The Challenge of Another Ultra Event

V E T R U N N E R New Editorial Email address: [email protected] Volume 24 Issue 6 — November, 2003 200 Runs. The October Lake Ginninderra Monthly Run/walking Handicaps was a great day for the O’Neill family with Greg taking part in his 200th race. He is seen here with his two daughters, Kerry on his right and Maria on the left. Jenny Walton’s Handicap Report and details starts on Page 13. THE CHALLENGE OF ANOTHER ULTRA EVENT CARLOL BAIRD took part in this hour option for the tenth time in the five runs of the Frylink Series – did I have a year’s Gold Coast 24/48 Hour years I have been competing in ultras. chance? Championships. Here she relates The last nine occasions I have I drew up a training schedule, as I and how she went. entered these types of events as a always do before any of my ultra events, walker, but this time it was with the allowing myself nine weeks to prepare. I have always wanted to run the intention to run. Having proven myself My first run was around the West Vet’s half marathon and I thought this over the distance as a walker in 24-hour Basin of Lake Burley Griffin. Not good year it was going to happen. Too many events (PB of 182km) I reckoned that if I’m afraid, I had to stop and rest/walk at times I have had excuses because 24- I trained to run a fraction faster than least three times. However, moving on hour events seemed to loom at about the my walking pace, perhaps I could do a into five weeks of my training I found I same time. This year it was the same 24-hour run. had eased into running a comfortable excuse. I knew it was going to be a challenge six minute kilometre pace and was now I had entered, for the first time, the as I had never run much further than backing up two days together covering Gold Coast 24/48 Hour Championship two attempts at 10km during track over three hours running on each day. (August 22/23, 2003), selecting the 24- seasons and I only compete in the short (Continued on Page 4) Page 2 — November Vetrunner 150 T-shirt group. Above, a group of runners and walkers that have already completed 150 races in the Run/Walking Handicaps. From the left, Greg O’Neill, Su Counsel, Roger Abbott, Jim O’Donnell, John Macleod, Peter Freeman, Trish Thomas, Alan Norden, George Hanzar, John Busteed, Stuart J Reid and Doug Fry. Some of this group have already gone on to pass 200 handicap events. The Thomas Series. Above, the medal winners in the longer race at Lake Ginninderra were, from the left, John Dimitriou bronze , John Macleod gold and Roger Abbott silver. The Frylink Series. Above, the medallists in the shorter run at Lake Ginninderrra were, from the left Roger Stewart bronze, Merv Collins gold and Rosemary Parker silver. The Waddell Series. Right, it was “L:dies Day” in the walking event with the men left floundering in their wake. The medallists were, from the left, Nola De Chazal bronze, Judy Blake gold and Jan Bell silver. November Vetrunner — Page 3 “Throw up.” That was the advice a fee (which we would then build into offered me at last month’s Monthly FROM YOUR the event entrance fee), AA would carry Throwing Handicap. And I really the excess for specific events. These appreciated (and needed!!) it. I need to PRESIDENT might include fun runs and other events throw with a more upward motion. I open to the public eg the half marathon. also need to squat more (‘like you’re on The Club’s Committee discussed this at the toilet’ was the advice from the our monthly meeting and provided AA Club’s Secretary!!) when preparing to with in-principle support. throw the hammer. If you want to get In terms of our regular events such more out of your membership, I strongly as the monthly handicaps (both run/ encourage you to try the full range of walk and throwing) and track and field, club activities. The monthly throwing the conditions within the insurance handicaps are great – excellent policy are such that we need to make all company, knowledgeable and supportive these events ‘members only’. If we have coaches, exciting competition, ‘non-members’ participating (except in outstanding performances (its brilliant the case of people trialling events before watching records being broken!) and joining – and we do allow for 2 trial great cake at the end! And the summer events), we risk nullifying our policy track and field season has just and exposing the club to significant commenced – congratulations to Alice financial risk. At our Committee Scott and the Competition team for A thrower. Prue Bradford has taken up meeting this month, it was agreed that putting together what looks to be an an new task, she may not yet be a top if a person continues to attend events enjoyable and challenging program. Get thrower, but the action looks good. without becoming an ACTVAC