Run/Walk Handicap - 28 February 2016 People in Black at Central Curtin

VETRUNNERY f ISSN 1449-8006 Vol. 37 Issue 9 — April 2016 Patron: Jack Pennington OAM Email: [email protected] Run/Walk Handicap - 28 February 2016 People in Black at Central Curtin Reporter: Martin Butterfield resplendent in a fluoro “Orange Blossom Special” vest While searching for blue suede shoes to accompany the reported that there were no dramas and the day went well. report on last year’s event I noticed a fair bit of orange The people from St Johns had no action on the day - trim around but “Orange Blossom Special” was one of the always good to hear. One of their number got into the few bits of classical music which the King didn’t sing. theme for the day by wearing a black version of duty However it did make me think about a theme for 2016, uniform. which celebrated the work of Johnny Cash, often referred to as the Man in Black. It is likely that the Vets have a bit better gender balance than implied by the word ‘Man’, so while Dr Google was unable to provide anything relevant about “females in black”, this report has adopted the neutral theme of People in Black. The number of people who, when interviewed, could not offer a favourite Johnny Cash song was quite surprising. “Ring of Fire” seemed to be the most recognised. As well as Mr Cash there are a couple of other cultural references to “People in Black”: As is my usual practice, I shall report in the order in - Dale Earnhardt was a very successful NASCAR driver which groups finished, making the short course runners who earned the nickname for his black racing cars. the first to be covered. Speed and Vets go together, no? - The movie series Men in Black (starring Tommy Lee Frylink Series Jones and Will Smith) deals with an agency basically First across the line but with only one qualifying run weeding out the aliens on a fictional Earth. Surely this was Graeme Patrick. One second later was gold medallist is the function of the Age-standard rating (and of Consie Larmour, coming in second on the track, in a net course the Handicapper) with respect to bushrangers, if time of 22:22 and a whisker under 70% WR%. She likes not aliens. the course but was returning from an injury. Other than the recuperation she had just done her regular training including Fran Harris’ group. Keeping the timekeepers very honest, the gap to the third finisher and silver medallist Jill Pearson was also only one second. Jill was very surprised at the result as she had thought she was on duty and had just gone for a relaxed run. She’d done her regular training including the Park Run, three swimming sessions and some cycling. Her background is sprinting, so a flat course is better. The fifth runner to finish - after a relatively huge gap of 30 seconds - was Jon Donovan, who was awarded the bronze medal. He was surprised to get a medal but as it was his 100th run he had pushed a little harder. He has Jamie & Theresa McGregor Sue Counsel run three marathons and also rates an ascent of Mt I’ve included a few images of attendees in black. The Kilimanjaro as a notable sporting achievement. award for Best Dressed goes to Jamie and Theresa Fastest competitor (ie the Dale Earnhardt class) on this Macgregor, as a couple who both dressed in black course was Katie Forestier with a time of 13:27 at a rate of (although there was discussion whether part of their 4:29/km. The highest WR% was Gwen Gleeson who, for the costume was actually dark blue). Sue Counsel was third event in a row, achieved a rating of over 100%! [See definitely Back in Black, explaining that she usually wore article by Kent Williams and Alan Duus, p. 9]. Definitely one of her (many) Vets milestone t-shirts, but the black an out of this world performance that would get Will marathon item came to hand first this day. Smith and Tommy Lee Jones excited! The venue was in the usual good order for this course as was the weather. Several of the medallists rated the latter as “Excellent”. Event Manager John Kennedy, (Continued page 2) Page 2 — April 2016 Vetrunner Waddell Series Jacqueline Millard came in 9th across the line, but those I am unsure if most people did Walk the Line (indeed for between Steve and her were all ineligible for one reason or at least most of the course there wasn’t a line to walk), but another, so she scored the silver medal with a net time of that song was the nominated favourite of the first home and 38:52. She was very surprised by this but, when informed gold medallist Shé Hawke. She arrived in 23:18 with a of her placing, was rather excited as it was her birthday, so WR% of 60.9. She was hopeful that she would do well as this is an extra present. She has just retired and thus has she likes the course and the weather was lovely. She had time to join a gym; she thinks this contributed to her feeling done her regular training and the track work. strong in the event. Second walker home, 10 seconds later, was Merv Twenty-three seconds after Jacqueline was Angel Collins, who won the silver medal. In some comments Marina, gaining a bronze medal in a net time of 32:50. He during the presentation Bryan Thomas drew participants’ was also surprised about his medal as he was coming off an attention to Merv having celebrated his 90th birthday injury. He had only done regular training. His sporting during the week. He had then beaten a number of M90 age background was in Rugby League, having played 100 group records at the last track meeting, so it was good to games with the Raiders. see the form continue to the bike path, with a creditable Bruce Graham scored both the fastest net time of the WR% of 72.6 – which he is more interested in than placings day (22:30) for this course and the highest WR% for the - from a time of 29:28. Merv explained that he fell last year long course at 88.4. and damaged his shoulder, so switched to walking. He has improved since making the switch (lengthening his stride We have got the numbers has been a major benefit) and was hoping to come first but At least we have the numbers of competitors broken had to settle for second. He emphasised that he was down by age and sex. I have kept the age groups used last improving, not bushranging, which he gave up many years year to enable comparisons without too much work. ago. Michelle Hillard came in third across the line on her Age group 2016 2015 2014 second qualifying event, so fourth home was enough for male female total total total Tony Fenotti to be bronze medallist. He was surprised to 65+ 48 30 78 84 84 get a medal as he had had a plan to just walk his own race 60 13 10 23 37 29 and not worry about others. He’d just done his usual 50,55 14 16 30 31 38 training and rated the weather as ‘beautiful’. 40,45 3 4 7 12 15 The best net time (21:28) was by Colin Simpson while 30, 35 0 2 2 2 5 the best WR% was - almost inevitably - John Suiter with a Total 78 62 140 166 171 rating of 90.2%. For 2016 55% of competitors were male while the Thomas Series equivalent proportion for 2015 was 60%. This shows First across the line was Ian McDonald, who was getting closer to the sex distribution of the population as a recovering from injury so had set off with Group 1. Your whole. However, the age distribution is moving away from ‘umble scribe also started many groups early in #1 so as to the overall population with 56% in the 65+ category be able to do some in-depth nattering towards this report, compared with 51% in 2015 and 49% in 2014. but lost sight of Ian after about 300m! Des Butler also took Possibly the most significant change is the drop of about an early minute so as to be able to work in the results tent 18% in overall numbers compared to the previous two and thus came in third. years. Were the missing folk all in the Colour Run (entry That meant that Steve Appleby, coming in 4th across the fee a staggering $65 for 5km) which was held at the same line at a net time of 28:58, was the gold medallist. Checking time? It seems unlikely as the target demographic of the the pointscore outcome for last year, Steve won gold twice Colour Run is below the Vets qualifying age, and most in that period: ultra running on the Birdsville Track must participants do it to get polychromatic snaps for their be good for you. He was surprised by his result in this Facebook pages rather than to improve their health and event, expecting to be a bit tired after a 43km run – with fitness. 1600m uphill – at Googong the previous day, but actually felt wonderful. More handicap photos and news at page 18. Mick Corlis and the ACTVAC Website The ACTVAC Committee and all ACTVAC members are has done way beyond what might be grateful to Mick Corlis for spending many, many hours expected from an ACTVAC member, fixing up the club website.

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