FRIAR

BBQ Stakes Wednesday 15 th February 2012

2012-02-15T16:06:00.000+11:00

A huge turnout again today, with Jo Arouk taking out first place followed by Theo and Geoff King in third place.

67 participated today, an increase on last week.

Caroline Campbell was the lucky recipient of the drink bottle, awarded by random selection, with Ellie Kukolic from last week, despite feeling rather nervous, being the timekeeper and performing well. John Barrett was the 50,000 th finisher in the BBQ Stakes, Mira Dowd cracking a Personal Best last week of 36:48. Simon Mcallister was the last to start off today, and ran a self timed 34 mins 15 secs.

Latest Health Report

2012-02-11T18:20:00.003+11:00

Following Monday's CT AORTOGRAM The medical Report was as follows:- There has been no significant interval change. No definite new abnormality detected. The appearances of the aorta and left sciatic notch AVM are essentially stable in appearance. The aorta has a maximal dimension of 28 mm.

Comment, No significant interval change since March 2011. Thank you for referring this patiemt.

This means to me that I am on track as being stable, and the specialist who will see me in late March, will say the same thing.

My own health report was a jog today of 5 km in 40 minutes, and felt good all the way. I think when I first started jogging many moons ago, that was the time taken over the distance. So I'm back to where I started from.

Veteran athletics for all levels

2012-02-10T10:31:00.001+11:00

From The Canberra Times (Times 2 page 9) Friday February 10th 2012,

An eye catching story about Veteran Athletics. And photo.

Congratulations to the person who achieved the publication of this story about Veteran athletics.

YCRC Events Tuesday 14 th February 2012

2012-02-10T10:26:00.002+11:00

YCRC EVENTS TUESDAY 14TH FEB 2012
From: "Ken Eynon"

Just a reminder that Tuesday 14th Feb Summer Series events will be held in Telopea Park. The 2k and 5k events will start at 6.15pm sharp.
The start/finish is on Telopea Park East close to where Currie Crescent joins Telopea Park East on the Manuka or South side.

All welcome, free to YCRC members, Memberships for 2012 taken on the day and can be made online at www.canberrarunner.com.au by clicking on the Home tag. One day race registration available to non members at $6 for adults and $4 for those under 20 years of age.

Ken Eynon
YCRC Committee

Lake Tuggeranong Stakes 7th February 2012

2012-02-09T10:21:00.001+11:00

Peter Foster 33:07, Lloyd Edwards 30:59, David Low 28:28, Erik McPherson 27:26, Cameron Curry 28:49, Ross Paine 32:14, Daniel Buckley 38:29, Colin Phillips 34:24, Andrew Riley 20:11, Slavisa Stojilovic 27:41, Steve Nolan 26:09, Tim Craig 28:27, Beryl Walsh 54:00, Peter Hogan 54:00.

A reminder that the 27th March, 2012 is the 1000 th running of this event.
It will also be the 20 th anniversary with the first run occurring on 24 th March 1992.

Enquiries to Peter Thomson phone 0407 702 683.

BBQ Stakes Wednesday 8th February 2012

2012-02-08T18:58:00.000+11:00

The number of competitors grabs the spotlight today, with 63 competing.
They ranged from Phillip McGilvray, who hasn't run the stakes for about 4 years now, but had an up to date, square type garmin, his best marathon time is around 2 hours 30 minutes. He came home first but was ineligible due to his long absence from the stakes. Timekeeper was Axel Godeck recently retired, who had a win last week and has run somewhere like 369 stakes, and no need to guess which AFL team he follows, since it is mentioned quite often at the run, of course it's Carlton. Today's field included Richard White, who I think was talked into a run in the stakes by his father, Jim, and the people at IP Australia. Sorry I don't have the names of the placegetters, but I think first was Ellie across the line at 39:44, second was Florienne and third was Daneesh. The trophy for the 2011 Honest John Award, named to honor John Carmody, was given to Terry Dixon, and the pointscore trophy for 2011 was ready to be awarded to Bruce Wight, except the engravers spelled his surname incorrectly as Wright. That will be given back for correction, to the engravers before being formally given. I think Paul Baumgartner, being 20 th across the line received a special prize, an upmarket drink bottle. Mark Wilson has donated several such prizes for randomly being given.

Sprint triathlon National Championships. Bob Harlow, David Baussmann

2012-01-30T17:37:00.002+11:00

From Bob Harlow.

Sprint Triathlon National Champs this morning. Am pleased with my 1hr 15m 55s, 2nd M60-64. Was wonderful to catch up with so many friends!

David Baussmann 1 hour 17 minutes, not far separates these two.

BBQ Stakes 18 th January 2011

2012-01-19T13:31:00.000+11:00

Today belonged to Kerrie Tanner, with a great turnout of 63 starters in the heat. Kerrie completer her 300 th Stakes, and was awarded her 300th run T-Shirt.

Doug Fry had a rest at home after sufferingu from the heat in the Black Mountain run up on the previous day, tuesday.

He was helped back to the car by rangers from the information centre, Maria, Rosetta and John, who gave him a ride on one of their wagons, back to Rad's car. It seems like Friar was suuffering from the heat, and had trouble walking, running back was out of the question.

A day later and after a good night's sleep and plenty of rehydration, all appears to have led to a recovery from the heat exhaustion.

Today's BBQ Stakes report from Kerrie Tanner, thanks.

Black Mountain Run Up 17 JANUARY 2012

2012-01-17T15:46:00.002+11:00

Black Mountain Run Up
Tuesday 17 January 2012
Males:

1 Stuart Doyle 12.44, 2 Luke Schofield 13.25, 3 Adrian Sheppard 13.52, 4 David Baldwin 14.17, 5 Shaun Ton 14.20, 6 Simon Claringbold 14.21, 7 John Fleming 14.26, 8 Peter Zygadlo 14.28, 9 Aaron Coles 14.37, 10 Trevor Jacobs 14.55, 11 Lee Rice 14.57, 12 Andrew Kingston 15.17, 13 Matthew Hole 15.34, 14 Tony Olliffe 16.52, 15 Hugh Moore 17.48, 16 Paul Velkamp 18.04, 17 Mike Day 18.29, 18 Tony Beasley 19.04, 19 Craig Wurz 19.07, 20 Otto Benda 19.08, 21 Yili Zhu 20.20, 22 Chris Withington 20.22, 23 Michael Burt 22.10, 24 Eric Wainwright 22.29, 25 Balinder Singh Khillan 25.16, 26 Rad Leovic 28.05.
Females:

1 Vanessa Haverd 14.34, 2 Belinda Allison 16.16, 3 Louise Sharp 16.45, 4 Monika Short 23.18, 5 Eliza Middleton 26.46.

CUSTOMS JOGGERS HANDICAP RUN 1731 of 13/01/2012

2012-01-15T16:28:00.000+11:00

CUSTOMS JOGGERS HANDICAP RUN 1731 of 13/01/2012
Place Person ID Ist Name Last Name Gross
Min-
utes Time
Secs Start Net Comment
1 1005 Lloyd Edwards 33 30 5:00 28:30 Group 21
2 Terry Dixon 33 31 5:00 28:31 1 st run
3 6434 Nicole Bruce 33 35 3:45 29:50 Not eligible
4 1016 Jim White 34 06 11:30 22:36
5 2482 Roger Hollis 34 36 14:00 20:36
6 6122 Kate Vandenberg 35 11 12:15 22:56
7 Jen Bright 35 15 11:45 23:30 Not eligible
8 6121 Lucy McGarva 35 19 12:00 23:19
9 5326 Martin Woods 35 30 14:15 21:15
10 2567 Giles Lamb 35 31 14:15 21:16
11 2191 Kevin O’Keeffe 35 31 12:45 22:46
12 Bill Arthur 35 32 1:00 34:32 Not eligible
13 6436 Leonie Doyle 35 44 6:45 28:59
14 6426 Adam Jenkins 35 47 16:00 19:47
15 5520 Yili Zhu 35 49 13:30 22:19
16 Chris Martin 35 52 10:00 25:52 Not eligible
17 Curtis Hancock 35 55 17:00 18:55 Not eligible
18 2536 Mark Oliver 36 08 14:15 21:53
19 6286 David Ellis 36 13 15:45 20:28
20 Nathan Williamson 36 25 10:00 26:25 Noteligible
21 1938 Simon Claringbold 36 29 16:00 20:29
22 6151 Colin Heywood 36 37 8:00 28:37
23 2366 Richard Marson 36 44 13:45 22:59
24 2279 Mike Stracey 37 07 10:00 27:07
25 2556 Kerrie Bremner 37 21 11:30 26:51 Group 47
26 6365 Mandi Jonker 38 00 0:00 38:00 Not eligible
27 2348 Gabrielle Wright 38 07 0:00 38:07
28 Jade Hancock 39 05 12:15 26:50 Not eligible
29 2454 Yumiko Clifton 48 00 3:30 44:30

Today was a warm sunny day for the second run of 2012 with an excellent good roll up of 29 finishers. We again started at our new CJs purpose built headquarters in Commonwealth Park, on our traditional course.

Welcome to a number of runners we have not seen for a while: Jen Bright, Bill Arthur, Chris Martin, Curtis and Jade Hancock and Nathan Williamson.

Also, welcome to new starter Terry Dixon.

This was not a point score run but handicapping continued. As we had such a good field, three prizes are appropriate. Nicole unfortunately has finished before 34 minutes so is ineligible. Jim has generously passed up a prize, so provisional winners are Roger Hollis, Kate Vandenberg and Lucy McGarva. Roger, Kate and Lucy will be able to collect a prize of Runners Shop voucher or pair of socks next Friday.

Many thanks to Brian and Nick Walshe and the Runners Shop for the prizes of socks and vouchers.

Also thanks to Mike for providing drinks.

Next run will be Friday 20 January 2012, using our traditional course. Usual charge of $1 will apply.

A new point score competition will start on Friday February 3 2012, over 20 runs

BBQ Stakes 11 th January 2012

2012-01-11T17:10:00.001+11:00

A large field today, with a small shower just before 12 noon, and a heavy shower during the run time. Nevertheless 68 runners today including Helen Larmour's son, not disgraced in this field, he has attended before, but I think this is his first completion of the stakes. Simon was the winner today, at 40:15, he has 41 runs to his credit, and now 3 wins with a P.B. of 29:36 on 1 May 2011. Second was Leanne Wilkes, a regular participant, and 3rd was Jeff King from IP Australia.

A bit of a hiccup with runners across the line not getting their correct finishing card. It behoves all runners across the line to display a bit of discipline to make sure they get their correct finishing place card. It helps to stay in line until the finishing card is obtained.

From Peta Sheppard __ Hartley Santos Tour Down Under

2012-01-10T16:42:00.000+11:00

Santos Tour Down Under - A Day in the Uni SA Team Car

From: "SHEPPARD,Peta"

The 2011 ambassador for Hartley, Paul Crake, you all know him J , has kindly organised a ride for a lucky person, in a team car during this year’s Santos Tour Down Under.

To maximise the profit, the ‘seat’ is being auctioned off on eBay.

All monies raised go to Hartley Lifecare Inc and towards making a real difference to those living with a disability in the ACT and surrounding region

The link is below.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160710703641

Thoughts of The Roads Scholar

2012-01-07T13:03:00.000+11:00

Sunday, January 1, 2012
30 Years Running

I stopped making New Year’s Resolutions years ago. I came to a realization at some point that these New Year vows were just too black and white, with only two options. Either you kept them or you broke them. And that latter always prevailed, resulting in a feeling of failure, and an action of backsliding. I decided at some point that life handed you enough natural failures without proactively creating any artificial ones.

I’m not saying the every new year doesn’t bring new hopes. It’s very difficult to count down the waning days of an old year without reflection and introspection, as you look back on the rapidly expiring old year, and look forward to the first days of the next one with new hope and a feeling of starting over again with a clean slate.

So instead of resolutions, I now make goals, a term I like much better. It leaves a lot more gray area, and creates wiggle room for partial achievements. I can live with that. With a goal, there is a lot of room between total success and total failure. You can even surpass a goal, if you allow yourself that freedom.

In a very small way, I experienced that yesterday. Kelli and I went for a planned 6-miler around our neighborhood yesterday morning, and around four miles in, we both realized we felt pretty good, so we decided on the fly to add an extra mile, and closed out the old year with a solid 7-miler. Not a real game-changer, but it felt good just the same.

I often use my running time for deep thought. Introverts are that way. The simple act of running is, at once physically draining, and mentally invigorating. My greatest inspirations have occurred during the run, and those insights have spawned some of my better achievements in life. And there is no question that not only am I a better person through running, but running has impacted every aspect of my life for the better. Without running, I would have had a completely different life, and it would have been nowhere as full.

So yesterday, while we ran, I was reflecting on my running past, and how running’s lessons become life’s lessons. Just about anything one needs to know about life can be learned within the run. Running is a powerful teacher as long as the student is ready.

As the run continued, my thoughts moved forward to today, the first day of 2012. It was 30 years ago, 1982, when I first committed to running and racing, and my life changed forever. That’s a lot of years of life lessons. I can vividly remember those early days of running, and how in awe I was of the runners I met who had already been at it for 20 years or more. I truly never thought that would someday be me.

I’ve blogged my running thoughts in the past, but over time, much like running, writing presents its own set of challenges. It becomes more and more difficult as time passes to find fresh topics that no one else has already written about. It is even more difficult as the years pass to come up with new thoughts that YOU have not already written about. And the whole time, it is a test to present the thoughts in a way that someone else might have an interest in reading.

By the time our run was done, I had made three firm decisions. I knew I was going to climb up to our attic and pull down 30 years of old running T-shirts that been sitting there for years. I knew I was going to pull out 30 years of old running logs. (only the last 10 or so have been electronic) as supporting documentation. And I knew that I was going to use said T-shirts and running logs in support of my new goal for the new year, which will be to jump-start my writing again by recounting my first 30 years of running. I accomplished the first two missions within an hour of finishing the run. Achieving the third will take time, but today is hopefully the start.

The irony is that for those early years of running, I remember almost every run vividly. Without reviewing logs, I could probably rattle off every race I did those first couple of years, what my time was, and what the T-shirt looked like. Every run had its own uniqueness, and created its own memory. It was much like the start of a love affair. Every run took on its own significance.

On one of the running groups I belong to on Facebook, someone asked a few days ago why bloggers blog about running. It made me think and wonder why I stopped blogging several years ago, and came to the conclusion that I reached a point that I just didn’t have anything interesting to blog about. My blog cycle had run its course. But what I read from responses is that I really do still have a lot to say, 30 years worth, and I may be approaching a time of life to start saying it again.

I have 30 years of history to recall, 30 years of inspiration to share, 30 years of races to recount, and 30 years of documenting runners behaving like runners. I have 30 years of lessons learned, 30 years of successes and occasional failures, and 30 years of motivation for new runners who today are in the exact same place I was 30 years ago, and I can provide 30 years worth of reasons to stick with it for the next 30 years. I think I am qualified.

