Survival - a song by Muse for the 2012 Olympics

Song of the week "Survival" London 2012 Official Olympic Song
From https://youtu.be/jkhVjm9iGFc




No longer silver - it's now gold for Jared's London 50k walk.

photogenic Canberra

https://www.facebook.com/kayakcameraman/ takes brilliant photos of Canberra. I intend featuring some of them in the next few weeks.

Burley Griffin parkrun #1

Canberra's fourth parkrun event was launched this morning; and despite the overnight rain, it was a huge success.

Large field, narrow track.
435 finishers, not bad for a launch!





I didn't get there, I went to this morning's Cross country Championships instead.
Maybe I will make it to the Queanbeyan parkrun #1 when it comes along?

I am now the grandad of a 17 year old

And she is beautiful


Kayleigh. Photo taken by her boyfriend, who is quite a photographer.

"Meet Ann Go"

Ann Go was a member of my training group "SpeedyDucks", an ANU and LifeUC based running group, when she studied here in Canberra. Also a lovely person and good friend.
The following article was published yesterday in http://pinoyscientists.com/ which highlights "Filipinos doing all kinds of science in all kinds of places."

Meet Ann Go:



1) What do you do?

I image the brain activity of Alzheimer’s mice models and compare it to that of normal mice. The idea is to spot differences to know more about the disease and how we can intervene.

2) Where do you work?

At the Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, U.K.

3) Tell us about the photos!

[Left:] Me in the middle of an experiment. I’m snobbish when I’m working. :-)

[Right:] Me pretending to be a triathlete because PhD was about to drive me crazy!

4) Tell us about your academic career path so far.

I grew up in Tacloban. It’s a small city but we certainly had electricity! I went to Asian Development Foundation (now ADF College) and Philippine Science High School. Then I pursued BS Applied Physics and MS Physics at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

After a short break to figure out my life, I started a PhD in Medical Physics at the National Tsinghua University in Hsinchu, Taiwan. After a semester I realised I wasn’t Chinese enough so I moved to Canberra, Australia to finish a PhD in Neuroscience at the Australian National University.

I took a year off research to return to Yolanda-ravaged Tacloban. I did a short research project at the University of Regensburg in Germany before starting postdoc at Imperial College in London.

5) Anything else you want to share?

According to a study, countries that consume more chocolate have more Nobel laureates. Philippines, we need to catch up! I’m doing my share both in the science and in the chocolate consumption. People think I just love chocolates. But this is for love of country!

speedygeese training

On Sunday Dave and I ran easy at Stromlo Forest Park.

Monday at Parliament House saw only four of us appear, including Dave who turned up late. Rae and Andy repeated last week’s session with some minor variations, and I trotted around with them.

So not a lot to report. Here's hoping next week there will be more: Thursday won't be washed out (we only cancel Thursdays if the grounds are closed, and they won't be), Sunday is on as usual, and Monday is not a Public Holiday for a change so it's all systems go.

Did you notice I have made my "Coming Events" column the leading post now? It will be easier for me to update it there, and it puts the general comment box conveniently at the top of the column.

Also did you notice I have replaced the web blog slideshow with a much more comprehensive one now? I may add a write-up for some of the slides if I have time; that aside, any feedback welcome.

speedygeese race results

Helen Way running up Mt Ainslie

Tuesday 7 June AMRA Mt Ainslie Run-Up 2.2k
10 Jen Bright 17.17
14 Bill Arthur 20.21
15 Helen Way 21.21.
16 finishers

Friday 10 June Customs 5k
Giles Lamb 21:56
David Clarke 22:50
Bronwyn Calver 23:16
Bill Arthur 26:15
21 finishers

Saturday 11 June Ginninderra 5k parkrun #215
24 Geoff Moore 23:21 M65
26 Susan Sturgeon 23:24 W40
48 Stephanie Pfohl 24:46 W40 **New PB**
167 finishers

Saturday 11 June Tuggeranong 5k parkrun #172
40 Bronwyn Calver 22:13 W45
42 David Clarke 22:28 M55
222 Ewen Thompson 42:16 M55
253 finishers

Saturday 11 June Gungahlin 5k parkrun #138
26 Giles Lamb 21:41 M40
56 Gary Bowen 24:58 M55
156 finishers

Saturday 11 June parkrun de Mandavit #14
David Baussmann 23:42 M65
Ruth Baussmann 31:22 W65
30 finishers

Saturday 11 June Parkville parkrun #7
14 Peter Thomson 20:43 M55

Saturday 11 June True Grit 24hr Enduro
134 Bron Sparkes 5 laps 53k
213 individual finishers
http://www.truegrit.com.au/

black wave

"This goose is cooked..." Song of the week: "Black Wave" by The Shins



From https://youtu.be/AL8PdVN9Kzs

Muddy Paws

I haven't published a "Simon's Cat" video for a while...
From https://youtu.be/CLnHzv7OKao

Fun and Games at the Ginninderra parkrun

It was cold and windy this morning at Ginninderra




How fast can Paul go pushing Mya? Can Mya's mum and I keep up?


Here we go.


Susan and I didn't quite keep up. Paul and Mya finished with a new PB, 23:00.


I got past Susan at 3k. She hung on though. I ran 23:22 and have no niggles at last.


Susan ran her best time since August last year. 23:24


Steph knocked a minute off her PB, after seeing if she could keep up with us early. 24:46. She and I agreed at the start we were looking for a sub 25.

Despite the cold, parkruns are always a fun way to start the weekend. Next week I may check out Burley Griffin parkrun #1, if I feel up to it!

successful people...

Cross Country Championships

I have entered. Good that all the Vets will be running 8k together as one race.

