SYDNEY STRIDERS ROAD RUNNERS’ CLUB AUSTRALIA
FEB APR 08
About the Blister Quarterly journal of Sydney striders Road Runner’s Club, Inc. (Founded 1980). PO Box R1227, Royal Exchange, Sydney NSW 1225, Australia. Opinions publishd in this journal, whether expressed by members or non-member, do not neccessarily represent the official policy of the club. Advertising rate: $100 per edition, per page ½ page $50, ¼ page $25. Classifieds: $5 per edition, full year$20. Circulation approx 600
Copy Preferences How many words? As a guide, 1300 words anda picture makes 2 pages. Smaller items and letters are most welcome How to send? Email to [email protected] Write in a Word document and send as an attachment to your email Font: Cambria 10pt Photos: If posting, it’s best not to send your only copy. Send as a separate jpg file when emailing your stories
INSIDE ISSUE NO 104:
Cool Canberra cops Guzz gives gutsy go at top fielded ‘thon capital quest from core club quickies Face the formidable Bruce Fordyce, fans Scary! Three of our members top-placed in the Canberra Blind Dave leads the Marathon. How must other way in 7 marathons clubs feel! David Criniti was second this year after placing third last year, and about a Steely Iron Men and minute faster. their tough tales Andrew Tuckey, one of our athletics team members and
Lisa learns to love a front runner in our 10k the Six Foot Track series, was not far behind in third place overall, Find afoot, top free training groups The incomparable Jenny Wickham thought she hadn’t gone too well on the rd day but was, nevertheless, not far behind the lead females in 3 position. It was raining and cold; difficult conditions for the runners further back in the And more.... field, with some suffering hypothermia. Details: see MTG report within > BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008
Club Phone Contacts
President Jim Moody 0411 258 589 Vice President Brian Ogilvy 0410 694 875 Secretary Ross McCarty 0403 557 127 Blister Printing Blister Contributions to: Paper Tiger Printing [email protected] Treasurer At Chippendale Or Striders PO Box Charles King 9816 5593 Web & Database Manager Acknowledgements Craig Dunn 9380 4583 Rick Collins, Carol Taylor (Ron Daly story) Andrew Smith (Archives) Jim Results Manager Moody, Tony Fattorini (pictures, articles) Karen Canfell (article) Chris Graham 0419 162 538 . A l l y e h e a r !!! A l l h e a r y e !!! . Blister Editor Dennis Wylie 0404 898 661 Athletics NSW Winter season is upon us. 10k Series Director Barbara Becker 0402 967 697 This means that all Striders wanting to run in upcoming events for Athletics 10k Timing & Results James Moody 0411 258 589 NSW Winter or Summer seasons should be registered soon. Adam Moody 0410 766 5866 Striders have been very competitive over the past few years against other 6 Foot Track Manager TBA clubs such as Randwick Botany Harriers, St. George and Sutherland, in both 6 Foot Track Run Manager the Open Age, Senior Age categories (35+, 45+ 55+), and more recently the James Moody 0411 258 589 Junior categories have also placed well. It is imperative that we keep this tradition going. Super Series John Van Yzendorn 9874 6927 The process is that the club will subsidize runners willing to participate in 3 ANSW Liaison Athletics NSW events in "each" season (e.g. 3 for Winter - see list below, 3 Glenn Guzzo 0407 453 649 Anna White 0407 893 579 for Summer)
MTG Co-ordinator Senior Male runners please contact Glenn Guzzo "[email protected]" Phil Skurrie 0411 066 348 or 0407 453 649 to be a part of the action, as he is co-ordinating the STaR Maps Registrations for Men. Tony Keller 0409 463 861 Senior Female runners please contact Anna White Uniforms Managers "[email protected]" or Phone 9417 7390, for Women's Darren & Karin Kaehne Registrations. 0417 109 565 For Junior runners please contact Caroline Yarnell. "[email protected]" Social Functions for Junior Registrations. Chris Truscott 0402 464 047 TBA The timetable of events available for Subsidy: Internal Events Sunday 20 April NSW Mountain Running Championships Wollongong Fran Boorer 0421 985 328 Saturday 26 April Novice Cross Country Championships Scarborough Park Saturday 3 May NSW Road Championships Sydney Olympic Park Volunteer Co-ordinator Sunday 18 May NSW Half Marathon Championships Sydney Half Marathon Liz Woodhams 0412 396 881 Saturday 31 May NSW Cross Country Relays Miranda Park New Members’ Liaison Saturday 21 June NSW Cross Country Championships Nowra Pauline Evans 0400 392 976 Saturday 19 July NSW Short Course Cross Country Championships Western Calendar Sydney Regional Park Rob Chalmers 0410 933 140 Saturday 2 August NSW Road Relays Wollongong Mailout Manager Saturday 23 August Australian Cross Country Championships (TBC) Tina Campbell 0488 774 744 Melbourne Sunday 21 September NSW & Australian (TBC) Marathon Championships Sergeant-at-arms Sydney Wayne Gregory 0439 895 709 Glenn Guzzo
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BLISTER NO 104 FEB - APR 2008
By STEPHEN JACKSON Marathon des S ables 2008 7 Days, 6 Stages, totalling 245.3km of self supported running through the Sahara Desert in temperatures ranging from 5C overnight to 55C in the afternoon. Just another walk in the (hot dry sandy) park really!
popular Pre Race urban myth The 800 strong field A has it that the dribbled into the race Inuit Indians of headquarters in Northern Canada Ouarzazate (OZZ), in have over 100 words western Morocco in to describe different the few days before types of snow. I am the event. Once sure that the there, we were Bedouins of the shipped by bus about Sahara have over 200km to the north 100 words to east to the edge of describe varieties of the Sahara at Erg sand - and we Chebbi where the experienced every admin day was spent one of those 100 tidying packs and varieties. This race, At the start, Stephen looks over the heads of other runners towards food, passing muster billed as the toughest the sand hills that he confidently knows to be a mere mirage. with the officials and footrace on earth their multitude of (open to argument), has been around for 23 years rules, and getting the OK from the medical team now, and typically has had one or two Australians collectively known as Doc Trotters. This year saw entering each year. For some unknown reason, 2008 particular attention paid to the medical side of things was, dare I say, the Aussie Assault, with 21 Australians as a runner had died last year during the event. facing the dunes on Day 1. Only two Striders, Steve Urwin and Phil Hugill, have competed and completed We arrived at the first bivouac late in the day and I before my participation this year. noticed a range of hills to the east of the camp. The desert must be beyond those hills, I thought. The next Preparation morning, with the sun glinting off them, I realised that I entered the race in May, 2007, which gave me nearly the range of hills was indeed the largest sand dunes in a year to get organised. I quickly got in touch with the Western Sahara, and on the morrow we were to Steve and Phil, and sought out the various ‘net forums start the race straight into them with the first 14k of where the race is dissected in every facet and detail by the opening 32k stage being dunes – big soft ones. veterans and those planning to compete this year, next year, and even 2 or 3 years hence. The popularity of We had two nights under canvas before the start, and this event sees waitlists in place for 2011 in some were rudely awaken at 6:00am, on the morning of regions of the world. Stage 1, by the Bedouins descending on the camp to remove the tents, regardless of the temperature, sand Spreadsheets and calorie counting became the order storm blowing, or personal state of unreadiness, for of the day, with the weight of every piece of equipment shipping to the next bivouac. and calories per gram of food blighting our every shopping trip. My lovely wife, Megan, had to put up The stages were all over a mix of soft sand, dunes, mud with finding socks and suspicious white powders, plus flats, salt pans, and kilometres of flat featureless, but all manner of other MdS items in the kitchen scales on incredibly rocky, plains. Only the last 1600m was a regular basis. tarmac. The stage distances were: Day 1 – 31.6k Day 2 – 38.0k The rules of the race include a loaded pack weighing Day 3 – 40.5k between 6.5kg and 15kg before water, 2,000 Calories Day 4 – 75.5k per day in food, a collection of compulsory items such Day 5 – rest (?!?) as a compass and a snake venom pump, and a Day 6 – 42.2k somewhat warped sense of adventure. Day 7 – 17.5k 3
BLISTER NO 104 FEB - APR 2008
Day one stage I still had food left over, so a bit of culling and Started warm, got warmer, and tapered off to just rearranging for the next few days saw another 750gms plain hot. The first 14k were dunes, then a mix of slashed from the pack. 5½ hours today, and back in climbs on mud and salt flats and, just to add insult to 210th place, but again quite comfortable and pleased. injury, a couple km of more dunes. I started Routine, routine, routine, and lots of piccies. Around conservatively, really not knowing how the 8pm the emails are delivered to the tents and I am the combination of heat, sand, soft surfaces, and over 10kg envy of the tent with a pageful of messages. Hugely on my back would affect my 10k style. I finished in appreciated and very supportive; a great way to fall just under 5 hours and pretty pleased with the outing. asleep, with a grin on your face! Blisters today – No blisters to speak of, no chafing, quite sore obviously didn’t rinse out the socks well enough last shoulders, but all in all, pretty good. It turned out that night, so a serious rinse tonight, and the plan is to pack my tent was one of the best performed, with Aussies the toes with Hydropel, sort of Bodyglide in a tube, Damon Goerke in 16th overall, Andrew Cohen leading which I had avoided so far, fearing sand + lube = the 50+ males, Fleur Grose 6th in the open womens’, severe blisters. However, I was conveniently wrong. American Morgan Murri 50th overall, and Canadian The layers of gaiters, shoes, outer, then inner socks Mary, Tennessee Andrew, and me being happily only let through a fine talc like dust powder, so no ensconced in the pack. problems at all there. Blister problem solved for the remainder of the race! Routine at the camp settled in pretty quickly, with rehydration and evening meals cooked in the sun – no One of the sponsors bought along a hot air balloon, cooking equipment here, it weighed too much – and quite surreal in the desert, but the shade provided was blister treatment being the priority. Then a visit to the much appreciated. Wild camels on course along with email tent – 1,000 chars and 15 minutes to one email small lizards and the odd small, what is probably the address, followed by socialising the days’ run with the legendary, camel spiders (hazardous to human other nearby tents which had a smattering of Poms, health). Aussies, ex Strider Jim Villiers in the Swiss tent, Septics, and Canadians. Speaking of Septics, the loos Day 3 were classic pits dug into the flat plain one hundred 70k so far, 40k today, and 75 tomorrow. Nothing like metres or so from the camp. Actually, not too bad as more than 6 STARs in 4 days to get your attention. even flies were rare out in the desert. From my blog After some serious up and down, and much rocks and “Magnificent views, classic Sahara, but those dunes will soft dirty sand, we entered dunes again at about 22k. haunt me for a while. No blisters, but my left shoe has At the start we were issued with the “Road Book”, a bit thrown a gaiter, so it may get ugly later on.” It didn’t as of a misnomer as there are no roads, but a map book I managed to scavenge a needle and thread to repair with distances, bearings, and descriptions of the the gaiter, and isn’t gaffer tape a wonderful invention? course. The bearing given at this point was 288, but all the footsteps went off at Day 2 about 250, so me being me, I Dawned with a sand storm charged off into the dunes on which had buried most of us the correct bearing and spent in a decent layer of gritty the next hour totally alone in sand, and collapsed a number a sea of dunes. I came across of tents – perhaps the best camels and their Berber who ones to be in as sand could pointed me in the direction I not blow under the fallen was going, and up and over tarps. Reports came through One small step for man.....followed by many more the next dune was the that Day One peaked at 46C checkpoint. Ok, so I came at it but only 15% humidity. It didn’t feel that bad. Today from the wrong side, but hey, it was great! I finished is to be warmer, once the wind stops. Breakfast was the stage very strongly, with a slightly lighter pack – crunchy, and sun screen scratchy, drinks had powders we are dropping about 750gms a day with food laced with sand mixed, and we all huddled behind consumed – or perhaps it was the off course each other to escape the cutting cold wind blown sand. excitement. Dunno, but it worked. Felt great, and still no real pain. Yet another surreal moment was Off at 9:15am for 38k. 42C at 8am and a gentle tail discovering that the timing was being done by DAG, wind. Could be bad news for some today. Reality the same outfit that supplied the Striders timing bites, but I am pleased to say that there is no soreness system. Being swiped by the paddle was totally out of from yesterday. I am a little tired, but no pain which is context, but as the results came out incorrectly, all was marvellous. Today’s plan is for active recovery – again right with the timing world. The French have no more a conservative start, run for a while, then walk to luck than Striders do with the DAG system! rehydrate and eat, taking my cousin, Joel Mackay’s advice of “eat, EAT”. He has seen me crash and burn Latest report was for 49C at CP2, so it is a tad warm, on the long stuff more than once. By the end of this but the humidity is down around 10 per cent which
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BLISTER NO 104 FEB - APR 2008 helps. Water is the key element here. We have a tag a Rest - Day 5 around our neck which is punched for every 1.5 litres Only 2 more nights under the tarp and then the trip given, and you must manage the water you have. Extra home starts. Could I get back in time for Canberra? water above allocation costs a 1 hr penalty per 1.5 litres. So far no problem for me, although deciding to As mentioned earlier, I was told to "eat, EAT". How carry an extra litre from the last checkpoint to the true, but it is not quite that simple. There are only 2 finish is a tough decision! limits that apply to our food out here. Officially, we must carry at least 2,000 Calories per day, and your
pack must be less than 15kg ex water. Typical basal Day 4 rate for average sedentary people is 2,000 Cals. The long one. This is the one I had dreaded. 109k Needless to say, there is a bit more than sedentary warm up for a 75k run just doesn’t quite make sense. activity going on out here, so there is much discussion Anyway, I trundled on. 3 major climbs, including one about who is eating what & when. And of course, how with ropes for protection, and then steep descents of much the food weighs – you are carrying your entire 7 both sand and rock. Many injuries down the field, days worth of food on your back. Carbs vs fat calories, people are tired at this point, but I just keep trotting protein and powders, gels vs bars. In our tent, Andrew along, often teaming up with another runner to chat – usually in a combination of languages and intense misunderstandings – but all good natured and great comradeship. A highlight of the event is the general good mateship demonstrated across the entire camp. A runner stopped would always have many asking if everything was OK. Encouraging words at all times, friendly banter and the odd leg up in the steep and narrow parts; all very positive. Is it part of the long distance runner’s frame of mind?
All good, another blister or two, but nothing serious. Damn long day over huge dunes, salt flats, passes Was he really there? Or, was the row of tents hired from Ray’s Outdoors, all that and dry lake beds that stretch out sand dropped off by a truck from Materials in the Raw and the camels borrowed forever, and soft sand - damn soft from a passing circus? We’ll let you be the Judge. sand. Started at about 9:15 with a monster climb at 7k. Needed to "visit the loo" on the has a concoction of maltodextrin & olive oil, and some first loooong flat, but do you know how many trees are amaranth for good measure. Then the taste and being out there? able to eat things day after day also comes into it. A delicate balance, to be sure. The elite 50 guys & 5 women started 3 hrs later. The leader caught me at 6 hrs, so he was travelling twice as Day 6 fast over that terrain. My tent had 3 elites and one just Marathon day, 42.2k and I am pleased with the outside, so I was waiting for them to catch me. Damon outcome. 5:15 for the 'thon, and definitely a personal got me at 50k and we ran together for a km or so, but worst for a marathon distance race, and I couldn't be Andrew snuck past at CP6. It was dark with no moon happier! 50C & high humidity, but I ran the whole way. from CP5, so I had to stop occasionally to navigate, but still passed many in the last few km. I suspect some “One slightly used (and abused) 50 yr old 5hr marathon hallucinating was happening towards the end of the pacer now available. Will supply own pack (to 10kg) & stage. I was sure we were running through a maze of will accept any course & weather conditions. Your high dunes and narrow gorges, overgrown with trees personal nutrition carried for you. Common sense not and gnarly roots, always concerned that I would get available.” lost and run off course. However, the next morning, a look back down the finishing chute showed the last Berbers dropped the tents at 6:30 but the scary thing 10k or so as a straight line across a dead flat barren was that it was already warm. Packs getting lighter, featureless plain as wide as it was long…. go figure?! and my aim today was to beat tent mate Fleur! I ran & ran & ran, up & down, hot & hotter, but at 8k to go she 13 hours and a 10pm finish, then bed and a rest day caught me. Nope, she wasn't going to get me, so I took coming up – for some, anyway. The bulk of the field off for the next 6k not looking back. Turned the last finished overnight and as late as 3pm on the rest day. corner and saw the finish 2k away over the salt flats, 5
BLISTER NO 104 FEB - APR 2008 glanced back, and damnation, she was 10m behind me. Made it So, the hardest 2k of my life, but I got there. I will The fastest stage of the race for me! 1:35 for the 17.5k admit to serious tears at the end. and highest finish with a 75th. Tickled pink! The last couple of km were on road into Tazzarine and when
my shoes hit the tarmac I flew (relatively speaking)! Lesson? a 'thon 36hrs after a 75k not recommended. Getting rid of all but about 5kg helped, and not Perhaps more taper? fronting up tomorrow for another marathon may have
contributed, but hey, it worked a treat! Warm start, Day 7 and Fin but not too hot - guess high 30's. A pretty featureless 17.5k to the town of Tazzarine, then a bus ride to hot course - soft sand, rocky stretches, and rough tracks showers and cold drinks in Ozz. Looking forward through the fields on the outskirts of town. I just hugely to coming home. charged it. Spent the entire stage passing people, and
rocked past at least a dozen in the last 1,600 metres. Definition of the latest surreal moment(?): we had the The key element was traction. That last 1600m really Paris Opera and Orchestra flown in to perform last showed what I had been missing. I am obviously such night in the bivvy! Lot's of kids on course today a road runner. running along both cheering & begging. Glad I was running as they rarely kept up. Flies have come out, From the marvellous finish back to OZZ – pity the poor we must be close to a town. Our front numbers were bus driver - and looking forward to coming home. exchanged for clean ones last night, along with a small Tepid showers, clean clothes, 2 cokes, chocolate, can of Pepsi - heaven - cold & sweet. Bartering chippies, and a pizza. No guilt! Awards tomorrow, then happening all over as essentials run short. Loo paper Marrakesh, Casablanca, London, Bangkok and home is at the top of the list, & lots of food available. thurs early. All good!
I kept my Garmin, camera, and MP3 player going with Thanks to all for the support, and huge thanks to my a solar charger which worked well. The Olympus 795 long suffering wife, Megan and new son Josh, who camera chosen as it is dust/drop/shock/Stephen have helped out more than words can ever explain. proof, and it is. Shoes are Reebok Road Lites with gaiter added, and superb, and R4YL modified hat was Unfortunately, we don’t have a picture of Stephen in the excellent. Little I would change if I was daft enough to shower afterward. Ed. return.