Today, the first day of 2012, Kelli and I went to the New Years at Noon 5K in Athens, GA. I almost talked us out of going, citing comfort and laziness as reasons, but we decided at the last minute to go. We ran, Kelli much better than me, as is usually the case. In 30 years I have slowed more than I would have guessed, but it has not diminished the desire to continue running for the next 30 years. This will be one of the many focuses I’m sure I’ll be writing about from time to time.

It’s funny how the cosmic energy of the universe pulls in a certain direction from time to time. After the race, I was approached by Tim Bagley, who asked me if I would consider writing a blog for his new web site. It confirmed that my goal for the new year is a valid one.

Funny you mention that, Tim. I think I just might.

What do you think

YMCA of Canberra Half Marathon training group 2012

2012-01-06T12:49:00.002+11:00

While doing a browse this afternoon, I noticed this information:-

YMCA of Canberra Half Marathon training group 2012

The YMCA of Canberra Runners Club is conducting a half marathon-training group to prepare participants for the YMCA of Canberra Half Marathon on 20 May 2012. It is aimed at novices – those runners who have not completed this distance before and are attracted by the challenge! However, it is also open to people who may have run the distance some time ago and want to return to distance running. This will be the second year of the program although it is similar to a program conducted successfully by the ACT Cross Country Club that has nurtured over 300 runners to their first half marathon.

The program will start on 25 February 2012 and finish with a celebratory recovery run on the Tuesday after the half marathon. Group training will take place on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings at various venues around Canberra. Members will also be encouraged to participate in the YMCA of Canberra Runners Club events where possible as part of their training. Any additional training suggested will need to be undertaken by participants in their own time.

A brief information session will be held at 6pm on Wednesday 8 February at the YMCA Centre on Maclaurin Street, Chifley which is off Eggleston Crescent and up from the Chifley Shops.. The full program for the Group will be available on that day with the first run scheduled for 7am on Saturday 25 February at Lennox Gardens.

Experienced runners with many marathons and half marathons behind them will run/jog with participants at each group session.

More information from email - halfmarathon.YCRC@ymca.org.au

NOTE - You must be a member of the YMCA of Canberra Runners Club to join this training program.

Training Group Registration costs $170 and includes a free T shirt and drink bottle.

BBQ Stakes Wednesday 4 th January 2012

2012-01-04T18:42:00.002+11:00

BBQ Stakes Wednesday 4 th January 2012,

Laura Toyne had the pleasure (duty) of time keeping at today's event with 37 runners participating. And it was a teams event with all running the course in reverse, the first run of each month is a reverse run. This is a quirk of the BBQ Stakes. The teams event was shared with two runners, Bob Harlow and Bruce Wight, being awarded their 400 th run T-Shirt.

Bob Harlow has a PB of 21:30, run sometime around September 1987 and Bruce Wight has a P.B. of 23:44 from 1999.

Andrew Blyton, Kerrie Tanner and Julie Quinn, finished in that order, subject to correction,Andrew was 1 st for IPAustralia, Kerrie second for IP Aust, and George 3rd for the others. Might have been Julie's birthday because I heard Happy Birthday greetings being wished for her.

Bob Harlow was 20 th, Kevin Chapman 21 st,Ian Hore 24 th, Caroline C ampbell 26 th, Terry Dixon 27th, Andrew Guild 29 th, Jeff Gardner 30 th, Talwar Singh was 36 th and Gabrielle Wright was 37 th. Daniel Buckley was 34 th, Ruth Baussmann was 15 th. Ian Hore was 24 th.

Christmas Day

2011-12-26T10:31:00.000+11:00

Canberra times was not produced today, and I didn't see anything in the previous few days issues about it, We were supposed to know, so nil real estate notices and no crossword and puzzles.

It was fine in the mornng when we went to Gungahlin, and very little traffic and thus very few stops at traffic lights. There were no windscreen cleaners at the traffic lights, normally they are at most of the busy places, and a very clear run on return.

Later in the afternoon, there was heavy rain, which looked very threatening of something worse.

Went to Wanniassa for Christmas dinner, a huge ham, which we couldn't get through for Christmas dinner, and lots of side dishes, salads, gingerbread men, and panacotta, I think that's how it is spelt.

Nice cool tea to drink and then home for a welcome rest.

Christmas Cheer

2011-12-23T09:25:00.001+11:00

A lot of christmas wishes to everybody.

We have finally made our choice, and are going to relatives in Tuggeranong.

It will be in the afternoon, Christmas day. and we have had meals there previously, and we know they are always good.

Best Wishes to everybody for a great new year.

BBQ Stakes 20th December 2011

2011-12-22T16:20:00.001+11:00

Today's winner --- Laura Toyne, making her 5 wins and 19 runs since last win, she crossed the line at 39:47. She has 131 runs to her credit including a second placing in the Christmas relay event.

Second was Tony Wynd and Elle Knight was third . Coming up for their 399 th runs are Bruce Wight and Bob Harlow, and Raymond Chao has 95 runs to his credit.

Kerrie Tanner ran 7th for her age group in the recent Hawaii Marathon.

She has posted many photos of the marriage between Michael and and Kelley.

The Runners Shop Sale

2011-12-21T15:41:00.000+11:00

The Runners Shop January Sale

Season’s Greetings!

We hope it’s been a terrific year for you. With Christmas and New Year almost upon us, so too is The Runners Shop January sale!

This year we have some great specials, particularly in Brooks, New Balance and Nike.

As always, we want to give our members of running, triathlon and orienteering clubs the first opportunity to purchase the sale stock at the discount price. We won’t commence advertising to the general public until early in the new year. This gives you the month of December to get stuck in and pick the eyes out of our sale stock.

All models other than the Asics Gel Mens 1160 (due later this week) are now in store.

We hope to see you soon! Please contact us if you wish to reserve a pair.

Nick, Brian and the Runners Shop team.

The Runners Shop - Canberra

(02) 6285 3508

Canberra Runners Shop Sale

2011-12-19T15:48:00.000+11:00

This sale is now on.

For information on some of the items on special, visit the Canberra Runners Shop Website, or better still, visit The Runners Shop.

By the time the Ads are on the TV screens, some of the stock will have been sold, so get in early for the best deals and the best discounts.

BBQ Stakes 14 th December 2011

2011-12-14T16:21:00.001+11:00

Today's event went ahead, with more than 43 runners competing, including Gabrielle and Tim Wright.

Kerrie Tanner recently travelled overseas to attend the wedding of Mick Horan and Kelley Flood. Photos of the happy couple may be seen on Speedy Geoff's Blogsite. With the Christmas relays last week, this week the Teams event was held. The winning team was from the "Others". An update on the pointscore for the year 2010 was that Terry Dixon was the winner, Raymod Chao was second and Bruce Wight was third. Today's team event was won by the others, consisting of Andrew Walker, Heather Powrie and Roger Pilkington. As can be deduced, today's winner was Andrew Walker.

Tery Dixon helped today with the timing, Carolyne Kramar had a run and despite some hassles concerning the timing clock, the run was conducted with the usual clockwork precision, the early starters Adrian Plunkett, John Busteed and Judy Kuleas, being the first to finish, with the Wright's towards the rear of the field, being 3rd last and 2nd last respectively.

A reminder that an event will be held next week, with no event on 28th December this year.

Emily Brichacek

2011-12-12T10:39:00.000+11:00

Brichacek has sights on Olympic qualifying time

BY DAVID POLKINGHORNE, ATHLETICS

The Canberra Times
12 Dec, 2011 04:00 AM

With another national title under her belt, Canberra runner Emily Brichacek will look to slash a couple of minutes off her 10,000m time to try to qualify for next year's London Olympics.
Brichacek took out the Australian 10,000m title in Melbourne on Saturday night, despite finishing third behind Kenyan runners Joyce Chepkirui and Emily Chebet, who both posted Olympic qualifying times.

She posted a time of 33min 2.55sec, which is about 77sec from getting a ticket to London, and beat home Jess Trengove, from South Australia, by 14.17sec.

''[The Olympic qualifying time] is a fair bit quicker but if you get in the right race and improve my fitness a bit anything's possible,'' Brichacek said.

''So I'd have to really get stuck into training now and set up a few races, possibly overseas next year, and try and get as close to that [time] as I can.''

It's been a great year so far for Brichacek, who also won the Australian cross country title in Canberra in August.

She'll have a couple of weeks off over Christmas before resuming training in the New Year.

''I'll just see how the training goes after a bit of a break but there's the NSW 5km champs [in Sydney on January 14] so I might run that and then AA [Athletics Australia] are putting on the whole athletics tour that goes to all the states in Australia,'' Brichacek said.

Her countryman Ben St Lawrence went a long way towards booking his spot on the London Olympics team by successfully defending his Australian 10,000m title at a rain-swept Lakeside Stadium.

St Lawrence was fourth across the line behind a trio of Kenyans in the feature event of the Zatopek:10 meet in a time of 28:1.68.

As he was unable to better the A qualifying standard of 27:45, the 30-year-old from Sydney did not secure automatic Olympic selection.

But having already bettered the mark when setting an Australian record of 27:24.95 in California in May, he is now all but assured of a seat on the plane to London.

The news was nowhere near as good for fellow countryman Craig Mottram, who fell off the pace with 15 laps to go on Saturday night and narrowly avoided being lapped before finishing seventh in 28:52.20.

Cabinet Reshuffle

2011-12-12T10:18:00.001+11:00

Is this move prompted by her appearances on the ABC Program Q and A ??

*************************************************************************

Tanya Plibersek is expected to be elevated into cabinet, and to get the health portfolio.

Australian 50 km Road walking Championships

2011-12-11T13:21:00.000+11:00

2011 Australian 50km Road Walking Championships - Results

Australian 50km Road Walking Championships - 11/12/2011
Fawkner Park, Melbourne

Men 50km Race Walk Championship Open
1, 167 Jared Tallent, Ais/Vic, 3:49.33A. 2, 122 Nathan Deakes, Ais/Vic,
3:50.34A. 3, 163 Christopher Erickson, Ais/Vic, 3:51.57A. 4, 187 Ian Rayson, Nswis, 3:57.55A.

BBQ Stakes Christmas Relay 7 December 2011

2011-12-11T09:55:00.001+11:00

Refer also a separate post which is a summary of the event.

Results are as follows:--

Richard Jukes 12:11, Tony Sergi 15:19, Peter Clarke 12:54, Sean O'Halloran 15:22, Leanne Wilks 17:25, Geoff King 14:58, Ruth Baussmann 18:05, Jeff Gardner 15:25, John Busteed 22:27, Raymond Chao 16:00, Rhys Patterson 14:59, Adrian Plunkett 21:32, Ian Hore 17:00, Caroline Campbell 19;23, Anne Young 22:58, Matthew Fisher 17:12, Heather Powrie 16:36, Roger Pilkington 14:04, Darren Leseberg, Andrew Blyton 12:36, Leah Afiabo 24:09, Andrew Guild 16:19, Kevin Chapman 17:45, Richard Frost 17:56, Jen Bright 16:29, Matthew Murphy 10:26, Laura Toyne 13:11, Gary Lee 11:23, Talwar Singh 14:34, Dolph Page 17:29, Andrew Walker 13:49, Roger Pilkington 13:27, Lloyd Donnelly 15:47, John Hall 16:43, Steve Smith 14:05, Ben Reay 16:18, Marc Wilson 17:25, Tony Wynd 12:35, Bob Harlow 12:54, Jim White 14:32, Andrew Matthews 14:03, Frasew Powrie 16:08, Rad Leovic 19:01, Andrew Luton 12:56, Kerrie Tanner 12:35, Sam Wright 13:20, Terry Levings 15:18, Richard Frost 18:47, Daniel Bright 17:26.

If anyone wants the full results, pleasecontact Terry Levings by e-mail.

Asics Luxmore Grunt __ Stuart Doyle

2011-12-08T17:19:00.000+11:00

ASICS Luxmore Grunt winners

The ASICS Luxmore Grunt was a battle between experience and youth. Stuart Doyle, 45, of Canberra, Australia, overtook to beat Troy McAlister, a year 12 Southland lad from Winton aged just 17. Doyle came in at 2:02:43, with McAlister at 2:04:17. Third was Richard Ford at 2:10:47.

McAlister was in the lead by about a minute at Luxmore Hut. Doyle thought he wasn’t going to catch McAlister on the downhill, but managed it towards the bottom of the hill. “I guess I just have more experience on the downhill, but McAlister will learn that,” said Doyle.

Doyle thanked the runners coming up the hill for keeping him informed about McAlister’s position. “I’m stuffed now but everyone was so encouraging and I got a second wind at the top – there are awesome views up there. It was a great atmosphere and now I’m off for icecream,” said Doyle.

Doyle’s girlfriend was doing the Kepler Challenge. Doyle said: “She’s tougher than me.”

Doyle, who has competed in the world mountain running championships, said the Grunt was the perfect length for him and that he was aided by a year’s consistent training.

McAlister said: “I’ve never run on such a big hill before and I am utterly thrilled to be second. My goal is to be in the Olympics triathlon.”

The first female in was Jess Simpson of Wanaka, in at 2:18:39 who was new to mountain running. She said: “It’s such a magical environment and the secret is to enjoy it – I just love running outside. The bush is incredible – unlike anywhere else I’ve ever run.”

Second female was Claire Corbett of Australia, in at 2:29:16 and third was Beth Cardelli of Sydney.

Local Te Anau farmer, Hamish McClean, 32, doing the grunt for the first time, was delighted to come in 11th, said: “I ‘m built like a greyhound and I wondered if I could run like one.”

The secret to winning the Grunt is clearly muesli and fruit: the breakfast of choice of both Doyle and Simpson.

BBQ Stakes Christmas Relay 7 th December 2011

2011-12-08T14:34:00.002+11:00

A field of 20 or so teams fromted for this Annual event.

Teams of two work out their running handicaps and try to cover the 6km event in as close to 40 minutes as possible. This was achieved by Garry Lee and Peter Clarke followed in second place by by Laura Toyne and Tony Sergi. Matthew Murphy and Richard Jukes came in third place.

Pointscore for the year second place was won by Raymond Chao.

Fastest male was Matthew Murphy, and Fastest Female was Julie Quinn.

Regular male runner was Garry Bowen, and Regular Female runner was Helen Larmour.

Helpers on the day were Doug Fry, Bernie Crowe, Brian Crowe, Carolyne Kramar, Steve Smith, Terry Levings, and lots of others.

Youngest to finish was Daniel Bright, enjoying his stroller ride, pushed by his mother, could be the youngest person to complete the BBQ Stakes course.

Gramps Christmas Mount Ainslie Run Up

2011-12-06T16:36:00.002+11:00

HANDICAP RESULTS First Ten.

Name Sex Start time Finish time Actual time
George Pagotelis 8.30 21.58 13.28
Yogesh Mulye 3.30 22.04 18.34
Marie Janczura F 3.30 23.11 19.41
Andrew Bowman 4.00 23.29 19.29
Chris Withington 4.15 23.39 19.44
Peter Zygadlo 10.15 23.46 13.31
Brad Hetharia 11.40 23.49 12.09
Craig Wurtz 6.00 23.54 17.54
Nick Blackaby GO 23.57 23.57
Norak Theam 8.45 24.01 15.16

27 th November 2011 Vets Handicap

2011-11-27T16:46:00.002+11:00

A momentous occasion for Jim White when he won his first ever medal at the Vets Monthly Handicap at Weston Park today.

