ACT Vets Half Marathon

I escaped my daughter's birthday party sleep-over and six screaming ten-year olds to run the ACT Vets half marathon today.

I had a really strong run and was again helped by Pollyanna, the little birdie at my ear who helped me during the City to Surf two weeks ago. More on my feathered friend later.

There were some sensational runs today and I was totally in awe at what many runners achieved. Special congratulations must go to several friends from my Saturday group. Emma (W35 1.42), Linda (W50 1.54), Marg (W55 1.55) and Norma (W65 2.07) were all age group medalists - simply fantastic runs by all of them.

Elle - one of my running buddies - just missed out on a medal, coming fourth in her age group (W35 1.46). It was an excellent run by her and I know she was very happy with it. The Spirit of Camelot came to the fore again when she said she dedicated the run to our our much beloved friend, the still hospitalised PRB.

I want to say something about today's volunteers. We all know that we owe them so much. But the volunteers who come to the Vets events are just something else. Before the race I went over and had a chat to one or two and loved their infectious enthusiasm for lending a hand. All of them out on the course, without exception, were helpful, friendly and supportive. Leah, one volunteer and a fantastic runner herself, I know you were champing at the bit to be running today but your legs will thank you for the rest.

It was wonderul at last to meet Flashduck (simply an amazing woman and runner) and great as always to catch up with Speedy Geoff and Griffin.

As for me, I was pleased with how I ran. I felt strong and stuck to my race plan of not going out too fast or too slow. A special thank you to Paul who I met for the first time during the last few k's of the race. Paul and I had a great duel, racing shoulder to shoulder when the going was getting real tough. Inside the last km I moved ahead thinking I had put him behind only to have Paul come back to my shoulder with 75 metres to run. It was then a sprint finish for the both of us, with each trying to outdo the other. We dead-heated, with the clock reading 1.30.55. I was amazed when I found out Paul was in the M55 category. A sensational run by you mate, a great guy.

I was just a tad disappointed not to go sub-90 but 1.30 was easily my fastest half of the four I've done this year and my fourth fastest overall out of nine completed half marathons. It was that little bird Pollyanna who I have to thank for this. Paul was pushing me hard at one shoulder. There was Pollyanna at the other telling me to dig deep when I didn't think I could possibly dig anymore.

Pollyanna and I had a chat after the race and my wise little friend told me about the great coincidences of life. Seemingly out of nowhere you can meet someone new who can infuse you with positive energy, making you a better person. There were many "coincidences" there today at the Vets half. So many runners and friends bringing their own unique gifts to the day - their enthusiasm, their determination, their smiles, their quest to drive themselves a little further. Many had their own Pollyannas to carry them through. That's what makes the day such a special one; a Spirit of Pollyanna day if ever there was one.

Camelot

Don't let it be forgot,
That once there was a spot,
For one brief, shining moment that was known as Camelot

Yes, I know. I'm smitten with my Saturday running group. I won't deny it. The group reminds me of Camelot. They are an idealised world of chivilry and grace, good times, mugachinos, raisin toast, and grand gallops across the woods and hills of the nation's capital. All the ingredients are there. There's Arthurette and Merlin and all those Dames and Knights of the Runners Round Table (I'd like to think I'm the Court's Poet Laurette, but given the exalted company I'm happy to settle with being the Village Idiot!).

After today's run we celebrated the birthday of Arthurette (Maria) herself. That's her at left. She's the one who established this most brilliant of courts. There's three candles on her cake. That's one for each thousand of years she has been with us. It's befitting this figure of legend and myth who just always seems to be there; this apparition who arises each Saturday from the mists of time. We love you Maria...er...Arthurette. You're our Merlin (ette), our wizard(ette), the glue (ette) that holds us all together. Happy Birthday.

Then there's PRB, one of the bold Knights of the Runners Round Table. That's him at right. Just last Sunday he was with us at the City to Surf. He had a great run, finishing around the 80 minute mark. On the very next day back in Canberra he underwent major surgery for a very serious condition. Despite what he had been through he looked fantastic when I visited him after today's run, still in Camelot's hospital. To all those who know him, PRB is one special person. But it was Queen Flashduck who caught his personality so well with her great epithet for him, "PRB" or Perfect Running Buddy. Indeed.

You're a cherished knight from Camelot, PRB. We miss you. Get well soon. The running woods beckon.

Then read below (extracted from her blog), QueenAki's beautiful words about both Queen Flashduck and Sir PRB:

I find it rather strange that there are all of these fully capable runners out there, yet two people who are the most bravest and strongest runners they are, who have such a great level of determination and inner strength, who are battling serious illnesses, and run despite all odds being against them just happen to be my two greatest friends and support crew with running.

They don't run because they'll make the olympics. They don't run because of pbs. They run as an act of defiance against nature and a test of their self belief, but most of all, they get out there, even if it is just to hold the clock some days, because they love it.