By ROD BENNETT Highs and Lows
On Boxing Day last year I started running/walking I got to the 8k mark with some pain in my legs but again. My last previous competitive run was in 1996, then I looked at the positive. Here I was, 80 percent being the Pub to Pub, which I finished in about 62 completed and only 2k to go. I then set my sights on minutes. Then I was in agony at Long Reef due to my finishing as best I could. Achillies playing up. I struggled that day to finish. I could soon sense the finish line was not far away. Ah! I am now 53 and thought, “at least - be sensible”. I the line was in sight and, wow! I finished in a time of decided to join Striders to give me some incentive. I 51.50! I had done better than I thought I would in such turned up for the first 10k run of the 10k series at the a short period of training. Lane Cove National Park. After 12 years I was hoping that if I broke 60 minutes I would be satisfied. The fallout was the old Achilles playing up. I tried to come back again but it is still too early. I was running well for the first 4k but found the next I have set my goal on May for my next run. 2k challenging due to a lack of conditioning. I must admit, it was great to get to the point of turning for As they say, “old runners never die they just become a home. I watched as the pacemakers passed by, first good vintage”. was the 45minute then bugger, the 50 minute one. I was convinced that the 55minute one was not going to beat me. We’ll have you running a marathon before long. Ed 6
BLISTER NO 104 FEB - APR 2008
BY LISA CARROLI
Six foot T rack NOT A RACE BUT A JOU RNEY
his is a story of my journey so far to achieve my personal goal for the Six T Foot Track. The Six Foot Track is run on the 2nd Saturday of March and this year was the 25th running of the event. It is described as a “physically arduous and mentally challenging event” and provides a tremendous sense of achievement to over 700 runners who manage to finish it each year – including me in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
I moved to Sydney in December 2001 and promptly joined the Sydney Striders. At the first few STaRs that I attended there was much excitement about the upcoming Six Foot Track Race. Coming from Brisbane I hadn’t heard of the event and recall being horrified by the description of it by a fellow Strider – 45kms of trails from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves over slippery, rocky steps, single file trails, river crossings, ladders over fences, uphill sections that go on for kms, treacherous downhill sections and all in hot and humid conditions. The event also seemed to have a language of its own - Explorer’s Tree, Nelly’s Glen, Megalong, Cox’s, Mini Mini Saddle, Pluviometer, Black Ranges, etc. The description scared the hell out of me but I was fascinated by it and drawn to it… I knew I had to do it. Self doubt and poorly timed injuries and sickness prevented me from signing up for the event until 2006.
At the start line of Six Foot Track 2006 I was terrified. I had no time goal, I just wanted to finish. Although I had run a few road marathons before, I was full of self doubt and afraid of tripping, falling or otherwise Wherever Lisa leads, men surely follow hurting myself (particularly down the infamously days later when I told Mal that I planned to do the event treacherous Nelly’s Glen). I got through the race without again in 2007. They were quoted again when I informed incident by ticking off each of the landmarks that had him that I was determined to do the race 6 times in order become part of my vocabulary. My time was 5:35 and I to receive a genuine Six Foot Track belt buckle and that was spent. After crossing the finish line I cried tears of my ultimate goal was to achieve a sub-five hour race time relief to have finished and between sobs said to my by the sixth running of the race. husband, Mal – “That was the toughest thing I’ve ever done. I’ve never experienced anything so hard. Remind I took my training for Six Foot Track 2007 a bit more me of these words if I start talking about doing it again”. seriously. However, this didn’t give me any greater These words were dutifully quoted back to me only a few confidence as I lined up at the start line - I was just as …each time I looked at my watch my brain wouldn’t register the time.
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BLISTER NO 104 FEB - APR 2008 terrified as the previous year. I had the sub-five hour wouldn’t register the time. Eventually I reached the final goal in the back of my mind but my goal for the day was down hill section. I ran it as hard as I could. I wanted to to improve last year’s time. I had some theories on how I look at my watch but I needed all of my concentration to could achieve this after studying my split times at Cox’s stay vertical on the steep downhill slopes. Finally the River and top of Pluviometer. During the race I passed finish line! I heard the announcers say my name and though these two landmarks in faster times than in the something about 5 hours. I high-fived spectators in the previous year and I knew I didn’t need to work too hard final few metres. I only realized that I had achieved a across the Black Ranges to the finish to achieve a PB. My sub-five hour time when I looked at my watch as I race time was a 5.20 (a 15 minute PB) but I could not crossed the finish line. help feeling that I had let myself down during the final section of the race from Pluviometre. I thought I walked To achieve my personal goal was the best feeling but the sections that I could have run. I knew what I had to do day had more in store for me and 5 other female Striders. next year. On behalf of the club we won the women’s team competition (ie the best 6 females in a club). Our team I had a much longer build up to Six Foot Track 2008. results are set out in the table below: Again I studied my split times from the previous year and I developed a plan for the race. The plan was to reach BEST SIX FEMALES IN A CLUB Cox’s River by 1.30 and the top of Pluviometer by 3 hours KELLY Suzanne 4:04:26 F40-49 and then to run as much as possible to the finish. Having BARTON Joanne 4:47:10 F40-49 run the race twice and trained on the course, I knew the EDMONDS Elizabeth 4:48:47 F40-49 course well and knew where I would run and walk. Again the familiar pre-race fear kicked in on race day. It CARROLI Lisa 4:57:26 F40-49 had rained the night before and the morning was warmer CAMERON Zoe 4:58:05 F30-39 than previous years. I was bracing myself for wet and CAREY Lisa-Anne 5:02:11 F30-39 difficult conditions on the track, particularly Nelly’s Glen, and a hot day. In fact the conditions on the track were A few people have asked me what was different in my not much wetter than the previous year and the day race preparation and during the race this year compared stayed overcast and cool. I have to confess that I am a to previous years. There are so many very good runners control freak and not very good at dealing with the in this club more qualified than I am to provide unexpected on race day so I was also unsettled by the training/racing advice but below is a list of some of the need to change my arrangements to the start of the race. differences: We stayed at Jenolan Caves and one of the buses had 1. Conditions: the ....it was annoying to carry sand and gravel in your shoes weather on the day was perfect for running and we also had a lot of cool weather through January and broken down and blocked the road to the Caves. The February which allowed for some harder and faster only way out was by car via Oberon. Mal came to the training sessions. Obviously this isn’t something you can rescue and drove a group of us to the start of the race. By plan for… you can’t control the weather. the time we reached Explorers Tree we didn’t have much time before the start. I was so nervous I could hardly 2. Earlier start to training. I opted out of a couple of speak to friends who offered their best wishes for the Christmas parties and started building up my training race. from early November, running two laps of the Quarry Road Track (26k) on the second weekend of November. I My race went pretty much to plan. I reached Cox’s and also ran events including Otford to Bundeena (29k in Pluviometer on target. When I reached the top of early December) and Beyond the Black Stump (33k on Pluviometer, I recalled my 2007 race and decided that it New Years Day). was time to put my foot on the accelerator. I told myself that I had to keep running. I would only let myself walk 3. More training on bush tracks. As I have already through drink stops and on steeper hills. By the time I mentioned, I added the Otford to Bundeena and Beyond arrived at the Black Ranges Campsite (9-10kms from the Black Stump to my training. Also, Lisa-Anne Carey finish), I knew I would achieve a time much closer to the and I paid a visit to the section of the track from Nellies 5 hour mark than I expected. A fellow Strider who was Glen (not my favourite part of the track) to Megalong watching the race seemed surprised to see me but also Valley. I thought going down the Nellies Glen was encouraged me to keep going. This spurred me on. At difficult during the race - its much harder when you have the road crossing aid station it took me a few seconds to to clear the spider webs (I hate spiders!). In addition, I recognize fellow Strider Frank Dearn so my mind wasn’t ran on the Six Foot Track from Megalong Valley to the working properly. I managed to will myself to just keep top of Pluviometer (Megalong Massacre), participated in going – telling myself that I just needed to get to the final several of Jim Moody’s Six Foot Track training runs and downhill section to Caves House. I wanted to know how I trained several times on the Quarry Road Track, Hornsby was going but each time I looked at my watch my brain with Iain Martin and others. I have to acknowledge Iain 8
BLISTER NO 102 MAY – AUGUST 2007 as a training partner (Iain also achieved a 6FT PB with to eat and drink (for the past three the time of 4.50) – I had to work really hard to keep up races I have worn my Fuel Belt with two small bottles). with him (sometimes to keep him in sight) on the Quarry Anyone who knows me will know that I love the downhill Road. and flat. During the race I was opportunistic about these sections and would pick up my pace as much as possible. 4. Maintain the gym work. I am a gym junkie from way back and train in the gym usually three times a week. I 7. Don’t change socks during the race. The 2008 race have had a tendency to drop off the gym work as my was the first time I didn’t change my socks and clean out mileage increases but this year, I managed to keep it up my shoes after all of the river crossings. Clean dry socks for most of the lead up to the race (although I did drop a feel great but last year I really felt that I lost my couple of sessions). momentum when I changed my socks at the top of the Pluviometer. While it was annoying to carry sand and 5. Heart rate training. A heart rate monitor never lies gravel in your shoes from Cox’s River I didn’t suffer from and mine kept me honest during my training. As a result blisters or have any other problems as a result of it. This of wearing the monitor I worked harder and ran faster would have saved at least 5 minutes! during my mid week long run and my speed sessions. It also helped identify when I was overtired and in need of The down side of achieving my goal time on the third a break. running of the race is that I still have another three races to do before I achieve the other part of my goal – ie to 6. Walk the worst of the uphills but run the “easier” hills earn my Six Foot Track belt buckle. I now want to run and run as fast as possible on the downhill and the flat. faster than 4.57 but the conditions may never be as good In my first two attempts at the Six Foot Track I walked as that day in March 2008. Even if this is the best time I too many of the hills. This time I walked on the uphill can do I’m still committed to that belt buckle…. I also sections of the Mini Mini Saddle, most of the hill to the have strange yearning for a leather belt to go with the Pluviomenter and a couple of other steeper hills on the buckle (after 12 races) and an embroidered jacket (after Black Ranges. Whenever I walked I took the opportunity 18 races)… three down and 15 to go
Stride on Ron Daly, Super Strider By RICK COLLINS
This photo was recently published in The Northern District Times with an editorial featuring Ron’s many running achievements including running 3 marathons, 30 half marathons (including a 94 minutes half when he was 68) and 15 City To Surfs all after the age of 64. Last year Ron won his age group in the Melbourne 2007 10K. Ron is now cross training in his recently acquired new racing kayak. Not bad when you are 83. Stride on mighty Ron – keep training hard and winning races – you’re a legend and an inspiration to us all.
Thanks to Rick Collins and Carol Taylor. Ed
On the Street: Jess Baker reports
What keeps you running?? “Imagining racing against, and beating, the mother of the child at school who is bullying my child, with all my children on the sideline cheering!! ANONYMOUS
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By GLENN GUZZO
Take a B ow JAPANESE MARATHON RUNNING
Remembering the pie and beers and fun from the night before, Glenn, 3rd from left, while awaiting the start, is suddenly awestruck by the cleanliness of the Japanese’ heels. Photo courtesy of PhotoRun
his was going to be my best crack at a fast overseas everywhere and people asking for autographs. I basked marathon. After failing at the last 2 attempts in in the sun, stretching, and did my warm up around the T Berlin and Rotterdam, mainly due to warm track. weather, I thought a closer Japanese marathon in the middle of winter would be the best bet. I was going to This marathon was the last of the qualifiers for the give this marathon attempt my best shot, so I could at Japanese Olympic Men’s marathon team for Beijing 2008. least spend my “older” years of running not regretting With about 300 Japanese, and only 6 invited foreign that I hadn’t tried. The summary of the build up was that runners and yours truly it was going to be an interesting I had spent 5 solid weeks, in total, at Falls Creek, start around the track, as there would be a lot of Japanese including regular stretching, massages & chiro. The only with nothing to lose. They had to run, basically, a sub thing I couldn’t do is give up the demands of work. 2:09:30 and be the first Japanese or two over the line to guarantee their place. I had other plans, which were Whilst still in awe of the Japanese culture of marathon short and simple, in order to run a PB of under 2:17:34. running, I thought I would write an article on my This means a controlled race at ~16:00 per 5km. The experience of running the Lake Biwa marathon this weather was just right; breaks of sun, light breeze and March 2008. The major reason is not for you folk temperature around the 9-10 degree mark. reading, but mainly to aid my mental recovery. It was underway with a flurry, I didn’t look around but I felt like I was in last place as the Japs pushed and shoved My wife Farah and I arrived in Otsu city, on the shores of in front of me. I ran the first few laps on the track in 74 Lake Biwa, late on the Wednesday night, with light snow seconds, which feels like a 10k track race. falling. A sleepy coastal town, only 2 stops out of Kyoto - the perfect place for me. Nothing to see, nothing to do Through 5k in a small pack in 16:09, with a few other before the race, only light walks and runs along the Lake small packs in front, then the next 5k in 15:55 after shoreline. We bumped into Troopy and Monas in the making ground onto another pack of about 5-6 in front. breakfast area of the hotel that morning and planned a Still with the same pack through to 15k with a 16:07 5k run together. It was good to have a couple of Aussies split, with me doing all the work. Suddenly I was by around to lighten the mood. myself without going any harder, 16:02 through to 20k in 64:12, and 67:49 at half way. Feeling good through to So it came to marathon day, and the excitement of the 25k but starting to push, 16:09 for 20-25k split, again by marathon didn’t really dawn on me until I entered the myself and starting to pass a number of casualties stadium about 2 hours beforehand. There were cameras including Troopy at 26k. For no real reason I must have 10
BLISTER NO 104 FEB - APR 2008 slowed, and 16:35, 16:40, 16:57 through to 40k with one Japanese however, still amazed me. Of the 27 people in guy sticking on my shoulder from about 25 through to front of me, 23 were Japanese. With a guy whose 40k. It was annoying me that I couldn’t break him. It felt previous best was 2:12, ran a 2:08 to come 4th place (2nd like I would get 5 metres and then he would attach Japanese) and eventually not be selected for the Olympic himself again. No one else would pass me until this guy team!! kicked past. I knew my PB was slipping, but I still felt strong, 7:36 for the last 2.2k. In speaking to the TV people after the race, I learned there was a TV audience of between 20-30 million people 28th place and a 2:18:13 and it felt mixed. I wasn’t sure on a Sunday afternoon. The record in Japan was 80-90 whether to be happy or sad. I was proud of the way I ran, million when Takahashi attempted her world record run but disappointed that I couldn’t reach my goal. The in Berlin.
Broken Wing Club
Sam Isbell has suspected periostitis or stress fracture in John Begbie missed the Canberra marathon due to his her left shin... she’s just happy to have got through 6FT son being ill in hospital. but is now trying to let it repair. Adam’s lips are swollen from trying to kiss it better. James Cryer is suffering from wounded pride - having been beaten by two older kids (Brian and Luigi?) President Moody set a high standard for injuries this quarter, twisting an ankle in the bush causing tendon Lee Baker survived an asthma attack and hypothermia damage. He missed the Canberra Marathon and could be during the marathon and was in the aid tent for a while off for 6 weeks. afterwards.
Ted Braily also suffered hypothermia during the run. James Cryer is suffering from wounded pride - having been beaten by two older kids (Brian and Luigi?) Ron Schwebel is recuperating from knee surgery. There was nothing wrong with the knee apart from the Paul Bruning suffered a heel Injury from pawing the wrinkles. It was entirely cosmetic and testimony to his ground in anticipation of the Canberra Marathon. vanity. He had a knee lift!
By BRAD MORGAN ATHLETICS: Bruce Fordyce ention the Comrades Marathon, the world- Long-standing down run record famous 90-kilometre run between Durban and In 2007, his record for the down run of 5:24:07, which Pietermaritzburg, and one name still springs to M had stood for 21 years, was finally broken by Russia's mind: Bruce Fordyce, the "Comrades King", and one of Leonid Shvetsov. His record was established in the the all-time greats of ultra-marathon running. amateur age and it finally took a man who finished thirteenth in the Athens Olympic Marathon to break it. Fordyce won the gruelling ultra-marathon an incredible eight times in succession, and nine times overall, to make The sight of the slight, blonde-haired runner pulling the race his own throughout the 1980s. away from the field in the second half of the race had much to do with the boom in popularity that the At a time when some runners were contenders on the Comrades enjoyed during Fordyce's decade. Comrades "up run" (Durban to Pietermaritzburg) and others contenders on the "down run" (Pietermaritzburg It also played a big role in turning the Comrades into a to Durban), Fordyce broke the record in both directions. race for professional as well as amateur runners, capable
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BLISTER NO 104 FEB - APR 2008 of attracting a considerable number of competitors from and cheer the runners on the public holiday when the abroad, including some of the world's best ultra- race was held. marathoners. The sight of the slightly built blond-haired student, Fordyce proved that he could compete internationally upping the pace through the second half of the race, too, winning the London to Brighton Marathon three dropping rivals like flies while giving them a word or two times in succession, in the process setting a world 50- of encouragement as he passed them, thrilled the public. mile record. A national hero had been born.
Forty-third, third, second. In 1980, the Comrades field had been just under 4 000 strong. By the end of the decade, with Fordyce Fordyce first entered the Comrades Marathon as a entrenched in the public's imagination, the number of university student in 1977, placing forty-third out of the race finishers had grown to over 10 000. 1 678 runners in the field that day. It was the middle year of three consecutive victories for Alan Robb. World record Two years later, in 1979, Piet Vorster won the up run, but Fordyce was now well in the picture, moving into the top It was one-way traffic in 1983, with Fordyce racing away three for the first time, less than a minute behind second- from the field to take the up run in an astonishing placed Johnny Halberstadt. 5:30:12. Runner-up Gordon Shaw finished more than 15 minutes later. In 1980, Alan Robb was again number one, but Fordyce had risen to second place, primed to challenge for the Fordyce won the London to Brighton Marathon for the title the following year - though he nearly didn't enter. third time in a row in 1983, in the course of which he set a world record for 50 miles (80.45 kilometres), cementing his reputation as the finest ultra-marathon Critic of apartheid athlete in the world. An outspoken critic of apartheid, Fordyce and a number of other athletes decided to boycott the 1981 event when In 1984, Fordyce notched up his fourth Comrades on the organisers announced that they would associate it with trot, completing the Pietermaritzburg to Durban down the 20th anniversary of the Republic of South Africa. run in a splendid 5:27:18.
Ultimately, though, Fordyce ran, wearing a black In the same year he set a United States all-comers record armband to signal his protest - and destroyed the in the 50 mile, clocking a ridiculous 4:50:51 in Chicago. opposition, crossing the line in a sensational 5:37:28, nearly 10 minutes clear of second-placed Johnny In 1985 it was the Bruce Fordyce show again as he fought Halberstadt. off a brave challenge from Hoseah Tjale to capture a fifth Comrades title in 5:37.01. In the same year, Fordyce won the 55-mile (88.5- kilometre) London to Brighton Marathon, then regarded Comrades records as the world's premier ultra-marathon, in a time of In 1986, Fordyce, chased by Rand Athletics Club 5:12.32. teammate Bob De La Motte, cracked the down run record, turning in a time of 5:24:07. Credit, too, to De La Fordyce's win kept up a rich South African tradition of Motte, who clocked 5:26:12. competing in, and winning, the English ultra. Previous winners included a number of men synonymous with the In 1987, De La Motte and Hoseah Tjale were left chasing Comrades - greats of the event such as Arthur Newton, Fordyce into Pietermaritzburg as he won the up run in Jackie Meckler and Wally Hayward. 5:37:01.
In the Comrades down run in 1982, Fordyce dominated In 1988, for the first time, the Comrades had more than again, taking victory in 05:34:22, well clear of Alan 10 000 finishers, but the race result didn't differ. Fordyce Robb's 05:41:26. He also completed the Comrades- claimed his eighth in a row, in an up run record of London to Brighton double for the second year in 5:27:42. Runner-up Mark Page finished more than 10 succession. minutes behind him.
