Saturday long run
It didn't take much to get going this morning - as I have lots to do today and I really wanted to get a run in early. 7:30am I was out the door and I was nearly blown over by the wind! It was gusty and was head on for the first half. I decided to run the exposed coastal trail which winds its way along the cliff tops and as the weather this morning was so different (windy and cloudy) from the stuff I have been normally running in (still and clear). Its great to see the bay in bad weather lots of froth and chop and birds beating hard to make headway against mother nature's breath. The moon was going down but was as clear as anything inbetween the low cloud and has now reduced its visible self to about 2/3rds (very clever - wish I could do that sometimes). Sometimes I wish I could carry a camera while running.
I decided to run into the wind for the first 50mins and then came back through the boring streets of suburbia which although they were out of the wind they were equally unispiring. I need to be close to nature on my runs long runs - it makes me feel at peace and a part of something. Coming back was a big drudge and very draining. My legs felt heavier and I hate having to constantly watch for traffic, curbs, driveways etc etc. Once I got back onto the track through the golf cources I lifted again and found myself surrounded with happy thoughts.
Shin pain = 1/5, Time = 1hr 52, Distance = 17kms, Ave heart = 160
posted by Wobbly man @ 9:39 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
brrrrrr. I'm cold just reading it! Thanks for your speedy thoughts this morning.
Very cold here too; 9.5C with an even colder & nastier wind. A good run, Wobbly, in spite of the weather.
The difference between here & GC at the same time of year is a terrifying thought! I can't stand a load of clothes on while running (if you can call it that!)so I'll just have to talk myself into believing it's not hot up there.
I know there's nothing wrong with finishing with the last runners. I'm just not getting used to it happening! So I'm going to try, Wobbly, because I truly believe that if I work at it, I'll be able to go faster!
You wondered in a comment on my blog "why anyone would want to stay awake to watch a soccer match".
I am a bit of a football tragic. In fact for most sports. Sport can throw up the most amazing contests played out by real people. The ultimate reality TV. The higher the level of sport, the greater the skills and rewards and the greater the down side consequences for not winning and therefor the greater theatre.
Last week was an amazing example of this for me. I am Brisbane Lions (AFL) member so go to all the home games. Last weekend, it was a nail biting game against Richmond. The game itself was scrappy but the closeness of the scores made it tense and thrilling. In the end Richmond got the winning goal close to full time when the young gun Natahn Brown (sadly badly injured yesterday)jumped upon the mistake of the ageing King of the Pride Micheal Voss. A changing of the guard before your eyes.
On Wednesday, it was State of Origin in the Rugby League. I know you are from Vic, but in Qld this is serious stuff. This is the ultimate level of Rugby League. The best standard in the world. (A very small world I admit). Qld dominated through the brute strenth of their forwards early and got to a 19-0 lead just after half time. Can NSW respond? Yes, they claw their way back on a wave of momentum to get their nose in front 20-19. Qld hang on desparetly till they sneek over a wobbly field goal to even the scores just before full time and send the game into extra time. The game is decided four minutes later when the NSW half back makes a decision to throw a risky pass that if it hits the mark gives NSW the match. A Qld defender makes a risky choice to try to intercept the risky pass and exposes a hole in his defence. The Queenslander snatches the pass and races to the try line to win the game. A moment of high drama.
On Thursday morning, The final of the European Champions League. This is a competition that starts out with the top 32 "soccer" club sides from over Europe. All the very best players from all over the world play in these clubs. It is truely the "World" game and this is just below the World Cup in significance. The League progresses over many months till it comes down to the two last clubs. Against all odds, with a massive injury list and contrary to a relatively poor season in their domestic competition Liverpool have made it to the final beating both the English Premier League winners Chelsea and Italian Premiers Juventus on the way. Australia's greatest ever footballer Harry Kewell is playing for them. Their opponent AC Milan have a star studded team noted for their defence and Striker Russian Shevchenko. The first half of the game is a white wash. AC Milan score three goals and could of easily scored three more. The game is over, AC Milan are reknowned for not giving up a lead and certainly not a 3-0 lead.
Carried on the back of Steven Gerrard, their inspirational and defiant captain, Liverpool somehow recovered with three incredible goals in six breathtaking minutes.
It was simply unbelievable.
The AC Milan coach called it "six minutes of madness".
But they were not finished there, with the Liverpool goalie producing two amazing late saves in extra-time before denying both Andrea Pirlo and Andriy Shevchenko amid the drama of a penalty shoot-out. It will go down as one of the most memorable matches in European's Finals history.
And that is why I stay up to watch it and other sporting events. Any of these games could have been dull or one-sided and your time would have been better off spent doing something else. But when the very best are pitted against each other that is rarely the case. And you don't want to read about it the next day in the paper.
Whoo I've seemed to have prattled on way too long here. Just as you say "what ever turns you on".
By the way, is that Roy Rogers (in your case) with the Happy Trials reference or am I once again showing my age?
PS Good to hear things are going well with your eyes. My greatest fear is losing my hearing.
I love the way you write about the scenery of your runs. My Sunday afternoon (long) runs are always on a trail that runs around Sydney Harbour past Taronga Zoo - I can't imagine doing a long run around suburbia. Love the fact you have a 'shin pain' rating on your blog - might have to start doing one too !
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