Although being the second across the line, Jim was the first eligible in the Thomas Series race to be given his first ever medal in the Vets Handicap series.

Kevin Chapman was also an awardee today of his 100 handicaps T-Shirt, having completed 100 Vets Monthly Handicaps, and quite often helping with the packing up after the handicaps were finished.

BBQ Stakes 23 November 2011

2011-11-24T15:39:00.001+11:00

Today's winner was john Pivagos at 39:43 (excuse the spelling) He has 26 runs his PB was 25:04 on 4th August 2010. Jen Bright was second at 39:48, And third was Andrew Blyton. All in the front of the field of 61 runners.

Last week Raymond Chao ran 27:15, Heather Powrie ran 33:52. Bob Harlow is sitting on 398 runs, Bruce Wight on 399 runs. Ben Reay was stone motherless last today, a long gap after the rest of the field.

Sean O'Halloran has run 100 Stakes but is yet to receive his T-Shirt, an incentive to run next week.

Wednesday 7th December is the relays at 5:40 pm, and Dec 14th will probably be the reverse run for the team award.

The Canberra Times

2011-11-18T10:03:00.000+11:00

From City News Magazine November 17-23 Issue Page 10.

Saturday edition has dropped in readership from 138,000 to 120,000, Sunday has shed 16.6 percent, Monday to Friday has dropped 7 percent.

Is this because of the Internet? I have been getting The Canberra Times home delivered for umpteen years now, so these figures don't apply to me.

BBQ Stakes 16 November 2011

2011-11-17T13:08:00.003+11:00

61 ran this event in fine conditions. Matthew Murphy was the last to enrol. He had a new handicap but was not able to see it, due to his late arrival. He requestes we not pack up the starting information, until we are sure all starters have arrived.

Today's winner was Raymond Chao at 39:45 finishing time, it being his second win. He was about 6th over the line. Heather Powrie was second placed today.

Kerrie and Jen dead-heated across the line having run the course together as Kerrie is to run a leg of the triple tri over this weekend. Rad has several teams under his various names for this year's Triple Tri event, so if you wish to run that event in future years, ask Rad for information.

There was some mix-up with the place cards today, firstly the place cards were not taken to the event today so the timekeeper was asked to head over to IP Australia office to collect the cards, and they were sorted into place order on arrival, then when they were being handed out to the finishers, there were some cards mixed up, hope the runners sorted this out.

Youngster at Black Mountain Run Up

2011-11-17T10:55:00.000+11:00

Black Mountain Run Up
2.6 kms, Canberra
Tuesday 15 November
A strong run from the inform Fluoro!
Males: 1 Stuart Doyle 12.20, 2 Grant Bluett 13.26, 3 David Baldwin 14.16, 4 Simon Claringbold 14.19, 5 Patrick Kluth 14.26, 6 Norak Theam 16.17, 7 Tony Olliffe 17.13, 8 Craig Wurtz 19.16, 9 Scott Yates 21.51, 10 Michael Burt 22.24.
Females: 1 Kerri Louttit 19.03, 2 Monika Short 23.45, 3 Emily Murray 31.50, 4 eq. Shannon Jones, Allison Jones, Alma Walter (1 week old!).

Lucky Legs ' Success

2011-11-16T15:35:00.000+11:00

From Lucky Legs" Blog.

1st place in 70+ age category in which to my surprise this year there were no other competitors! Perhaps that's why my age category wasn't called at the presentations until I reminded someone that I really was there and had run the 5km event! I

Deep Space Mountain Marathon and Half Marathon 13 November 2011

2011-11-14T17:41:00.003+11:00

Deep Space Mountain Marathon and Half Marathon
Namadgi National Park ACT
Sunday 13 November 2011

Former Australian mountain running representative John Winsbury of Canberra was in scintillating form as he strode to victory in the 2011 Deep Space Mountain Marathon in Namadgi National Park. Winsbury clocked 92 minutes for the half marathon over the course between the former iconic Deep Space tracking stations of Honeysuckle Creek and Orroral then went on to complete the full marathon in 3.09.34. There was a total ascent over the course of 1300m. Runner up was Sydney Australian ultra running representative Tim Cochrane in 3.16.45, with Tony Woolford of Coffs Harbour third in 3.44.12.

There was a Canberra trifecta in the women’s race with Louise Sharp fastest female in 4.05.10, from Bryony McConnell in 4.32.31 and Pam Muston in 4.41.30.

Orienteering international Lachlan Dow won the half marathon in 1.38.08 from fellow Canberra Cockatoo Chris Helliwell in 1.39.21 and top alpine skier Mark Van Der Ploeg in 1.43.26. Charlotte Burgoyne was fastest female in 1.56.12, with world regaining champion Julie Quinn next in 1.58.52 and veteran Cathy Crompton third in 2.01.10.

Nick Horspool took out the out and back 8km in 35.18 from Scott Wright in 42.56 and Tim Adair in 51.21. Natalie Dawson was third outright and first female in 47.03, followed by Mandy Savery in 51.45 and Annette Mackintosh in 52.17.

In the Honeysuckle to Orroral 10.6 kms, Alice Moore was fastest outright in 1.02.43, with Carly Nix second fastest female in 1.10.34, and Breanna Visser third fastest in 1.14.38. Fourteen year old Jack Marron was fastest male in 1.14.36. Kevin Rowe was second in 1.21.52.

Many thanks to Namadgi National Park and to all helpers: Carol Harding, Kerrie Muir, Tony Henshaw, Paul Veldkamp, Ben Rhee, Stuart Lindenmayer, Kerrie Tanner, Steve Appleby.

John Harding's photo album is at http://hardingjohn.smugmug.com/Sports/Mountain-running/2011-Deep-Space-Marathon/

Vanitys Crossing to be closed to vehicle traffic.

2011-11-11T13:02:00.000+11:00

Vanitys Crossing to be closed to vehicle traffic.

From:- Speedygeoff's Blog Poat

“TAMS’ decision to permanently close Vanity’s Crossing follows advice from ActewAGL and is a precautionary measure to reduce the risk of contamination or an event which would make the Cotter Reservoir unusable as a source of drinking water.
“Gates will be installed on either side of the crossing on Tuesday 15 November 2011. These will remain open until 6 February 2012, when they will be permanently locked to prevent vehicle access. People will still be able to access the area on foot or bicycle however we ask that people be mindful of how their behaviour may impact on the water and surrounding environment. Signage will be in place to inform people of the closure and of the water quality issues at the site."

This may affect some of our mountain runs if cars will need to detour to get to the far side of the crossing.

Barrenjoey 2k/5k Races PARKING NEWS

2011-11-10T10:31:00.000+11:00

YCRC SPRING SERIES 2011 - RACE 3

Early heads up re the Barrenjoey 2k/5k Races that will take place on Tuesday 15th at 6.15pm.

Please note that all runners will now be required to park in the new car park area which is off Lady Denman Drive at the on/off ramps to the Parkway.

Cheers,
Ken Eynon

BBQ Stakes Tuesday 9 th November 2011

2011-11-09T16:27:00.001+11:00

Alex Lloyd was the timekeeper today and did a sterling job, sending all runners off their correct start time and recording the finishing times.

She has run something like 4 runs recently, and has copped a rehandicap for her win last week.

Anne Young was prepared to help today, but left before the finiish, as she had run a hard 10 km the previous day.

63 runners today with the backmarker being Nick Walshe from The Runners Shop, which provides sponsorship to the stakes on a weekly basis, and extra prizes at the end of year presentations.

This year's Christmas relays are to be held on 7 th December commencing at 5:30 pm, with a Barbeque and presentations to follow.

Today's winner was Andy Matthews, with 21 runs and one win. Second was Richard Jukes with Geoff King coming in third place, I think he runs for IP Australia.

For Information on Christmas relays, contact adrian plunkett@ipaustralia.gov.au 62832388, or Terry Levings @gmail.com. 0409691616

Elle Knight was a welcome runner today she went and ran with Kerrie, and Daniel Bright who was in a pram and showing a sniffle from a cold, visited with his mother, Jennifer, after the run and met lots of finishers.

For those who rely on nearby toilet facilities, please note that the Woden Library now requires a library borrowing card to be shown for access to it's toilet facilites, with implementation from today, 11 th November.

Note also that there are toilet facilities in the Woden Health Clinic Building.

Ginninderra Handicap No 338 on Tue 24/10/2011

2011-11-07T16:16:00.003+11:00

Ginninderra Handicap No 338 on Tue 24/10/2011
In damp and miserable conditions only five runners turned up equalling the lowest total since 1983. Jeff Grey started last and passed the field to win (his third win) from Matt Hirzel and Phil Carruthers. Matt Hirzel's cheer squad turned up hoping that he would win his second handicap in a row, however he was narrowly defeated by Jeff Grey fresh from a sub 3hr marathon. Sam Spencer had his first run in the handicap and was pleased, on finishing, that this was the first time he had run continuously over a 7km distance. Who knows where the handicap will take you! Sue Hobson had a run in 1986 and 6 years later in 1992 she represented Australia in the Barcelona Olympics. With three prizes and 5 runners the odds of a prize were good.

Officials Simon Wall, Andrew Sutcliffe,

The Running Bug and the Web We Weave - The Roads Scholar

2011-11-05T13:24:00.003+11:00

The Running Bug and the Web We Weave

Author -- The Roads Scholar

For nearly 30 years now, I have run. And for equally as long, I have been asked why I do it. It is an appropriate question, and one that is never really easily answered. I can usually respond to that question with an explanation that satisfies me, but rarely can address it to the approval of the questioner, unless the person asking is also a runner. I guess it would be like me asking a Proctologist why they Proctologize. But then again, I didn’t daydream about being a runner when I was in the second grade either.
The honest truth is that not only do we each run for our own personal reasons, but our individual motives change as we continue on our journey. I can assure you that as a 26 year old, I ran for much different reasons than I do today. When I was young, I didn’t worry about my health, or my girth, or my immortality, and I can assure you that today, I no longer train with illusions of running PR’s or with the belief that I will be young forever, and never lose a step. Although I pushed it back for as long as I could, the reality of aging finally set in and now I begrudgingly accept it. But it doesn’t mean I have to like it.
But even with my glory days far behind me, most mornings I set my alarm for a time long before dawn, throw on my reflective vest and a headlamp, go out the door, and run. And most days, when the run is completed, it is still dark. No wonder people ask me why. If I was anyone other than me, I would probably be asking myself the same question.
But running is a bug, and once a bug bites you, it grips you tightly. As I habitually weave my way around the neighborhood, spinning the same web day after day, month after month, year after year, I realize that I have no other choice. I don’t question why I do it, even though, as an objective observer, I know it doesn’t make sense. I am a runner, and therefore, I run.
I can remember when I was younger, living in North Carolina, around August of each year, as the humidity set in, big ugly spiders would show up out of nowhere, and would start spinning webs around my porch. At around dusk they would come out, and start spinning their webs, very meticulous in their approach. It was really a thing of beauty to watch them weave their calculated well-engineered webs, strand by strand, spoke by spoke. I rarely stayed to watch until that night’s web was finished, but the next morning, there it was, a completed symmetrical snare, sometimes perfectly undisturbed, and other times with a fly, or a moth caught within its clutches.
I never really thought much about it back then in my youth as a runner, but have come to realize that I am much like those spiders, and this is yet another reason I run. Did those spiders ever want to sleep in, and skip a night of web-weaving? Who knows? As a spider ages, does he ask if it is worth it to continue spinning the same web night after night? Probably not, because in reality a spider doesn’t have a choice. Their nutrition, their sustenance, their reward is all built into that web.
In much the same way, at a certain point in a runner’s life, the run becomes to a runner as the web is to the spider. As we weave our way around our running routes, spinning our own webs in for form of miles, we realize we need it to sustain us. We rarely question why we do it. We just know we have to. We are the species of human known as runners, and running is what we do. It becomes instinctive.
And for as long as the body allows it, the runner will not willingly not run. He can’t. To not run would leave him hungry, mal-nourished, and without the bug of nourishment. Running is the web we weave. And the web is what sustains us.
Posted by The Roads Scholar at 5:06 AM.

BBQ Stakes Christmas Run

2011-11-05T13:05:00.001+11:00

This is held on the second Wednesday in December.

It is conducted as a two person relay event as a Turkey run at an estimated total time of 40 minutes, without wearing watches or earpieces attached to a music device, each person running 3 kilometres.

End of year presentations are made, following a Barbeque after the relays.

The relay start time is 5:30 pm, and BBQ and presentations follow.

Awards are made and trophies presented.

Runners make up their own teams, but if someone needs a team member, the organisesrs can help find a team mate. The target time for the run is 40 minutes, and closest team to finish in that time is declared the winner of the prestigious trophy, which they hold for 12 months.

NOTE that there is NIL lunchtime run on the day of the relays.

BBQ Stakes 2nd November 2011

2011-11-02T16:14:00.001+11:00

The day following the runnung of the Melbourne Cup brought a good attendance of 58/59 competitors.

Dolph Page wore his recently acquired T Shirt.

He was carrying an injury so didn't perform to his usual high standard. Anne Young was also carrying an injury, and limped home saying when she wasn't running, it felt better.

John Busteed, Marc Wilson and Judy Kuleas left early and all returned in the early finishers.

Julee Quinn also talked about her next long run in a few weeks time, not a marathon, but a long run in a mountain running event.

Ian Fletcher, husband of former president of the ACT Cross Country Club, Emma Kate McGurk, recently had a birthday, and is still in Turkey.

Gary Bowen talked about his excellent placing in a triathlon over the weekend, ask him about it when next you see him.

60 th Birthday Celebrations

2011-10-31T13:09:00.001+11:00

This was the occasion to travel to Traralgon (Victoria) for a family get together for my brother -in - law's 60th Birthday Celebration.

We travelled on Thursday morning 28th October 2011, and returned Saturday 29 th October 2011. Travel time was a leisurely 9 hours or so on each day, including regular stops for Diesel (petrol) and snacks. We travelled in a new Ford Territory Diesel engined model.

It was a slightly heavier model since it is to be set up for towing a caravan around Australia next year, or so the plan is. It belongs to another brother-in-law.

Another brother-in-law came from Melbourne for the celebrations, so the house was rather full.

My sister=in-law gave up their super bed for us and we all had a good sleep, although one night turned into a bed-time of about 3 am.

We took a lot of presents (including some bought at the local Korean shop in Civic and the load in the car was much reduced on the return trip.

We also visited a local hall, while a Karate lesson was being conducted and were entertained as the 20 or so students were put through their paces. This was a mixed class of various standards and thus various abilities. Some of the local parents were also there to wish the Karate school master, my brother-in-law a happy Birthday, and they presented him with a bound album of pictures, put together by one of the parents.