Capturing the imagination The following year, Fordyce sat out the race, and Sam With Fordyce to the fore, the Comrades captured the Tshabalala became the first black winner of the event, in imagination of the South African public. Race entries sky- 5:35:01, some way off the standards Fordyce had rocketed, and it became a popular pursuit to line the road established in the down run.
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Fordyce was back in 1990, once more producing a Bruce Fordyce today comfortable victory, his 5:40:25 almost five minutes Nowadays, Fordyce is often seen at endurance events faster than second-placed Hoseah Tjale. such as the Comrades and the 120-kilometre Dusi Canoe Marathon, participating to raise money for charity. The year 1991 signalled the end of an era as Fordyce was He has written a book, "The Marathon Runners' beaten for the first time in over a decade, with Nick Handbook" - and had a book written about him, John Bester taking the line honours. Cameron-Dow's "Bruce Fordyce: Comrades King" - and become a sought-after motivational speaker. That was the last of Fordyce's Comrades victories. Not only had he completely dominated the decade of the He has also used the profile he established as a sporting 1980s, but also, largely thanks to him, the field had hero to give back to South Africans in his role as CEO of grown from under 4 000 finishers in 1980 to 10 273 The Sports Trust, an independent body established in when he won the event for the last time. 1995 to fund sports development in the country.
Article last updated: June 2007 Reprinted, with thanks to southafrica,info http://www.southafrica.info/ess_info/sa_glance/sports/greats/fordyce.htm
By ALLAN WAREHAM
“What an Inspiration!”
nspired by the life- transforming independence I provided by his guide dog, Dave Heeley from the UK, is running Seven Magnificent Marathons. Oh, and by the way, Dave is 51 years of age and has been blind for the past 20 years.
Imagine seven marathons, on seven continents in seven conference. Apart from his mission to raise funds for days! Guide Dogs, Dave spoke about how he wanted to inspire others (particularly those with disabilities) by showing When Dave (or ‘Blind Dave’ as he likes to be known) what can be done. To quote Dave’s words: arrived in Sydney on Thursday April 10 he had already run three marathons in two days. To compensate for a “I will prove to the world that sight loss is no barrier day lost crossing the International Date Line he had to independence and human achievement”. actually run two marathons on Monday April 7, one in the Falkland Islands at 12:30am and the second in Rio De The course had been laid out over a 3.7 kilometre lap Janeiro at 9:30am. Then it was off to Los Angeles on around Centennial Park – meaning Dave had to run Tuesday April 8 to run his third marathon before taking approx. 11½ laps to make up the full marathon distance. the flight to Australia at 11:30pm. Sydney turned on a magnificent autumn day and thankfully the course was mostly tree-lined which Various dignitaries including the British Consul General, provided some shade for the run as the day warmed up. the CEO of Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and other runners had assembled at Centennial Park for the formalities before At around 9:30am a blue ribbon was stretched across the commencing what would be his fourth marathon for the path and with stopwatches at the ready the marathon week. This was preceded by the obligatory press was under way. There were twenty plus other runners 13
BLISTER NO 104 FEB - APR 2008 with a large group from the Achilles Running Club and in and out of other runners (a new experience for a front- two Sydney Striders in attendance. Dave was runner). accompanied by his running partner and guide, Malcolm Dave was keeping up a steady 23 to 24 minute pace for Carr (affectionately known as ‘Mac’) who is running all of each lap and apart from an occasional pit stop kept the seven marathons with Dave. Also there were other grinding out the K’s. There were four drink stations on blind runners participating, mostly from the Achilles the course manned (should I say, womanned) by Guide Club, about six pairs in all. See footnote for more Dogs NSW/ACT volunteers. Dave and Mac were being information about the Achilles Club. ably assisted by a couple of team members riding mountain bikes and who were supplying them with Before the run started Dave mentioned that he feels a drinks while keeping other runners and pedestrians at little emotional as he completes each marathon. The bay. At the Half Marathon point in the course there was a people he had met thus far in his journey inspire him and spontaneous cheer as that meant they were halfway he hopes he can be an inspiration to others to achieve through their seven marathon epic. their goals. Dave said that he was anticipating even more emotion by the time he runs the London Marathon on At last it was down to the bell lap and with TV cameras in Sunday and by then he would probably need a box of abundance they even managed a final sprint to the tissues. finishing tape. As they crossed the line in about 4 hours 44 minutes there was an immediate ‘press huddle’ with Once the marathon was under way it was immediately no chance for Dave and Mac to catch their breath as they obvious that ‘Mac’ played a vital role in Dave’s running. were bombarded with questions. One reporter broke Running shoulder to shoulder and linked by a tape that Dave up by asking him about his family. He quickly both were holding, Mac was giving Dave a “running” recovered and said “I love them to bits!” commentary on the course layout and various obstacles such as mothers pushing prams, other walkers and bike Both Dave and Mac were on a high because, as they said, riders on the course, not to mention undulations in the they have stopped ‘counting up’ the marathons and now road surface. are on their ‘count down’ to London. Only three more There was marathons to go: Dubai on Friday, Tunis on Saturday quite a bit of then the London Marathon on Sunday. What an chatter from inspiration! the other runners Footnotes: which both Mac told us that their training regimen involved running Dave and Mac twice a day including running 20 miles (32K) every seemed to second day. encourage. After about The other Sydney Striders running with Dave were Kim three laps, Pluess, Jason Murphy and Zed Zlotnick. Jason and Zed ran Dave said the full marathon and, inspired by Dave, intend to run the “What’s that Canberra Marathon on Sunday April 13 when Dave will noise?” be completing London. Two of the accompanying Thinking he runners ran their first-ever marathon with Dave. was referring to the traffic If anyone is inspired by Dave’s efforts you can send your we said: “Just donations to: some cars.” Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, Reply Paid 496, North Sydney, Dave replied: NSW, 2059. “No, the Website: www.guidedogs.com.au buzzing.” Then we realised there were cicadas in the trees on the course. We hadn’t heard them because we weren’t listening properly but obviously Dave’s hearing The Sydney chapter of the Achilles Running Club was is more acute than ours is. He also mentioned that he was started in 1996. It is part of a worldwide organisation enjoying the ‘exotic’ bird life, which he could also hear represented within about 60 countries. They meet around the course. There were even a few obliging every Sunday, hail, rain or shine at 8:10am on the kookaburras putting on a show for his enjoyment. steps of the Art Gallery of NSW and train (walk or run) for an hour. Their Mission Statement is: Meanwhile we chatted with some of the other blind “To enable people from all walks of life, including runners, one of whom, 66 year old Michael Bassel had those with physical impairments, to enjoy the previously run the City to Surf with Andrew Lloyd as his health giving benefits of walking and running in a guide. Wendy Downes, another Strider, arranged this. supportive, social and encouraging environment.” Michael mentioned that Andrew had said afterwards that it was his toughest C2S because he had to keep weaving
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By ZED ZLOTNIK before he turned 40, but was sorry that he had missed that. And in the space of a few laps, we all decided - on an ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE impulse - individually but also quietly in a collective unconscious, if you like, to run the whole way. Whoever An accidental marathon heard of an accidental marathon? And whoever heard of 4 accidental debuts? But that was the power of Blind I know I am prone to wearing out superlatives, but this Dave’s presence that helped us fleet foot it over 11 odd was an amazing experience. laps of the park.
I took the morning off work (not like me at all to do So by accident I got to spend the morning in the company something like this) to go and do a few laps with Blind of greatness. It was inspiring and humbling to be able to Dave (as he prefers to be called) and his pilot, Mac. My be a part of their epic challenge. plan was an hour only as those endless loops of Canberra were waiting for me in 3 days time on Sunday. I am also I witnessed for the first time the Achilles Runners and the prone to be a firm believer in the very long taper, like amazing focus and hard work these men and women do. doing almost nothing between 6ft and Canberra. So at the A fellow by the name Peter drove down from Erina start I promised myself to take it very easy. because Adam Spencer mentioned it on his show. Adam himself ran about 6 or more laps, my guess is he was very sore the next day. There were fellow Striders out, NRG representatives, CanToo and others.
Guide Dogs NSW laid on watering tables that would put some paid marathons to shame.
All in all a race in a life time for me and well worth stepping off the corporate treadmill for a day. We all should do this more often.
By the time you read this Blind Dave and Mac will have knocked off Dubai, Tunis and London... in 3 days. I hope I can report that Canberra was a doddle.
Check out http://www.7mm.org.uk and of course, the missus’ unique perspective Dave’s pilot, Mac with Zednd Dave’s pilot on the day at www.secretwritersbusiness.com.
But something happened in the presence of Blind Dave, call it inspirational, call it being touched by a unique human being, I dunno, but I ended up running the whole Allan adds... bloody marathon. In all there were about 50 or so runners who joined the Dave has completed his epic and here are the times as run at various times throughout the morning and of that per his website: 50, 7 (including Blind Dave and Mac), fittingly, ran the Falkland Islands: 4:14 whole way. Rio de Janeiro: 4:45 Los Angeles: 4:35 There was Lisa, Jason (an Irish Strider), John and Sydney: 4:44 Lachlan. All arrived for a casual few laps, all aiming at Dubai: 4:55 more modest goals, mainly a half marathon later in the Tunis: 4:40 year. In John's case he said he was aiming for a marathon London: 5:20
Congratulations! (3.8km swim - 180km Bike - 42.2 km swim). Mike was lucky enough to gain the last qualifying spot in his age New Strider, Mike (Ironmike) Smith recently followed up group for the Hawaii Ironman held in Kona, Hawaii in a third in the Australian Long Course Triathlon (2km October this year. Swim - 83km Bike- 20km Run) in the 55-59 yo age category with a 7th in the Panthers Australian Ironman Mike is also a member of the Warringah Triathlon Club. 15
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By KEITH BATEMAN D ream time!
“Don't screw up again. I don't want to see you fade like “On your marks!”. Bang! I started in lane 9 doubled-up you did in the last race! And no watch! You are with another runner as there were about 18 in the race, experienced enough now to run by how you feel.” “Yes, but by the first bend I was hemmed in in lane 1 and coach.” swearing as it was holding me up. Just as well though, as, although I was mid-field, I went through the line in 49 seconds, already 2 seconds ahead of time. But for once I Those instructions, from a week earlier, were fresh in my didn't worry about it and just settled in to chase whoever mind for the 1500m at Homebush on Thursday, 24th was in front. I forgot about the time and battled my way January. forward – I felt good – each time I reached the clock at the finish line I was too tired to calculate how well I was going but I think I realised it wasn't slow. I chased; I was There was no pressure this time. Sure, I wanted to break chased; I ran too much in lane 2; I collided elbow-to- my 50+ State record of 4:15.25 and, better still, my PB of elbow as I overtook; I battled with runners trying to 4:14.19, but I didn’t expect to despite some excellent overtake me; and the shouts from the stand were always recent training times. I had tried 3 or 4 times in the last in my subconscious. I crossed the line in 49 seconds, 1 year and couldn't do better than 4:21. minute 56 seconds, 3 minutes 4 seconds.
someone passed me and I gave up trying –but then I heard the shouts from the stand, the These are all after-memories as the race was a blur at the time, but I adrenaline kicked in, and I accelerated again... clearly remember the negative thoughts at 200 metres to go when my legs tired noticeably. Stand up; shoulders back, pump the elbows back; lift the knees quickly – I tried to keep The warm-up around Olympic Park was a bit short for good form. Then, with 100 metres to go, someone passed me, so I ran some more with Mohammed Alkhub. “How me and I gave up trying – but then I heard the shouts are you feeling?”, he asked. “Two sore knees and a sore from the stand, the adrenaline kicked in, and I head” I replied, “but it'll be okay in the race.” accelerated again (or perhaps I just stopped slowing). I remember that last 100 metres as a sort of out-of-body experience – no pain; as though I wasn't really there. I I had to wait for the ladies’ race and two open men's just focused on the finish line. heats, and I used the time wisely to keep moving, do my drills and do a good number of strides (for a change). Then, after our names were called, came my I saw the clock change from 4:09 to 4:10 – surely not! characteristic pre-start nervous cough and the usual That confused me but before there was time to think I question; “Hey, are you okay?” “Yes, thanks. It's normal.” was across the line and the effort hit me big-time – I was What a great way to let the opposition think you are in staggering like I never have before, crouched over in the bad shape! way the coach never allows; runners shook hands and said “Thanks for the race” but I didn't communicate very well in response. Then Sean said “I don't know how you But in this race I didn't know anyone – it wasn't going to did that, Keith – I didn't see that coming”. And nor did I, be like training with the squad where there is a natural but I'll take it! 4:11.04 on the board – I could hardly pecking order and I know my place – and I don't think believe it – a 4 second PB and the best performance of many of the runners knew me either. Being the 3rd heat any race I have ever done. and a graded race though, I knew I should be at least mid-field.
'Run how you feel' ... Yes, but I still need to watch the Thank you Sean. Thank you everyone who shouted from clock on the first ¾ lap – too fast at the start and all is the stands and thank you all the other runners in a fine, lost– I planned 51 seconds; 4:15 pace. fine race. ..
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Email from DARREN BENSON
Only inC h i n a
Back in the office today after what can only be described as the locals were staying in) then promptly checked into the an "interesting" adventure over the weekend. close by Ramada 5 star. Ate up a storm in the hotel buffet. Day 1 Slept, then out for another bite to eat followed by a quick Friday night in Beijing beer at a local bar. Rain descended on the city causing road chaos. No taxis available so had to walk/run to the closest train Day 3 station with the bags (about 1km). Sunday morning rains delayed, more waiting 6am got up Arrived back at train station to meet team. 45 min bus trip to the race start (busted bus, standing room only) Turns out it is a huge event with about 9000 in the race (so much for a local race). Full pomp and circumstance, live TV coverage and a bunch of quick Kenyans and local talent - no sunshine - just the typical smog/fog. 8.30 am race is off - In 3rd group going through 5km in 16min 20, still good at half way going through in about 71mins. The race was 42km After being pursued by waiters for more than 2 hours, Darren eventually agreed to pay for his meal straight down a closed 10 lane highway joining Zhengzhou with Kaifeng - only one turn with 200m to go!
The body faltered but hung up for a 2hrs 32min 19sec for 36th overall. My mate had a really rough day Darren copes with the poor air quality by employing a and came in about 6 hours (we thought we missed him and small snorkel with filter which you can just make out went onto one of the return buses to find him - whilst on coming out the top of his head board, the bus took off) We passed the poor fella going the opposite direction and he still had about 3km to go (he eventually made it back on a public bus as all the race buses Arrived at closest subway station to the big West (long trip) had left) So back to the City, regroup with my mate then Station. Jumped in the back of a 3 wheel rickshaw type went to the local hot pot joint for some food and a couple vehicle. Made it to the station, door blocked, had to change of beers (yes, the Chinese beer is moderately drinkable) direction - eventual result was a missed train - by 3 Back to the train station for the overnighter (12 hours) - minutes! lucky we were tired as luckily woke up with about an 1hr to With my girlfriend and a running buddy we then checked go! into a local sauna (yes, bath, massage and bed for the night)
Day 2 Saturday morning 5am. Got up, leaving behind the semi-naked Chinese crowd So there it is people, snoring away on their hospital-like beds. Made it to the Just another weekend in the life of DB station for the 6 hr fast train to Zhengzhou. Arrived at the station, found our team manager (checked out the dorms Cheers all, DB
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ADVICE …from Auntie Joan Strider
Send all your advice and etiquette questions to Auntie too close to the Joan, c/o The Editor, Blister Magazine, [email protected] breakfast table. In particular, remember to observe the five metre exclusion Dear Auntie Joan, zone from the tub I’m relatively new to running, and recently of Gatorade. Also, joined Striders to train with the MTG. Whilst getting ready for the STaR last Sunday, I opened the kitchen Soggy, remember that horses sweat, men perspire and cupboard only to find that my flatmate had eaten all ladies glow - and I assume you are not a horse. of my special pre-running cereal. The only food available was a slice of cold meat lovers pizza in the A.J.S. fridge, so I thought “what the heck” and went for it. During the run, I began to experience serious (and I mean serious) digestive problems. In this situation, is it acceptable to convey my distress to my fellow runners, in order to enlist their assistance in looking out for the nearest toilet block? Dear Auntie Joan,
Yours, I’m a single male in my thirties and I’m a Clenched and confused pretty good runner. Usually, I run with the 6:10am
group, but lately I’ve had my eye on an attractive
female Strider who runs with the 6am group. I’d like Dear Clenched, to try my luck at chatting her up, but I can’t stand the Between fellow Striders, a delicate reference to thought of running six minute K’s. Should I run with “tummy troubles” or “digestive woes” is usually sufficient the 6am group and encourage them to run at a faster to convey the full magnitude of the situation. In the pace? Surely the group would even be grateful to me future, keep in mind that the best runners do not usually if they were pushed to run a bit harder! consider cold pizza to be optimum pre-running fuel. As for your flatmate, try short-sheeting his bed. Yours,
Speedy 6:10 A.J.S.
Dear Speedy, If you run faster than six minute K pace in the 6am group, you will be the subject of much unhappy Dear Auntie Joan, grumbling. If you run faster than six minute K pace in the I’m a keen participant in the weekly STaRs, but I’ve noticed I tend to sweat quite a bit more than 6am group, you will be branded a show-off without other Striders. Last week, I took off and was wringing consideration for other runners. If you run faster than six out my singlet after a run (as is my habit) and noticed minute K pace in the 6am group, your first-born will have a female Strider frowning at me. Is this somehow the head of a goat and a thousand-year curse will fall unacceptable? upon your descendants. If you run faster than six minute Yours, K pace in the 6am group, a plague of locusts will fall upon Soggy and singletless the land, the seas will boil and the rivers will turn to blood. In short, Speedy, stick with the 6:10 group and confine your amoré to the post-run breakfast. Dear Soggy, Although the discreet removal and wringing out of your singlet is excusable, it is not acceptable to do so A.J.S.
18
BLISTER NO 104 FEB - APR 2008
The refugees are hotly pursued by the Coast Guard and gun toting Naval Kayakers as they attempt, en masse, to circumvent Australia’s tough immigration laws. Photo:Trevor Mullens
By VANIA DAUNER
Scody Australian Long Course T riathlon Championships Huskisson, Jervis Bay, NSW was in full swing! The Saturday consisted of the
following events: Junior Miniman Triathlon, Sprint Sunday 24 February 2008 Miniman Triathlon, Australian Sprint Triathlon 2km swim, 83km bike course, 20km run Championships, NSW Pro Tour Triathlon, an Elite
Criterium as well as Fun Run. My fellow Strider, Cheri
Lutz ran in the 5km Fun Run that afternoon and came In early 2008 I received an email from my fellow Strider running through the finishing chute looking very strong. Allison Lilley regarding the Scody Australian Long Course
Triathlon Championships saying, “We should do this That night Allison, Nick and I attended a Balance Tri Club one”. Thinking that this was a good idea, I went on to the dinner which also included Striders Karin and Darren website and entered. I emailed Allison back saying that, Kaehne and Rob and Cheri Lutz. A wonderful dinner was “I was in”. I think my fast response took Allison a bit by prepared and served, which left us feeling very satisfied surprise! By the end of the day Allison was “in” also. and ready for a good race.
