Week 11 in Summer Limbo-No Major Races Soon

Sunday
Walked, mostly jogged 5.
Saturday
Fast 6. Walked 1 more

Friday
Fast 7 on mill

Thursday
Off- swamped with work

Wednesday
Off-Swamped with Work

Tuesday
Off-Swamped with Work

Monday
Off-Swamped with Work

Week 10 in Summer Limbo

Sunday
Walked , mostly jogged 6.

Saturday
Walked , mostly jogged 6.

Friday
Fast 7 on mill in the morning. 8 morn at night, walked two more

Thursday
Off

Wednesday
Off-Swamped with work

Tuesday
Off-Swamped with work.

Monday
Walked / jogged 5 late at night. Couldn't breathe, soaked through

Run Report-Ten Minutes of Tranquility

"Sometimes I think that all you want to do on this trip is run!?"  By the frustrated way she said it, I knew Jen meant it rhetorically, so I had the deep sagacity to be reticent rather than say what I was really thinking, You're damn right about that.  See, those who are familiar with my yearly vacation Down Under know that for me, it's no vacation.  It is mainly due to the fact that I hate children.

Okay, that's not exactly true; I don't hate children.  It's just that I hate your children.  My own children; they're exempted because of the direct blood line.  I've also conditioned myself to somewhat tolerate the children who are the friends of my children, as long as I limit my exposure to them in intervals of ten minutes on followed by one hour off.

However, I can't stand snot-nosed, screaming, out of control children in general, especially when assembled in mass.  And there's the crux of the problem.  See, just about everyday of our annual three week trip follows this basic routine.  

We load up the minivan with my two girls and then drive to one of my wife's cousins or friend's house.  Then we squeeze their three or four children into the van.  More often than not, one or two more children laden minivans have been prearranged to join us.  From there, our little minvan convoy drives to the park, skating rink, beach, or any other place where children tend to congregate in the hundreds.  And for the next four to six hours, all the mothers sit and talk about how wonderful their children are, the whole while completely ignoring the fact that their kids are whining, complaining, yelling, hitting, spilling, breaking, and snatching everything they come in contact with.

So when Jen said, "We're going to drive over to Jane's tomorrow and take all the kids to Balmoral Beach, where Michelle and her boys will also meet us," I replied, "Hey, the map says it's only 13 miles from here.  How 'bout you take everyone in the van and I'll run down and meet you there?"

It wouldn't be a full pardon, but if I could get just two hours of solitude, I'd take it.   After some resistance, Jen finally acquiesced on the condition that I get there by 10:00 a.m. sharp.  So while everyone was still asleep in the predawn morning, I rolled out of bed and suited up.

By 6:45 I was on the road but the plan wasn't to run straight through as the course was less than a two hour jog.  Instead, I hoped to spend about an hour ambulating through the inner city, a place I rarely get to see since its mostly children free.  

I ran the first nine miles straight through and arrived at Saint Mary's Cathedral at 8:00.  I took the opportunity to say a few prayers.

Exiting the east side of the church, I walked a hundred meters to the Sydney Botanical Gardens, 200 acres of paved walking / running paths surrounded by the most beautiful landscaped flora and fauna.

I could have spent the whole day there.  But at 9:00, I knew that I better get running if I didn't want to be late to the beach and risk losing my running privileges altogether.   As I exited the Gardens, I heard off to the west an irritating high pitch noise that wax and waned. As I ran down toward the wharf, I started to think the noise might be a massive flock of squawking seagulls.

Passing the wharf, I turned north and then saw what it was. 



Yep, The Bieber is Down Under, and was performing live on the Sydney equivalent of Good Morning America. Circular Quay was inundated with hundreds of snot-nosed, screaming, out of control kids!  Crap!—There's no escaping it.

I made a 180 and ran back to the Gardens.  From there I followed the outer parameter of Circular Quay, and then finally made it to the Harbor Bridge.


I ran over and then jogged another 5k reaching the Beach at 10:06.  However, when I looked around, Jen, Jane, Michelle, and all the kids weren't there.  I took out my iPhone and saw an email from Jen, "We're running late, be there at 10:20."

I sat down on the beach and spent ten minutes listening to the soft, rhythmic, and tranquil waves brush up against the shore. It sure was nice while it lasted.

Week 9 in Summer Limbo-Down in Sydney

Sunday

Saturday
Off -coming back to corpus

Friday
Ran into town in the early morning, 8 miles. Walked another 2. In afternoon, ran a fast 4.2 miles around Iron Cove, 31:20. Then walked / ran 5k with girls in afternoon. Bakery Run.
Thursday
Off

Wednesday
Walked 4 miles

Tuesday
Ran 8 to down town. Walked / jogged another 6 to Balmoral beach


Monday
Off

Week 8 in Summer Limbo-Down in Sydney

Sunday.
5k bakery workout with girls. Walked 2 more miles.

Saturday.
Out the door at 5:20am. Jogged / walked 5k to Ashfield Park. Met local running group, Sydney Striders. About 6:15, 6 of us (5 guys and one girl) headed out at a 8:30 pace in good cool weather.
Hilly course. At 10k, all runners except one broke off to finish the 15k loop. Dave and I continued on the 24k loop. I was kaput when we finished. I walked home another 5k.
Four the $4 contribution pre race, they had a nice snack table post run. I had a little fruit, that's all

Friday
Off

Thursday.
10 miles. Down to Iron Cove, around once and back. Slow and hilly.

Wednesday.
Off

Tuesday.
Off-Twisted ankle. But did walk 4 miles.

Monday
Off-Twisted ankle. But did walk 4 miles.