Return trip was progressed in heavy rain until after the NSW border was reached. We ended the trip at a Thai restaurant in the Erindale centre.

That restaurant had been awarded a best award recently, and the locals love it because it was practically full.

BBQ Stakes Wednesday 26th October 2011

2011-10-26T16:05:00.000+11:00

Nick Walshe ran the fastest time in today's stakes with cool weather prevalent. His Time, I believe was 40:18 from the back Marker spot.

Gary Bowen was given his 100 th run T-Shirt today, his PB was 25:02 and his first stakes was 8th July 2009.

He races and trains for the 5km distance, and always races hard at the BBQ Stakes. Helen and roger were 54 th and 55 th today, with many of the runners having competed in the two peaks mountain runs over the past weekend.

Tony Sergi was timekeeper today after his 4th win, and Matthew Murphy was given his winner's voucher after not being able to time keep the week following his win. Laura Toyne was second today, following Daniel Strachan's win, with Andrew Blyton coming home in third place.

John Busteed and Marc Wilson headed the field home, having started early.

Robert de Castella

2011-10-25T17:44:00.002+11:00

From his facebook page.

Robert Francois de Castella MBE (born 27 February 1957 in Melbourne, Victoria) was a world champion marathon runner. He is popularly known as "Deek" or "Deeks" to the Australian public, and "Tree" to his competitors due to his thick legs and inner calm. He still holds the Oceanian record for the marathon.

Early life

De Castella was born of Swiss-Italian descent and was the oldest of seven children. He came from a family where sport was a way of life. His father Rolet ran marathons at 59 years of age, and his mother Anne was a state-level tennis player. Robert was an outstanding track athlete as a teenager and trained under Pat Clohessy from the age of 14.

Marathon career

1981 Fukuoka Marathon

de Castella first came to international attention when he won the 1981 Fukuoka Marathon in a time of 2:08:18, which was the fastest time recorded for an out-and-back course. It was not initially known to be a world best time, because his time was 5 seconds more than the time set by Alberto Salazar in the 1981 New York City Marathon. It later emerged that the New York course was about 148 metres short. de Castella's time was later ratified as the world record.

1982 Commonwealth Games Marathon

de Castella was the favourite to win the marathon at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane. At the start of the race, Tanzanian competitors Shahanga and Ikangaa raced to the lead and were 50m ahead of the pack after five minutes. After the 20 km mark, this gap had widened to several hundred meters. By the 23 km mark, Ikangaa had taken the lead from his compatriot, with de Castella in the main pack some 250m behind, but closing. de Castella passed the now tiring Shahanga at the 38 km mark, and in the next kilometer drew level with Ikangaa then took the lead. However Ikangaa was not done yet, and re-took the lead slightly. The duel continued for the remainder of the race. Eventually de Castella pulled away, and won by 80m in a time of 2:09:18, 12 seconds ahead of Ikangaa. Briton Mike Gratton finished 3rd in 2hrs 12min, 6sec, and Shahanga faded to finish 6th. The race finished on the streets of Brisbane, not in the main stadium.

The Roads Scholar --- latest post

2011-10-25T15:24:00.000+11:00

The Roads Whisper My Name

I do a lot of driving through the North Georgia Mountains and the Carolinas, and I've noticed that this part of the country has its share of quiet roads. Quiet, however, does not exactly mean silent. These roads actually talk to me through their tranquility, and they whisper my name, barely audible, but undeniable. They soothingly grab my attention, and once they have gotten it, under their breath, they always utter the same two-word refrain. Like a gentle breeze, they plead. "Run me."

Whenever I hear the call, I find myself for one brief moment rearranging the rest of the day in my mind, and, once that is done, I imagine myself pulling over to oblige the call. But there is always a reason I don't. Either I have an ultimately unyielding agenda for the day, or there are people waiting at the other end of my travels, or I'm just not ready to take that kind of risk, so the thought is fleeting. I have therefore always denied the invitation, tricking myself in to believing that maybe, some day, I'll return to answer that call. But thus far, though the roads are always inviting, I have not accepted the invitation.

The roads that whisper my name are always roads less traveled, and that's what makes them so compelling. These whispering roads of which I speak all have a similar character. They are, for the eye's eternity, tree-lined, with an abundance of shade, and the roads themselves are always ascending until they ultimately stretch beyond view, only adding to the mystery and intrigue. Perhaps, if just one time, I chose to pull over, and accept the road's request to run, it would make all the difference. But so far, I have remained indifferent.

There are risks in the unknown and unrevealed, and these roads gently dare me and seemingly taunt me to find out what lies just beyond my view. That's why they continue to call out to me, and goad me by saying "Run me." The roads that whisper my name remain an unaccepted offer, and an unsolved mystery, because I continue to stay true to the paths I know, where I feel safe and protected. They remain an invitation I have yet to accept. But the temptation grows to some day give in to the plea. "Run me."

Whispering roads are not like the roads I run every day, which have less and less to say as the years go on. The familiar roads no longer talk, as they did when they were new. They are reliable and predictable, and I run in peaceful communion with them, but there is little new on roads that I have come to know so well that I could traverse them with my eyes closed. They are, at the same time, safe, and somewhat monotonous.

Perchance, the day will come when I wake up discovering that the same old road is no longer the comfort I had always thought it to be. Upon that realization, I may just hop in my car, and point it north, without any particular final destination, and without any specific activity to complete. I may drive with no other purpose but to hear, and be ready to respond to that whisper I've heard so many times before. "Run me." That road I choose may turn out to be a dead end, or it might possibly be a new beginning. But answering that whispering road might make all the difference.
Posted by The Roads Scholar at 8:43 AM

BBQ Stakes 19 th October 2011

2011-10-19T18:16:00.005+11:00

Sean O'Halloran was today's timekeeper, being the winner last week. Everything was going well except a person at place number 33, went through the line, so messing up some later placings and times.

However Terry Dixon has been informed and hopefully he will get it sorted.

Kathleen Bleakley started at 16:30, later then her correct time, and that will also probably be sorted by Terry. Something in the order of 50 plus ran today, with the usual three or more starting early, including Anne Young who has been attending the masters games in Adelaide and winning lots of medals.

One lady living at number 29 asked could BBQ Stakes runners not use her tap, as it annoys her somewhat.

Tony Sergi won today, 2nd was John Paniagua and third was Daniel Sheahan.

Terry Levings ran almost last today, possibly expending his energy at the Weston Creek fun run on the weekend.

Results courtesy Kerrie Tanner

1 Kerrie Tanner,2 Hamish Armstrong3 John Duncan
4 Tony Sergi 5 John Paniagua 6 Daniel Sheahan 7 Geoff King 8 Terry Dixon 9 Andrew Walker 10 Kevin Chapman
11 Andrew Matthews 12 Greg Regester
13 Raymond Chao 14 Stephen Wells
15 John Barrett 16 Hugh Moore 17 Eddie Adams
18 Melissa Carters 19 Singh Talwar
20 Laura Toyne 21 Steven Murphy
22 Bruce Wight 23 Ellie Kukolic
24 Tony Wynd 25 Heather Powrie
26 Garry Lee 27 David Saunders
28 Andrew Blyton 29 Darren Leseberg
30 Damian Wrigley 31 Galvin Koh
32 Katherine Butler 33 Gary Bowen
34 Alex Lloyd 35 Keith Fox
36 Angela Scott 37 John Scheding
38 Alison Hale 39 Robert Ey
40 Matthew Fisher 41 Andrew Luton
42 Sonja McKenna 43 John Hall
44 Helen Larmour 45 Roger Pilkington
46 Richard Wang 47 Leanne Wilks
48 Simon Heinicke 49 Terry Levings
50 Kathleen Bleakley 51 Anne Young
52 John Busteed 53 Caroline Campbell
54 Judy Kuleas 55 Marc Wilson
56 Adrian Plunkett 57 Mira Daoud
58 Victor Daoud

Black Mountain Challenge 2011

2011-10-18T11:08:00.000+11:00

Black Mountain Challenge 2011

The Runners Shop Brooks Black Mountain Challenge is a little under 8 weeks away. Online registration is now available. While there is a small administration fee associated with this we have kept our low race entry fees unchanged.

You can register at http://regonline.activeglobal.com/blackmountainchallenge2011

I hope to see you at this year's event.

Ian (Boyd)

Ben Donohoe Run and Walk for Fun 6 th November 2011

2011-10-15T10:16:00.004+11:00

www.hawkerc.act.edu.au/runandwalkforfun

Welcome to the Ben Donohoe Run and Walk for Fun Website proudly sponsored by McDonald's®

6th of November 2011 - 9:30AM Start at Lake Ginninderra

About The Fun Run

Since its inception in 2005 the Ben Donohoe Run and Walk for Fun has raised over $220,000 for the ACT Eden Monaro Cancer Support Group, Make-A-Wish Australia® and Brain Tumour Australia (BTA), which has helped our local community by supporting families affected by cancer and bringing hope and joy to the lives of seriously ill children.

Now in its seventh year, the Ben Donohoe Run and Walk for Fun is one of the premier events on the ACT sporting calendar and one of the largest fun runs in the region.
We can only continue to “Make A Difference” with the generous support of our sponsors, members of the community, school groups and our valued volunteers.

Demetrious Pandouras

2011-10-14T16:32:00.001+11:00

At the Customs Joggers run today, Simon Claringbold mentioned that Demetrios Pandouras is to be married tomorrow and that Simon is to be the best man.

A new lady joined the run today, her name is Nicole, and she mentioned that she had an enjoyable run. The floriade course was used today and the weather was good, we parked in the floriade parking area and there were plenty of spaces. Thea Zimpel ran today and looked quite good as she fimished. Winner today was Mike Stracey. Beware the handicapper. Ewen Rhompson was cleanly attired today, hasn't done this event for a long time, might return sooner as he is on a mission to reduce his 5 km time.

Bonshaw Cup 2011

2011-10-13T11:35:00.004+11:00

Date:- Friday, 28th October 2011

Where:- HMAS Harman Sports Oval, Canberra, ACT

When:- Registration opens at 9:30AM

Entry Fee:- $10 per person or $40 per team (includes trophies, prizes and lunch).

BBQ Stakes 12 th October 2011

2011-10-12T16:25:00.001+11:00

In the absence of Matthew Murphy, last week's winner, Doug Fry and Caroline Campbell took over the timekeeping duties, and the handing out of the placecards. A total of 51 runners today enjoyed the fine sunny weather. Axel Godeck who very recently retired has now notched up 32 years participation in the stakes, with a P.B. of 34:38 recorded in 1950,

Winner today was Sean O'Halloran in 39:40, and his P.B. is 39:41 achieved in 2011. Mike Davel was second over the line at 24:38, and Roger Pilkington ran into 3 rd place with a time over the line of 40:00 Minutes.

Lloyd Donnelly also came along today fully prepared for duty and recorded finishing times and names. Thanks Lloyd.

Top skaters figure in strong ACT Team

2011-10-11T14:23:00.002+11:00

Noticed in PB Canberra Times 11 th October 2011.

The ACT has named a strong squad for the Australian Figure Skating Championships in Brisbane in December.

Bethany McMahon and Karuna Henderson, who both placed at last year's event, will again skate for the ACT.

Karuna's mother, a few years ago, brought the refreshments to the Women's and Girl's Jogalong for quite some time, although not a strong runner, she performed that task for quite a long time.

Haruna's mother, was the person, who helped us get over the first weeks after the Canberra bushfires.

2011-10-10T14:59:00.000+11:00

London 2012 Olympics: Linford Christie and Dwain Chambers barred from buying tickets

Former Olympic champion Linford Christie and world indoor champion Dwain Chambers will be barred from buying London 2012 tickets through the British Olympic Association because of their previous drug bans.

Linford Christie will not be allowed to buy tickets for London 2012 because of his previous drugs bans.

By Simon Hart

The BOA announced earlier this week that all Team GB Olympians from previous Games would have the opportunity to purchase four tickets to the London Olympics from the BOA’s own allocation, with one pair of tickets being made available for the sport in which they competed.

But the BOA has confirmed that athletes who have been found guilty of a serious doping offence will be excluded from the offer.

A BOA spokesman said: “Individuals who have been found guilty of a doping offence are not extended the same privileges as other members of Team GB. This includes the opportunity to purchase tickets through the BOA to the Olympic Games.”

Christie, the 1992 Olympic 100 metres champion, served a two-year ban after testing positive for the steroid nandrolone in 1999, though he has always protested his innocence. Chambers, who finished fourth in the 100 metres at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, was also suspended for two years after testing positive for the designer steroid THG after becoming involved in the BALCO doping scandal. He later admitted taking a cocktail of performance-enhancing drugs.

Cyclist David Millar, who competed at the Sydney Olympics, also faces being excluded from the BOA ticket offer after his confession to taking the blood-boosting drug EPO led to a two-year ban in 2004.

It's Fun It's wild, it's unforgettable

2011-10-10T13:34:00.000+11:00

Come on an awesome adventure through the spectacular World Heritage sites of the Blue Mountains

wildendurance.org.au

Wild Endurance 100 km team challenge. Blue Mountaind 5-6 May 2012

100 km teams of 4+
50 km teams of 3+
30km relay teams of 6+

take the challenge

this is not just a walk in the mountains ...........it's a race to save the wild.

Australian Outback Marathon

2011-10-10T13:26:00.001+11:00

Book your Australian Outback Marathon Experience now at this web address.

http://www.australianoutbackmarathon.com/

Held every year on the last saturday in July.

Next event on 28 th July 2012.

Phone 1300 728 296 or sales @ australianoutbackmarathon.com

A Truly Australian Experience !

Rad's Hopes dashed in the Call Room

2011-10-10T13:12:00.001+11:00

After arriving in the Call Room for the world mountain running championships, Rad was told that he would not be allowed to run in the World Mountain Running Championships. There was no effort to repay his entry fee. After all the efforts to get there and then have this happen, was a big dash of hopes for all involved.

Lucky Rad was combining this run with a holiday tour.

"What will be will be".

Robert Arthur Dent, AKA Bob Dent

2011-10-09T11:41:00.000+11:00

Notice of passing in The Canberra Times 6 th October 2011.

Had chalked up a number of runs (138) in the BBQ Stakes and other running events in Canberra

Richard Scutter extends a welcome to a new arrival

2011-10-09T11:38:00.002+11:00

Olivia Sabine Scutter

Welcome to Olivia Sabine (pronounced Sabina) Scutter ... arrived 5 Oct 2011 (8 minutes this side of midnight) ... 7lb 5oz and 49cms long ... at Coffs Harbour ... images from her first day ...

Row like marriage dispute

2011-10-08T14:44:00.000+11:00

Sourced from

www.newsrt.co.uk/news/david-hemery-row-like-marriage-dispute-102575.html

DAVID HEMERY: ‘ROW LIKE MARRIAGE DISPUTE’

Lord Coe and Frankie Fredericks lay final piece of turf at London’s Olympic Stadium

Wednesday March 30,2011

By Colin Bateman Olympics Correspondent

THE final piece of grass was laid as construction was completed at London’s Olympic Stadium yesterday – but the turf wars still go on.