Fast forwarding to Saturday, 23 February, my husband Transition was situated in White Sands Beach Park. By and fellow Strider Nick Taylor and I drove down to the about 6am transition was full of triathletes busily setting south coastal town of Huskisson. Our drive was a 2.5 up their gear, pumping up bike tyres, smearing on the hour scenic drive with some of the most beautiful coastal Bodyglide and squeezing themselves into wetsuits. views as well as passing through very pretty country Around 6.45am the field of 500 triathletes was asked to towns. When we arrived into Huski it was all systems go leave transition and to make their way down to – the town had turned itself into multisport festival and Huskisson beach. To get down to the beach from 19
transition we had to make our way down about a dozen behind me. Half way through my third lap I heard a familiar friendly voice behind me – it was my fellow steps. Strider Allison Lilley. I was so glad to see her and we The sun had now come up and had brought with it a excitedly starting talking about the ride. We discussed beautiful morning and calm waters. Due to the sunrise the swim but then started to panic as we realized our the buoys were a bit difficult to see. Fortunately a large riding alongside one another and mad chit chatting could Navy ship had anchored itself directly behind the first be seen as drafting. We quickly split up but couldn’t stop buoy so our first marker became the Navy ship! No with our excited chit chat and basically spent the chance of swimming off course now! remainder of the last lap yelling out to one another in an effort to continue our conversation. As we reached the township we caught up with another female triathlete The women’s swim wave, all wearing bright pink swim and rode into transition together. caps, was third last so by the time I got into the water I had time to think about the 2km, 1 lap anti-clockwise swim course and prepare myself. As I headed out to the Back in transition (T2), I quickly racked my bike and put deep water start I found myself treading water alongside my runners on and ran out to the run start. Allison was Allison and Karin Kaehne. now beside me where I quickly bid her farewell and a good run as I knew she would leave me for dead on the run course! The announcer introduced our female wave start to the crowd and we received a good cheer from the crowd. Pretty much after that the gun went off and off went the The 20km run leg is a two lap out and back course. The pink caps! This would be one of the smoothest triathlon run is along a footpath/cyclepath that makes its way swim starts I have ever had. The swim start didn’t seem along the foreshore of Jervis Bay. The run course is aggressive – everyone just started swimming and very pretty much flat all the way except for a short and steep quickly fell into their own space and rhythm. hill that presented itself around the 4km and 14km part of the run course.
..… then started to panic as we realized our riding It was now late morning and hot so I quickly decided the alongside one another .…. could be seen as drafting. best course of action would be to pace myself at a slower pace than usual as I wanted to run the whole way and manage the heat as best as I could. The run course was I focused on the Navy ship as well as my swim stroke and now filled with triathletes making their way out and breathing. I felt good and found the Navy ship getting back. I quickly fell into a good running stride and closer and closer and very soon the big yellow buoy enjoyed the coastal run. The scenery on this run course became visible and I swam around it with no collisions was beautiful with local residents coming out to cheer us into other triathletes. About 400 metres away was the on. The water stations were well stocked and manned next big yellow buoy – that part of the swim leg went with friendly volunteers who were enthusiastic about well also. As I turned this buoy to head to shore I still felt being part of this fun event. good and remained focused on the pink caps in front of me as well as the shoreline. As I exited the water I removed my goggles and cap and started to pull down my wetsuit as I power-walked up the stairs. I felt incredibly happy with how smooth my ocean swim went. On my first lap I had Striders Karin Kaehne and Rob Lutz run past me on their way to the finishing chute – both were running well and looking in great shape! Allison Back in transition (T1), I quickly pulled off my wetsuit passed me a few times on the run course and she was and put on the rest of my bike gear and headed off. The looking good also. As I entered my last 5 kms the field bike course is 83km and consists of a three lap course. started to look a bit sparse with triathletes here and The ride is through the township of Huskisson and heads there. I knew I wasn’t far from the finish and kept out through the small community villages of Woollamia focused on keeping a steady pace. Soon enough I was and Vincentia. The roads are mostly smooth and entering the finishing area and running up the finishing undulating (no big hills just lots of rolling country hills) chute. It was a great feeling to run over the blue finishing with beautiful bush scenery along the way. I rode my mats and finish this fantastic triathlon as all my training first two laps well but did notice towards the end of my had come together well to ensure that everything went to second lap that the bike field was becoming a whole lot plan and that I finished each leg feeling pretty good! smaller. On my third lap things became a tad lonely as I My times: swim 0.44:29 / bike 3.29:33 / run 2.15:53. had a few riders in front of me and couldn’t see anyone Total 6.29:56
20
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21 BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008
Email from LEONOR LAWLER Re: Canberra Marathon
Hi Dennis and high-fived all my Fab Five and How wonderful of you to think of all the Striders friends I could, just us. Look, I can only say I’m so to keep my mind busy and happy to have been able to run and distracting from the pain and k’s I finish it. I’m over the moon! I’m still had to cover. Guess what? – even more excited today than I was the pain actually suddenly yesterday … disappeared. I will attach a pic of me running with my orange The group support of the Striders, balloon. our Fab Five, friends and Team with Phil were all awesome. Their It would be nice to know to whom support took me through. But one this little orange balloon belonged thing I need to share, I was injured to (F-318) … anyhow, the spirit and and out of training for about 2 full the power it gave me, was worth weeks and with no 35k run picking it up, experience, I made it! I tried to keep with the 4:30 pacer but after Waiting at the 38 k mark was my 22k my injury pain (SIJ) came back family: Peter, Talissa, my daughter and I started to slow down. I and Fabio, my son, 18 years old. dropped back from my running They ran the last 4 km, friend, Margaret, dropped back encouraging me. “Hang in there from my Fab Five and friends and Mum, you can do this, you’re even lost my Pat Carroll 4:30 pacer, ‘Kee’ or Key with his red strong - you will make it!” I was most touched. And, having balloon. Then Key waved me, “C’mon, we’re ahead of time Bruce handing me a jelly lolly on the way was very touching, – you can do this!” But no way could I keep up … then I what a great team! And another Strider shouting, “Go came to a drink station and saw this little orange balloon Leonor, you can do it!” Thank you, Paul. And Paula calling, with a smiley face on it – “a bit of a ‘gutsy’ smile,” I “How is your hip? And the high five of all my fellow Striders thought… “Leonor, this is the smile and power which will be and Fab Five and Friends is what pulled me through - an your companion for the next 12 km.” Please bear in mind; I awesome journey! Thank you for all your support and had much respect for the distance as I had never run a 35k incredible camaraderie – I love the Striders! before. I just held on to that thought, smiled inside myself and told myself, “Just keep going Leonor –smile – this is your time to make it and your legs are strong.” I just kept Take care, cheering at all the other Striders – “Go Striders!” – cheered Leonor
They should have just shot me... By DENNIS WYLIE
I didn’t know any other students when I first attended I lined up with the other boys at the edge of the pool, the my High School. It was a lonely experience. The first item gun went off, we all dived in and I began to swim on the sporting agenda was the swimming carnival. I had furiously. I thought I was going well but couldn’t tell learned to swim properly a couple of years beforehand without popping my head up. and so, fancied my chances. I thought I might make a name for myself, and some friends. Soon I could hear what sounded like a great deal of cheering coming from the stands. I decided to look The big day came around and with no training to rely on, around to see who the popular boy was. just a firm belief in ability, I got changed into my swimmers early and waited in the change room. To my great surprise I found I was well in front but, no, I wasn’t being cheered from the stands: I was doing It was cold down there so I thought I might go upstairs freestyle and all the other swimmers were doing and stand in the sun. I thought I had plenty of time before breaststroke. my first event, 100m freestyle, but as soon as I arrived on deck I heard the call, “Under 14 boys?!” I thought, “Lucky I quickly swam to the side and got out to the sound of I got here early – just in time!” 400 boys laughing at me. Luckily, the girls weren’t there!
22
BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008
By MARK FIORE
NZ Ironman TriathlonC hampionships 2008 SO CLOSE BUT SO FAR
une 18 2007 was a big date. Turned 45 and more Then it is 40 kilometres out to the turn around and then importantly, moved up an age group. In theory, that back again. Mostly flat, but today, straight into a building Jme ans I would be more competitive in triathlons. So headwind. I felt OK on the hills, but once down on the flat much for theories. I struggled to hold my good spot in the field. Heading back into town with the wind behind, I felt pretty good I started the season by travelling to Florida USA for the and climbed well back into town. By now the weather World Half Ironman championships. It was a great was bad. The rain had come in and it was getting very experience. The race was on a flat course in good cold. Coming through town was great. I had fantastic conditions. I had a solid race in a very competitive field. A encouragement from Danielle. It was tough conditions 7 minute PB to come 68th in my age group out of 129, for the supporters, standing out in the cold and rain. It finishing in 4 hours and 49 minutes. More importantly, was also very tough for the competitors as we headed had a great time with the kids in Disney World and the back into the wind. I really struggled and could not hold a Kennedy Space centre. Overall, a great trip. decent aero position, nor a decent pace. I yearned for that turn around. It could not come soon Encouraged by the good result I enough. Finally it came and then it was decided to look at alternative ways to the final leg back into town. I knew my qualify for the World Ironman cycle had been poor. I had hoped for a championships in Hawaii. Doing a bit time in the 180 km cycle of around 5 of research I noticed that qualifying in hours 40 minutes. I was not going to be the New Zealand Ironman had been near that. I hit the 2nd transition in 5:54 easier than the Australian Ironman and was a bit annoyed at myself. The over the last 10 years. The race was overall time was now 7 hours 3 getting more competitive. A couple of minutes. years back an 11 hour finish would have qualified, but last year it was Surprisingly my legs felt OK. Out on the 10:37. A time I thought, was run I knew I had blown my chance to achievable. qualify for Hawaii. There were too many guys in front of me. I was pissed. Entry paid, flight booked and plans The weather was still wet, cold and made. Headed over to New Zealand windy. Out on the course I was starting with Danielle. Thanks to QANTAS, the Mark was required to show more my 1st lap when the lead male was flight was a nightmare. Didn’t get to the than the usual modesty in NZ starting his 2nd lap. The commentator hotel until 4:30 am in the morning! Not mentioned how focussed he looked. An great preparation for a big race. The race was in Taupo, a important lesson there. With the cool weather I thought I beautiful, scenic spot. The weather on the days before the would try to run hard for the first 10 kms and see what event was fine, but the forecast for race day were not would happen. I went through the 10 km mark in about good. 47 minutes. The turn around meant that it was back into the strong wind. That damned wind! I tried to stay The morning of the race was overcast, but not raining, focussed for the return into town. Danielle cheered me yet. The swim was fantastic. A beautiful freshwater lake, through and told me that I had moved up into 19th spot a wide start with a long swim to the first rounding buoy. on my age group. Later she told me that I looked like I Plenty of room for 1200 competitors. Something I had was running mad, but I would like to think it was my not experienced in 11 other Ironman swims. I swam well. focussed look. I went through the half in 1:43. I was still It is amazing how much better you can swim when you holding a reasonable pace, but it was starting to hurt. By can see in the water and don’t get smashed by other the 30 km mark, it was hurting bad. The cramps had swimmers. I finished the 3.8 km swim in 61 minutes. A started through the legs. I struggled for the next 5 kms. PB. At the next drink station I took on some more Gel and then decided to push it hard. For some reason the body At NZ there is a long run into the bike Transition. I responded. I just kept pushing and talking (well noticed that the weather had started to turn colder and swearing) at myself through the cramps and pain. I windier. Taupo is an extinct volcano so the bike course overtook quite a lot of runners in the run home. I finished climbs out of town and then heads down into a valley. the race in 10 hours and 39 minutes, which was a 3 hours
23
BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008
35 minutes marathon. An Ironman marathon PB by 10 minutes away from that elusive spot. So much for the minutes (but to my calculations, missing a qualifying theory of an easier qualification spot in NZ. This year it spot)! After my massage I checked the provisional was a popular theory. results, I ended up 12th in my age group. The rest of the trip to NZ was great. It is a beautiful place I was happy with my effort but gutted as well. Close but and Danielle and I had a great time, including Danielle’s not close enough. At the Hawaii roll down, the last bungy jump. Looked harder than an Ironman. qualifying spot in my age group was 7th. I ended 14
MARATHON TRAINI N G G R O U P
Some memorable moments: Bruce Smith offered a blister MTG pack to Magnus, last year’s winner, as he lapped us. Unfortunately, as the whole side of Magnus’ white runner Corner was blood-red, Magnus simply asked for a ride to the finish line instead! By PHIL SKURRIE Sean Aalders proved that he had plenty left in the tank at the finish as he dropped down for push-ups as he crossed Congratulations to the Canberra 2008 Marathon Training the line. Group!! I would also like to extend a big thank you and well done A memorable achievement for all of you, and on behalf of to another fantastic group of Striders who helped me the Sydney Striders, I extend my congratulations to all of with the Canberra 2008 MTG and spent a lot of time on you for putting in such a big effort over summer to the road encouraging the group: achieve your marathon goals. Thank you to: The MTG finishers were: Pauline Evans, Karen Canfell, Fran Boorer, Paul Hannell, Jess Baker 3:33:50 Chris Patel and Jim Moody.
Paul Craft 3:52:25 It has been a pleasure to train with all of you over the Barbara Becker 3:56:57 summer and I wish you all well in your running future. Lee Baker 4:02:39 But for now, bask in the enjoyment of your fantastic Alicia Wood 4:04:29 achievement.
Peter Overton 4:08:31 Sharyn Hill 4:11:54 Looking forward, the Marathon Training Group for the Mike Brimfield 4:20:40 Sydney Marathon will commence mid to late May, and you will be notified via email when this commences. In Margaret Krempff 4:30:08 the meantime, feel free to contact me if you are Denise Wilson 4:32:07 interested. Ted Brailey 4:33:31 Bruce Smith 4:35:54 Phil Skurrie, MTG Co-Ordinator. Sean Aalders 4:36:39
Paula McCormack 4:36:57 MTG Information: Leonor Lawler 4:46:58 If you want to receive weekly updates on the MTG, and to be informed of future MTG events, please send an email The Canberra Marathon was a wet and soggy affair, with to [email protected]. constant rain for the first 2 hours of the race. Enough to ensure that feet were a bit more swollen than usual! But Did you know? the weather didn’t dampen the spirits of the team who The MTG’s Jess Baker debuted in her first marathon in had worked so hard to get to the starting line. The Canberra 08 and (by my rough calculations) was in the weather cleared on the second half to the point that top 50 females. Well done Jess – awesome run!! many of the group were displaying a good dose of sunburn after the race! Many thanks to the wonderful Quote of the Month: supporters who braved the weather to spur us on – in "If one can stick to the training throughout the many long particular it was great to see the “Lady by the Lake” with years, then will power is no longer a problem. It's a new addition (Man by the Lake). A special mention to raining? That doesn't matter. I am tired? That's beside the McCormack family who turned up in about 10 the point. It's simply that I just have to." different places to cheer us on! - Emil Zatopek 24
BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008
By MARTIN PLUSS 14.03.08
Nepean T riathlon : a personal perspective - sliding out the back of the pack
y involvement in triathlons began in 1984. At The rest of the 1990s was the period of what I call school I did the sport I was meant to do and “deferred personal goals” with a young family and in M spent 5 Years at University in which I swam 6 2005 after being involved in Cool Running and a bit of laps of the pool on the campus. Once I started teaching in excess weight I decided to go back and do the Nepean Bowral, a group of us jumped into this new sport of Triathlon and I was really pleased to see many of the old triathlons in 1984-85. We would brave Bowral pool and faces. its 14 degree temperatures and race home to have a shower to warm up and jump into bed. We would have What do I remember of the different races? The race magic rides out to Fitzroy Falls and back and race distances varied. From memory, it was mainly 1/40/14 through the main street of Bowral home. You cannot do but at some stage the run became 12km. Well, many of this now – well safely. We would run up Mt Gibraltar and my thoughts are merged together. Looking at the results have undulating longer runs through Burradoo. now, I can see I was in races with many people who keep active to today such as Dave Bray and Paul Every to We were dependent on the triathlon magazine of the day name two. I remember talking to Robert DeCastella but the yearly routine was the January Taree Aquatic while he was supporting his wife Gaylene Clews. Who Triathlon, the February Sri Chimnoy Long Course in could forget how cold the water was after they let the February, in March and April I watched a few mates do water out of the dam the week before the race – the the Ironman, then we hit the winter fun run circuit and water came from the bottom of the dam and it was icy the then in Spring we had the Windsor, Wisemans Ferry cold – just like my training water temperature in Bowral. and Nowra Triathlon, Canberra Short course races. This I remember running down the bulldozed track which was was followed up by the to be the freeway that now Nepean triathlon which was Martin’s Guinness Book of Records attempt at goes up the mountains, once my main event to end the “Balancing on two wheels” had been disallowed when over the Nepean River. year. Each summer we tried all photographic evidence was found to be flawed. to tour (holiday) to race In 1985 the 39 year old locations. Once we went to Stewie Mc Neill won the race New Zealand and did three ahead of some of the legends triathlons, two road races and of the day such as Mark once ocean swim over three Pringle and Bob Tefler. I weekends. And as we were remember crossing by Stewie staying in Youth hostels we with 6km to go and he was actually road further to the sledging the young guy races than the races running ahead of him in the themselves on race morning. lead saying things like a 40 your old is going to run you My experience of exercise and down and sure enough, he “triathalons”(as it was did. An Amazing run! I also sometimes spelt in the 1980s) note that a 22 year old Greg and triathlons revolved Love (3 time winner of the Six around the Nepean Triathlon. Foot Track and placed top I did 10 races from 1985- three 9 times) was in the top 1995. I missed 1988 due to a 60 places for the event. I sprained ankle while on the finished 2:28:20 in 158/1221. Year 10 School Camp in Not a bad debut. Annette Kangaroo Valley – on a Ricardo won the women’s training run in the bush. I race in 60th place over all and trained seriously for the first I finished behind the 5th 5-6 and after that, the Nepean women. was the only race I did each year because it was the race I 1986 was my year. I set PBs just had to do each year. in 5, 10, 12, 14 and 42km. 25
BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008
The race was won by Greg Stewart, followed by ironman now living in Berowra and riding the old Pacific Highway legend Marc Dragon and Simon Anderson (Spot). The – I don’t think I swam at all. I cannot remember going to first woman was Louise Mackinlay in 73rd position. a pool. Yours truly tended to race amongst the 2nd and third women and this year I squeezed in 99/1200 ahead of the In 1992 Tim Bentley’s reign was well on the way with second women. The swim was short as I did the 1km in first place ahead of Marc Dragon and Chris Doherty in a 11:30 and the fastest swim time of the day was 7:20. I time 1:49:43. It was also the start of the Professional was wrapped and terrified of the pace of the pack during category in the results. The first woman was Rina the cycle which saw me through the 40 km in 57:50. With Bradshaw in 2:05:10, in 37th place. I was now 464/846 fresh legs I ran the 14 km?? (at least 12km) in 52 with a 25 minute swim, 71 minute cycle and a 60 minute minutes. My finishing time was 2:09:50. run. There is a definite downward trend now and I had not discovered Hornsby Pool. In 1987 other things in life took more priority after a very self indulgent 1986. I don’t have a swim or a cycle In 1993 Emma Carney Jackie Hallam and Jackie Gallagher time but I did manage 64 minutes for the 14 km run leg pushed each other for first to third place with 1:56 and finished in 2:14:40. The race was won by Nigel winning time. Tim Bentley, Frank Clark and Grai Barber with Spot in second place and Greg Welch Underhill took out the mens race with 1:44:47. I finished debuting in 3rd place. Sue Turner was the first women in 635/782 with 19:58 swim 75minute cycle and 63 in 27th place. I finished in 138/919. I think this was the minute run for a finish time of 2:38:04. Now I was only race where I was in the main pack chasing the leading looking at my category placing and was struggling with pack there would have been 60-80 riders in the pack. I the whole concept that I was slowing down. am not sure what happened but I was in the middle of the pack flying down Old Northern Road. I felt a clip I only had two more to do to make 10 and literally I just behind me and turned and everyone behind me went turned up for this one and the last two. In 1994 I was down. I heard later the lead women were in the pack 603/787. 20 minute swim, 78 minute cycle and 66 that went down. I still wonder to this day if I was the minute run. Quite a bit behind Bianca Weosik, Maureen cause. Cummings and Helen Macgechie and Tim Bentley Wayne Slater and Antony Mckeon and I note a 19 year old Chris In 1988 I got married, did my ankle and was doing my McCormack was in 4th place. My time 2:45:41 kept me Masters Degree. From 1989 to 1995 the aim was do the ahead of most of my mates and now that was the only race each year to get to number 10. The only other goal. racing I did in this period was a couple of Half Marathons; the Westleigh Half, while it existed, and the 1995 was my tenth and last for 9 years. I finished Sydney Half. There was very little training being done in 681/823 in a time of 2:55:14, 24 minute swim, 80 minute Bowral and later Berowra and St Ives when we came cycle and 70 minute run. Nick, my son, was two years back to Sydney. I managed to old. Ali was to be born the next rope in some healthy mates and month and I was happy to stop it was our mates' race each doing triathlons. My only goal year. I felt a clip behind me at this stage was to finish off 10 and turned and everyone SMH Half marathons. In 1989 I finished in 234/1138 with a decent swim of 18:30, 66 behind me went down Fast forward to a decade of not- minute cycle and 54 minute run to-serious running except for a which must have been 12km. goal to run the Olympic My overall time was 2:19:20. The winner Greg Welch Marathon course in 2000 which I did in 3:54. A new job, (1:46) did 40 minutes for the run and was followed up by another house to live in, some extra weight and more Brad Bevan and Spot Anderson (no longer Simon on the involvement in Cool Running Australia. results). The first woman was Michelli Jones in 70th position in 2:00:40. Anyway, I did the Nepean Triathlon again on a new course in 2005 and 2006 and Number 13 will be this In 1990, Brad Bevan won in 1:47 with Tim Bentley 23 weekend. seconds behind him. Bruce Thomas was in third place with Liz Hepple in 1:57:15 in 61st place. My swim was Just for the record, and they are all new names to me, in still decent, with a wetsuit, at 19:50. The cycle was 2005 Adrian Cominotto won in 1:36:03 followed by slowing to 64 minutes and the run was a bit slower at Dean King and Peter Schokman with the first female 54:00. I guess 2:18:25 is alright for a 30 year old. Brittany Orr in 36th place 1:49:03. In 2006, Nick Hornman won in 1:32:49 followed by Lindsay Wall and In 1991, Mac Dragon came back for a win followed by Ant Brett Mathison with the first female, Sharp in 1:44:19 . Mckeon and Chris Doherty. The first woman was Donna Gould in 36th place. I had a better18 minute swim, 68 And as for me, in 2005 I finished in 355/571 place in cycle and 56 minute run for 2:22:58 in 436/931. I was 2:18 57- 19:22 Swim, 1:05:01 cycle and 54:33 run. In
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BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008
2006 I finished in 361/575 place in 2:17. 20:48 Swim, 1:29:53 and Jo King, the first female, finished in 1:45:33. 1:05:20 cycle and 50:50 run. It does not take long to slide out the back of the pack. Hopefully I can make 20 Nepean Triathlons. Thanks to In 2007 I entered my 13th Nepean Triathlon. The new Sue Horsburgh for the 2007 photos. course was brilliant I loved the turns in the light industrial area. I did 2:21:50 with the swim (no wetsuit) By Martin Pluss in 23:38, the cycle in 1:01:30 and the run in 56:41, 044RUNNING finishing 403/604. The first male was Aaron Farlow in [email protected].
