RunningCommentary

XIV Medio Maraton Ciudad de Almeria

Almeria 2011 report will be filed here

Henfield Nine Mile Fun Run

'Fun Run'. There's an oxymoron for you.

Had this race started at Oh Nine Hundred I'd have missed it completely. The 10:30 kick-off gave me time to collect my thoughts, struggle out of bed, splash some cold water on my fur-covered face and study the bloodshot, more-droopy-than-usual eyes squinting back at me out of the bathroom mirror. The horror, the horror . . .

Sympathy for the Devils

A poignant week for people of a certain age, for football fans and in particular followers of Manchester United. Wednesday sees the fiftieth anniversary of the Munich air crash that shook a nation and a sporting world. The 'Flowers of Manchester' lay decimated, broken bodies strewn across a frozen runway. News spread like a vile illness; players dead, United finished, the end of the Busby Babes.

J&J&A…Three compatriots on the train to Almeria…

Since lot of days before, nights I could not sleep. Time runs faster than us, if you have a rendez-vous which requires some training. Day ‘D’ comes suddenly, too soon.

On Friday, the afternoon before the trip, J and I were helping at my sister’s moving home. From an optimistic point of view, we have sufficient worked for sleeping deep and non stop…

Saturday, at

6 o’clock

we woke up. We drove to the railway station, where we have taken a train to

Madrid

. Meeting-Point with JJJJJorGGGGGJJJJe: Atocha RailwayStation.

Jorge was already there, big suitcase, five minutes for a ‘fast’ breakfast and we were sitting at the train to Almería.8 hours in front of us for sleeping, seeing bad films, laughing and talking, almost always about the race. Nobody of the three was sure of finishing the race. It was our first race for all the three.

As announced, Antonio was at the train platform. Gentle and polite, as he is we have introduced ourselves and have taken the car into the Hotel. Antonio loves Almería, so that in the short way he explained us the way to go to his school, the name of squares, streets and buildings that we sow in the way.

Immediately I have recognized Sweder, who was sitting at the Hall, with Ms S and his friend Stevie, Andy and Ms A, came later. Everybody is exactly as I have supposed and imagined. No surprises at all. The feeling was great.

After checking in this modern hotel, we met at reception. A small round near the hotel streets looking for ‘tapas’ and some beer. Sweder had the opportunity of discover that Spanish waiters doesn’t know how to put a Guinness in a glass, anyway the second try let him enjoying the last beer before his HM. This is a Sweder’s secret for feeling home in order to run a HM. Strategy is important.

After a light siesta, we met for going to the Stadium taking our race-numbers… We have seen Moyle and T for the first time. Once there, a lot of athletes around us. Everybody met there, we joined the charming Antonio’s wife who loves his husband hobby and shares his hospitality, also the very enthusiastic Antonio’s friends.

We have met a lot of interesting people, everybody dreaming on the 'tomorrow’s race', where everybody had his aim for doing it well (some of us, just finishing it) in a very special ambiance. Together with our race-numbers we have received lots of gifts: Tomates, t-shirt, chip and a lot of small things. We also get the most important paper of the evening: a pasta-dinner ticket…, girls included, as RC team is bigger than everybody can imagine…

I thought that pasta dinner should be just a saucepan of macaroni in a plastic dish, but out of any prevision, this dinner take place at the elegant stadium restaurant and there were even waiters serving a quite energiser dinner: pasta as starter and….

Are you hungry?

…. Well, the rest of the pastadinner & running-race-commentaries are coming later ;-)

Meatloaf

XI Medio maratón de Almería 27 January 2008

On Saturday morning, I went to the airport to meet Andy, M. , Sweder, S. , Moleyman and T. Encarna, another runner who was going to take part at the half marathon, also went to meet them. At the airport, I happened to meet an ex pupil of mine, Juan, who is now a taxi driver. He told me that he wants to study English now because he really needs it for his job. After meeting them, we decided to go to El Alquián to have breakfast before meeting Steve who was coming via Stansted airport. We ordered some “churros” at a kiosk and took them into a café where we had chocolate or coffee. Afterwards, Encarna drove Andy and M. to the Tryp Indalo hotel and I took Sweder, S. , Moleyman and T. to the airport where Sweder would meet Steve. We went to the hotel along a seaside coast which is more interesting than the motorway. We even saw the blue line in part of the half marathon course. When we got to the hotel, Sweder and Steve were just arriving by taxi.