The two bodies charged with running the 2012 Games were described as being like a bickering married couple by former Olympic gold medal winner David Hemery, vice chairman of the British Olympic Association.

“I find it very sad that the focus has moved on to what is like a marriage dispute going on,” said Hemery, whose body is locked in a cash wrangle with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG).

“I would love to see greater harmony between us. We have had a great relationship with them [LOCOG] in the past and having this dispute in the public domain is not helpful.”

Earlier yesterday, former Olympic sprinter Frankie Fredericks shovelled the last piece of specially grown grass from Scunthorpe into place . The £486million, 80,000-seater stadium in east London that will be the showpiece of the Games has been completed on schedule in just under three years and was handed over to the organising committee.

I find it very sad that the focus has moved on to what is like a marriage dispute going on

David Hemery Vice chairman of the British Olympic Association

Fredericks was there as a member of the International Olympic Committee’s inspection team who are on a three-day visit to London to check the progress .

What Fredericks would not have been aware of is the internecine rows going on in the warring acronyms. While the Olympic delegation were being shown around the stadium, which now has to have finishing work done – including the laying of the running track – across London at the BOA headquarters in Charlotte Street, Sports Minister Hugh Robertson was trying to bang a few heads together.

The Government are becoming increasingly frustrated with the spat between the BOA and LOCOG over how the profits from next year’s Games, hoped to be about £400m , are shared. Of that , once any debts are cleared, 20 per cent goes to the BOA, 20 per cent to the IOC and 60 per cent is due to be ploughed back into British sport.

The BOA appear to want a slice of the action as far as that 60 per cent is concerned and are prepared to take LOCOG to the Court of Arbitration for Sport – and the row is over-shadowing preparation for 2012.

Robertson met with BOA chairman Colin Moynihan yesterday to see if a swift resolution could be found to a dispute that his organisation looks destined to lose.

Yesterday afternoon, the 33 governing bodies of all the Olympic sports in Britain that make up the BOA Olympics Committee met at BOA headquarters. There had been suggestions of a vote of no confidence in Moynihan, but that did not happen.

In fact, no one spoke against the BOA taking the matter to its costly legal conclusion in the Court of Arbitration in the autumn.

Moynihan said: “Everything we are doing is for the sports and the athletes into the future. We want an amicable resolution to all of this and we are open to discussion.”‘Having this in public is just not helpful’OLYMPICS: London 2012

BBQ Stakes 5th October 2011

2011-10-05T16:28:00.000+11:00

The first of the month when the race is run in the reverse direction.

One early tunner was caught out by running in the normal direction, due to her early start time, but she finished the run in an early placing, and booked in at the end. She is a seasoned runner, and has many runs to her credit.

Matthew Murphy, 500 runs to his credit, ran one of the fastest times for the day, the backmarker on the day. His best is 22:11 in 2010, today's run was timed at 22:20. John Schedding's son helped with relocating the trolleys to the finish line on the day, and spent some of his waiting time doing an experiment with the ants near the finish area. Daniel Buckley, last week's winner did the timing. Daniel is building up a string of first placings in recent months. Axel Godeck, now retired, finished at 39:54, Caroline Campbell finished second and Ruth Baussmann took out third placing. The teams event had Raymond Chao and Jeff King finishing well for IP australia, John Hall notched up his 30 th year of running the BBQ Stakes, Helen Larmour ran 28:19, recently.

BBQ Stakes 14 th September 2011

2011-09-14T16:19:00.000+10:00

Today's winner was Gary Bowen.

He has run the stakes 95 times so is heading for a souvenir t-shirt after another 5 runs. Today was his third win, and he seems to be a regular participant. He enjoyed The Camberra Times 5km Fun Run over the weekend, and finished into the head wind like the other runners..

Second over the line was John Scheding and the backmarker, Matthew Murphy was third. Matthew Murphy ran well again, as he usually does, to take out third place. Sandhya Bhatia did the timekeeping today in a seamless fashion after her win last week.

BBQ Stakes 7 th September 2011

2011-09-07T16:33:00.001+10:00

IP Australia, after a long time, took out the team trophy for this month's reverse direction Stakes.

A total of more than 60 competed today, Katherine Butler, last week's winner handled the start and timing of the runners admirably.

She has suffered a rehandicap in the order of over a minute for her win, she now knows what mark she will be starting from next week.

Notable others today were Roger Pilkington completed his 900 th Stakes and Dolph Page completed his 100 th Stakes. Dolph has a P.b. of 29:39 on 16 th July 2008.

First today was Sandhya Bhatia in 38:37 over the line, second was Steven Murphy over the line at 39:37, third was Andy Matthews at 39:37., For those running in the annual Canberra Times Fun Run, look for the runners in the training group, more than 100 people being trained for this run by Kerrie Tanner and Debbie Cowell.

Running News by Ken Eynon

2011-09-05T14:43:00.001+10:00

The YCRC Winter Season finished with good numbers in the West Basin 10 Miler on Saturday 3rd Sept.

Results will be on the website shortly.

The September 2011 Jogalong was significant in that Linda Miles joined Linda Richardson in becoming ONLY the second club member to record 220 runs in the 6k Handicap. I think I heard Linda say it has taken her 32 years to do this number of runs. Remembering that there are only 11 Jogalong's each year.The clubs AGM will be held in late October, more information on this will be published later. Keep your diary free for late October.

Spring Series will commence on Tuesday 1 November (Melbourne Cup Day). A 2k/5k will be held at Minindee Drive, Parkes near the Boathouse Restaurant.

BBQ Stakes 31 st August 2011

2011-09-01T13:58:00.005+10:00

BBQ Stakes 31 st August 2011

Today's stakes was attended by 62 runners on a great day, and with the return of Bob Harlow, and Leah Afiabo, for her second run after a long absence and surgery to her knee, an essential part of an athlete's body.

The winner was Katherine Butler, 6th over the line. Brian Crowe did the timekeeping when last week's winner had to attend the funeral of his son's friend's father.

Adrian Plunkett reported that he is getting a lot of enquiries about people wanting to run the BBQ Stakes and get information about the event.

Terry Levings was absent, which will enable others to catch up on his totals.

First was Katherine Butler, 39:55 second Nathan Smythe in 40:01 amd third was John Paniagua in 40:02.

Results supplied by Kerrie Tanner are as follows;-

1. Sandy Lolicato, 39:03, Sandhya Bhatia 39:07, Ruth Baussmann 39:10. Gerard Lind 39:21, Daniel Sheahan 49:49, Katherine Butler 39:55, Nathan Smythe 40:01. John Paniagua 40:02, Steven Murphy 40:02, Jeff Gardner 40:03, gary Bowen 30:04, Matthew Murphy 40:08, Raymonf Chao 40:14, Angela Scott 40:20, Sean O'Halloran 40:21, Stewart Ward 40:29, Geoff King 40:33, Bill Bennett 40:35, Bruce Wight 40:41, John Barrett 40:45, Adrian Plunkett 40:48, Axel Godeck 40:51, Andrew Matthews 40:53, Peta Haesler 40:57, Martin Boyd 40:58, Bob Harlow 41:00, Robert Ey 41:03, Lloyd Donnelly 41:04, Lloyd Edwards 41:10, Sonja McKenna 41:11, Richard Juckes 41:12, Hugh Moore 41:22, Christine Dragistic 41:23, Leanne Wilks 41:24, Clare Bowman 41:29, Georgina Koponen 41:30, Michael Te Vvelde 41:32, Dale Beswick 41:36, Galvin Koh 41:44, Roger Pilkington 41:47, Jennifer Bright 41:38, Kevin Chapman 41:50, Helen Larmour 41:55, Terry Dixon 41:56, Natthew Fisher 42:08, Laura Toyne 42:14, Daniel Buckley 42:47, Caroline Campbell 43:17, Andrew Blyton 43:51, Ben Reay 44:14, Katherine Bleakley 44:26, Kewrrie Tanner 45:03, Anne Young 45:22, Leah Afiabo 45:43, Ian Hore 47:55, Gabrielle Wright 48:49, Judy Kuleas, John Busteed, Marc Wilson, Roger Palazzo, Binn Dang.

BBQ Stakes Wednesday 24 th August 2011

2011-08-27T18:15:00.001+10:00

Ben Reay, last week's winner performed time keeping duties today.

Kathleen Bleakley and Anne Young started early this week, Anne came home first, but was not eligible. Andrew Blyton also was among the early finishers.
Winner was Tony Wynd with 39:55 across the line, having 54 runs and a P.B. of 26:41.

I think there were more than 50 runners today. Raymong Chao was second with Stephen Murphy finishing third. Bill Bennett was an early finisher, having started off an early mark.

Greg Regester was second in the Vets Half Marathon, beaten by Peter James by 2 seconds in the overall results.

Australian Cross Country Championships 20 th August 2011

2011-08-20T16:10:00.000+10:00

A large crowd turned up on a nice fine day to spectate and participate at the Australian Ceoss Country Championships.

The Grass track at Stromlo Forest Park, was showing signs of green after the rain over the past week.

Some sprint finishes were evident as athletes did their best to catch those in the finish straight ahead of them.

Emily Brichacek started off well, leading the first lap of the open women's race. Results should be on the ACT Athletics web site in due course.

BBQ Stakes Wednesday 17th August 2011

2011-08-20T15:54:00.002+10:00

A sprint finish at the Stakes today, saw Andrew Guild left behind the eager Kerrie Tanner's Dog, which saw her ready to take a finish line photo, but her dog noticed some food near the finish line and thought that was more interesting than getting his photo taken. Andrew crossed the line eventually, being the first of some 36 runners to cross the line.

It was a wet day and Daniel Buckley, this week's timer wore his spray javket in the wet weather.

Bruce Wight and Matthew Murphy had top finish placings, despite being the backmarkers at the starting line.

Our new starter from last week didn't turn up in the rain, John Busteed left it to Marc Wilson to brave the weather by himself.

Roger Pilkington turned up to edge one run closer to his next T-Shirt, and ran with Helen crossing the line together.

There were many tales of City to Surf results, and we all wished Rad well in the World Mountain Running Championships, which fe has left these shores to participate in, and take Helen for a holiday in those regions.

Winner Ben Reay

Finish Number Runner Name Gross Time Start Time Net Time Handicap Time
1 Bright Jennifer 35:57 04:00 31:57 08:30
2 Matthews Andrew 35:58 04:00 31:58 10:45
3 Guild Andrew 37:46 04:00 33:46 09:30
4 Gardner Jeff 39:24 08:00 31:24 12:30
5 Lind Gerard 39:33 13:00 26:33 00:00
6 Reay Ben 39:48 09:30 30:18 09:30
7 Paniagua John 40:05 14:45 25:20 14:45
8 Wight Bruce 40:26 15:30 24:56 15:30
9 Dixon Terry 40:43 11:15 29:28 11:15
10 Murphy Matthew 40:55 17:45 23:10 17:45
11 Bowen Gary 40:58 13:15 27:43 13:15
12 Toyne Laura 41:01 11:00 30:01 11:00
13 Wilks Leanne 41:04 09:00 32:04 09:00
14 Murphy Steven 41:05 13:15 27:50 13:15
15 Sergi Tony 41:08 08:00 33:08 08:00
16 Godeck Axel 41:11 06:00 35:11 06:00
17 Chao Raymond 41:18 12:30 28:48 12:30
18 Moore Hugh 41:19 13:00 28:19 13:00
19 Donnelly Lloyd 41:25 08:45 32:40 08:45
20 Edwards Lloyd 41:29 10:45 30:44 10:45
21 Richards Ruth 41:33 06:15 35:18 05:30
22 Donohue Maria 41:35 10:30 31:05 10:30
23 Barrett John 41:52 13:00 28:52 13:00
24 Campbell Caroline 41:59 03:30 38:29 03:30
25 Te Velde Michael 42:04 12:15 29:49 12:15
26 Juckes Richard 42:05 17:30 24:35 17:30
27 Ey Robert 42:16 12:45 29:31 12:45
28 Leovic Rad 42:41 00:00 42:41 00:00
29 Wynd Tony 42:54 12:30 30:24 09:15
30 Page Dolph 43:12 10:30 32:42 10:30
31 Bleakley Kathleen 43:19 07:15 36:04 07:15
32 Walker Andrew 43:32 12:00 31:32 12:00
33 Beswick Dale 44:14 11:45 32:29 11:45
34 Larmour Helen 46:24 13:45 32:39 13:45
35 Pilkington Roger 46:26 13:45 32:41 12:45
36 Plunkett Adrian 46:30 00:00 46:30 01:30
37 Wilson Marc 46:30 00:00 46:30 02:00

Results Courtesy of Kerrie Tanner.

BBQ Stakes Wednesday 18 th August 2011

2011-08-18T14:31:00.001+10:00

City to Surf 2011 ACT Veterans Athletic Club participants.

2011-08-14T14:32:00.000+10:00

Page 10 of The Canberra Times had a story and pictures of ACT Veteran Athletic Club Members,(including the president, who are to run in the 2011 City to Surf event.

City to Surf report from Sydney Morning Herald.

2011-08-14T14:27:00.000+10:00

Mass attraction ... running in the rain at the City2Surf. Photo: Steve Christo

In a thrilling neck-and-neck finish, Victorian Liam Adams beat race favourite Queenslander Michael Shelley to win the 41st City2Surf race in an unofficial time of 41 minutes and nine seconds.

Adams, who had an attack of stitch in the final stages of the 14 km run to Bondi, said: ‘‘I honestly thought Michael would blitz me, kill me at the end. But somehow I found an extra gear.’’

Coincidentally, the two men had shared a Sydney hotel room the previous evening, though they became fierce rivals on the course.

Liam Adams from Moonee Ponds, Victoria wins the men's section of the 2011 Sun-Herald City2Surf. Photo: Adam Hollingworth

‘‘He’s my biggest scalp to date,’’ Adams said.

The women’s race was won by Jessica Trengove, 23, from Adelaide, in just under 47 minues five seconds. She was third in her debut in the event last year. ‘‘It looked like a lot of fun. And I fell in love with it.

‘‘I’m just ecstatic to have won.’’

Jessica Trengrove from Adelaide take out the women's section. Photo: Adam Hollingworth

Kurt Fearnley won the elite wheelchair athlete event, which was being staged in the City2Surf for the first time. It was a hard slog, the two-time paralympic champion admitted at the end.

‘‘Heartbreak Hill? .... bloody hell,’’ he moaned after finishing in an unofficial time of 33 minutes and three seconds.

For the first time in living memory, the race was run in wet, overcast conditions after heavy showers shortly before the first of the 85,000 runners, walkers and wheelers set off at 8am.

Sun-Herald City2Surf 2011

A sea of competitors make their way through the city. Photo: Steve Christo

..
As former winner Andrew Lloyd, sitting out this year’s race with a hamstring injury, explained, the puddled course slowed the elite runners considerably. ‘‘You just can’t attack the downhills.’’

Though the weather may have sent some supporters along the route and at the finish running for cover, it did not dampen the spirits of the record field.