These events will be conducted with AACT at Stromlo Forest Park on Saturday 18th of June.
The ACTVAC championship distance will be 8km for all age/gender groups as is done at WMA and AMA championships.
Entry fee will be $7, which covers the hire cost for SFP. Entries close on Tuesday 14th of June. There will be NO entries on the day.
On-line entries can be made on our website: https://www.registernow.com.au/secure/Register.aspx?E=20958

Start time for the ACTVAC championship event will be 11:35 and athletes must check in at least 30 minutes before that at the office under the grandstand at SFP.

ACTVAC members who have taken out Dual Registration, may enter the AACT Open Championships (which will be 10km) and pay $9.00. ACT Vets, who have not taken out a Dual Registration, entering AACT Open Championships will pay $13.00. On-line entries for the AACT events can be made via the AACT website.

If you are not intending to compete in the championships, your involvement as a volunteer would be much appreciated. Please contact Ken Smith smith.kenneth.d@gmail.com if you can help.

Meanwhile here are two very cute speedygoslings.

speedygeese training

Last Thursday at Dickson I ran early, as did Maria, then for training we had two teams of three running ten x 200m each in continuous relays. Teams consisted of Colin, Isaac, Bron; and Sandeep, Jen, Rohan. Dave was also present doing his own thing.
Sunday was cancelled – washed out.
Monday at Parliament House saw Andy, Dave, myself, Isaac, Jen, Pieta, Rae, Sandeep and Susan run 3 x "light-pole 1200s" on ten minutes on the west and south-west grass. The pattern was (1) two lightpole fast, one recovery, (2) two fast, two recovery, (3) three fast, two recovery. A very good session enjoyed by all. And all under lights. Obviously.

Where's Sarah-Jayne?


Ah. Otherwise occupied. Right.

speedygeese race results

Friday 3 June Customs 5k
Bronwyn Calver 23:47
David Clarke 25:07
Bill Arthur 26:17
Peter Thomson 31:10
20 finishers

Saturday 4 June Ginninderra 5k parkrun #214
32 Susan Sturgeon 23:52 W40
97 finishers

Saturday 4 June Tuggeranong 5k parkrun #171
19 Peter Thomson 21:33 M55
22 David Clarke 22:04 M55
23 Bronwyn Calver 22:09 W45
48 Gary Bowen 24:33 M55
133 finishers

Saturday 4 June Gungahlin 5k parkrun #138
24 Giles Lamb 22:02 M40
47 William Arthur 26:13 M65
83 finishers

Saturday 4 June YCRC 5k cross country
9. Peter Thomson M55 26:11
11. Jennifer Bright W40 31:25
12. Isaac Muscat U14 31:25
14 finishers
Too wet for me.


Ducks at Saturday's Ginninderra parkrun


Susan splashing along.

One Word

Another great song of the week: "One Word" by Baby Animals.

From https://youtu.be/PGSgAT9nP80



I had forgotten this song existed until I heard it again last week.

cancelled

The wet season has arrived. Didn't you know Canberra has a wet season? Before today it didn't, but now it's here. 85mm in our rain gauge so far this weekend. Several running events scheduled for today and tomorrow have been cancelled or postponed, e.g. the Schools Cross Country Championships which have been moved to this Thursday.

However speedygeese training is going ahead tomorrow as usual. I will not be there for an early run though. Bring the new fashion statement; the poncho; to the 5:30pm start. I will be wearing mine.

Yesterday at Stromlo (part of the off-track race!)



Picture from a video by Ewen.

FOOTNOTES



1. Here's the video
https://youtu.be/zP471kQjiBI



2. The sun has come out (Monday morning)

3. So I may not need my poncho after all (and you fashion police can breathe easier)

Now it's grandad brag time

Olivia attended the Team Future gymnastics camp at the AIS, Canberra this week.


Olivia top row second on right


Cold water recovery! Olivia on the left


Olivia top right!

Olivia has just turned 11, is the fourth of my eldest daughter's six children, and lives at Jamberoo NSW.

Off Topic: dad brag time.

Last week the Band of the 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment took part in the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program (AACAP). The Band travelled to Laura, 141km west of Cooktown, and performed for the local Indigenous community. AACAP began in 1997 and is an ongoing commitment which reinforces the strong association between Army and the Indigenous peoples of Northern and Central Australia.


My son Nathan on keys.

Not long to go now

Don't forget to be watching at 10:25am our time Sunday 14 August .. Men's 10,000m .. there could be a New Olympic hero!



The Athletics starts with the Women's 10,000m on 12 August and finishes with the Men's Marathon on 21 August. I am hoping to see some of it live as we will be on holidays at the time. Afterwards I will be downloading all the middle and long distance action, plus a triathlon or two. Can't wait.

speedygeese training

Last Thursday at Dickson I ran long while Sandeep, Dave, Jen and Rohan trained running 12 laps of straights, jogging the bends. The track was only slightly damp and the temperature was around 10 degrees, but as usual the rain during the day must have kept a few speedygeese away. It did not rain at Dickson between 4:00pm when I arrived and 6:20pm when I left.

Sunday was cold and still: Dave, Andrew & I ran at Stromlo at 7:30am.

Monday 30th we ran a thirty minutes continuous zigzag relay, the lower flagpoles area where each runner in turn in each team running a leg which went diagonal downhill then straight up hill. Team B was first: Isaac, Jen, Pieta. Team C second, Susan, Sandeep and me, Team A third: Colin, Andrew, Dave, and Team D fourth with Caroline, Diana and Mick. It was good to get some real training in and my injuries did not worsen as a result.


Training session winners! Jen, Isaac, Pieta.