don't set any." - Anthony Bailey

Speedygeese results from last Thursday:

800m Pennington
1 Colin Farlow M45 2:12
2 Kevin Chamberlain M60 2:23
3 Mick Horan M45 2:13
7 Amalendu Edelsten M45 2:16
10 Ken White M50 2:29
12 Rod Lynch M45 2:29
13 Geoff Sims M55 2:39
17 Maria O'Reilly W50 2:57
18 Helen Larmour W45 2:55
23 Neil Boden M55 3:09
25 Roger Pilkington M45 3:11

2000m
M45 Amalendu Edelsten 6:48.61
M45 Rod Lynch 7:07.87
M50 Ken White 8:10.20
M55 Neil Boden 8:35.35
W40 Katie Forestier 8:15.91

3000m
M45 Roger Pilkington 12:27.72
W35 Amanda Walker 13:08.17
W40 Katie Forestier 12:27.60

FOOTNOTES


Hägar cartoons remind me of my days at the ABS. But I won’t explain why. Let's just say that "Helga lives". As does Lucky Eddie.

Which Superhero are you?

My results: I am The Flash

The Flash 85%
Spider-Man 70%
Supergirl 63%
Robin 55%
Hulk 55%
Green Lantern 55%
Iron Man 55%
Wonder Woman 43%
Superman 35%
Catwoman 30%
Batman 20%

The Flash - "Fast, athletic and flirtatious"


Click here to take the Superhero Personality Test