member, involved – come along and run, walk, they will not be permitted to participate jump, throw, measure, time, judge, participate safely, achieve your goals in the event. It is decision we would cheer! and HAVE FUN! have preferred not to have had to make, With the Australian Masters Games Of course, insurance has been on the and one we hope we don’t have to rapidly approaching, I have working agenda AGAIN this month, but this enforce – but it is necessary to protect with the YMCAMGAC on arrangements time with a ray of hope. As you would the interests of our club and its for the hire of ACTVAC equipment for recall from last month’s Vetrunner, we members. the Games. We have, I believe, a good have the problem within our current It is with sadness that I report the arrangement in place and my thanks go insurance policy that the club is liable recent passing of Bob Perry, following a to Terry Levings Jayne Hardy, John for a $5,000 excess on each and every long battle with cancer. Bob was a keen Hunt and the Committee for their successful public liability claim made walker and was actively involved with contributions in setting up against us. Following representation by the ACT Race and Fitness Walking arrangements for the hire of equipment. ACTVAC and a number of other Club. I close with a thought: We look at To all who are participating in the athletics bodies covered by the same art from 360 degrees. The only problem Games, either as competitors or policy, Athletics Australia (AA) has is we forget to do that with our lives. volunteers – have a great competition, floated the idea that, for the payment of PRUE ACT VETERANS ATHLETIC CLUB “Fitness Through Fellowship” The Vetrunner is the official Newsletter of ACTVAC Postal Address: GPO Box 2356, Canberra, ACT 2601. Internet at: actvac.com Disclaimer: The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily the views of ACTVAC Patron: Jack Pennington Terry Levings 62824190 (h) Run/Walking Hcps) 62474127 (h). Throwing Handicapper, Weight President: Prue Bradford 62898277 (w). Email: Peter Freeman (Throwing Hcp) Pentathlon: Trish Thomas 62815636 (h) 62778216 (w). [email protected] IT 62887739 (h), 61613635. Email: [email protected] Sub-Committee. Club Marquee: Sharon Gibbins Email: [email protected] Social/Awards Sub-Committee. Chris Mahe 62951440 (h). Email: (details listed in Secretary). Uniform and Badges Sales: Vice President: Geoff Moore [email protected] Course Measurement: Terry Rosemary/Bob Parker 62882508 62544753 (h), 0410544573 (m). Administration Sub-Committee Levings 62824190 (h). (h). Email: [email protected] 62486960 (h) Ken Gowans Maria O’Reilly Equipment Officer: Vetrunner Editor: Jim O’Donnell Membership Services Sub- 62456324 (w). Email: 62881651 (h) 62656751 (w). 62513016 (h) Committee. Coaching and Training [email protected] Health and Safety Officer: Roy Email: [email protected] Sub-Committee. Athletic Events Sub-Committee. Jones 62510148 (h). Secretary: Sharon Gibbins Stuart J Reid 62942368 (h). Public Officer: Chris Mahe Vetrunner Assistant Editor: 62910047 (h). Email: Email: [email protected] (details listed in Committee) Jenny Walton 62310975 (h) sharon.gibbins@ telstra.com Run/Walking Handicap Sub- Relays and Cross Country: Jim Email: [email protected] Treasurer: Clive Beeson Email: Committee. White 62314168 (h). Vetrunner Distribution: Roger [email protected] Finance Other Contacts: Registrar: Mick Corlis 62963969 Abbott 62514051. Jenny Galvin Sub-Committee. Assets register, Annual Awards Sub-Committee, (h) 62750753 (w) 62925294. Insurance. Half Marathon Director. Bryan Email:[email protected] Run/Walking Handicap Sub- Committee: Thomas 61613635 (h). Social Sub-Committee: Val Committee, Vetrunner: Doug Fry Tony Booth 62474116 (h). Email: Email: [email protected] Chesterton 62928994 (h) Jenny 62886439 (h) [email protected] Auditor: Jean Heath 62411249 Galvin 69925294 (h) Monika Short Email:[email protected] Peter James 62887089 (h) (h) 62409343 (w). Email: 62958625 (h). First Aid Officers: Roy Jones, 62142189 (w). Email: Catering/Lost Property: John Statistican and Club Records: Vince Craig, John Ison, Allan [email protected] Athletic Suiter (Track) 62959524 (h). Quentin Anthony 62863885 Email: Morris, Gai Webster, Michelle Events Sub-Committee. Kent and Lynn Williams (Monthly [email protected] Granville and Marlene Reid. Page 4 — November Vetrunner ACT VETERANS THE CHALLENGE OF ANOTHER ULTRA ATHLETIC CLUB (Continued from Page 1) Supported by All along I just kept thinking - 24 hours is a long time and could I really do it? Of course I could walk, and anyway when you can’t run that’s what most runners do in ultra events anyway! Well I’m down to one week to go, due to fly to Brisbane on Thursday morning.

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