Saturday 6 December 2008

Redressing the balance.

Posted by speedygeoff on Saturday, December 06, 2008 with
There are not enough events for runners. We need more certificates, more medals, more fame, more glory. A disproportionate number of trophies go to minority groups. Let's redress the balance and invent a few more events.

1. The Distathlon
I invented this event many years ago as a filler between Christmas and New Year, but it's time to re-introduce it and apply for national recognition! It consists of three races starting on the hour; 1000m, 2000m and 3000m. I cannot remember the exact order. Someone can dream up some official point scores, and voila! More Australian records for the ACT, in every age group!

2. The Sprintathlon.
Five races, and like the Distathlon, invented by moi many years ago and scheduled around the Distathlon timetable, this little beauty consists of 60m, 100m, 200m, 300m and 400m. Again I cannot recall the exact order of events, old Vetrunners will probably have that information, but it was a sensible mix.

3. The Multathlon.
This is a new idea which I have developed for the express purpose of giving Jimmy White a national record certificate, and possible because the Sprintathlon and Distathlon events never over-lap. It is eight races, the combination of the two events above on the one day.

We should also hold relays over every conceivable distance every Sunday morning, and claim even more National wins and records. What are you saying, of course they would be "official"! None of our events are simply "novelty events", surely!

Thursday's spiral 4 at Woden track
1 Tony Booth M70 7:50
4 Mick Horan M45 8:46
6 Helen Larmour W45 7:05
10 Gary Bowen M50 8:03
11 Bronwyn Calver W35 7:03
14 Roger Pilkington M45 6:41
15 Ewen Thompson M50 9:54
21 Rod Lynch M45 6:02
22 Cathy Montalto W55 8:09
24 Jill Pearson W50 8:02
25 Geoff Barker M60 8:38
30 finishers


There was something funny about the handicapping. I should point out that certain "runners" were jogging (or any one of them would have won embarrassingly easily), and another is rumoured to have sprinted only the straights and jogged the bends. One even ran without shoes! All good training. Text colour red always indicates we are talking about speedygeese, here.
Other results tba.

Today's training at Stromlo: Rachelle, Miranda, Ewen and Thea joined me for km intervals. I managed to average 3:43 for mine. I always do better than expected out there, and it doesn't take long to pick up form when training consistently.

More pictures from Innabaanya.












1. titanic struggle
2. some were smiling
3. green shoes were flying. Gary.
4. to some, hills seemed steeper. Amanda.
5. to others, running was not an option
6. no pain, no gain. Katie, Ken

Click to enlarge, it's worth it.
I took all these photos.