November 2011

[Sweder]

As November bids a cheery, slightly chilly farewell I have to wonder where the time goes. No sooner has Mount Wellington receded in the rear view mirror than Almeria looms large on the horizon. I'm away to Dubai for work this week. When I get back I start my six week schedule ending in Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos.

Saturday saw a return to Parkrun to mark both Ladyrunner and Moylebird's 100th event (my 40th, which says all there is to say about my tardy attendance record) and Moyleman's birthday. We celebrated after the run with coffee and cake at the café where we were joined by Alan 'Le Soft', Suzie and little George and a number of old training buddies; Stevio, Fiona, Mikey B and, albeit on the next table and oblivious to the significance of the occasion, Liz Yelling. I bagged a years' best 23:18, still over a minute slower than my PB but a fair effort on still-tired legs. Le Soft snapped some shots as we pootled round, one of which, of me in my sweat-soaked, tight-fitting P2P technical shirt, had me swearing an oath to go on a crash diet. That evening we re-grouped in a Patcham tavern to be enterained by Meat Diva, a tongue-firmly-in-cheek Meatloaf tribute act. The name says it all; they were hilarious, not to mention talented vocalists. Chris would have heartily approved.

I'd planned to wobble up to Blackcap yesterday but my hamstrings felt so horrible that I walked it instead. This morning LR popped over with her houndlette for a gentle plod. My hammies still felt on the verge of rebellion so I took it easy, clocking 35 minutes for just over 3.5 miles. There's more of the same planned for tomorrow before celebrating the passing of my half century strapped into one of Richard Branson's airbourne leviathans. C'est la vie.

A word on the passing of Gary Speed. I have no idea what demons possess a successful sportsman with a beautiful family to take his own life. It is certainly a tragedy, not least so for the wife and young children he left behind. That he chose to hang himself in the family home is, however, unforgivably selfish. Finding his body will haunt whoever did so for the rest of their life, as will a terrible feeling of failure and unrelenting loss. Rest in peace Gary. May the gods take better care of those you left behind.