Once again, serious runners, intent on improving their best time, were far outnumbered by those who also ran and walked, many of them in fancy dress, as gorillas, Super Marios and Lego bricks.

The event is expected to raise aboput $4 million for charities.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/wet-but-wonderful-neckandneck-to-city2surf-finish-line-20110814-1isn9.html#ixzz1UyQDALsH

BBQ Stakes 10th August 2011

2011-08-10T16:45:00.002+10:00

BBQ Stakes 10th August 2011

Today's winner was Daniel Buckley, having a purple patch with his running recently..

Second was Sonja McKenna followed in third place by Roger Palazzo.

Dolph Page is due for a T-Shirt after another 3 runs.

Nathan Smythe is back at the Stakes after an absence for several weeks, and still running well from the backmarkers, while Bill Bennett and Matthew Murphy are also among the backmarkers.

Gabrielle Wright continues to run although almost last to finish, she has lost some weight recently, and it is easier for her to get to the run, since she moved to Woden a few months previously. Tim however, has not yet rejoined running at the stakes.

Kathleen Bleakley was early to the start today, after having returned from a holiday in Morocco.

BBQ Stakes 3 rd August 2011

2011-08-03T16:19:00.001+10:00

BBQ Stakes 3 rd August 2011

Daniel Buckley was looking for a win today after winning the Lake Tuggeranong Stakes handicap yesterday.

Daniel finished in second place today, after being rehandicapped to start off scratch. Winner today was Terry Levings, which he did with plenty in reserve, as he crossed the line, a long way in front of second placed Dan Buckley. The team trophy went to Health. Elle Knight ran with Kerrie Tanner, Roger Pilkington (now on 895 BBQ Stakes runs) came in rather slowly, these all ran in the Bush Capital events on the weekend. Kerrie in 4:03:00 and Elle in 4:07:00.

60 finishers today in what could have been a prelude to the summer of running events, about to get under way.

Ruth Baussmann ran with Jennifer today. It is always good to have Ruth in the field because of her bubbly personality, and as a member of the speedygeese runnung group.

Mt Ainslie Run Up 2nd August 2011

2011-08-02T15:58:00.002+10:00

A big roll up for today, with about 25 (a rough count with all the starters milling about) meeting the starter, John Harding.

Mention was made of Louise Sharp who won the Bush Capital Marathon in 3:55 on the weekend.

Rad did the 16km run on the weekend, and yet did 24:18 in the run up.
Pam Muston was back from her Death Valley run, she indicated she wore a T-Shirt which indicated she was from Australia. 217 km in 39th place, 37:49:12.

For her legion of fans, she should be at this week's Customs Joggers run on Friday.

Friar did a walk/jog part way up the walking track and return.

BBQ Stakes 27 July 2011

2011-07-28T17:27:00.001+10:00

Winner today was Lloyd Edwards with his PB being 21:12 on 27th Feb 1991.
Second was Bruce Wight, one of the back markers and third was Adrian Plunkett. Rad told us about the saga of finally being accepted to run as a special contestant in the world Mountain Running Championships later this year.

Originally the organisers said that anyone over 80 could not compete, but they have finally indicated that they would be especially delighted if Rad did run in the championships under special invitation.

Rad of course, is especially pleased with this turn around of their decision.

Can you make a Silk Purse out of a cow’s ear?

2011-07-26T16:00:00.000+10:00

Can you make a Silk Purse out of a cow’s ear?

By Mike Adler.

I literally WALKED into running. In the winter of 1975, to fulfil an ambition of many years to walk the Milford Track in South Island of New Zealand, I made a booking to do that hike in early January 1976.
Having no involvement in competitive sport since school days, and even then not having the capacity to “run out of sight on a dark night”, it was logical to attempt to get my 12 stone 7 lbs of flabby flesh into some sort of shape in order to obtain the fullest enjoyment from the trek – it involves 33 miles plus side-track walks to the spectacular Sutherland Falls etc., including the climb over 3,600 ft Mackinnon pass and is completed in 3 days.

I began training with long walks and even attempted to jog one lap of the local school oval [this was an excrutiating experience]. After 3 months of build-up I was able to cope with a ten mile course once each weekend, crossing Canberra’s Mt Majura (600 ft) and jogging the 2mile road downhill from the summit in walking boots. This walk plus a one-mile-a-day jog was my training routine for the final 13 weeks before the trek.

Christmas 1975 was the coldest for 28 years in New Zealand, but by the new year, the weather cleared to crisp, clear, sunny days over Milford – a rarity in a locality with a rainfall of up to an incredible 400 inches a year . The mountain peaks, 6000ft and higher, flanking the track were all snow-capped as a consequence of the cold spell, and snow melting to supplement the myriad waterfalls that abound in that area. This certainly enhanced the aptness of the famed title of “The most beautiful walk in the world”. And with “get fit” preparation standing me in good stead, I thoroughly enjoyed the highlight experience of my life.

On returning, I recalled the agonies of the early days of the “get-fit campaign and decided to continue the weekend jogging. Very soon afterwards the Press announced an 8 km Canberra day Fun Run to be held in March 1976. I was attracted by the fact that there was an “over 50” section, and would reach that mature milepost a month before the race. I stepped-up training to 4 miles twice each weekend. Two miles out, a five minute sit down to recover breath and strength, and then a weary return.

Came the big day and my first race at 50 years of age. I finished 405 th in 39:16 out of some 1200 starters and was thrilled to have beaten two thirds of the field. I wondered, watching the presentation (how naïve) if I was the first “oldie”. Imagine my stupefaction when it was announced that Mr Jack Pennington (some 3 years my senior) took out the honour, finishing 66 th in 31:32.

Thinking about it later, I recalled that the aforementioned J. P. when on the presentation Dais, appeared to be mortal despite what seemed a superhuman performance. Maybe it was possible? I kept jogging every Saturday and Sunday through the winter and when the inaugural Canberra Times Fun Run (10km) was held in September, I managed 224 th of 1600 starters in 40:00. That gave my confidence a great temporary boost, until I discovered that the legendary George McGrath filled 16th position in 31:55, then aged 56.

By the time Canberra Day 1977 arrived, training improved my place in the 8km event to 276 th in 36:30. A gain of 2:46 in the year and a bit closer to J.P. who was 91 st in 32:25. The A.C.T. Cross Country Club handed out a leaflet to the first 400 to finish, inviting participation in their winter programme. It was pointed out that “anyone who trains daily for at least half an hour cannot help but improve” this phrase caught my fancy and encouraged me to put it to the test. And I joined the club.

One of the features of processing results in this club is the computation of each runner’s performance as a percentage of the course record. These are averaged on the ten best performances each season and over a lesser number in the early part of the season. This allows each athlete to “compete against himself” in an endeavour to lift his rating through the season and to compare his performance in the same event year by year. My initial run in a 3.3 km in 13:51 earned a miserable 54.7%, which improved to a 61.5 % average over 6 starts.

Training daily for half an hour, regular Saturday afternoon racing and in company with 3 companions going for a long jog on Sunday mornings [which we built up from 8 miles early in the season to 18 miles on a couple of accasions] helped lift my percentage rating at the end of the first season to 72.8%. I even managed a first across the line in an 8 km handicap leading from near the turn in 32:32, and this was a great encouragement . The second Canberra Times Fun run this September over an amended course of 6 miles saw an improvement in the year of 3:43 to finish 83 rd in36:17 – only 59 seconds behind J.P. [54 th in 35:18]. I’m soon going to breathe down your neck ! JACK. (Dare I hope the day could come when you’ll breathe down mine?). A Veteran’s prize in a Fun Run at Cootamundra, Nowra and Bathurst completed a rewarding first season. The curious point is that my motivation for joining the Cross Country Club was expressly for the purpose of “keeping fit for fun runs” - but even at my age I think I’ve become “ hooked” on chasing “the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow” alias the young faster runners out in front.

This is not penned out of vanity for what are really quite moderate performances. Perhaps it is published in the wrong place- preaching to the converted – bit if it helps encourage anyone else without any natural talent or ability, to make that extra effort, then it achieves my object.

I am self employed and consequently work a long day, I don’t have as much time available for training as I would like. But running appeals as a very good investment. You can get out of it every bit as much as you put into it (without the Federal Treasurer taking a slice), whether running against other Veterans or in open company. For the weight conscious, my 12 st 7 lbs is now a more manageable 10 stone 10 lbs and I did think of heading this story “Life begins at 50, or “Chasing THE JACK).

This article was published in “Veteran Athlete” November 1977. Mike was the printer of “Veteran athlete” from early 1977 to early 1979.

From The Roads Scholar

2011-07-22T12:45:00.000+10:00

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Dare to Go Bare

As a runner, I have always trained to the specific task. When I am running marathons, I train by running longer distances. When I am running Peachtree, a July 4th race in Atlanta, I train in the heat. If my goal is to lower my 5K time, I run intervals on the track to increase speed. The bottom line is, my training is specific to my goals.

I'm not alone in my philosophies. Elite runners train at altitude to prepare for high attitude races. Most runners do hill workouts to help prepare for rolling courses. So, what is my dilemma, you may ask?

I recently registered for a race called "Dare to Bare 5K." It is run, how shall we say? Well, let's put it this way. I would be very surprised to see any running apparel companies sponsoring this one, but suntan lotion companies may have a vested interest in it, and I may have a mutual interest in loading up on the stuff. I have some sensitive parts I would like not to see burned.

So, I figured, train how you plan to race, right? Well, I tried, and immediately received a stern warning from my neighborhood's homeowner's association. Strange, I thought. They never minded me doing speedwork or long distance. Even my fartlek barely raised an eyebrow. But THIS race specific training, somehow, offended enough people that I had to take my training indoors, to a treadmill.

So I did, and you'll never guess what happened. They revoked my membership at the club whose treadmill I used. They said my exposure was indecent, which was in direct conflict with my assumption that I was getting in pretty good shape. I don't understand. They promote these places as a safe haven to sculpt your body, and then, when you show it off, they get all huffy about it.

While I was doing my wash that evening, I was still so upset about the eviction I had experienced earlier in the day, that I accidentally threw a pair of my running shorts in the wash with the sturdy cottons, and then threw them in the dryer under high heat. Usually, I wash them on a delicate setting, and then hang them up to dry, to save their elasticity. These shorts were ruined. There was no stretch in them at all, and they could no longer give me any support at all. And I thought I could trust all my athletic supporters. Now I had none. First the neighborhood, then my health club, and finally, even my own shorts stopped supporting me.

Then it hit me! Wasn't this the goal of this event specific training from the start? To train with as little support as possible, while still staying within the guidelines of good taste and applicable law? Now, I had my answer.
I quickly pinned the waistband of my shorts together with a couple of safety pins, so I wouldn't be wearing them around my ankles. The parts of my shorts that used to carry me through my long runs where down to about my knees now, and certainly no longer functional for that purpose, but that was exactly what I wanted.

So now, with my newly designed shorts, with everything hanging a little lower than before, I can once again train around the neighborhood without stares of horror coming my way. They have welcomed me back at my health club with open arms. And I am preparing well for my special race too, with a freedom the likes of which I have never known before. And I take special satisfaction in knowing something that nobody else realizes. Under my running shorts, I am actually naked. Don't tell anybody.

BBQ Stakes 29 th July 2011

2011-07-20T15:24:00.000+10:00

BBQ Stakes 29 th July 2011

Jen Bright had a run today at the BBQ Stakes, and put in a good run, after having another child recently. She started from a mark of 10:00 I think.

Winner across the line, was Eddie Adams at 40:09, with 167 total runs and his 5th win. He has a P.B. 0f 26:14 28 th September 2010. Today was his 5th win.

Second today was Talwar Singh and Terry Levings ran into 3 rd place. Brian Crowe retuned to the stakes today to record the finishers, after being on a recent trip to Ethiopia and Tanzania. John Busteed was overseas for a relay event in Vanuatu,Kathleen was early today and ran from an 11:15 start group. Gabrielle Wright again ran today, she has been losing weight, and this run is part of her firness routine.

Marc wilson and Judi Kuleas left early today, and came back first across the line.

ACT Team for Australian Cross Country Championships

2011-07-19T14:22:00.004+10:00

ACT Team for Australian Cross Country

ACT runners and others may be interested in the Selection Criteria for the Australian Cross Country Champs in Canberra on 20 August.

The criteria can be found on the Athletics ACT website in the section on the championships under "Upcoming Events"

(http://www.athleticsact.org.au/competitions/
actcrosscountrychampionships-june18.

Importantly, nominations should be emailed to one of the selectors (Ian Boyd (boydfamily@netspeed .com.au) or Paul Torley (ptorley@tpg. com.au) before 5.00 pm 22 July - Friday of this week!

Ian

Ian Boyd

Athletics ACT Cross Country and Road Running Selection Committee

2011 Bush Capital Bush Marathon Festival, Campbell High School, Saturday 30 July

2011-07-18T10:52:00.002+10:00

2011 Bush Capital Bush Marathon Festival, Campbell High School, Saturday 30 July
Entries for the Bush Capital Bush Marathon Festival on Saturday 30 July closed at midnight Friday 15 July.
After then you can still enter but late entry fees apply.
Although entries will be accepted on the day, this creates a considerable amount of post race work.
So please enter by Monday 25 July if possible so your chest number can be mailed to you.
Enter online at http://www.mountainrunning.coolrunning.com.au
/events/bmarathon/2011/index.php
Many more helpers are needed.
If you can help please, click on the Volunteer button on the event website and fill in your details.
Alternately contact John Harding directly at hackettrunner@hotmail.com or ph 6248 6905 or 0427 107 033

From The Roads Scholar

2011-07-18T10:04:00.003+10:00

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

I am at None with Nature

Once, I read a Woody Allen quote that said, "I am at two with nature." I'm not sure where I read that, but my hunch is it was in one of my many John Jerome runner's logs, because I don't do a whole lot of other reading.
But that quote, much like almost everything else about Woody Allen, I never really understood.

For the last month or so, my own take on it has been that "I am at none with nature," But I think I can explain what I mean when I say it. I came to that realization early this morning, when I stepped out the door for my run and was met with thick damp heavy air.

For nine months of the Atlanta year, I look forward to virtually every run with eager anticipation, and I'm ready to meet nature's challenges. In reality, spring and autumn practically beg you to run in them, and pose virtually no opposition at all. They are mostly perfect for running, at just about any time of day or night. And the scenery is gorgeous. Whether it is the lightly scented and heavily colorful new blooms of spring, or the outstanding fiery foliage of autumn, I find myself at one with nature.

Winter can pose a slightly more objectionable obstacle for some, but I personally enjoy charging into the teeth of a biting wind, and I always make a point of jumping into the midst of a rare falling snow. I'd rather be out running when it's 20 degrees than 50 degrees, so even on weekends, I'm most often out running before the first hints of daylight. It's me against the elements, and I'm always ready for the battle, and the victory. In the back of my winter mind, I am always reminding myself that there are many parts of the country where they would scoff at our thin skin anyway.