On Saturday afternoon, I met Ana, Jorge and Javier at the railway station. Ana recognised me at once. We went to the hotel where we met Sweder and Stevie.

In the evening, I went with my wife Carmen, my colleague Carmen and her son Paquito to the stadium where we met all the club members, Encarna, Pepe and Guillermo. After talking for a while, we went to the stadium VIP room where we would have pasta dinner in the first sitting. This year we were in two tables. As usual, we had pasta, chicken and chips, dessert such as crème caramel and water or Fanta. I enjoyed the meal and the company. We also had a look at the stadium from the stands and I thought that the following day we´d have to reach the finish line in the athletics track.

On Sunday I went to the hotel in case any of them needed a lift. I met Ana, Jorge and Javier on the way. So I offered them a lift and we went to the hotel to see if we could take one more mate. We met Sweder, Moleyman and Steve jogging towards the stadium. We greeted them from the car and went to the hotel where Ana looked for Andy who accepted the lift. As Ana, Jorge and Javier hadn´t had breakfast they told me to leave them in a café near the stadium. Andy and I went to the stadium where we met some runners such as Juan Jesús, who took part at Santa Pola half marathon last week. He did it in 1 hour 29 minutes. So, today he was going to do the 10 km run, which would turn into 13 km. In the stadium, we met Sweder, Moleyman and Steve. When we were going out of the stadium, I met my Italian friend Riccardo, who spends some time in a house at Aguamarga, 65 km away from Almería. There was one minute of silence in memory of Antonio Galdeano, a very good Almerian runner, who died of cancer last November. I met him a few years ago because he was a friend of Juan Pedro´s and we went training or  to competitions together several times.

It was a beautiful sunny day. I started a bit fast doing the first kilometres in 5´30´´ feeling well. At la rambla, I met a young man from

England

and a young woman from

Northern Ireland

who lived in

Granada

. There, Ana, Jorge and Javier reached me. A little bit later, Encarna, Pepe and Felipe reached us. We talked a little and on the way down, Felipe ran away and later Ana, Jorge, Javier, Encarna and Pepe but I couldn´t go that quick.  At

Cabo de Gata avenue

, I was surprised to see my wife cheering me and taking photos. There was also a little old man with a loudspeaker cheering everybody in an amusing way. He said things like: “ Come on, take advantage now that next year I may not be here and then who´s going to cheer you?” Guillermo reached me and we went together a few kilometres but I couldn´t keep his pace and had to let him go. When I was going towards the last roundabout at Nueva Almería, I saw some 10 km runners coming from there which made me think that they had taken the wrong course. In km 11 just in front of my home, I noticed that I had done 63 minutes, which was quite good for me but not good enough to do the half marathon under two hours. On the second lap up la rambla, I saw M., S. and T. who were cheering me.  After km 13, I started to notice some discomfort in my upper leg muscles. So I had to slow down a little and I was reached by Juan Pedro. We talked a little and went together as far as km 17.5 where the mat was but as I felt better, I decided to go on a little bit faster and managed to pass a few runners although others passed me as well. When I got to the stadium, I tried to go a little faster especially when I saw that another runner was accelerating and caught up with me. I finished in 2 hours 9 minutes, 6 minutes more than last year but I can´t complain since I´m fatter and I´ve trained less. Besides, this is my first half since

1^st April 2007

.

After picking up a bag with a raincoat, medal, cap and a Nestea, bottles of water, I met Encarna, Pepe, Guillermo, Moyleman. We congratulated each other. I waited for Riccardo and inside I met Ana, Jorge and Javier who were very happy although tired after doing more kilometres than expected. I went with Riccardo to his car where his wife was waiting for him. They gave me a bottle of  Italian “crema di limone”. 

At

2:30 pm

, we went to the Tryp Indalo hotel where we met all of them and took the official photo with the half marathon T-shirt, which this year is a bit dreary since it is black in colour. Later, Guillermo and his wife María arrived. Then, we went to the restaurant “Mesón Sierra Morena” but It was difficult to find room to park the car. There, we all met Encarna, Pepe and his son Javier, who had arrived from

London

that morning. We had a good time there and enjoyed the meal although Ana, Jorge and Javier had to leave before 4 since their train left at 4:15 pm. After taking them to the station, I went on with the meal and I even had to make a speech and a toast to this wonderful gathering, thanking all of them for coming here and to the absent forumites who couldn´t come, hoping that we all could be together again.