Email from ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Re: Hatches, Matches, Dispatches
Haven’t been born, married or died but certainly have been REPLY reborn ! And with a Dennis, let me introduce myself; Lizzie Taylor; self famous nicknamed the “Silent Strider”. I have been a member of name too! the Sydney Striders since I started training for my first ever Nice to hear Marathon (The London in 2000) which was also my from you. I introduction to running thanks to my sister Ginny who, with might pass it the rest of my family live in the UK. I completed the London on. Do you in a thrilling 5hrs 30 odd mins and then have done City to have a Surfs, Half Marathons and various other fun runs including striders top, the Sydney Marathon in 2002 and continue to enjoy my or is the running to this day. Am currently training for the Mother’s colour wrong Day Classic and then will continue on to The City to Surf this for you? year. Dennis I call myself the “Silent Strider” because I have never ever run with The Striders – I just don’t do mornings. Dennis, my NB: the work as an Entertainer has me keeping very different hours pictured one to those who wear the green but even though I don’t is pink. manage to run with my Club I truly enjoy being a member of this community of runners and like minded people and by staying a member and receiving emails and newsletters and stories of people’s various achievements it keeps me REPLY inspired and motivated as I run along the Scenic Walkway between Balgowlah & Manly and also my beloved Bay Run – Good yes I drive from Balgowlah to go and run The Bay mid question...... mornings here and there and love it. No I don’t So thankyou Striders and if you see a complete stranger have a Striders top, must admit I had to wear green for my with a “Taylor Made” Cap and Versace Sunnies (did I tell uniform all throughout school so I kind of steer away from you I’m an Entertainer?) giving you smile while you are it especially as the Striders Green is well, VERY green. I running in Striders Colours, rest assured I’m not coming on should have a look at the ‘merch’ on the website really to you, just recognising another fellow Strider and shouldn’t I...... I think there’s a bit more groovy kind of acknowledging our common bond. Keep up the good work! stuff available these days.
Best regards and Happy Running Kind regards, Cheers, Lizzie Taylor Lizzie 27
BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008
Presidents Report
am quite amazed to find myself writing this, it’s The Super Series run at the Gold Coast Marathon is something that you read in many magazines and coming up fast. We usually manage about 60-70 Striders I think that with a bit of luck you’ll never have to do it. for the event, if you are planning on running one of the How did that happen??? many events it might be a good idea to start planning your accommodation. Firstly, on behalf of us all, I would again like to express our thanks to David Bray and the Committee for the time The Sunday Training Runs (STaR’s for the newer and effort he and they have given to the club during his members who may not be fully aware of them) are Presidency. David has followed a line of successful growing strongly as is the volunteers base who look after Presidents who, over the years, have built this club into us. We have a number of new STaR Hosts so, when you one of the, if not THE, premier long distance running run any Sunday please make sure you let them know you clubs in Australia. Each President has left his or her mark appreciate the time and effort they put in. If you have the on the club and David is no different, he has changed the opportunity to help run one of the Sunday STaR’s please way we run the Super Series, assisted in building the get in touch with Rob Chalmers who is always on the software that we use in the day to day operations of the lookout for new and repeat STaR Hosts. Currently Rob is club and has been involved in nearly all facets of the looking for somebody (or 2 or 3) to host the Sydney Half operation of the club to improve the facilities that we are Marathon in May. If you are not running and could help able to provide to you, our out please get in touch with Rob members. I am sure that we all or any member of the committee wish him the very best in his who will pass on your details to new career in Singapore and Rob. To those of you who have look forward to hearing stories already volunteered, please of running in 30 degree plus accept the thanks of all of us temperatures and maybe even who set out each Sunday joining him there should the morning on some of the best opportunity present itself. runs in Sydney.
I would like to take this I expect that most of you are opportunity to say THANKYOU aware that our 10K manager, to those of you who joined the Barbara Becker, has decided to committee this year. We have a leave the committee, Barbara quite a variation in experience, has recently been promoted in ages and outlooks that we her role at the Cancer Council believe will keep the club which unfortunately clashes heading in the right direction with her role with us. Barbara and, in doing so, allow us to help you achieve the goals has done an exceptional job with the 10 K series since that you have set for yourself for the ensuing year. she became involved and we will sorely miss her input. To fill the gap, one of our more well known runners has Prior to and since our election, the committee have been offered to step in to fill the gap. Jo Cowan has kindly involved with a number of activities on your behalf and I picked up the proverbial gauntlet, for which we are all would like to briefly let you know what is happening. very grateful. As usual, Jo will need the help and support of all of us as volunteers to assist in keeping the 10K The club’s 6ft Track Committee, who have been series as successful as it has been in the past. For organizing the event during the previous 12 months, anybody interested in taking on the 10k manager’s role, managed to outdo it’s usual success, undoubtedly due to now would be a great time to get involved. It would also the time and effort put in by Kevin Tiller and the team assist Jo as, like most of us, she is a very busy person. who managed the event. Kevin believes that the 6ft Track proceeds to the Rural Bush Fire Brigade will again be in In May we are assisting Athletics NSW with the running the vicinity of $30,000.00 which deserves well earned of the NSW Road Championship, we are doing this as a congratulations. The same goes for the 100 or so Striders trial to see if we can be of some assistance to Athletics who again ran the event with some fantastic results. NSW and if it will fit into the operations of the club for future reference. This race is being held under the We offer our congratulations to the newest members of banner of Athletics NSW. However, it is effectively our MTG who have completed their first Marathon under replacing one of our own 10 k races. Results will be the guidance of Phil Skurrie, and look forward to the posted as usual for our members as will be the point stories they will tell for a good few months to come. If scores and handicaps. you look around the club, it is amazing to see how many of us have come through the ranks of the MTG since it We are also getting very close to the May Awards was started by Kevin O’Kane. Evening on the 23rd. As we have done for the last couple 28
BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008 of years, we have again arranged to have the dinner at making a start. If there are any of you out there who have the STaR City Casino, in the Ballroom. Our guest speaker experience in this area of expertise, please get in touch for the evening will be Mr. Bruce Fordyce, Bruce has won with us as I am sure we can find you something to do. Comrades 9 times (8 consecutively) and has run it 25 times, he will share his experiences with us during the The new committee is just starting to discover the evening. We have somewhat limited seating available so volume of work that is required to try and keep this ship if you are interested in coming along please get your afloat and it will only be with the assistance of the reservations in as soon as possible. If we exceed the fantastic people in the committee and help of the numbers we have reserved and we are early with our membership that we will survive. We are here to support reservations we may be able to arrange additional tables. you as well as to promote the sport of running and, in We have also had a number of enquiries from non particular, running with Sydney Striders, if you have any members of the club who are fans of Bruce. We have suggestions on how we can improve or, if you have allocated a number of seats for these visitors however, concerns please let us know. All contacts can be there is one proviso, they must be accompanied by a forwarded to the club through the general email address member of the club. The cost of tickets for visitors is [email protected] from where it will be $60.00. (NB This does not include immediate family who redirected to the correct committee member are charged members rates). BE EARLY. When I started to write this I thought I would be lucky to To our new and existing members we have had a delivery get ½ page, I have left out much of the work that is concern with our uniforms; it is the result of our own currently being undertaken by members of the success. The number of new members who have joined committee, I will save that for the next report. so far this year has completely cleaned out our stock. New deliveries have been received however, as soon as Cheers they arrived they had been allocated and we were Jim waiting for the next delivery to arrive. Please be patient and the uniforms will arrive as soon as we receive them. If you believe that you have been dropped from the list please send an email to us and we will chase it up. For new members please contact Pauline on the same email address.
As mentioned above, the influx of new members for the first three months has far exceeded what we expected. We welcomed 96 new members which represents an increase of 32% over the same period for last year. Having said that, there were more males than females in this group which goes against recent trends where we have been increasing the percentage of females in the club. To our new members, “Welcome Aboard” we hope you have an enjoyable time running with us.
If you are reading this you have obviously received your copy of the Blister, again Dennis has managed to provide us with another literary masterpiece from the minds and experiences of our members. I have recently been able to read similar magazines from other clubs and one thing stands us apart from most of them, all of our articles are from our own members which is a remarkable feat so well done all of you for your hard work.
In Dennis’ last Blister he made reference to our Sergeant at Arms, Wayne Gregory, the title of Sergeant at Arms sounds somewhat ominous. For those who are not in the know, probably only Past Presidents understand, Wayne is an assistant to the President; when odd things pop up that need doing and they don’t actually fall into one role or another then the Sergeant at Arms steps in. As an example at the moment the club has no OHS policy which in this day and age is something that we need to consider, Wayne is currently looking into specific parts of this documentation and with the help of Bernie we are
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BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008
By NICK TAYLOR Ironman Number 1 our years ago Vania, my wife said “let’s do some to complete the cycle leg with enough in reserve for what running”. I said, “That’s bad for you, you get injured was to follow. I had no mechanical problems or flat tyres, F and your knees have to be re-constructed”. I’m not I just hunkered down on the aero bars and focused on sure what happened but we started jogging. eating and drinking.
Soon our normal mode of operation was rising at 4.30am My marathon started about three hours before dark. It on Sunday morning, which my work colleagues could not sounds like a long time, but I ran in the dark for another fathom. As you can imagine, the idea of a marathon came two and a half hours to the finish. My pace was up and I said “that’s way too far - I can’t do that”! Oh well! intentionally slow. Even so, I was surprised to be passing so much for that – I did the 2005 Canberra marathon and more people than expected in the first 10km. (Perhaps I copped my first overuse injury in my foot soon after, was going out too hard as usual?). Not long after that my which took six months to recover from. You see, I don’t pace slowed further. At completion of the first lap the know when to stop, although I’m getting wiser (or less runners received a yellow scrunchie, and at completion stupid, as the case may be). It was about this time that of the second lap an orange scrunchie was given to Vania suggested we look into triathlon as a way of indicate the number of laps completed. I looked longingly reducing the injuries by doing three different sports at at the wrists with two scrunchies, and tried not to think once. about how I had to earn them. I’m sure I could have, at times, power walked faster than my run pace, but I ran Fast forward to 2007 and after one and a half years of all the way, only walking through the aid stations. The solid swim training two to three days per week and cheering crowd were very supportive and the jelly beans thousands of kilometers on the bike, I entered my first and oranges were appreciated in those final dark hours. Half Ironman. This was also preceded by, “that’s way too far, I can’t do that”. I then did two more Half Ironmans It’s such a relief to hear the booming music and and it was suggested I might think about the full commentary getting louder for the last time and running Ironman. I targeted Port Macquarie 2008 and the down the finishing chute hearing, “Nick Taylor you are an training started in earnest in December 2007 - perhaps a Ironman!” a fantastic experience. I sprinted down the little too late, considering my cycle endurance really chute, to get under 14 hours, and that didn’t hurt at all. If needed some work. only that euphoric feeling could be maintained for the whole race. About six weeks out I got a strange overuse injury in my foot (the other foot this time), so I reduced the running Another interesting experience was watching the and cycling training volume to about 40% of my plan. amazing Allison Lilley sail past me at the 25km mark The injury didn’t go away because I never really let it after starting 8km behind me, but that’s probably recover but I managed it well (I reckon, now) and made it another story…. to the start line. My race strategy was to take it easy; I would be forced to go slow because of the injury. This I’ve titled this “Ironman Number 1” because there will was a bit a departure from my usual mode of going out definitely be more – I wasn’t totally trashed and have a too hard. Anyhow, although slow, I had a very good day lot of time to make up. and was not as trashed as I thought I would be afterwards. My splits: Swim 1:20:56, Bike 7:16:55, Run 5:21:35 – total 13:59:26 The 3.8km swim was good, it’s probably now my best leg, considering the focus on it in training. The closeness of the pack (1500 swimmers at close quarters) meant getting smacked, punched and kicked a lot, which I Flicking thru the latest issue of Runners World, Kevin wasn’t used to – that doesn’t happen so much in the Tiller noticed an article about "a league of extraordinary sprint triathlons. runners": Peter Correa - "I was an aid worker in war torn Liberia", Stewart Robertson - "I trained for a The 180km cycle leg consisted of three 60km loops of marathon during the Iraq War" and ALEX HAMILL - "I undulating and flat roads. I prefer the undulations, ran to and from work every day." especially when the flat sections offer a stiff headwind. Good stuff! And striders got a mention. Kevin says The weather was otherwise kind on the day – cool with there can't be many striders that remember Alex some light rain and the sun didn’t bite too much. I had running regularly with striders but he's still out there recently ridden to Canberra (280km) which, along with and proudly wearing the green and white. the training I had done, gave me strength and confidence > > -- 30 > Kevin Tiller
BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008
By GERRY ARTHUR
A chieving sub 35…
ust a bit of background to start with. I ran my previous 10k PB Jat the Striders 10k at Homebush way back in July 2006. I was pretty pleased with that 35.09. Throughout 2007 I never even got close to that time and given that I’m advancing rapidly towards the big 4-0 (OK I’m 38…) I was starting to think that, for the relatively Ocean’s 13 prepared enthusiastically for the post-heist, on foot, getaway. shorter stuff (including 10k’s), my days of new PB’s may be past. All a bit defeatist and with claimed, suits me much better. The 10k in March was negative connotations towards age I know… therefore tagged as the first serious attempt at that 35 minute barrier. However a decent run at the 5.6k JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge in November 2007 (when I ran a 45 As I’m sure many of you will know, the conditions on the second PB of 19.04, if a PB counts meaningfully in a event day were just about perfect. It was also a big help to have which I’ve only run 3 times!) and some post race bravado what turned out to be a large group of guys all looking to with some of the guys saw me saying words to the effect run around that 35 minute pace. of: ‘I want to break 35 minutes for 10k in 2008…’. Objective officially set! Given the relative uniformity of the North Head course I figured even pacing 3.30k’s would be my plan. This was And so the first Tuesday of 2008 saw my fronting up for pretty much how things worked out for the first half and the first time at what has now become known as the in fact, by 5k I knew I was about 10 seconds ahead of HuRT Squad (Hickson Road Training Squad). Although I schedule. I’ve found in the past that it’s the km’s from 5 used to incorporate some speed training into my running to 8 which can make or break a good time as you begin to when going solo, I soon came to realize that group speed tire and motivation can ebb away. Fortunately, on the work is SO much more effective with the added challenge day, I was able to gain confidence from some of the hard of trying to keep pace with guys that are, in the main, a HuRTS training sessions which I’d dragged myself few minutes faster than me over 10k. through and the fact that a tight little group of about 5 guys had formed and I really didn’t want to drop off the A mixture of really tough sessions over the following back without a fight! weeks (8 by 5mins, 4 by 3k, 1min on 30s float times 30 reps spring to mind!) all contributed to a rapid increase By the time I reached the 8k marker I knew that I just in fitness. Supplementing the speed work was a had to hang on for about another 1k and then the gentle reasonable consistency in mileage (although only in the downhill all the way from 9k to the finish should be 80-90k per week range) and even by February I was enough to crack that PB. By that stage I’d actually keen to test things out at the first 10k of the New Year at stopped looking at the watch anyway preferring to ‘give Lane Cove. Unfortunately I clearly hadn’t communicated it everything’ regardless! these plans well enough to my 15 month old daughter and a very sleepless night for us all the night before the Anyway, after a very breathless all out last km (and it’s run meant there was no way I was getting up at 5.30 in always much further from the roundabout than I ever time to make my way to Lane Cove! Plenty of other remember!) I really did stagger across the finish line in opportunities, I reasoned! 34.38, a 31 second PB and, definitely, objective achieved! The calibre of the competitors was such that I only Another month of solid training, therefore, followed in finished 24th on the day but that really wasn’t important February. and, as I’ve said, was actually one of the key factors in keeping me on pace. I’m sure we each have our own favourite 10k course (apparently some people actually enjoy the hills of Lane There’s no great secret or moral to this story. It boils Cove!) but for me North Head, despite not being as flat as down to the simple fact that running isn’t that 31
BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008 complicated! Do more of it, run some of it as fast and as anything to do with how old you are… hard as you can (or in a group situation even harder than you believed was possible), and you WILL get fitter. So it’s thanks to Tom, Mike, Ray, Dave, Serg and Combine that with good conditions, good competition numerous other HuRTer’s that I’ve been able to tick off a and a positive mental approach and you WILL get faster. big objective for the year. I’m looking forward to what PB’s will fall as a result. None of these simple facts has the rest of the year has in store. .
