The 3% club

I was greatly, greatly touched by all the words of support that came my way after 'that incident' with the bike last weekend (the bike and I still aren't on speaking terms). I am a tad embarrassed both by the incident itself and the attention that came my way later. I had very much wanted the focus of my last entry to be on Maria's wonderful poem and I am very happy that others have appreciated it as much as I do. Stephen that poem of yours, too, is a classic. It blew me away mate and, as I said to you, it will come along for the ride with me to Boston. I can't thank you enough for what you wrote.

I promise to finish this post on a positive note but I have to say that the week since the incident has had its emotional ups and downs. I had a lovely run at the Western Creek Half Marathon today coasting for most of the course and only pushing it a bit over the last few k's for a 1.38 effort. Many of my running buddies set PBs, not least Michelle who finished with a 1.42. She took 13 minutes off her course PB and seven minutes off her own overall half-marathon PB; a tremendous performance.

Unfortunately I could feel my annoying adductor injury through nearly every step of today's half. My right glute also became tight and sore during the run and just for something a little different I had some mysterious knee niggles come and go during the run itself. If that wasn't enough my right foot has started coming down with plantar fasciitis again. Mentally I was also down as last night I received the terrible news that a younger cousin I was close to had died suddenly and tragically in a house fire in Alice Springs.

So my Boston preparations are not ideal. But never, never will I be complaining. One of the most exciting things to ever happen to me will take place in just over a month. I have many blessings with family and friends. On Wednesday night I caught up with the famous Lucky Legs, and fellow bloggers Ewen, Strewth, SpeedyGeoff, Aki, Flashduck and Flashdrake for dinner at Dickson. It was a beaut evening and I enjoyed it a great deal. There is nothing like being in the company of fellow runners. As Strewth said on her blog Lucky Legs looked simply fantastic. Every time I have met LL's her she looks like that. She's a pin up poster girl for our sport if ever there was one. It is dinners like this that make me realise how enormously lucky I am and why I treasure each day.

Just how good I have it was also made clear by my doctor earlier last week when I reported in tired and sore after my bike incident. He did all the usual checks, blood pressure, etc and declared - despite the bruises and abrasions - that I was extremely healthy. He told me I looked ten years younger than my age and had the blood pressure of a young boy. He said I was part of just 3% of the population that didn't smoke, wasn't overweight, and exercised regularly. Wow, does this dude know how to make one feel good or what and I know that I walked out of his surgery walking taller than I went into it. But I thought of you my fellow runners. We all come in different shapes and sizes and different levels of ability. Yet we are actually members of one very elite club - the 3% club!

I am off overseas in South East Asia this week for work. I will try and catch up with my blog reading while I am away as I enjoy blog reading a great deal. As soon as I get the opportunity I will be visiting.