After lunch, we took M. and S. on a sightseeing tour along the old part of Almería. We had a look at the fortress cathedral, we went up the Alcazaba, the Arabic castle,  from where we had a look in the background and the port in the background. We also saw

San Juan

church, which used to be the main mosque. Then, we went up to Cerro de

San Cristóbal

. From there, we had a look at the town, Alcazaba, Saharan animal reserve, the

bay

of

Almería

, from Cabo de Gata to Roquetas. We had a very good time with them.

On Monday, when I went to the hotel, I was surprised to see that all of them wanted to go to the Baños de Sierra Alhamilla. It was wonderful but as I only had one car, they had to call a taxi to go the whole party. We went up that little oasis in the desert with palm trees, a few houses, a source of hot water, a spa with a little hotel and a two bars. Andy, Sweder, Moleyman and Steve wanted to do the run downhill to Pechina. So, I remained with M., S. and T. We had a look at the spa court. We couldn´t see the baths because there were some clients in. Afterwards, we went down the winding road to meet them on their way to Pechina where we had a drink at a café.

In the evening, we all met at Molly Malone. I took my wife, Carmen. Encarna and Carmen also went. We had a good time there and before going to other bars, we phoned Ana to sing her “Happy birthday”. It was really moving. After a quick visit to “El Quinto Toro” , we decided to go to another bar, which was “Las Botas”, where we had a drink and ham or cheese for tapa. As Carmen, Encarna, Carmen and I had to get up early the next day, we decided to leave so that our English friends could eat properly.

It´s been a really interesting experience both for me and my wife. Our memories are great. As usual, the race is just the excuse to meet all of us and have a good time all together.  

WWW.flickr.com/photos/23319530@N07

Mixed Mode Capacity

Just heard about the crash landing at Heathrow. One of those odd pieces of jargon they threw into the report was that Heathrow (as a result of the crash) was working on "mixed mode capacity". Which rather strangely is perhaps an apt description of my running this fine, antipodean summer. I have a whole new fitness regime now, of which running is just one part. And I have to say I'm enjoying it a whole lot more because of that. My only goal now is to finally, definitely, undeniably lose the flab that haunts my belly region, and to improve my upper body strength.

Sorry, my only two goals now are to finally, definitely etc. lose flab, and gain upper body strength. And I should add I guess, to run another half marathon at some stage this year... OK, OK, that's five goals ... (three Sire!) ... three goals, yes. Three goals.

(Deep breath). So, here we go again. Another wonderful Australian summer, and another crack at the old belly fat. I've never really had that much of it, and most people scoff when I even mention it, but it's a reality, and I'm sick of it. I'm not running enough to keep the weight off, but I'm enjoying my current levels of running, so I've added a heap of hill walking and weight training, which is mostly done in front of the telly, where I keep my remote control thumb fit by flicking between the cricket (India currently touring Oz) and the Australian Open tennis (why don't I just get two TVs?)... honestly, I love this time of year. It makes the treadmill seem like my best investment ever. Especially given the weather of late. I've just returned from 4 weeks in Adelaide, where it was hot enough to boil a monkey's bum. At one point we had 5 consecutive days over 40 degrees, including one day of 45 C (113 F). Noodles to say, no running done then, except to the beer fridge of course. I do love the hot weather, but after a few days of those extremes one develops a kind of death wish... anyway I'm back down south now where it's rarely ever really hot, so the running/walking/gym work routine is rather more regular.

Speaking of mixed mode capacity, I'm still perplexed as to the continued co-existence of this blogging thing and the other older forum thingy. It seems I have to read both to catch up with everyone's news, and figure out which one is best to post to...? I guess if no-one replies here, I'll post it on the other one. Life's confusing enough as it is being on the upside down part of the planet (what with all that blood rushing to our heads all the time)...?!?

That's enough for now. All the best to you Almeria runners ... can't wait (dare I say it?) to see the video.

Despedida mis amigos.

XX Carrera San Silvestre El Ejido 29th Dec 2007

On Saturday 29th December I went to El Ejido San Silvestre race. This is the seventh consecutive year I go. However, this year it is one kilometre shorter since it is ten kilometre long. It is still five laps but each one is 200 metre shorter so that it can be included in the Spanish federation calendar as an officially approved 10 km race.