By DENNIS WYLIE
Move over Committee, who Really runs this Club, anyway?
OUR CLUB IS NOT MERELY ORGANIZED BY COMMITTEE; IT’S ACTIVITIES ARE ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF OUR MANY VOLUNTEERS.
Striders gives you the chance to find out why By volunteering to marshall, for example, you can get to one of the wisest men to ever live informed, “It see everyone in the race at least once. If you are lucky, as some Marshalls once were, you might see Steve is better to give than receive.” Yes! You can Cornelius fulfilling a betting obligation by running the volunteer to help run the club!! internal half marathon (21k!) backwards in red undies, whistling all the way or Joel Mackay juggling all the way. Come to think of it, we don’t have enough of this stuff. Any volunteers? While there are official voluntary positions, a lot of volunteering is just a matter of helping when help is Sue and Bruce Horsburgh can’t stop volunteering. needed. Adam Moody has spent many hours rewriting Bruce says, much of the software that operates our timing system. “ a) As a flag marshal, you get to stand on a corner, hold a You’ll often see him at the terminal during or after 10k flag and utter encouraging remarks to people you don't races. When the timing system was sent back to France know (and highly defamatory and insulting remarks to for various repairs recently, Pauline Evans interpreted those you do). our requirements as she speaks fluent French! Pauline b) The water table operator is the world's highest has also assisted the Editor of Blister with proofreading pressure job. Long periods wondering when the runners and manages the finish area at the 6 foot track race, and will be there, followed by short bursts of panic as you true-to-form, is looking for more work! She is currently watch your carefully laid out array of cups disappearing the person whom new members first meet. faster than you can refill them c) The catcher in the finishing chute, on the other hand, The 10k races are catered for by John Hanna and family needs strong arms, nimble feet, rubber gloves and a cast and gear that no one else seems able or willing to bring iron stomach (because many runners don't!). to these races has been consistently transported by the d) And last but not least, the pacer. As a pacer, you are unassuming but very helpful Peter Woods for years. The the font of all wisdom for your disciples; the mother hen 10k series is the hub of our club. guarding your brood and delivering them safe to the finish line. The best part is that you can yabber on in the No-one can deny Barbara Becker added a great deal to sure knowledge that they won't have enough breath to the 10k series, organizing parking, increasing the club’s tell you to shut up for Pete's sake...)” revenue and membership by increasing the cost of competing in the 10k series for outsiders, She added Lisa Carroli fractured a toe and decided to help with Doctors, Running Shoe Mobile shops, Coffee vans and Marshalling. She was concerned that, as runners were better prizes too. She is replaced now by the very capable passing from either direction, she might send someone Jo Cowan who is a real trooper and stepped in when no the wrong way. But the runners, like sheep, followed one one else did after Barbara couldn’t continue. Jo notes that another, bleating all the way, solving her dilemma. Bah a some members drive from Gosford to marshall at our sore foot! 10k series...that's dedication! She adds that some club members who are going to race state championships in Stephen Bodnar reports: “About 4 years ago I spoke to the afternoon get up early to marshall at our 10k series. the then Striders President, Stephen Jackson, about the
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BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008 lack of STARS on the South Side of Sydney, Steve’s reply from our sponsors, the Sydney Running Centre, at was, “If you want one; work it out and we’ll consider it.” I Edgecliff. live in the Kogarah area and often run along Botany Bay and over towards Sylvania so I had a rough idea what So, what can you do? Striders like. I took out the Gregory’s; photo copied the maps to the north and South and with the aid of a scale Before commencing any job, instructions will be given by rule approximated 10, 20 and 30 km distances. Steve and Jo Cowan (who is very nice!) but here is a description of I both work in town so it was easy to meet up over a the main roles. coffee and show him my plan, we also agreed on the start location and the name – Airport Adventure, Steve was REGISTRATIONS; Each competitor fills in a form. pretty adamant that both had to be and sound not too far You put their race number on the corner of the form and south or they won’t turn up. A few weeks later Steve and take their money, laughing maniacally as you do. Seems Darryl Chrisp met at my place with their racing bikes, easy at first but lines start to form in front of you and you Steve’s had an odometer attached to the lock nut on the have to work fast (now they laugh maniacally), but it’s front wheel that he used to record the distances, We all not for long and often, you’ll be replaced so you can do a headed off. I had my daughters mountain bike and hadn’t warm up and still compete! You get to chat with friends ridden 30 kilometres in my life, so the experience was as well! pretty painful. The next hours were spent riding the EQUIPMENT: You need a spacious vehicle (a Hummer course, noting the distances and writing down all the will do) and possibly a garage to take all tables etc, to usual Left and Right turns, street names and land marks. each race and back home again and always turn up for To my surprise and the others, the course back to the next race or make sure someone else relieves you Bicentennial Park was right on 30Km.” when necessary. SET UP: Someone has to run around the course (or ride a “From the planning and mapping stage Stephen engaged bike) beforehand to put out the Witches Hats that serve another Strider member (Joel) who plotted the course on as kilometre markers and pick them up afterward while his computer and loaded it on to the Striders web site. A everyone else is having fun. All courses have been pre- month or so later the Airport Adventure was added to marked so it's an easy job! the calendar, and to my surprise we had about 80 HOSTING: As you’ve seen at the STaRs. You have to buy runners on the first run. I, with the help of my wife have the cake, fruit and champagne, or whatever takes your hosted the run twice a year since then and always get a fancy (probably on Thursday late night shopping) for good turn out and lots off thanks.” the provision of a few hundred runners, most of whom haven’t had breakfast yet. You take it all to the race or Brian Wilcockson became seriously addicted to STaR and do a lot of cutting up, setting up and volunteering last year. After an Achilles’ injury got the presentation. Afterward, you uncomplainingly clean up better of him, he started out with registrations and then the equipment and leftovers or take them to Matthew moved on to pacing the 50 minute runners as it was an Talbot (if convenient) or give them away to any runners easy run for him and wouldn’t harm his recovery who are still about and hand over all equipment to the chances. After pacing 50 minutes a couple of times he next person to take to the next venue. If hosting a STaR then paced the 45 minute group five times! This year, so you will also need to mark the course with chalk or flour far, he’s been on pacing duties twice. As Brian says, “I to avoid runners becoming lost – well, some of them! was thanked by several runners for the even pace and MARSHALLS: You get to wear a fashion designed getting them over the line in the right time.” colourful vest and wave a red flag! You stand at certain points where runners may go the wrong way and make Interested? Why not speak to a volunteer at a STaR or sure they don’t. A few gruff words is probably all you’ll one of our 10k races about what they do and what they need to utter if anyone does the unexpected....you also get out of it? get to cheer and encourage, which is fun! WATER STOP: Sounds easy and looks so at first when the front runners, who will finish quickly and are probably blowing quite hard, are unlikely to want a drink Your club always needs volunteers in a 10k race, but just when you think you can take it easy, the middle of the pack start coming through in large It seems like we always have enough volunteers but numbers and they do want a drink! You’ll find it hard to often it is because the same people step forward again at replace the drinks that have been taken quickly enough. the last minute to make things work because no one else Panic will set in but just before you have a nervous has put up their hand. The Committee tried to deal with breakdown, the pressure eases. This explains why you this by making volunteering compulsory, at least once, see so many pre-poured cups on the tables. for those who are competitive in the Super or 10k Series. PACERS: Experienced runners with a good idea of pace You could not win an award unless you had volunteered can fulfil this role. It seems daunting to take it on but you at least once. Then it was decided that, rather than just can keep pace with a Garmin or such like, if you have one punishment, there should also be reward. Hence, there is or, a watch with a timer. Adjust your pace, if necessary, a yearly volunteers’ prize of $300 worth of running gear by checking your time against the kilometre markers. It 33
BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008 is important to be pretty evenly paced and to finish just currently occupied by Adam and Jim Moody. The under the time you are aiming for as any number of Badger is a handheld piece of equipment that reads your runners may be counting on you to bring them through race number details as a back up to the main timing with a PB. If you do, they will admire you, even give you a system (Called DAG, believe it or not!) The catcher makes hug! Gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling (or did you just let sure you don’t get away before your number is read by go of your bladder?). No one who has done this job has the person who holds the Badger. The Manual reported a problem, to my knowledge. So, have a go! Timekeepers provide a back up to the back up. They click FINISH LINE OFFICIALS. The names for the jobs have a handheld device as each competitor crosses the finish varied slightly over time but essentially there are Timing line. If there is a problem with the main timing system Equipment Officials (Results managers), Manual the back up and the back up to the back up are consulted. Timekeepers, Catchers, Badgers and a Newspaper If all of these systems fail at once, the runners are all Results manager. Timing equipment and Results is a made to run the race again, immediately. But, the good computer job for technical people and the roles are thing is, the repeat race is only half price!!
Serious training Seriously cheap SESSIONS IN SYDNEY TO BOOST YOUR SPEED
With contributions from: Steve Laws, Jim Moody, Tony Fattorini, John van Yzendoorn, Iain Martin, Tom Highnam and Mark Langsworth.
ooking to step up to the next level with some Tuesday Lunchtime – Pain in the Domain serious training? One of the most efficient ways to
improve your fitness is to do a regular structured L Pain in the Domain is a Sydney running institution and training session with athletes of similar pace or a bit has been going on as long as anyone can remember quicker. A regular routine and an opportunity to test (about 20 years!). In fact, it is so old that nobody seems yourself against the same faces week after week will reap to remember how it got started although it was possibly rewards over the longer term, not to mention the social a by-product of the fortnightly Corporate Cup. Its benefits of training with like-minded runners. longevity is remarkable given the complete lack of
organisation or official arrangements. There is no contact
person, no fee, no website and no officials. If you want to Each week around Sydney there are a variety of running join in the fun just turn up and follow a group. The groups getting together on an informal basis and session takes place on Tuesday lunchtime at 12:50pm whatever your running pace there’s almost certainly a from the Domain (starts behind the NSW State Library), group for you, but how do you find out about them? Well and consists of a 6km fartlek with 14 sprints from 50m to you could talk to your fellow Striders at a STaR or scour 700m in length over grass, road and stairs: the web. Two good resources are the Striders website Training page and the CoolRunning Australian Running Guide: 1. 150m (path flatish) 2. 200m (grass down then up) http://www.sydneystriders.org.au/Training.aspx 3. 90m (grass up) http://www.coolrunning.com.au/runningguide 4. 130m (grass down) 5. 150m (flat path) In this article we cover some of the more popular 6. 100m (grass flat) sessions frequented by Striders in detail so you can pick 7. 170m (grass very up) the right session for you. We stick to the free or very 8. 130m (flat path) cheap alternatives and give an indication of the level of 9. 730m (flat path waterfront) organisation (or lack thereof!). There are also 10. 75m (stairs!) professional coaches and personal trainers out there who 11. 140m (grass flat) run training groups for a fee. Many of these are excellent 12. 235m (mainly up grass) and may be more suited to runners looking for a detailed 13. 200m (path steep uphill) program with lots of expert feedback. 14. 200m (path flat/up)
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BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008
Runners split into several groups depending on speed off 90 seconds, 4 x 3km off 2 mins) and Thursday will with group 1 being the fastest and subsequent groups involve a speed session (10 x 400m off 50 seconds, 8 x leaving in 1 minute intervals. The number of groups may 800m off 90 seconds, a 20 minute Mona Fartlek or the depend on how many people turn up, and the speed of original Hickson Road session). Generally the training is each group depends on the person who volunteers to geared towards a 10km or Half Marathon runner and the lead it on that day, but as a rough guide group 3 would be majority of the HuRT Squad are in the 35-36 minute suitable for a 40 minute 10km runner and the session 10km personal best range. However, the sessions are run takes around 30 minutes to complete. in a way that accommodates anyone between a 31 minute 10km runner to a 38 minute 10km runner. [NOTE: Recent growth in the number of Pain in the Domain runners has resulted in congestion on the path What is consistent is that the vast majority of those who around Farm Cove and in one unfortunate incident a regularly turn up have established personal bests over runner collided with a pedestrian. As there is no official 10km or the Half Marathon since joining. The recent organisation each runner has an individual responsibility Striders 10km at North Head in March saw 3 HuRT squad to show courtesy and consideration to other members break the magical 35 minute mark for the first pedestrians.] time. The JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge in November 2007 – the biggest corporate race on the calendar in Sydney – saw HuRT squad members occupy 7 Tuesday and Thursday Lunchtimes – of the top 10 and 19 of the top 30 places. The friendly The HuRT Squad rivalry between the squad members is as likely to be sparked on one of the regular drinks nights as it is mid- The HuRT (Hickson Road Training) Squad started in the race at the top of Scribbly Gums. Winter of 2006 when 4 Striders and regulars of Pain in the Domain (Ray Wareham, Chris Graham, Tim Cradock If you are interested in being added to the email and Tom Highnam) decided that, instead of flogging distribution to receive details of each session, please themselves over intervals on Thursday lunchtimes by contact [email protected]. themselves, they’d share the experience. They met on Hickson Road in the City (which provides the basis of the acronym for the expanded squad) and ran 5 x 1.2km reps Tuesday Evening and Friday Evening – with 2 minute intervals. Lane Cove River Rats
The squad has grown exponentially since. There are 60 Lane Cove River Runners (aka River Rats) meet at the names on the email distribution list and a group of at carpark opposite the entrance to the Lane Cove National least a dozen runners will we meet every Tuesday and Park at the bottom of Delhi Road, we meet at around 5:40 Thursday in various parts of the City. The sessions now PM every Tuesday and Friday evening summer and vary, but generally Tuesdays will involve an aerobic winter and run either the Striders 10 k course or if the threshold session (14 x 3mins off 60 seconds, 8 x 5mins weather and daylight are agreeable we may run the This is the way we hold our hands, hold our hands, hold our hands.... This is the way we hold our hands, early in the morn-ing.
35
BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008 bush trails on either one or both sides of the River. We Wednesday Evening Run – Iron Cove Bay usually have a variety of paces depending on who shows up, Tuesday night can be somewhat tough with the 10 k The Wednesday 5:45 evening run was started by Jim times varying from low 40’s or for us mere mortals low Moody (current president) to help new Striders train for 50’s. On the odd occasion we will run outside the park their first marathon. It formed a part of Jim's MTG back into Killara and do hill reps up Fiddens Wharf Road training plan. For the last year the group has been run by just for something different. Stephen Laws. The format is the same, only now the
training is planned to focus on Striders looking towards Contact Jim Moody on 0411 258 589 for further details their 2nd or 3rd Marathon.
The group runs at least 10 kms every week, with some Wednesday Morning - Centennial Park Group interval training. If you have ever tried to do hills/sprints alone, you will know it's easier in a group. Intervals The Centennial Park group was started by Keith Bateman include: in 2002 as a way to get a group of people together for 1 km reps around Timbrell Park speed training on a Wednesday morning. The original 300 metre hill sprints, Lilyfield Road concept involved a series of 6 hill sprints up the hill 400 or 800 metre reps, King George Oval, Rozelle (obviously) to the Bondi Junction Gates in week one and a time based fartlek session around the oval in week two. Typical runner runs 55 min for 10 k or better. We leave from Brett Park at 5:45 pm. The meeting point is in the The hill session has remained a constant feature of the park, just up the hill from Drummoyne Rowing club. group since its inception and after some experimentation Contact Stephen Laws on 0414 727 925. with different formats for the fartlek session the group settled on a set of 8 x 2 minute sprints (1 minute out and 1 minute back followed by a 30 second recovery) along Thursday Morning - Timbrell Park Reps Parkes Drive. Both of these sessions allow for all runners to travel at their own pace and set their own goals while keeping the group together thus ensuring that the group This group started up about 6 years ago, with a couple of can cater for a wide variety of runners of differing keen Striders, Ross Sinclair and Greg Coy. The session abilities and with different running objectives. entails a 3k warm-up from Drummoyne Pool commencing at 6.00am every Thursday morning, rain, After a couple of years Keith passed coordination of the hail or shine. Some participants choose to meet at group over to Lisa Carroli who maintained the format Timbrell Park at 6.15am. The Timbrell Park 1k loop is and ensured the popularity of the session. accurately measured and usually entails a series of 500m, 1k or 2k reps, usually totalling between 4 and 5 k. Iain Martin took over coordination of the group in late Sessions vary each week and might include one of the 2006 and in an act of perverse bastardry extended the following (or a variation thereof): hill sprints by 25 metres to ensure that the start line is on the flat and everybody gets to enjoy running the entire 5*1k reps, with 90sec rest hill. Iain also introduced a Friday morning session which pyramid: 500m, 1k, 2k, 1k, 500m involves 6 x 1km efforts along Parkes Drive on a 6 minute 3 sets of 3*500m cycle. The Friday session is not run on the day before a 3k time-trial around the Bay Run commencing at Striders’ 10km race. the 2k mark at Rodd Point. This is recent addition. The group now comprises a solid core of 8-10 members who turn up on a regular basis along with a number of The session concludes with a 4-6k "warm down" people who turn up occasionally. Keith Bateman still (although it can often result in a faster tempo run, turns up on a regular basis to embarrass the much especially if Action is at the head of the pack) back to younger members and show us how it’s really done and Drummoyne Pool. The full session is mostly targeted why he continues to break state and national records on towards increasing our speed for the Striders 10k series. the track. It would suit runners targeting between 36-42 mins for 10k, but, in reality, caters to all levels, both faster and A number of members of the group have recently run slower. It has certainly been the foundation session for debut marathons and all members continue to achieve many Striders looking to break that elusive 40min 10k creditable results in other events including regular PBs barrier. over 10 km, and impressive results in the Equaliser, C2S, half marathon and 6 ft Track. Special "seasonal" sessions include the annual Christmas "slug" run around the Bay (see photo in previous Blister), Anyone interested in training with the Centennial Park or the annual "hot lap" which takes place on the 2nd last group should contact Iain Martin, Thursday before Christmas and is geared to breaking our [email protected] 1k PB for the year. 36
BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008
The number of participants varies each week, but usually different events, from short to long course triathlons to entails a hard-core group of around 6-8 dedicated marathons or the 6 Foot Track there is no distinction runners. This includes Ross Sinclair, Mark Langsworth, made as part of the group training. The club has its own Klaus Johanson, Dave Ellis, Tim Austin, Steve Jackson and newsletter that concentrates on tri results and upcoming Cameron Arnold (founding member Greg Coy has a habit tri events but also publishes the results of member’s run of sleeping-in these days so would be classified as only races. There are also a variety of social events intermittent, at best). Organisation is minimal – just turn throughout the year. Club membership is about $50 per up and introduce yourself if you want to join in. year and everyone is welcome.