Aki you have brought a tear to this Knight's eye.

Such is the spirit of Camelot.

The Mad Hatters' Tea Party

Today’s City to Surf, my third, reminded me of the Mad Hatters’ Tea Party from Alice in Wonderland. There were enough mad hats on display for a start (as at left). But is was such a great day, a fantastic day, that I could just imagine the Mad Hatter saying to the March Hare: A very merry unbirthday to us! .. The day mightn’t be any special anniversary of sorts. But to those who ran and walked it was special just the same and worthy of a birthday party.

There’s something incredibly seductive sucking in the collective energy of over 60,000 kindred spirits. James Redfield in his Celestine Prophecy talks about how we can become more complete people by drawing in the positive energy from those around us.

I certainly felt like that today. I had a ball. The weather was stupendous; all of us were excited and happy just to be there to participate in one of the world’s great community events.

I stopped the clock at 59.37 and was ecstatic to come in under the hour. When I saw the finishing chute come up ahead and I knew I had beaten sixty minutes, I punched the air and did a little two step. It wasn’t a PB but that didn’t matter. I was just stoked to really run strongly and tackle the hills aggressively. And truth be known I had some help. Throughout the race I could hear this little birdie at my ear, whispering encouragement. Pollyanna we’ll call her.

Being from Canberra, I really noticed the heat. Just after the 6k marker and approaching the bottom of Heart Break Hill I was starting to fatigue. But Pollyanna said: “You can do it - I'm sending some positive energy your way - you love hills so run ‘em hard”. So true I thought to myself, so true. So I pushed on. Again feeling hot and under pressure with those pesky hills between the 10 to 12 k markers I can hear my special friend saying, “…come on you can do it, you’ll be through the hills soon and then it’s all down hill”. “Yo, I can do it…on, on.on…”

Then finally, when I hit Campbell Parade I was really feeling the pain. My chest was burning, my legs were killing me, and I was sick in the stomach. Then I whiffed some wretched cooking smells from nearby bbq's. I felt like puking. “I’m a goner”, I thought, only to have Ms Pollyanna say “you’re running like a rubber ducky. Come on, you’re almost there.” Somehow, out of nowhere I got up a sprint for the last 300 hundred metres. I stormed home, forever grateful to my sweet voiced friend.

I caught up with so many friends and Cool Runners on this gorgeous day. PRB, Bernie, Elle, James, Jane, Greg, Leah (great PB), Aki, Marg, Wombat Face, Jim, John Rawlings, BlkBox (great to meet you mate), Tesso and Miners (pictured at left), Gronk, Ellie80, Strewth, CJ, Shelly, Sekhmet (telepathically), Unidentified friendly lady at the Hash tent, Unidentified friendly guy who’s ran every C2S I chatted to at the start, and to all my other friends who were there in spirit if not in person – thank you so much for this special day. With so many unpleasant things happening in this world, all of us did our bit today to make the world a better place.

It was our very own Mad Hatters’ Tea Party.

"Bless me father...."

"Bless me father, for I have sinned. It has been three fun runs and two marathons since my last confession, father, and these are my sins...."

A mea culpa follows, but first of all some pride before the fall. My Saturday group did another great run today of about 16-17k's over familiar terrain in the Fadden-Wanniassa-Isaacs area. That's Leah, Ann and Maria (right) on a high(!) having reached the top of Mt Wanniassa leaving behind the magnificance of the Tuggeranong Valley. Simply a bootiful morning!

After the run we celebrated the birthday of Marg (left) today, one of our much loved members. Happy birthday, Marg! I know you had a great day yesterday with your family and friends. Your running friends today cherished the opportunity to share in it too.

Now for the Mea Culpa. My name's not Mel Gibson and I didn't get caught drink-driving on a Los Angeles highway. But I am guilty of a crime so wicked, so heinous, so dastardedly awful that a public lynching seems the only appropriate recompense. Yes, my friends, I am guilty of....

....failing to mention my friends on my blog. Really, I am very embarrassed by this.

It occurred during my last post when I listed those I had met during last week's Bush Marathon festival. I try to personalise my blog entries by mentioning names, but that does mean I run the risk of forgetting to mention some people. Which I did.

So to Marian (right above) and Kevin (left, below), especially, I am sorry. I will stress that neither made a fuss about this. Father, bless their angelic souls!

It's just that I've seen the Da Vinci Code and I'm heavily into self-flagellation and enjoy its liberating effects. In fact, I will probably employ the whip when I battle with Heart Break Hill during next week's City to Surf in Sydney.

"...so father I am guilty as convicted...and I'm happy to now go and run three marathons barefoot for my penance. Thank you, father......God bless you my son."

PS. To my Saturday friends - more photos to come with next post.
PSS. My foot doesn't seem to have suffered anything too serious from last week's run (previous post refers); just a few lingering little creaks and groans now and then.