I went with Felipe, another teacher of English and Isabel who owns a company related with sea sports in Almería such as windsurfing, canoeing, etc. It is called Eolo. We went in Felipe´s car and went to the town hall to collect our race numbers, chips and a goodie bag with a vest, a balaclava and a cord to hold a mobile phone. As every year there is a crib at the town hall. This year the race entry wasn´t free. It cost five euros. Isabel had a problem with her internet entry but she was allowed to race without a race number and after the race she was given a goodie bag.

At the race I talked to some runners I know. We usually meet in races or while we are training in Almería such as Diego, Jorge, Juan Jesús, etc.

At the start we saw that there were famous Spanish runners such as Antonio Jiménez Pentinel, Reyes Estévez, Zulema and Iris Fuentes Pila Ortiz. Óscar Pereiro, the cyclist who won the 2006 tour de France after Floyd Landis´ disqualification also took part invited by the organisation.

It was a wonderful sunny afternoon. The temperature was around 16º degrees Celsius. After finding a position at the back of the race, we started at 5 o´clock. It starts a little uphill, then downhill to go to the start line uphill again. Isabel left us soon and I kept Felipe´s pace for a lap but afterwards I couldn´t follow him. I did the first 2 km lap in around 11 minutes. There were a lot of people cheering along the Boulevard where the race takes place. In the fist lap I heard “Antonio”.  It came from a girl, Alicia, I met in 2002 when I first took part in this race. We did the race together then and the next year but afterwards she got an injury and she has been a spectator all these years. She used to play handball.

I felt all right all the laps although I was the fourth or fifth behind. One advantage of theis race is that you see the people many times going up or down the avenue. However, in the last lap I managed to overtake three runners which is something good for me since I usually start faster than I should and the last kilometres are very hard. I did the 10 km in 58 minutes while Isabel and Felipe finished a few minutes earlier.

After giving back our chips, we came back to Almería thinking that we would like to do El Ejido half marathon on 16^th March, which will be its first edition.

Best wishes for the next year which is so close.

III Subida a los Baños de Sierra Alhamilla ( 2nd part )

I´ll attach some more pics I couldn´t before. Download copia_de_dsc07579.JPG Download copia_de_dsc07580.JPG Download copia_de_dsc07585.JPG

III Subida a los Baños de Sierra Alhamilla

On Sunday 23rd December I arrived ar Pechina, a small town just 12 km from Almeria. It was time to go up the road to Baños de Sierra Alhamilla, 8,3 km away and come back along a dirt track to Pechina doing around 7 km more.

It was a cloudy day although the sun was fighting to shine. When I got to this small town which, in spite of being so near a big town, fortunately still has a village like appearance, I saw some cyclists and runners near Manuel´s mother´s house. You probably already know Manuel, who lives in Barcelona, but he ´s from Pechina.  He has taken part in loads of  races all over the world. Last summer he took part at Limamarathon and went to Machu Pichu and he also took part at a 100 km race in the province of Zaragoza in August. He is the soul of this race which started as a sort of training announced in a Spanish running website and has found help from the local council.

After greeting Manuel, his mother, brother-in-law who was taking part in the bicycle race, other runners I knew such as Corretón, who came with his wife and daughters to cheer or Raúl, who is the sports councellor taking part this year in the race as tin the previous edition. I also metother runners that Manuel introduced me such as Artés, whom I knew from the forum. He lives in Yecla, in the province of Murcia or Currupuy, who lives in La Rioja and brought some bottles from that area. I also greeted Manuel´s mother and his niece, who happens to be a pupil of mine this year.

At 10:30 Manuel gave the signal to start because he couldn´t take part in the race since he had a terrible cold. I started with the last ones going  up the street that led us to the road toward Los Baños. I managed to keep their pace for one mile but I had to slow down and follow my pace which allowed me to take some pictures. It was a bit hard since I went on my own all the course but I felt all right. I managed to get to the top in sixty minutes, four more than the previous year. The last kilometre to the top is the toughest reaching a sort of oasis in the desert with a spring with hot water. There I was given a bottle of water and a bar of chocolate.