There have been many Strider luminaries attending the If you are interested in more information from Striders, sessions over the years, some of who have gone onto contact Jim or Adam Moody otherwise check out the web bigger and better things. These include Tony "Fats" site http://www.aquaticcentre.com.au/Health-Fitness Fattorini, Kate Topp, Russell "Professor" Johnson, and contact Natalie Deegan. our own Blister editor Dennis "Grandpa" Wylie, and perhaps our most notorious past member Chris "Boof" Davis. Our fastest semi-regular member is a black athlete Saturday Morning (monthly) – CoolRunning 5km who is known to tear around the circuit with scant Challenge regard for other runners and walkers at around 2.20/k pace. His name is Chester and he has 4 legs! The CoolRunning 5km Challenge is an informal self-timed 5km time trial held on the last Saturday of each month around Iron Cove Bay. Thursday Evening - It’s a great opportunity SOPAC Tri Club to test your fitness and gauge your The first Sydney Striders improvement over a began running with the traffic-free, flat and SOPAC Tri Club in about accurate course 2003. Some Striders (measured & marked by were looking to do our own course regular speed work on a measuring guru, Stephen 400m athletics track and Jackson, no less). The discovered that joining course starts at the club was the most Drummoyne Rowers cost effective way of Club on Henley Marine using the tracks at Drive and finishes Homebush. The club is alongside Hawthorne run out of the gym of the Canal in Haberfield. Each SOPAC Aquatic Centre kilometer is marked so and has access to many look out for the yellow of the Olympic Park stripes on the side of the facilities. Members of Wayne pushes hard, suddenly realizing that there won’t be quite path, and “CR1”, “CR2” the Tri club do not need enough beers to go around, this morning. etc. to be members of the gym! The 5km challenge is run with a handicap start so in theory everyone should reach the finish at about the Tri club running training happens on Thursday nights at same time. The group of 20 or so runners congregates 6.15pm at the Homebush warm-up track. This is the just before 7am in front of the Rowers, with the fastest ONLY night tri club members can use the track as part of runner acting as starter setting off runners in 1 minute their club membership [BTW – Swim squad is Monday intervals from about 7:05am (30min group) to perhaps and Cycling on Tuesday]. The club has 2 coaches who are 7:19 for the greyhounds chasing 16 minutes. The experienced triathletes and both personal trainers. They handicap start makes for an exciting finish with the faster determine the type of training done on any given evening runners chasing from behind and the early starters and always cater for a wide variety of running abilities trying to keep them at bay for as long as possible. Once (from people with sub 35 minute 10km PBs through to everyone has finished and caught their breath it is time over 50 mins). Sessions might consist of 10-15 x 400m for a much more sedate warm down jog back to the start, @2/2.30/3mins, pyramids of 200m to 1.2km with 200m frequently followed by coffee and breakfast at a nearby recovery or 4-6 x 1kms for example. café. What better way to start the weekend?
The Thursday night group tends to be between 10 and 20 There’s no official contact for the 5km challenge but keep people of which about half would be Striders. Though the an eye on the CoolRunning message boards the week different participants may be training for completely before or just turn up on the day. 37
BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008 Athletics Results - MEN Truscott 7th (31:43), Andrew Tuckey 8th (31:54), Ray Wareham 10th (32:54), Keith Bateman 11th (33:36), David Kane 35:19, Dennis Wylie 36:20, Steve By GLENN GUZZO Thompson 36:49, EJ Davie 41:26.
It was the summer of 2008 and the Striders singlet was to be seen aplenty across various tracks around Sydney. The highlights of the Summer season include Keith It was hard to keep track of all the performances, which Bateman’s Australian record over 3000m in 9:09.61, as we many and varied from shorter to longer distances. well as his State records in the 1500m at the All Somers. On 27th October, Paul Bruning ran a 2:32 for 800m at Dennis Wylie’s progression in the distance races, Bankstown to sharpen up his speed for the 3000m track especially over 10000m. the many PB’s that were th champs on 10 November, where he also ran a 10:29. smashed at the 10000m, Tim Rowe’s run at the All Other notable performances, were Comers 5000m in 14:19, the fastest Strider seen over this Chris Truscott 8:42, Andrew Tuckey 8:52, Tom distance. Also, the amount of points accumulated and Highnam 8:53, Ray Wareham 9:07, Keith Bateman medals that were taken home by EJ Davie. 9:09.61, Richard High 9:13, James Jeffery 9:40, Steve Thompson 10:09, Dennis Wylie 10:20, Ron Schwebel 10:33, Greg Cassis 10:54, EJ Davie 11:10, Stuart Brown 13:11 104 senior men ran that night with 15 of them Striders. Athletics Results - WOMEN State Relays were held over shorter distances on the 19th November, where Gold was one in the 4 by 1500m for By ANNA WHITE 160+ (age summed up to 160 or more), by Ray Wareham, Dennis Wylie, Frank Zeichner and James Over summer Jenny Wickham, Jenny Truscott and Jeffries in 18:21 Caroline Yarnell represented the Striders in Athletics A few Striders turned up for the Club Premiership at ES NSW events with some great results! Marks on 24th November, for a 5000m where Striders results include Keith Bateman 16:20, Richard High On the 10th of November Jenny Wickham competed in 16:27, Paul Bruning 18:19, and EJ Davie 20:03. the NSW 3000m Championships held as part of a club A summary of the other Premiership results: premiership event at Homebush. Jenny ran a time of 3rd Dec – 1500m – Keith Bateman 4:20, Steve 10min 3sec to finish 10th. In February Jenny competed in Thompson 4:46, Dennis Wylie 4:54, EJ Davie 5:10 the10000m state Championships open race. Over the 17th Dec – 3000m – Paul Bruning 10:49, EJ Davie 11:19 longer 25 lap race Jenny finished 3rd in a fast time of Unfortunately because we don’t fill out all the events 36min 1sec. such as Walking, Shot Put, 100m and Hurdles, the Striders don’t fare too well in the Premiership point The NSW 5000m Championships were scheduled to be score, placing 29th out of 36 clubs. Nevertheless, when it run on the 31st of January at 8:30pm. However, when an comes to the Distance track races we fare quite well, both electrical storm hit Homebush close to the scheduled in participation and placings across all age groups. start time, the race was postponed until the following Well, when it comes to the shorter stuff, it was good to Saturday afternoon. Jenny Truscott represented the see EJ Davie put his hand up to represent the Striders. Striders in this event finishing 8th in a time of 18min 6sec. He was using the shorter races to work on his speed, running a creditable 14:93 for 100m, 67.75 for 400m and The 2008 Masters Championships were held over 2 days, 5:19 for 1500m. the 8th and 9th of March. Caroline Yarnell competed in The run of the Summer season came from an unknown the 45-49yr 2000m steeple chase. In 2007 Caroline won Strider, on a wet night at the All Comers on 19th January, this event but was unfortunately disqualified. At the where Tim Rowe ran a 14:19 over 5000m, Glenn Guzzo 2008 Championships Caroline had perfected her 14:37, Chris Truscott 15:31, Keith Bateman 16:12, hurdling style, again winning the race, and this time Clint Westcott 17:11. This would be a good prelude for the State 5000m, which was delayed by 2 days, because DON’T THROW OUT THOSE SHOES! of bad weather on the Thursday night to be held the following Saturday 2nd February. Tim Rowe took bronze KevinTiller collects old running shoes to donate to 3rd in 14:48, Andrew Tuckey 15:52, Ray Wareham 16:19, world places mainly around the pacific islands. Over the Steve Thompson 17:45, Dennis Wylie 17:56, Paul last few years he has donated nearly 400 pairs - mainly Bruning 18:38, Greg Cassis 19:35, EJ Davie 21:28. The Open Championships were conducted at Sydney to PNG, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and East Timor. . Olympic Park over 3 days on the weekend of 8-10th Feb 2008. Shoes are shipped via: http://www.afap. org/ EJ Davie ran his usual warm up race in the 1500m in 5:15 More about the project here: In the 10000m, there were many PB’s noted as the track http://www.recycled runners.com. au is the place to do it. Glenn Guzzo 4th (29:57), Chris 38
BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008 around was able to claim the state title. Her winning time M35-39 of 9min 27sec put her, an impressive, 40sec ahead of 400m E J Davie 1min 02.67 5 th second place. 1500m E J Davie 5min 08.00 4th 10000m E J Davie 41min 44 3 rd
M50-55 Australian Masters National 10000m Keith Bateman 34min 03 1 st
Championships M55-59 st A small number of our Athletics squad raised the club 10000m Dennis Wylie 36min 50 1 nd flag at Blacktown for the Nationals, These events are only 10000m Ron Schwebel 37min 55 2 st for athletes over 30 years of age. More Striders could be 5000m Ron Schwebel 18min 15 1 st involved here. There are a number of you who have 8k Cross Country Ron Schwebel 32min 50 1 enough form to be taking home medals and giving the W30 -35 club a stronger profile. 8k Cross Country Greta Truscott 33min 40 1 st
The bulk of participants were from NSW. The place was W 45-49 awash with the colour blue. E J confined himself to only 3 2000m Steeple Chase Caroline Yarnell 9min 27 1 st events, this time,
10k Series results By BARBARA BECKER
The first thing I learned in this 10k Series role However, they were not willing to stop until the race was was that when asked, “How’s the next 10k completed. Thanks to altered perception and the help of coming along?” the correct answer is “Great! some very surprised club members, the guest was And the weather should be good too!” Any escorted across the finish line for a unique (3km) effort. other details are superfluous although many interesting things have happened behind the Watching the race pack start is a special thrill and I’m scenes. still impressed by the numbers and variety of runners as they pass by. Over the drumming of runner’s shoes one There was the time a guest runner collapsed at the finish morning we heard a strange squealing sound approaching the start line. From the back of the pack a line and was hospitalised. After three litres of saline drip the runner was still dry as a bone. Having dehydrated the body with sport and social drinking in the 24 hours before the race, this runner reached the 9km marker and thought, “Come on, it’s only one more kilometre”, and 10k Series Sponsors pushed through the pain. While finishing an astonishing Phil Roux and Julian 10 minutes ahead of target, the runner remembers Edgecliff Centre, Shop 21, nothing of that last kilometre, finishing the race or the 203 – 233 New South Head Road, Edgecliff Tel 9362 0422 trip to the emergency ward. I moved their car to long- term parking until family could arrive at the hospital. With a wry smile I noticed the back seat contained a bike, soccer ball, tennis gear, cricket bat and more!
At another race we noticed a guest runner skipping down the course during the race. I suspected alcohol was the cause. An inspection by the race doctor confirmed the happy soul was under the influence of drugs. Not the painkilling, anti-inflammatory kind. As runners raced past us on both sides this amenable guest was easily persuaded to leave the course, drink water and rest. 39
BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008
Anyone who has been at the finish line of a Match the facts By Jess Baker 10k will agree it’s fantastic to watch How well do you know your fellow Striders? The names here runners finish – from the first to the last. do NOT match the facts. Can you re-arrange them correctly? The effort, pain and exhausted smiles are NAME FACT so inspiring that watching a 10k could be part of a recovery program. Many an
Peter Nuttell Was head of a motorcycle club by day, and lead singer injured runner has helped out as a race in a cover band by night!! volunteer and I often felt like a vulture for
Sharon Hill The daredevil owner of an aerobatics pilots license! that split second of relief upon receiving their email. Each course needs 30 club members to give us the best possible race. Barbara Becker Her national netballing skills couldn’t have prepared Each course has its fans. The fastest course her for the acrobatic roll a giant bear performed over times over the last 22 races since 2006 her car in Canada! are: Lane Cove - Men 30:57 Women 36:21, Bruce Smith Is the talented polyglot of 6 languages – English, Sydney Olympic Park - Men 31:16 Women German, Swiss German, Spanish, Italian and French! 36:24, The Domain - Men 32:00 Women 36:45, North Head - Men 30:34 Women Leonor Lawler On a remote trek in the mountains of Nepal, who 34:37. Looking at the stats I’m pleased that Should they meet? None other than Jimmy Carter! Striders are still in the majority. On
average, Striders make up 56% of the total field and row of runners pushing prams were on their way and women 25%. Of the men’s field 57% are Striders and four children were shrieking with delight. The kids were 52% of the women’s field are Striders. On average, 325 having such a great time it was infectious. I’d love to have runners finish, 4 do not. On average, fruit and nuts are an enthusiastic cheer squad to assist my running but am left over, cake is not. The record for highest number of told it can go pear shaped if the raisins run out. participants is still held by North Head - 404 last May.
It’s been a tremendous privilege to do this job, thank you. Occasionally we have perishable food left over after a
10k Series breakfast. It is my great pleasure to donate these items to the homeless men at Matthew Talbot RACE 1 LANE COVE FEB Hostel on behalf of the club. Although located in a dingy Woolloomooloo alley, the homeless men gathered there MEN have a warm welcome for visitors bearing food. There’s 1 Luke Taylor 0.32.02 Guest - always plenty of help to carry donated goods and I enjoy 2 Paul Arthur 0.32.27 Guest - a laugh with people who are often invisible. When I 3 Jeremey Horne 0.32.27 Guest - 4 Chris Truscott 0.32.46 M Pre 1 describe the Strider activity that produces a fresh food 5 Robin Whiteley 0.32.52 Guest - donation by 10.00am a lot of these men shake their 6 David Criniti 0.32.56 M Pre 2 heads and think we are quite mad. 7 James Swadling 0.33.23 M Pre 3 8 Julien Periard 0.35.10 Guest - Working together with our supporters like the series 9 Tony Fattorini 0.35.28 M Pre 4 sponsors, Phil and Julian Roux, sports doctors and park 10 Stuart Chellis 0.35.32 M Pre 5 rangers has been great fun. Native frog protection lectures at SOP are mandatory and National Parks WOMEN 1 Jenny Wickham 0.36.54 F Pre 1 Rangers are all great people. Did you know the army 2 Dani Andres 0.37.04 Guest - truck, which destroyed the historic stone arch at North 3 Anna White 0.39.00 F Pre 2 Head, was carrying expensive radar equipment? 4 Sallly Taggart 0.40.50 F Vet 1 Obviously faulty! Our series sports doctors who travel 5 Shelley Howes 0.41.11 F Pre 3 with national rep teams leave the gossip on tour but are a 6 Kathryn Holloway 0.41.20 Guest - font of unusual knowledge nonetheless. Every visit to the 7 Dianne Aitken 0.41.37 F Vet 2 Sydney Running Centre to collect race prizes was a 8 Liz Vadas 0.42.14 Guest - chance to indulge in running talk, running gear, running 9 Joanne Cowan 0.42.33 F Mst 1 advice, running mags.…marvellous! 10 Lisa-Anne Carey 0.42.35 F Pre 4
40 BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008
VOLUNTEERS 8 Kathryn Holloway 0.39.35 F Pre Lane Cove Hosts: John, Lydia, William & Eloise Hanna 9 Sally Taggart 0.40.14 F Vet 1 Breakfast helpers:Paul Hannell, Richard Newell, Paul 10 Danielle Langsworth 0.40.15 F Vet 2 Craft 10k Equipment Manager: Peter Woods VOLUNTEERS Strider Tent: Nick Brewster North Head Breakfast Hosts: Ron Schwebel & Richard Second Tent Transport: Dennis Wylie Green Lane Cove Course Layout: Iain Martin - assisted by Sue Login, Peter Hibberd, Dale Tompson, Tent & Banner Set Up/Pack Up: Allan Wareham Sue Horsburgh Registrations: Sue Login, Peter Hibberd, Kerry Ross, 10K Equipment Manager: Peter Woods Pennie Psaltis, Naomi Tancred, Jo Cowan, Ross, McCarty, Strider Tent: Nick Brewster Barry Rutter & Anthony Wong ** VOLUNTEER PRIZE North Head Course layout: Chris Yates WINNER** Resident Letterbox Drop: Richard Green - delivered last 1st Marshal Entry to Scribbly Gum: Guy Doulman week in the rain! 2nd Marshal Top of Scribbly Gum: Graham Osborn Registration: Mohammed Alkhub, Naomi Tancred, Jo 3rd Marshal Ranger's Cottage: Sue Horsburgh Cowan, Tom Highnam, Carl Jeffreys 4th Marshal Turnaround point: Dean Harris Pacers: Scott Howells 40min, Brian Wilcockson 45min, Water Stop: Tom Highnam and kids Iain Martin 50min, Graham Osborn 55min 5th-8th Marshals Finishing Area: Rob Chalmers, Pauline Course Marshals: Cathy Watson, Paul Hannell, Steve Evans , Barry Rutter, Anthony Wong Urwin (and Ranger Jo from NPWS) 40 min Pacer: Peter Truscott Water Stop: Rob & Sue Chalmers 45 min Pacer: Frank Zeichner Exceptional Runner Mgmt: Stephen Jackson & Tony 50 min Pacer: Brian Wilcockson Fattorini 55 min Pacer: Danielle Langsworth Timekeepers: Ross McCarty, Allan Wareham Timekeepers: Heather Peters, Charles Colville Timing Badger: Bryn Davis Badger (race number barcode wand): Ralph Melano Manual Results Recorder: Andrew Tuckey Results Recorder: Ingrid Grace Manual Results Caller: Robyn Moody Results Caller: Dale Thompson Catcher: Tom Highnam Catchers: Ross McCarty, Rob Chalmers plus another Timing System & Results: Jim and Adam Moody wonderful Strider woman (please email me so I can Newspaper Results: Jo Cowan record your support) Finance: Charles King Race Timing & Results: Jim & Adam Moody Prize Giving & Pack Up: Sue Login J.O.A.T: Stephen Jackson Finance: Robyn Moody & Charles King Newspaper Results: Jo Cowan RACE 3 LANE COVE APR
MEN 1 Colin Johnston 0.31.29 Guest - RACE 2 NORTH HEAD MAR 2 Jeremey Horne 0.31.34 Guest - 3 Chris Truscott 0.31.52 M Pre 1 MEN 4 Thomas Crasti 0.32.27 Guest - 1 Paul Arthur 0.31.47 Guest - 5 Robin Whiteley 0.32.33 Guest - 2 Jeremey Horne 0.31.49 Guest - 6 Alaster Stewart 0.32.50 Guest - 3 David Criniti 0.32.04 M Pre 1 7 Tom Highnam 0.33.16 M Pre 2 4 Chris Truscott 0.32.15 M Pre 2 8 James Swadling 0.33.27 M Pre 3 5 Jose Williams 0.32.54 Guest - 9 Tim Cochrane 0.34.03 M Pre 4 6 Keith Bateman 0.33.39 M Mst 1 10 Julien Periard 0.34.04 Guest - 7 Robert Lansdown 0.33.43 Guest - 8 Dimitri Kontopos 0.33.51 Guest - 9 Craig Vanderoef 0.33.52 Guest - WOMEN 10 Tony Fattorini 0.34.04 M Pre 3 1 Jenny Truscott 0.38.12 F Pre 1 2 Anna White 0.39.17 F Pre 2 WOMEN 3 Liz Vadas 0.39.25 Guest - 1 Enda Stankard 0.34.37 Guest - 4 Danielle Langsworth 0.39.42 F Vet 1 2 Jenny Wickham 0.35.24 F Pre 1 5 Sally Taggart 0.40.03 F Vet 3 3 Elizabeth Miller 0.36.22 Guest - 6 Catriona Cater 0.41.09 F Vet 4 4 Jenny Truscott 0.37.38 F Pre 2 7 Aurelie Daix 0.41.16 F Pre 3 5 Greta Truscott 0.38.07 F Pre 8 Cheryl Hounslow 0.41.24 F Vet 5 9 Lisa-Anne Carey 0.41.27 F Pre 4 6 Fleur Flannery 0.38.10 Guest - 10 Catherine Swindles 0.41.50 F Pre 5 7 Anna White 0.38.47 F Pre 3
41 BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008
VOLUNTEERS Breakfast Hosts: John, Lydia, William & Eloise Hanna Andrew Ramsay, Allan Wareham. Water Stop: Keith 10k Equipment Manager: Peter Woods Bateman Strider Tent: Nick Brewster Pacers: 40 min Richard Green, 45 min James Bradley, 50 Lane Cove Course Layout: Iain Martin min John van Yzendoorn, 55 min David Stirk Set Up/Pack Down: Allan Wareham, Sue Login, Suzanne Timekeepers: Amanda Harris, Shaun Atchison Kelly, Kerry Ross Recorders: Robyn Moody, Ross McCarty Registrations: Dale Thompson, Peter Hibberd, Iain Caller: Bruce Smith Martin, Paul Hannell Catchers: Iain Martin, Jackie Ramsay Marshals: Frank Dearn, Ian Hounslow, Guy Race Timing & Results: Jim & Adam Moody, Sam Isbell Doulman, Sebastian Warmerdam, Mario Torresan, Finance: Charles King, Newspaper Results: Jo Cowan
Hatches, Matches, Dispatches
Beatrix Kathryn Fattorini arrived, “early but safe at Engagement season has begun. Jenny Truscott has just 4:41am Monday 3rd March 2008. 2.65kg and 47cm long become engaged to Marty Doak who, foolishly, runs for with dimples and perfect feet!” Amanda confirms Tony’s Asics West instead of Striders where he belongs. admiration for Beatrix’s dorsiflection. Shelley Howes recently became engaged just so she could 26 hours of labour later, Cameron j Green was born, 29 call Eric Johnston, “My Fiance.” She has to pronounce it April at Manly Hospital to a proud Richard Green and “Fay-arn-say” so (American) Eric can understand her. Hayley Heatherington. Cameron may challenge for the Eric is training for the GC Half and is a “soon to be” World Pram Record, not in the 10k but in Trailwalker! Strider. Take note, Marty!