But then there are those three saddest of all possible words for runners like me. Those words are June, July and August. The temperature rises in tandem with inflated race times, and just the thought of running much more than four miles at a stretch exhausts me. Even at 5 in the morning, there is often nary a hint of coolness in the soggy morning air, and the humidity is often close to 100%. There is nothing desirable under the sun, or the moon during the dog days of summer. The same stars that shone so brightly in the crisp winter skies are hardly noticeable now and spring's bright colors have given way to a monochrome and mundane green. And sadly, I have not been at one with nature. I have been at none with it.

This morning was another in a series of motivational struggles. The official temperature was 80 degrees and the humidity was even higher than that. The moon had a very strange halo-like haze surrounding it, indicating that this weather is going to be around for a while. The only consolation is that the run was done in darkness rather than under a glaring sun, but I refuse to give in to a treadmill, so I get up early. Very early. Even being at none with nature is better than not being with nature at all.

We're probably at least a month away from that morning when I open the door to go out in the darkness, and am greeted with surprisingly dry cool breeze, which hints more of September than July, but it will be worth the wait. There is a smug satisfaction these days when the weather flirts with triple-figures later in the day in knowing that your run is far behind you, and your daily mission is complete. For right now, it's about the only positive glimmer I can come up with in the grip of the dog days of summer.

Maybe I am closer to being at one with nature than I give myself credit for

From The Roads Scholar

2011-07-12T16:16:00.001+10:00

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Beer Has Sustained Me

Some things in life are truly paradoxical. For example, why in nature, would the hardest part of the human body be in direct contact with the softest part of the human body, fully capable of doing severe damage? Anyone who has ever bitten their tongue knows exactly what I’m talking about.

Most of the runners that I know represent a similar oxymoron. ( No, an oxymoron is not a dumb person with zits.) To casual observers, we are a picture of good health and good living. We run, therefore we probably eat fresh fruits and vegetables all day long, drink nothing but sparkling water, and wouldn’t go near red meat with a ten foot pole. I don’t know about you, but rabbit food just doesn’t cut it for me.

It is true that we do share some common health beliefs. Rarely do I see a runner smoking before a race, but it’s not unheard of. One of the nicest things about post race parties is that they are smoke free, a fact appreciated by all. But to see what food disappears first at those post race gatherings is the window to the soul of the runner.

I was at a race recently where post race refreshments included pizza, sub sandwiches, assorted cookies, and bananas. I saw people walk off with three pieces of pizza, and then return for more when their stash was gone. I saw people hoarding down handfuls of cookies without caloric guilt or remorse. People were crowded around the sub table to the point where you couldn’t nudge through to see what was left. Thanks to the sponsors who provided the feast. There was plenty of everything for everyone.

One table was practically ignored. The bananas. I didn’t see anyone look both ways and then grab a bunch of bananas when nobody was looking. There was no need for a sign that said “Please limit yourself to one banana only.” Most people were limiting themselves to no bananas. Curious, I thought that these health conscious people would bypass the obvious choice in favor of fat and empty calories.
As I thought about this, I realized that the five pieces of pizza I had just eaten had made me extremely thirsty. Boy, I could go for a beer right now. Beer. The one universal drink of the runner. Is there a runner alive who is not also a beer lover? Just give me my Samuel Adams after a training run and it truly doesn’t get any better than this.

I am an analytical thinker and try to make sense out of everything. So, of course, I started wondering why good running seemed to go hand in hand with bad eating and beer drinking. Well, I think I have figured out the answer in a way that at least I can understand. It’s really quite simple if you do the math. Let’s start with the facts.

3500 calories will always equal one pound. This is a simple mathematical equation.
Each mile you run burns approximately 100 calories.
Each beer you drink adds about 150 calories.
Personally, I maintain a steady weight of about 150 pounds, which remains steady from year to year. I average about 120 miles of running per month. At 100 calories per mile, that means that each month, I burn about 12,000 calories running.
120 miles X 100 calories = 12,000.
12,000 calories = 3.42 pounds. That’s how much weight I lose each month by running.

In order to stay even, I need to intake an equivalent number of calories from beer.

12,000 divided by 150 (calories per beer) = 80 beers per month, or 2.66 beers per day. I willingly do this to maintain the balance of nature. The first 2 beers are easy, but the last .66 is a bit harder. I haven’t yet figured out how to keep the carbonation going from one day to the next once the bottle is opened.
Simple math again tells me that I cannot stop drinking beer even if I wanted to (which, thank goodness, I don’t.) Here’s why.

Suppose I stopped drinking beer today and changed nothing else about my lifestyle. I’d still run my 120 miles a month, and I’d lose 3.42 pounds in the process. In only one year, I would lose 41.1 pounds. My weight would drop to under 110 pounds and I’d have to listen for high wind advisories before going outside. In only three short years, I will have lost 123.3 pounds, bringing my weight down to 26.7 pounds. I could get a job as a wind sock at the airport. In less than four years, I wouldn’t even be here any more. I would be totally gone.

Quit drinking beer? How can I? I am forced to drink in self defense. I take comfort in the fact that health experts now say that a beer a day may be better for you than total abstinence. So I figure you can never get too much of a good thing. I’m probably guaranteed good health through the year 2072 by now. Besides, we all have to do our part to contribute to the balance of nature (and the bathroom scale.) So bring on the pizza, sub sandwiches, cookies, and, most importantly, keep drinking beer.

And save the bananas for the monkeys.

Lakes Stakes 12 th July 2011 - Belongs to Lloyd Edwards

2011-07-12T14:40:00.001+10:00

Lloyd Edwards ran the Lakes Stakes today and chalked up the amazing total of 730 runs.

This is his weekly run, as well as the BBQ Stakes.

It was a reasonable day today temperature wise, and he challenged 10 other runners, but didn't win. Rad Leovic recorded 38 minutes 40 seconds and Doug Fry performed well in 60 minutes 20 seconds, almost the same as he ran a few weeks previously.

A number of ladies and gents were also running on the course during the lunch time, and a couple of prams were being pushed. maybe, the pram riders will turn into good runners when they get older.

From The Roads Scholar

2011-07-07T13:15:00.000+10:00

I Sometimes Wonder
I sometimes wonder whatever happened to Charles, Chip, Joe, Tom, and George. My guess is that you wouldn't know any of these people, but at one time, they were simultaneously my peers and my heroes. These
were the people who were in my grade school classes back in New Jersey in the mid 1960's. Or they were on the same little league team I played on. And to me, they were in some ways bigger than life, because they were all amazing athletes. I wanted to be just like them.

They all had the kind of abilities that made them the envy of many. In gym class, for example, when we all got in that dreaded line where we counted off by 4's to pick the teams, everyone would check out where these people were standing. Then, they would scramble for position in the line like a human Three Card Monte, hoping to be on the same team. A guy named Ira was the only person who ever told me that he would focus on me when he got in the line. I was flattered, but Ira wasn't the best volleyball player I ever saw.

Somehow, Charles, Chip, Joe, and the rest of them seemed to excel at every sport they engaged in. They could shoot a basketball with uncanny accuracy, and throw a football farther than anyone else, with
a perfect spiral every time. When it came to baseball, they could hit, throw, and field better than anyone else. I never saw any of them play ice hockey, but my hunch is that hockey just may have been the sport to humble them. In the back of my mind, I just knew that they were all headed for the professional sport of their choosing some day, and I could say I used to know them way back when. They were all athletically gifted, and it all seemed to come easy, and naturally.

And one more thing that they could do better than anyone else. They could all run like the wind. It didn't matter whether it was a 100 yard dash, or the mile we had to run for the President's Physical Fitness Test each year. We didn't know about fast twitch/slow twitch muscle fibers back then, so it didn't matter. If you could run, you could run any distance. We were yet to be blinded by the science that dictated what our physical limits should be.

When I was in the 7th grade, I moved to Pennsylvania, and I have never heard another thing about any of them since. In the mid 1970's, when these athletes would have been breaking into the big times, I'd study the team rosters for every professional team in every professional sport. No Chip. No Charles. No Tom. No Ira, either, but that didn't surprise me much. What could have possibly gone wrong? What kept these fine competitors from achieving what I had decided early on they would accomplish? Were they stuck in the minor leagues somewhere, buried in the obscurity of small towns and few fans?

The 70's ended, and a new decade was ushered in. Still, every new season, I studied team rosters, but I never saw a familiar name. Has anybody ever gone to grade school with a future professional athlete?
I don't know of anyone who has. By now, all these people who were going to make their mark with their athleticism were in their mid 20's, almost middle age by these highest of standards. If they didn't
make it soon, they would not have a chance. In the meantime, I decided to start running. I figured if I couldn't save the world, I might as well at least save myself.

By the mid 80's, I kind of knew that I would never see Charles, George and the rest of them in a box score. 30 is old by elite sports standards. I found myself thinking about them less and less often. Occasionally, however, they would cross my mind, and again, I would wonder exactly what ever happened to them. Whenever I did think about them, it would invariably be during a run. I would think about them, and usually I would smile at the athlete I had become.

On this morning's run, they were all there in my mind again. I wondered again what went wrong, why did none of them ever succeeded with their overwhelming athletic talents. Then, in an instant, it hit me. Here I was, doing what I love doing most, and something I plan to continue doing for many years, wondering what would have happened to them if they had reached the pinnacle of athletic fame.

For one thing, they would be long retired from their passion by now. Their age alone would have disqualified them from professional sports well before their mid 40's. I'm lucky in my chosen sport in that I've already been running for close to 30 years, far longer than all but the most successful professional sports careers. I know people who have been running for twice as long, and don't plan to ever stop.

So who knows what happened to Charles, Chip, Joe, Tom and George? Perhaps some of them might have been dragged down by the hard knocks of life, and their main goal had to become simply one of survival. Or
maybe among them, there was a career ending injury before they ever got out of the blocks. It's possible that they never intended to be professional athletes in the first place. That was only my idea for them, and might not have ever been their plan for themselves. They might be doctors, or attorneys, or teachers today. They might have decided at some point to stop playing and grow up.

I just hope that they never stopped running like the wind.

Especially Ira.
Posted by The Roads Scholar

BBQ Stakes Wednesday 6 th July 2011

2011-07-06T15:24:00.001+10:00

BBQ Stakes Wednesday 6 th July 2011

A very cold day, and following some rain recently, made the course today rather a trial, as the part of the track on the hill had been churned up, meaning that some runners returned with mud sticking to their running shoes.

45 runners today, was slightly down on usual numbers of 55 or so.

The highlight today occurred when a taxi crashed at Melrose Drive near the start area. The second highlight was the use of a new set of place cards, prepared by Adrian Plunkett.

Richard Jukes was the time keeper today, Roger Palazzo ran again. John Busteed and Judy Kaleez again started early, and finished towards the back of
the field, looking a little cool, in the freezing conditions as they finished.

John Barret,s son , Michael on his school holidays had a run , wearing a soccer favorite's T-Shirt, Gerrard of Arsenal, Michael finished at the back of the field, is that a portent for Arsenal's fate?

A new runner was the first home, while John Hall was second, and Jeff King was third. Not sure of the team resuly, because of the freezing conditions at the finish presentations.

Gold Coast Results 2011

2011-07-03T15:46:00.004+10:00

Some ACT runners results at the Gold Coast Marathon Weekend events 2011

Jeff Grey 3:05 (ACTVAC President) His Fourth Half Mara this year.
Roger Pilkington 3:48:50
Ian Dias 2:44:31
Simon Claringbold 2:58:31 (Debut Marathon)
Colleen Koh 3:51: 16
Tori Hennig 3:54:47
Victoria Hennig 3:54:47
Kevin Chapman 4:26:10
Emma Fielder 3:36:48

Half Marathon
Bob Harlow 1:33:45
Graeme Small 2:36:16
Mary Ann Busteed 1:59:59
Liz Bennett 1:30:10

10k Liz Bennett 42:49

BBQ Stakes 29 th June 2011

2011-06-29T16:20:00.001+10:00

BBQ Stakes 29th June 2011

John Barrett was the timekeeper today after his win last week.

He looked at his rehandicap following that win and found he had been rehandicapped to 13:00 from 11:45, a penalty of 1:15 for the win, which he can now cogitate on how he should run in the next several weeks. With school holidays coming soon, he might bring his son to the stakes, to give him motivation.

Mark Wilson missed today's run through being elsewhere, but John Busteed and Julee walked and ran together, Julee running the entire distance for the first time. Andrew Guild 48th, and Gabrielle Wright, were the last home today. Anne Young and Rad ran together for a while and finished in 41 st and 42nd place, Heather Powrie was in 45 th place. Daniel Buckley in 46 th place ran todau after almost a year absence, although he ran the lakes stakes this week. Roger Palazzo ran today, off his correct handicap of 5:00, and finished across the line at 44:40. Matt Murphy started off 17:45, just following Greg Regester off 17:30, both following Bill Bennett.

Today's winner was Richard Jukes, his 48 th run, and his PB of 24:08 on 20th Sept 2009, Geoff King second at 40:08 across the line, and Lloyd Edwards was third across the line at 40:16. Andrew Walker was the winner of the previous week, and was given the winner's voucher. John Hall thinks his handicap is too generous and will contact the handicapper for a more reasonable handicap.

Customs Joggers 24 June 2011

2011-06-27T10:39:00.000+10:00

Customs Joggers Run 1703 of 24 June 2011 and point score competition
Friday 24 June was our mid-year celebration and announcement of the winner of the point score competition for the first half of 2011. Congratulations to winner Mike Stracey, a steady and consistent performer through the last six months or so. Mike will have his name engraved on our prestigious trophy. Also, well done to Nathan, second and Peter Clarke, third.

The first three place getters received prizes selected by Mike, including wine, chocs and port.

Thanks to Mike for organising food, drinks and prizes.

Thanks also to Nick Walshe and the Runners Shop for providing voucher prizes and socks throughout the year.

For this week, those who participated will be given a time of 36 minutes and credited with a run, with no change to handicaps. Let me know if I have missed anyone from the attached list.

Next Customs Joggers Run will be Friday 1 July 2010 at 12:15 pm. Because of the construction work, we will again start on the bike path towards the car park. This will not be a point score competition but handicapping will continue and prizes of Runners Shop vouchers and socks will again be available for the first two eligible finishers on the day. Usual charge of $1 will apply.

Website address:

http://www.lunchstakes.canberrarunner.com.au

BBQ Stakes Wednesday 15 th June 2011

2011-06-16T10:00:00.001+10:00

Marc Wilson ran his 400 th Stakes today. But had to leave early and thus was not presented with his T-Shirt signalling this achievement.

45 ran today with Judy Juleas, Marc Wilson and John Busteed starting early.

Kathleen Bleakley got there a little late today and was the last to finish, she recoreded her time at 34:28. Tony Sergi is about to, or has completed 200 runs and his T-shirt awaits presentation on his next run. Rad was 37 th today, Anne Young was 38 th, they ran together at the finish, Helen was 39 th, Roger was 40 th.

Nick Walshe ran a time of 28:17, as the backmarker and started at 20:22. Not sure of his finishing place, as a big group of runners decended on the finish line together. Andrew Walker was first, I think, Geoff King was second and Eddie Adams was third.