Then, I went downhill along a steep dirt track. Whenever I do this course, which I had last done with Sweder last January, I do a different one because the course is not clear and there are several tracks. I had to turn back a little because I missed the right turning but it didn´t matter. Finally, I arrived at the town hall square where Manuel, his brother-in.law Jose and his nephew José María were waiting for me. I was glad to have been able to do this wonderful race once again. Then, after getting changed at Manuel´s house, I went to the secondary school sports pavilion where all the other cyclists and runners were having a drink and some tapas such as “embutidos” cold cuts?, “langostinos” king prawns?, olives, almonds, etc. We joined them and took part in a draw where the winner got a “jamón Serrano”, cured ham. Three cups were given to the first three runners and a T-shirt to everybody.

I think that the atmosphere was fantastic and everybody is looking forward to doing it again next year. Is there a better way to wish each other a merry Christmas. I also wish you a happy Christmas and a wonderful year 2088.

Xmas greetings

Well, I am not sure that my internet works right, at this moment, so, ever if I repeat this message, I would like just to wish any RC member a very happy holy night (including family).

I should help by cooking! Have the best Xmas Eve

Meatloaf

Christmas Massage

The new Mid Life Crisis Man sends greetings to hightly steamed viewers around this globular planetoid object we call home.

Much has happened of late, but largely it is has been boringly inconsequential stuff of little interest to those not directly related to me. Others of you however will be at least gratified to know I continue to run, and am substantially injury-free and enjoying my plods. Not only that, but I have liberated myself of stopwatch and spreadsheet and now run without a watch and no longer record my efforts in the computer. To say it has freed me up would be an understatement. In conjunction with this, my son and a friend have finally persuaded me to don the metphorical lycra and enter the precincts of a gym which has much scary looking equipment to entrap myself in and many heavy blunt objects to flog myself with. Truth to tell, it is all quite addictive, and I even have functioning triceps again... or perhaps I should say, at last.

Currently I am spending a month back in my second home town of Adelaide, and doing much of the festive thing, drinking too much wine and exotic beer, and eating many very splendid things. Oddly enough however, the warm climate seems to bring out the active athlete in me and despite the food and grog I am reducing the flab and getting nicely tanned and decently toned. So all is pretty much hunky dory in the life of MLCM at the mo.

As for races, well there are none on the horizon, and my only goal is to keep on enjoying my running. Given the lack of deadlines and logbooks, this is actually easier than before, because I am not forcing myself to run when I don't want to, and I run where I want and at the pace I want, and if I stop for a breather, I do so without one eye on the watch and a concern for split times and average pace per kilometre etc etc. 

So there's a new lease of life in the old bod, and it's good.

I should give my son some credit for this I think. He probably saw the increasing size of my belly and figured the old running lark wasn't sufficient motivation for me anymore, and so he dragged me to the gym and beat me severely about the head with some enormous dumbbells until i saw sense. Well, in fact what happened was that I was so impressed with his motivation and level of fitness that I decided to give it a go myself. And by mixing up the routines, it is not as boring as I had feared.

But I don't think it's a substitute for hitting the roads at that perfect time of day when everything is glorious and you seemingly have the planet to yourself and you feel that you could run forever. I'm not saying I'm converted to being a morning person yet, but when I do get up for those early morning runs, it astonishes me just how glorious the world can seem at those times. Running is still the thing for me.

So, health and sanity is good. I must try and get back here more often. I've been missing you guys.

Have a safe and happy Christmas everyone, and I'll see you all in the New Year.

MLCM.

Track du jour (Canción del día)

It's a while since we had one of these.

This week's entry is a little-known gem selected especially for Bierzo Baggie.

No Tengo Tiempo
by the Spanish electronica ensemble Azul y Negro.

The track was used by the Spanish television network TVE as the signature music for its coverage of La Vuelta Ciclista de España (Tour of Spain) from 1982 to 1985, including the infamous 1985 Tour. That was the year when Scots rider and legendary climber Robert Millar led the race with only two stages to go.

Millar should have won the Tour that April, by all standards of performance, and according to the established customs of racing etiquette, but his eccentric personal style (sometimes mistaken for arrogance) left him with a fatal lack of friends in the peloton.

Millar was far too good to care about such details - his combative approach generally depended simply on putting pedal to the metal on the steepest hill he could find and leaving his opponents panting far behind in his wake.

But on the penultimate stage down from the mountains of Segovia that year, Millar's luck ran out. First a puncture, and then a delay at a level crossing (some say the railwaymen conspired against him) left him dangerously isolated and far off the back of the field.

The Spanish teams attacked (some would say unsportingly, but fantastically effectively) and Millar lost over seven minutes, enough to give the yellow jersey to Pedro Delgado, who won the race after the customary uneventful cruise into Madrid the following day.