Treasurers report With regard to Donations made – the same amount as last year ($1,000) – went to the Friends of Lane Cove Financially the year has been a good one for the Club, Park – (from the 10k charity race). with income exceeding expenses by $15,923 – a 3% increase vs. 2006. The Club is financially strong and we invite members to come onto the committee to participate in reviewing the Membership numbers for the Club have continued at opportunities available from this strength – to the benefit record levels. The continuance of the high level of of all members. membership renewals and the surplus derived from the 10k series are the foundation for the result for the year The Committee is budgeting for the Club to achieve a and the current strong financial position of the Club surplus of $6,630 for the year ended 31 December 2008.
Club costs were generally in line with budget – except for The Committee is budgeting for: a higher contribution to the Club’s functions and the support for the Club’s Athletics NSW Registered athletes 3 x Blisters for the year offset by lower costs for printing and postage for the Support for registered athletes of $6,000 “Blister” this year. Tents for participants at the Canberra, Gold Coast and Sydney Marathons There was a concerted effort during the year to move redundant or slow moving uniform items at a discount. With regard to the Club’s custodianship of the “Six Foot This effort resulted in a cost of $2,812 during the year – Track” Marathon – the financials are completely separate shown in the attached as “loss on gear”. from those of the Club – (separate bank account and books of account). The following accounting numbers do There were no large “capital” payments made by the not include the receipts and expenses for the Six Foot committee during the last year – although approval was Track event. given to purchase publishing software to assist with the See tables next pages effort required to produce the Blister. It is expected this purchase will go through during 2008. Separate financial statements for Six Foot to follow. 42 BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008
Sydney Striders P&L comparison 12 months ended 31/12/07 vs 31/12/06
Actuals Actuals to Change Change
31/12/2007 31/12/2006 $'s % Income Membership fees 29,890 28,780 1,110 4% Interest 3,245 2,028 1,217 60% Advertising 50 100 (50) -50% 10km series 33,137 25,512 7,625 30% Other income -814 129 (943) -
Total income 65,508 56,549 8,959 16%
Expenses
Awards functions 9,777 5,829 (3,948) 68% Trophies 2,342 1,941 (401) 21% Bank fees & card costs 1,574 1,367 (207) 15% Insurance 3,791 3,896 105 -3% Internet 591 325 (266) 82% Meetings 814 660 (154) 23% Athletics NSW 5,501 2,915 (2,586) 89% Super series & MTG 130 117 (13) 11% Loss on gear 2,812 1,256 (1,556) 124% Donations 1,000 1,250 250 -20% Marathon - Tent Hire 302 1,270 968 -76%
10km series Prizes - 1,500 1,500 -100% Other 10,809 9,359 (1,450) 15% Blister Postage 1,507 1,412 (95) 7% Printing 5,264 4,703 (561) 12% Distribution - - - -
Calendars Postage 512 301 (211) 70% Printing 321 409 88 -22% Distribution - - - -
General admin Telephone - - - - Postage 318 387 69 -18% Printing & stationery 374 649 275 -42% Lodgement fees 43 61 18 -30% Subscriptions - - - -
Notices Postage 827 614 (213) 35% Printing 977 798 (179) 22% Distribution - - - -
49,585 41,019 -8,566 -21%
Net result $15,923 $15,530 $393 3%
43 BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008
Sydney Striders budget 12 months ended 31/12/07
Budget Actuals Variance to Budget
Income 12 me 12/07 31/12/2007 31/12/2007 12 me 12/08 Membership fees 29,000 29,890 890 30,000 Interest 2,300 3,245 945 3,500 Advertising 350 50 (300) 50 10km series 26,000 33,137 7,137 33,500 Other income - -814 (814) -500 Total income 57,650 65,508 7,858 66,550
Expenses
Awards functions 6,000 9,777 (3,777) 8,000 Trophies 2,500 2,342 158 2,500 Bank fees & card costs 1,800 1,574 226 2,000 Insurance 4,500 3,791 709 4,500 Internet 500 591 (91) 1,000 Meetings 850 814 36 1,000 Athletics NSW 3,500 5,501 (2,001) 6,000 Super series & MTG 550 130 420 500 Loss on gear - 2,812 (2,812) 1,000 Donations 2,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 Marathon - Tent Hire 3,000 302 2,698 3,000
10km series Prizes 2,000 - 2,000 2,000
Other 10,000 10,809 (809) 12,000
Blister Postage 1,900 1,507 393 2,000 Printing 6,500 5,264 1,236 6,500 Distribution 300 - 300 300
Calendars Postage 900 512 388 900 Printing 600 321 279 600 Distribution 250 - 250 250
General admin Telephone 50 - 50 50 Postage 700 318 382 700 Printing & stationery 1,500 374 1,126 1,500 Lodgement fees 130 43 87 130 Subscriptions 140 - 140 140 Notices Postage 500 827 (327) 1,000 Printing 700 977 (277) 1,200 Distribution 150 - 150 150 51,520 49,585 1,935 59,920 Net result $6,130 $15,923 $9,793 $6,630
picture that ought to be printed in Blister, please let me Announcement know, by email first. Otherwise, I rely on the same people who take pictures of those they know. I want to I don’t want a flood of them clogging up my computer democratize the magazine, by which I mean get as many memory but if anyone thinks they have a doozie of a of you into it as I can, so don’t be shy. Ed 44 BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008 Rumour has it… Etiquette Jim Moody That Charles King starts his STaRs at 4am – with headlight and torch as he not only takes longer than most 1) If running on a public pathway, keep to the right. to complete the distance but is known to often return having found money lying on the ground. He is certainly most interested and happy to hear any reports of other 2) When passing, it is considered good form to let the Striders also being as lucky. Whilst he donates all his own person ahead of you know by calling out "On your left!" finds to Striders consolidated funds, there is no Do this a sufficient distance back so that the person has expectation that others should do the same. He merely adequate warning. Give a "Thank you" as you go by. takes vicarious pleasure in your tales of good fortune.
3) You can smile, wave, say "hi" or otherwise acknowledge other runners. It's good form to return a We say... greeting, but it isn't mandatory. Sometimes we runners A lot of people don’t like paying bills. But why club are focusing so much on our running that we tune out the members? It’s causing headaches for the Committee world. Don't get your nose out of joint if someone does members involved. C’mon guys, it’s a bargain! Renewing not return a greeting. membership of striders is all it takes to give you 12 races for $100 ($60 if not racing). Cheap! You can pay more for 4) Don't block up the pathways by running abreast of just one race! So what’s holding you back? your running buddies. Just be aware of the size of the path and the number of people using it. Sometimes two or three abreast is fine, other times not. Oops...! A nomination was left off the voting list for best STaR. On 5) If running on a track, know the local rules. Some leave 27/05/07, if you were at "Bobbin Head Revisited", you the outer lanes for walkers and the innermost lane for might want to consider it…. speed work. There are other rules that apply to track running.
6) Don't litter. Pick up after yourself, you are an ambassador for the club (which you advertise on your singlet) please don’t drop any rubbish anywhere. Call your mom once in a while, she worries about you. (How'd that get in there?)
7) If you are running on the street - run facing oncoming traffic. It's not just good form, it's the law in most places.
8) Be aware of other road users, they have the same or more rights than you and as for arguing with a car; while you may win the legal war you WILL lose the battle
9) Stop at stoplights. Yes, you.
10) Signal your turns. Seriously. It is in your interest that someone sitting in a 3,000 lb. vehicle knows where you are going same goes for bikes or other road users. Plus you are an ambassador; "civilians" should see you as courteous.
45 BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008
the betting odds available for the World Cup (that’s the From The Archives round ball one) and John Hawkins asked if he was the first Strider to complete all ten 10k races without scoring 10 Years Ago any points in the outright or handicap (other than 1 pt
for showing up). There was a fine showing of Striders at At the Zatopek Classic in Melbourne Chris Truscott went the Forster Ironman – Gary Leahey (AG 8th) , Paula under 32mins in the 10k for the first time. South African Whitehouse (AG 6th), Mark Fiore, Scott Crawford (AG Airlines renewed sponsorship of the 10K Series with two 13th), Derek Smith (AG 3rd), Sarah Entwistle (AG 4th), flights to South Africa as prizes. Brenda Hamill (AG 3rd) and Peter Hammerscmidt (AG In the 30k Palm Beach – Manly, Jo Cowan was 1st Female 8th) . and John Young 1st Outright. At Six Foot Track 36
Striders were among the 417 starters with Kelvin
Marshall (4:14) and Elizabeth Edmonds (4:57) first Striders home. Rozanne Green wrote of her ‘Mickey 5 Years Ago
Mouse’ Marathon at Disneyworld, Orlando. Her 4:30 The Blister front page featured Tracey Love dressed as a finishing time was not assisted by stopping for hugs with geisha – a souvenir of her trip to the (wet) Osaka Mickey and Goofy. Rozanne had also recently run the NY Marathon courtesy of Pittwater’s twinning with Tadoaka Marathon as a ‘pilot’ for an Achilles Club disabled runner. Town near Osaka. Sean Greenhill wrote of completing As Rozanne said “I don’t train for marathons, I just run the Mt Bogong- Mt Hotham which Jonathan Worswick them for training”. Ian Whitfield spruiked National won for the third time. A Strider got a bit lost on a STaR Running Week at Thredbo in an article that contained 4 and wrote to thank the hosts for remaining at their posts references to running and 12 to drinking (of the non- and sending out search parties, “Your sacrifice was rehydrating variety). Jonathan Worswick reported 3rd brought sharply into focus just this morning when one of place in the San Juan Trail, California and then told of the the US generals declared on the rescue of the young first half of the Angeles Crest 100km race, led by a group private in Iraq: “We will never give up on our own!” of Tahumara Indians. The cliff-hanging (not literally) Steve Urwin (31 hrs) and Phil Hugill (57 hrs) finished ending had Jonathan ahead of some of the top 10 the 235km Marathon de Sables in the Sahara. Richard finishers of the previous year and wondering if this was a Wassell shared a couple of, apparently serious, training mistake…to be continued. Part 2 never came and some tips for sprinters he found on the Internet - one involved Striders think he’s still out there. being towed by a motorbike, the second involved
catapulting the athlete with two elastic ropes! Brenda Jonathon Trope spruiked the Abel Tasman Classic Hamill got an AG 1st at Forster Ironman; Sam Vella, (38k), Steve Cornelius ran a bookies column discussing Gary Aitkenhead, David Clear, Gillian Boshell, Charles Coville and Mark Fiore also finished. Xandra Dunn placed first at Brindabella with Joanne Barton third. W A N N A G O S H O R T ? ? Jenny Truscott finished 11th in the Zatopek 10k (35:52). At the Annual Awards Dinner at Gordon Rugby Club Chris Truscott won the Maria-Gemenis Cruickshank Cross-country for adults and Children - 5 new races for Award (and the Open Marathon and Half, and the sub- members 3hr Improver for a Berlin time of 2:29, down from 2:36). Sub-4hr Improver was Martin Matthews. Dawn Tiller This year, our winter calendar will include 5 cross-country won Open and Vets Marathon with Greg Donovan races run by Randwick-Botany Harriers. winning Vets Marathon (and Half). Masters Marathon winners were Tina Campbell and Chris Dwyer, Seniors The distances range from 2Km to 7.5Km, mostly with a choice – Peter Hammerschmidt. Jo Cowan won Open and Vets of distance, and they are suitable for adults and children. Half, Masters winners were Ron Schwebel and Tina
Campbell, Seniors – Ray Doran. Ultra Runners of the They also make excellent Saturday tempo runs and we hope members will make them part of their training schedules. Year were Dawn Tiller and Kelvin Marshall, Improver of the Year – John van Yzendoorn, Triathlete of the Year 1. 29th March Mutch Park 6k, 4k, 2k – Mark Preston and Allison Lilley won the 2. 17th May Mutch Park 6k,4k, 2k Encouragement Award. STaR Hosts of the Year were 3. 14th June Sydney Park 7.5k, 5k, 2.5k Richard Wassell and Brad Renshaw, Michael Bailey’s 4. 26th July Mutch Park 6k Kepler Challenge won Best of the Blister and Stephen 5. 16th August Sydney Park 5k Jackson won the President’s Award. At Race 3 in the 10K Series leaders were Darren Benson, Jonathan Craig, Races generally start at 2:30pm and cost around $6 for adult Ross Sinclair and Jo Cowan, Catriona Cater, Jacqui non-Randwick Botany Harriers members. Matthews. Super Series leaders were Alison Lilley, Catriona Cater, Robin Cameron and Joel Mackay, No advance entry is required; just turn up and race! Lance White, Adrian Spragg. President Jim Screen announced that Sydney striders had become fully Up-to-date details can be found on the Randwick Botany affiliated with Aths NSW and Striders were now eligible Harriers' website: www.rbharriers.com to compete in club colours as a Sydney Striders team.
46 BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008
By DAVE DRAYTON 2008 CoastalC lassic Race Report
or the uninitiated: The Coastal Classic was an The run got off to a fine start, with Nick even running one annual event, beginning in 1997, that took place on of the earlier laps in a skirt and tank top, to ensure wins F the first Saturday of January, at Adcock Park, in both the male and female categories. But as time Gosford. Those competing would gather at the park to slipped away other challenges began to present begin their race at 7:30pm, and would run for the next themselves. twelve consecutive hours around a 400m loop. The event was sponsored by Gosford Athletics, who provided St In past years, the large floodlights of Adcock Park had lit John’s medical assistants, amenities, lighting, the way not only for the runners, but also aided crews in timekeepers and the all important clock. During the 10 the preparation of their runner’s requirements. Due to years of the event only three runners managed to the fact that the council was not aware of our presence, compete in all 10 races, they nine o’clock brought complete were Paul Thompson, Alan darkness. For the next seven Staples and Nick Drayton. This and a half hours Nick would run year, in what was to be the the 400m loop in the pitch black event’s 11th anniversary, the night, with a head lamp Coastal Classic was cancelled for providing a small patch of light reasons unknown to us runners. two feet ahead of him to guide While many were disheartened, his feet, an eerie sight to behold. there was one of the events’ regulars who had so much The crew met similar invested in the event that he challenges, organising food, decided to do it regardless. In drinks and first aid, as well as 2008, Nick Drayton became the keeping strict lap times, with only runner to have competed only head lamps to assist them. in all 11 Coastal Classics. Lighting was not the only issue, as amenities were no longer After an hour of loading the provided by the council. Going trailer with all that could to the bathroom during any run possibly be required for one is difficult, but to do it after 10 man to run for twelve hours, hours of physical exhaustion, and an hour long trip up the and to know that you can not freeway from Hornsby to even sit down but must squat in Adcock Park, the first challenge the bush is a physical and of the 2008 Coastal Classic mental struggle that many will presented itself. The gate never have to endure. providing access to the field, essentially the only entrance, As the twelve hour mark came was under a padlocked chain, Nick was on his feet again after trying to into sight, and the necessity for preventing us from easily setting break the monotony by doing a few laps head lamps dwindled another up camp at this stage. There backward somersaulting struggle became apparent. were thirty-five minutes till the Without the competition, and regular 7:30pm race time. After unloading a one tonne companionship, of other competitors, it is difficult to trailer full of food, drinks, shelter, first aid and towels pace oneself, or will oneself to continue. While ultra over the locked fence, set up began, with twenty minutes running events, are, for a vast majority, a chance to push till race time. With two minutes to go our makeshift oneself to the limit, and to challenge ones own ability, the shelter was constructed, and Nick was yet to cover his need for other athletes still resides in the mind of a toes in bandaids and Vaseline. We would start late. competitor. It means they are not alone, they have a shared goal, a shared finish. However, the lack of fellow competitors did not deter Nick, and he managed to At 7:43pm things were finally underway. The usual power through the 12 hours, bringing in two minute laps starter’s pistol replaced with a simple whistle, and the within the final half hour to reach a final distance of 80.8 starting line moved so that the crew could actually kilometres. A distance which when compared to his manage to tend to the needs of the lone runner without recent results, belies the difficulties of this long and moving the entire camp across the track. lonely event.
47 BLISTER NO 104 FEB – APR 2008
La Galleria
Top left: Jess Baker and Karen Canfell get Leonor’s “how many torch bearers does it take” joke.
Top right: The Kelly Gang, marauding once more.
Centre: Dosed up on Barroccas, the severely overhung, yawning Canberran contingent prepares to do battle.
Left: Picture of the MTG taken just before the anticipated food fight that, as usual, marred an otherwise well behaved appearance. Well, not well behaved but, behaved. Sort of.
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