Race Report-An Involuntary Participant

I rolled out of bed before day break and strapped on my cold running gear.  It's Winter here in Oz and the weather was a perfect 45 degrees (7 for my metric friends).  My plan was a nice out-and-back 18 mile long-run starting at our Western suburb in Concord and pivoting at the Opera House, pausing just long enough for photo.

Being pre-dawn on a Sunday, the traffic was light which allowed me to run straight through the multiple city intersections.  However my route was hilly, hilly, and hilly.  There really wasn't a flat stretch the whole run.  After about 10 miles, the undulations begin to wear on you.  However, they also break up the course and add little interim challenges along the way.

About five miles in, I began the long stretch to the apex of Anzac Bridge, where I saw a beautiful unobstructed view of the inner-city just as the sun was rising behind the downtown office buildings.  In my mind, I imagined getting a great shot at the top of the Opera House stairs.

Then, with two miles remaining to the Opera House, I unexpectedly and spontaneously entered a race.  It happened just as I crossed over Pymont Bridge and started toward Hyde Park.  Running between two large buildings I saw a long stream of runners passing across an intersection about 100 meters ahead.

I thought, Awesome!  Some locals out for a Sunday morning long-run.  I'll latch on and chat about the local running scene.  However when I reached the intersection, I discovered about three thousand runners, wearing large race bibs, and stretched out over a half a mile.  The course was roped off to prevent spectators from crossing.  Unable to continue straight on my planned route, I turned left and started to run parallel with the racers, but outside the course barriers.  

About 25 meters along, a race official acerbically called out to me, "Back on the course!  Stay within barriers!"  I jumped across a roped barrier and voila, I was instantaneously 'entered' in some kind of race, but I had no idea what kind. This is so cool!

I looked up and saw a mile-marker that read "7".   I then realized that I had run dead smack into a half-marathon.  Oh, this was perfect!  I actually had wanted to do a half marathon while Down Under; how fortuitous.

I pulled along side a runner so I could start a chat, "Morning, morning.  What's the name of his half?"  "Uh, what, uh!" he curtly replied without even looking in my direction.  I figured he was struggling so I ran forward looking for some runners with a more relaxed stride or already in conversation.  

To my surprise, I couldn't find any.  There were absolutely no runners conversing.  If fact, most stared toward the ground with a focused determination as if they were trying to qualify for the Aussie Olympic marathon team.  I tried once more, "Morning,  where does this half finish?  Does it go by the Opera House?"  Again, "What!?  I don't know.  What?"  I asked, "Is this a half marathon?"  "No mate, 10k.  It's a 10k!"

Now my reaction was "What!?"  I then realized that it wasn't mile-marker "7", it was kilometer-marker "7" (mile 5).  I was incredulous.  Our pace couldn't have been more than 8:00 minute miles, and I had already 13k under my feet before converging on the course.  I felt great which was why I was a bit taken back at the labored effort and seriousness of the other runners.  At that point I thought it best to step off the course.

I wasn't three feet off when another official yelled out, "No no no!  You have to stay on the course."   At this point it became comical.  I couldn't stop grinning.  I gotta get a picture; Jen is not going to believe this."  I finally found an entrant walking on the side of the course;  I pulled up and handed her my phone, "Excuse, can I get a picture."

We both stopped and she took a few seconds to focus the shot as the stream of runners passed behind me.  "Okay, ready?" she asked, and then she began running.  What the Hell!  Oh!, I get it; she thinks I'm racing and that I want a live action shot for prosperity.  I couldn't stop laughing.

As we ran along the water, I had no idea where we were going.  I did hear another runner tell a friend, "We're almost to the Rocks," which I knew was by the Sydney Harbor Bridge.  Sure enough, a few minutes later we ran straight under the south riverside of the Bridge.  Best I could tell, the course was headed back toward Circular Quay.

I tried one last time with two kilometers remaining, "Morning, wow, beautiful weather for a run."  Nothing--Not a reply, not a nod, not a grin.  O' righty! I decided, You want to race, then let's race.  I dropped the hammer and split through the pack, "On your right; to your left please."  "Coming up between you; excuse me please!"  I was on a 6:30 pace buzzing runners left and right.  With half a mile remaining, a pack of four came up behind and were about to ask me to move.  Oh no no no.  I dropped to a 6:00 min pace and pulled away.

Within 100 meters, I could see the finish.  Not only where there hundreds of yelling spectators, they were giving out finishers medals.  Finisher medals for a 10K?  The humorous (pronounced "smart-ass") in me decided to have some fun.  I was going to spring across the finish, grab a medal, triumphantly flare my arms over my head, and scream out "YES!"

But with 50 meters remaining, I just couldn't do it.  I turned perpendicular to the course and slid through two barriers, cutting straight across an open restaurant patio, where the patrons looked at me like I was nuts.

About 10 minutes later I found my bearings and headed toward the Opera House for that fantastic photo I planned.

Unfortunately, all I got was this.

The area was blocked off by construction.  I turned back and rounded home to get in my full 18.   

Well, what I planned to happen turned out to be crap.  What I didn't plan to happen turned out to be great fun!  Yep, running is a "real-life" experience.

Week 7 in Summer Limbo-Down in Sydney

Sunday
Off-Twisted ankle.

Saturday
18. From Concord to Opera House and back.

Friday
Jogged 4 with girls around Iron Cove, ran back to get in 7.

Thursday
Off

Wednesday
Went to Olympic park and did 3 with girls around track.

Tuesday
Walk / jog 10 through out day

Monday
Walk / jog 5k with girls around QE park. Then at night, two laps around Iron Cove and back to Concord for 11. Feeling all beat up. Hills have really taken a toll on the legs. Will need to take it easy a couple of days