Delgado went on to win the Tour de France, achieving national superstar status some years before Miguel Indurain, but found his reputation tarnished by a positive drugs test in the fading light of his career.

Applying the Marion Jones principle, that now makes Robert Miller Vuelta champion for 1985. According to me, at least.

Millar, meanwhile went on to win a couple more famous stages in the Tour de France, earning the King of the Mountains title several times, but, unlike Delgado, he never won a major tour. He now lives in obscurity on the Scottish island of Islay.

Meanwhile, back to the music. It's post-punk electronica at its best and worst. Think Kraftwerk, mixed with Yazoo, and sung in Spanish. Que aproveche.

Apocalypto: The Mince Pie 10

Funny that this race should feature the word 'mince' in the title. Around four miles in a portion of the three hundred starters were offering a fair impression of Larry Grayson teetering off to measure an inside leg as they negotiated slimy, treacherous terrain. Our Spartan forebears would've been less than impressed.

A new life

Well, I thank Andy for inviting me to this blog. I had some problems to log in but Andy has managed to get me in.

I have some experience in posting a comment in other people´s posts but this is the first one I´m sending in this blog although I started some threads in the running commentary forum.

I´d like to know how to attach photos in this blog. Is it in the "manage" button?

I wish you all best of luck in your running aims and I´d love to meet you at Almería half on the last weekend of January.

Saludos desde Almería

Antonio

All the leaves are brown, and the sky is grey. (Andy)

It’s a while since I thumped the marathon tub. Let’s do it now.

Taking the baton from the desperate lunge of the previous entry, I did manage to see the doc — eventually. He rang in sick first time round — a self-referential conundrum of the type I enjoy — but I persisted, despite the dial on the knee throbostat clicking back a few notches by the time I got there. He prodded the unco-operative joint, and peered at it like it was an exotic marsupial twitching in a cage.

Now come on you guys

Own up, who was it?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7119073.stm

And wher's my share????

A Twist In The Tale

A lovely day for a chilly, hilly lope along the cliff tops.

Our target: The Wire, an eight-mile, out-and-back course well known to the Jog Shop Joggers. Home of the good Good Friday friday run this is the perfect, simple way to get into winter marathon training. An eminently sensible choice; easy on the legs, gentle on the lungs, building slowly towards . . . well, who knows? With the decision deferred on my spring schedule December looks like a pressure-free time to enjoy running and construct a solid base.

Sound, sensible stuff.

2007 Brighton 10K

Cold foulness wrapped its unkind arms around a shivering Sussex morning. Trees bobbed and weaved as if to dodge a beating from the savage wind. I peeked out from the warm embrace of my duvet just as Mrs S arrived with two steaming mugs of tea.
'It's not very nice out there' she beamed.

It had been a far more agreeable evening. Antonio of this parish had arrived in Lewes care of Southern Trains and the Devil's Avocado Express, hot-foot from Almería via Gatwick. After a brief tour of the town we visited with Mrs S and the canine clan before heading for the Lewes Arms and a restorative pint of Harvey's. Captain Tom joined us in the convivial public bar, supping ale and watching the Saturday night crowds ebb and flow. After seeing our visitor back to the station I stopped off at the Charky for a late-night feast. I heartily recommend this calorific pre-race schedule; a couple of pints of Harvey's, including the admirable Mother-in-Law, a tasty blend of Old and Bitter, followed up by a well-stuffed donner kebab. Delicious!

Ahh summer. (Mid life Crisis Man)

Well, almost summer anyway. The sun is high, the weather is warm, and the cricket is full tilt. I’m sitting with a nice glass of rather flavoursome Italian montepulciano (made even better by the favourable exchange rate) all the while watching Australia demolish Sri Lanka on the cricket field. Again. Even without the now retired super champions Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, cricket looks too easy for this Aussie side. The first test was won by over an innings, and as I type, Australia have a lead in the second test over Sri Lanka of 382 runs with 9 wickets still in hand. New boy Phil Jacques has made back-to-back tons, Adam Gilchrist has now hit his 100^th test match six, and Mr. Cricket Michael Hussey has maintained his batting average at a Bradman-esque 85. Brett Lee is bowling superbly, as has new ball counterpart Mitchell Johnson. The only concern for Australia is that Andrew Symonds has sprained his ankle, but it barely matters. This two-test series is all but in the bag.