There was discussion today of the ACT Cross Country Championships this weekend at Stromlo Forest Paek, some races I believe will be running at the same times, a separate e-mail from Ken Etnon has been received about these events. Competitors sre advised to arrive early to familiarise themselves with the courses and conditions.

Sri Chinmoy 2k 5k , Half Marathon Report

2011-06-14T12:49:00.001+10:00

Sri Chinmoy Half-Marathon, 5 Mile & 2 Mile Race Report

From The Website

The sun shone! … This may not sound like earth-shattering news – though we are so used to this race being held in the dead of Winter under a thick frost, that today's pleasant, sunny conditions came as a newsworthy surprise.

There was a special ambience to today's races, a lightness of mood pervading as the public holiday blended with the mild conditions and serene parkland setting. On days like these, smiles are worn easily and a run in the park seems the perfect salute to life.

The 2 mile race this morning saw some exceptional runs from some of our younger competitors – none more so than Keely Small, who celebrated her 10th birthday only a few days ago, and finished in 12:05, only 2 seconds away from winning the race outright.

Tom Sharp was the only male in front of her, his 12:03 gaining him the main prize. Not far behind was the 1st Under 13 boy – Henry Illingworth in 12:22. Trish Pollock was 1st in the Female 17 and Over category in 16:06; while Emily Alder took out the Girls Under 17 prize in 20:24.

The 5 mile race saw a scintillating run from the sprightly Natasha Cole, setting a new course record of 29:27 which placed her 3rd outright, and 8 minutes ahead of her nearest rival. Natasha was headed only by two young speedsters in Stuart Grey (28:30) and Joshua Torley (28:35) who staged a spirited race from go to woe.

First Male 50-59 was David Alder in 32:47; with Jim White first in the Male 60-69 in 43:10. Margaret Phillips led home the Women 50-59 in an excellent 42:50.

Craig Benson led the Half-Marathon field from the first lap and was never headed, finishing in 1:21:28 from Chey Pettingill (1:22:35) and Anthony Kennedy (1:22:55).

Sara Burgess ran an outstanding race to place 6th outright, winning the women's race convincingly in 1:26:53. Janine Bothe led the Women 50-59 with an impressive 1:44:49; and Diana SSchneider the Women 60-69 in 2:03:08.

Richard Faulks took out the Men 50-59 in 1:34:04; not far behind the winner of the Men 60-69, the ever-green Peter Clarke in 1:31:21. Lachlan Lewis flew the flag for the Men 70 and Over category, finishing smiling and strong in 2:36:47.

Full results by age category are published, including split times for every mile in each distance – and an excellent photo album of the many faces that made this morning so memorable.

BBQ Stakes 8 th June 2011

2011-06-08T16:42:00.000+10:00

On a cold (very Cold) day, 48 runners competed with Two runners starting early and Laura Toyne, carrying an injury, finishing near the back of the field. Anne Young also finished near the back of the pack.

Rad Leovic was presented with his (correct size) 200 run T-shirt. Keith Fox was today's winner on his 30 th run, his first win with a P.B. of 32:42, but sure to improve, crossing the line at 39:48, Roger Braid was second across the line at 40:20. Terry Dixon did the timing duties. Early arrivals were expecting cols conditions, across the top of the course and they were right in their expectations.

John Barrett again arrived at the start a little late for his start time, but put in a good run. He has regularly been travelling from Civic for this run each week.

Lakes Stakes 7th June 2011

2011-06-07T16:30:00.002+10:00

Participation today, was courtesy of Rad, who gave me a lift to the venue.

And he had his car heater on all the way there and back, it was certainly needed.

He ran it in 39:44.

I took 63:02 for the 6 km run.

I was glad of the flat course. Made the jog easy as.

There was a cool breeze, very cool in our faces on the way out, and behind our backs on the return leg. Prter Foster boasted of his second best time on the course, due to a new pair of shoes from The Runners Shop current sale. Ian Hore looked like he had worked hard today, after his return to the finish, and also commented on the windy conditions.

From The Roads Scholar

2011-06-01T16:26:00.004+10:00

But it's an Honest Sweat

I've never made a secret of the fact that I'm not an avid reader, and when I do read, it's usually for self-discovery, and not for entertainment. Most often, when I pick up a book, it is with a desire to learn how to improve some element of me, or to acquire tools which allow me to see things more clearly, or with the intent of learning to understand other people or myself in a different, more positive light.

Mostly, I read for inspiration, and last night was no exception. With my own writing in a dormant stage lately, I picked up an older book I hadn't looked at in a long time, with the hope of becoming once again inspired to write. When I opened it, the first thing I noticed was how discolored the pages had become since I had last picked it up. But though the pages had yellowed, the words were still as timeless and appropriate as when they were first written, and they danced off the aged pages as I read. The book was “Running and Being” and the author was George Sheehan.

I wasn't even half way through the forward before I realized that today was going to be a writing day for me. When I read about how, in his own opinion, Sheehan the writer and Sheehan the runner were inseparable and one would likely not exist without the other, I acquiesced, remembering how I used to feel the same way about myself.

Dr. Sheehan was not my first inspiration as a runner, but he was my first inspiration as a writer. Through him, I learned how to unite my two passions, creating a compound word “runnerwriter” which I define as the “path to the purest form of revelation and honesty.” Sheehan chose to write immediately after his run, opting to towel off instead of showering because “Honest sweat has no odor.” But if you look deeper, there's much more to it than that.

Running sweat is as honest as sweat can get. The activity of running breaks through the falsehoods and the colored filters, and reveals the truths about one’s self, others, and life in a way that no other activity parallels, at least to the runner. It is the unique and seemingly antagonistic combination of acute awareness and complete serenity in the same instant that makes running sacred. Many refer to that feeling as “Runner's High.” I think of it as “Runner's Truth” revealed overtly as honest sweat. Why should we be in such a hurry to rinse it away?

As I mentioned earlier, I have been experiencing another in a continuing series of bouts with writer's block. It's not that the ideas haven't been there. Running has been as enlightening as ever, and I've been learning more about the sport I love, the things I love, the people I love, and the person I am becoming than ever before. But somewhere between the run and the write, it has all been washed away time and time again. After being reminded again last night of how George did it, I'm confident that I'm back in the groove.

Dr. Sheehan knew better than to shower off the residue of the run before he captured his thoughts on paper. He simply ran, toweled off, and then wrote what the run revealed, while the thoughts were still fresh and honesty was still oozing out of his every pore. It resulted in primitive truths, written in modern words that will hold true for as long as the human species continues running and being.

So this morning I ran, accumulating new truths with every step. I delighted in feeling the salty truth serum dripping over my eyes, down my neck, squishing in my shoes, and saturating my singlet and shorts. Then, I toweled off, and sat down to write, still feeling the fresh film of sweat of the previous three miles in cool and crisp late April Atlanta.

Ah. But it's an honest sweat.

Source:-

http://theroadsscholar.blogspot.com/

BBQ Stakes 1 st June 2011

2011-06-01T16:08:00.002+10:00

BBQ Stakes 1 st June 2011

Rad Leovic was the centre of attention today, when he was presented with his 200 run T-Shirt.

There was some discussion of whether the shirt size presented was the right size or whether he could get a different size, but he still completed his 200 th run.

55 ran today, with Heather Powrie on timekeeping duties, this was a reverse run , first for the month. A few spectators were presnt today, a mother and daughter, waiting for the man of the family. Carol Ey was present as an injured spectator.

Several late comers still managed to run off their handicap. Kathleen made it in good time today, sometimes she is a little late starting. Helen Larmour managed to arrive just before her start group, she had won the 5 km Mothers Day Classic 5km run over the weekend, but was not recognised as the winner in the after event presentations, and Julie Quinn had a win in a weekend Rogaine. I think Health won the teams event, with Terry Dixon, Dolph Page and Lloyd Edwards well placed for the team.

Gabrielle Wright ran today, in an effort to regain some fitness, saying she has taken off some weight. Amme Young was 51 st today, Ian Hore was 54 th and Gabrielle was 55 th.

Vets Committee elected at AGM 25th May

2011-05-26T13:31:00.000+10:00

The new ACTVAC Committee, elected at last night's AGM:

Jeff Grey - President
Rachelle Ellis-Brownlee - Vice President
Graham Burke - Secretary
Nick Blackaby - Treasurer
Plus Craig Wisdom, Kathy Sims, Paul Archer Jan Banens, Fran Harris

From Geoff Moore's Blog.

BBQ Stakes Wed 25th June 2011

2011-05-25T15:10:00.003+10:00

Some 46 runners today, but Laura Toyne, who had a win a few weeks previously, recorded a DNF Today.

Anne Young didn't start today, but on Sunday ran her 60 th Half Marathon in a W 75 record of 2 hr 42 min 16 secs. No wonder shw got such a rousing reception when she finished.
Rad's half Marathon time was 2:32 or so, yet still ran today, and showed us his treasured records and a youngish photo.

Kathleen Bleakley, ran off early, still suffering Jet Lag after her whirlwing tours of the last few weeks. Damian Wright kept the times after his win last week, and Julie Quinn went for a run, but not in the Stakes today. Helen Larmour was late to start and almost the last to finish, pipped to the line by Ian Hore. Terry Levings was 30th across the line, Axel Godeck 32 nd over, Bob Harlow 35 th across, Rad 37 th across, Carolyne Kramar 39 th across, Peter Hogan was a well dressed spectator, and Greg Webster put in a an appearance, the first since the removal of the bars close to the start, which he used to hurdle early in his runs.

First today was Heather Powrie, Second was Keith Fox and Third place was Terry Dixon.

Last week's winner, Damian Wright did time keeping duty today, he has not been running very long, but is keen to participate, so we'll see more of him in the future.
Missing today were those who know Geoff Hawke, I think it was his mother's 's funeral today. I was told the funeral notice was in last Saturday's Canberra Times

Some Half Marathon performances

2011-05-23T10:21:00.002+10:00

Rad Leovic 2:24:15
Ruth Baussmann 1:58:52
Roger Pilkington 1:40:13
Caroline Campbell 1:57:17
Greg Regester 1:22:57
Geoff Moore 1:32:04
Geoff Barker 2:33:18

BBQ Stakes this week

2011-05-16T12:40:00.007+10:00

The winner today, was Laura Toyne, who had a win not too many weeks previously. Laura had another win, and performed timekeeping duties this recent Wednesday, a fine day.

Last timekeeping duties, she told me about running in Darwin, and the regular runs conducted by the Darwin running club.

She is a regular runner on Wednesdays, and was the joint winner of the 2010 BBQ Stakes Christmas Relays.

She has done the timekeeping duties previously, Kerrie Tanner was, I believe doing the Great Ocean Road Marathon, in Victoria.

BBQ Stakes 27 th April 2011

2011-04-27T15:14:00.004+10:00

BBQ Stakes 27 th April 2011

Today's stakes saw 41 participants, with Nick Walshe being the last to arrive, and change his shoes just in the "nick" of time to start from his 20 minute start time handicap.

Angie Bennett took over the time keeping from Bill Bennett, half way through the start group sendoffs to allow Bill Bennett, last week's winner to warm up and compete.

Terry Levings finished 8th, Garry Bowen 34th, Kevin Chapman 35th, Anne Young 36th, Talwar Singh 39th, Roger Pilkington 40th, Ian Hore stone last 1n 41 st.

Garry Lee was awarded his 400th run T-Shirt having a PB of 19:23 way back in 1980.

Carolyne Kramar was mentioned as having a PB of 25:21, and is becoming more regular with the BBQ Stakes, she is off this weekend to complete the Nail Can Hill Run in Albury together with Bob Harlow, Rad Leovic, Jim White, Anne Young, Dianna Schneider.
Anne Young reported that she will have completed 60 Half Marathons, when she completes the Canberra half Marathon in a couple of weeks time.

The winner today was Jim white, on 40:02 over the line, he has 148 runs with a P.B. of 24:26, and 2 wins, 48 runs since his last win. Raymond Chao was second and Andrew Guild third.

Last week's fastest were Julie Quinn and Greg Regester.

John Barret's son was first over the line today just pipping his father in a sprint finish.

From The Roads Scholar

2011-04-25T13:01:00.001+10:00

The Seasoned Runner
There is something in the air these days, and I'm not talking about the pollen that makes running very difficult for allergy-sufferers this time of year. You see, it was in April, 1982, that I first committed to running, and logged my first mile. Not miles. Well, not even a full mile, really. It was closer to 9/10ths of a mile, but at least it was a start. Who would have known at that time that 29 years later, I would have logged close to 25,000 miles beyond that first 9/10ths, and I'd still be counting?
When I first decided to give running a try as an adult, I still remember how I sheepishly poked my head out the door to make sure that none of my neighbors were out before I was willing to give it a try. I didn't want to be seen trying something as risky as running, since I didn't know how successful I would be. And sure enough, I wasn't more than a quarter mile in to the run when my right foot caught the edge of the sidewalk and I twisted my ankle a little, but not badly enough to cut the run short. Thank goodness I didn't take that "twist of fate" as a sign to give up on running before I even started. If I had, my life would not be so full today.
Physically, that run did not make me feel good. When I was done, I felt nauseous, overheated, and I clearly remember staggering back in the house, and laying down in the middle of the living room floor, almost unable to breathe or move. I was only 26 years old, but at that moment, I felt much, much older.
Memories of that, and other early runs of April 1982, come back strongly to me this time of year, and those memories really help me understand why something as simple as left-right-repeat can hold one's attention for a lifetime. The run is about so much more than just the run. The run is about the brushing of the wind in your face, and the smells of Wisteria in bloom, and the damp earthy smell of the air just after an April shower. The run is really about everything surrounding it and everything you internalize while you are doing it.
Thanks to a mixture of ingredients, the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) seasonings of Mother Nature, each run becomes unique. And from one year to the next, seasonal runs evolve us into "seasoned runners" and bring back memories of the same time last year, and the year before that, and so on. It happens every season, but for me, Spring is the most special, because it is in the Spring that running first started for me. And I'm reliving that era once again lately.
I started running in April, 29 years ago. And now that it's April once again, my mind's eye has been taking me back to that very first run, around my neighborhood in Massapequa Park, New York. As I lay there on the living room floor shortly after I returned from that run, after managing less than a mile, staring at the ceiling, I could feel each heartbeat pulsating throughout my entire body. Although I can still remember everything about that run and its aftermath as if it happened only yesterday, I had no idea at that time how different my life was to become as a result of building blocks I continued to add to that very first cornerstone run.
Perhaps this is one of the reasons why Spring running, and more specifically, April running, holds such a special place in my heart. The right mix of warmer air, longer hours of daylight, the singing birds, the bright colors and sweet aromas of the flowers and the blooms all take me right back to the beginning of time as a runner, when everything was new and exciting.
I'm sure other runners must get the same feelings of recognition as they approach the same time of year when they first started running many years earlier. Whatever season it is, it stands as a reminder of the newness of running athleticism, and self-discovery as you constantly met, then exceeded your own expectations. Your season is a reminder of why you are a runner.
I'm a seasoned runner, and my season is Spring. What's yours?