Bliss.

But.

One slight problem. This morning I made a fresh plunger of Lavazza and sat at my kitchen table. From there I am afforded a view of the mountain that dominates this town – Mount Wellington. The top half was shrouded in cloud, so I couldn’t see what I knew was happening, which was the annual Point to Pinnacle 21.4km race up the bugger, which was happening without me. The reason? Lack of training, sore knee, too much booze and sausages – the usual reasons. But I’m not unhappy about it. The truth is that I did train for it, and the training hurt. It hurt to the point where I seriously wondered why I was doing it, and then with relief realised that it wasn’t compulsory. And so I stopped. There’s always next year. Meantime, I am happy with an occasional jog and many long walks. I am fond of long bush walks on the mountain, and the walks and run routes around my new home are short but very pleasant, so it’s a kind of low-impact running nirvana. Never enough to get me up my bloody mountain, but sufficient to keep me happy. And I am.

And never better because Ponting is batting and the lead is up over 400, with 9 wickets still in hand.

And after the soft Italian red, there’s a nice bottle of Balvenie Doublewood single malt to prolong the enjoyment.

Life is very tolerable.

Joint Statement. (Andy)

The problem is not having nothing to write about, but having far too much. So many majestic horses having bolted, why bother to contain the few that are left behind?

Which reminds me. Did I dream it, or did I once hear some speaker somewhere say: “It’s no good bolting the stable door after the horse has…. er, itself bolted…” Maybe I’ve blocked out the metadata in sympathy.

Hands Across The Oceans

How on Earth did they do it?

Those pioneers of engineering, the visionaries, the get-out-and-do-it merchants who took wild dreams and made them reality?

I can't imagine what effort of will it must have taken to carve a shipping lane through the corridor of the Americas, but here it was before me; the Panama Canal, a causeway for modern intercontinental transportation, playground of the steel leviathans of intermodular shipping.

Rainforest

Ladies and Gentlemen I have found true running heaven.

It lies a mere 1.5 miles from my hotel, a dull plod through rain-washed streets and a dangerous dash across several lanes of untended motorway. No need for i-pods here my friends; the forest calls you with its myriad of native tongues; whoops, screams, cackles, cries, tweets and twitters, the lazy splash of heavy raindrops onto giant leaves, the rustle of the canopy as its inhabitants join the 'rush hour' high above.

Panama Jack

Independence Day, Panama style.
Streets stuffed with marching bands, majorettes in gleaming white, row upon spotless row of naval ratings, brass and shoes perfectly polished to sparkle in the fierce morning sun. Air laden with humidity causes the ubiquitous palms to bow respectfully.

In the midst of all this a lone figure plods, i-pod strapped to his ears, G&T/ Mojito sweat flooding his vest and staining his shorts. His face is a violent red, his tread weary, impossibly heavy, a lumbering, stumbling wreck of a man. This man is an Englishman. He is trying to excise the spirit-deamons from his gin-soaked, sleep-deprived, travel-tortured soul.

Ironman

Here the nice history of a heroical MLCM compatriot.

An Australian boy used to do the Australian Ironman. His most big illusion was to take part in this challenge with his own son.  Finally, his wife gets pregnant, but unfortunately, the child was born with brain paralysis… This was not an obstacle for this man, who continuously was training hard. When he was 60 years old he was ready and he booked two places at the Ironman: for him-self and his son.

As you know the Ironman proofs are extremely strong:

1.- 4 Kms swimming in the cold and early morning

2.- 180 Kms cycling on montains

3.- One full Marathon

World champions have arrived to finish this race in 8 hours and 15 minutes, but a very trained normal person takes at least 12 hours…

This man took almost 17 hours. Circuits should be closed, but in this case, they remained open until the night… The video made me cry…

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=rPLCaAu_H2U

Beachy Head Marathon - 27th October

Having just read Sweder's humorous account of getting out after a non-running month, I thought I must post my Marathon journey before the fragile memories become too distant in the ether.

My month contrary to my good friend has been one of the most hectic of the year.

3 races; Lewes Downland 10 - an able, reasonably strong 81 mins, Jog shop Jog - a lethargic 3:07 and now Beachy Head a reasonable 4:18 – 20 miles of good, solid running – but as always a tough battle with the Seven Sister’s cliffs into Birling Gap and the trail in over the country park covering the last six miles .