It was 16;25 on my watch but happy enough with effort, it hurt like hell. The two weeks off would have seen some diminution in my condition but that balanced by a glorious morning which was cooler than of late - probably about 18 O C. and no wind.
Heavy due on the grass made me start easy (risk of slipping) and before I knew it half a dozen kids were in front of me. I worked hard to reel them in by about 600m. Unknown to me the best of them managed to hang on pretty close to the finish (see photo below at end of second lap).
Elsewhere Bernie Portenski a 60+ year old female kiwi (former marathon great I'm told) ran 20;47 at New Farm for an incredible age grade 97%.
The knee has been under control with the anti inflammatory - still sore but runable.
Still just doing a steady run most days and trying to get out at the weekends on the bike and running 6K off the bike hard.
Heavy due on the grass made me start easy (risk of slipping) and before I knew it half a dozen kids were in front of me. I worked hard to reel them in by about 600m. Unknown to me the best of them managed to hang on pretty close to the finish (see photo below at end of second lap).
Elsewhere Bernie Portenski a 60+ year old female kiwi (former marathon great I'm told) ran 20;47 at New Farm for an incredible age grade 97%.
The knee has been under control with the anti inflammatory - still sore but runable.
Still just doing a steady run most days and trying to get out at the weekends on the bike and running 6K off the bike hard.
23 comments:
When I read about your park runs you make me want to run fast again, and maybe when the niggles are gone I will try...
Well done
When I read about your Park Runs I want to take up mud wrestling . 91% age grading ! How do you beat that ? The world will find out on May 3rd . Limited parking available on site at the Minnipinni Wastelands but the council will be running a shuttle bus and ferry service on the day. A low tide is predicted . The gala breakfast strictly limited to over 80% age grading with no exemptions so perform on the day or miss out !
Don't even think of attending the breakfast if your age grading is 79.9'% or , heaven forbid , less than that very modest figure. Proof of age grading may be required at the door along with ID . At the discretion of the host certain age grade challenged athletes may attend to appauld Lord Garmin on the expected receipt of his Golden Ronnie award but this is purely a cosmetic and shallow gesture at best and if they grovel enough they may be entitled to snack on any left overs if there are any left to be left over which is seriously in doubt as 80% age graders and over have voracious appetites .
In a magnaminious gesture to his adoring fans , Lord Garmin has taken to heart the plight of those who may be age graded challenged or who through lack of talent or poor preparation have now found themselves in the humiliating position of having to grovel for left over food scraps at the Gala breakfast and will have no opportunity to hear their champion's victory speech when presented with his expected Golden Ronnie award . Lord Garmin who has twitted he expects to achieve no less than 95% age grading will auction off his excess age grading above the 80% cut off limit which entitles one to attend the function . This will mean as much as 15 % will be on offer to help boost the chances of the "little" people as his Lordship refers to them . It is likely others may follow suit providing a window of opportunity for many more to attend the breakfast and so feel a sense of enormous gratitude to the man who has become a world wide celebrity and darling of the rich and famous . Anyone who feels they may be in need of this generous assistance need simply write a grovelling letter to the host and provide their credit card details . Simply say how much you are willing to pay and winning bids will have the sum deducted from their accounts along with GST . This is the type of gesture that has endeared the GTrain to an adoring public and why so many are willing to camp out on the desolate moors of the Minipinni Wastelands to see their hero perform both athletically and with his trademark flaming bagpipes .
David if you give me some of your age grading I can show you some really interesting mixed tag team mud wrestling moves and holds .
Lord Garmin has issued a heart felt appeal for his mentor , Sir Ronald (Ronnie) Peters , to end his self imposed wilderness retreat in the outback and return home to civilisation in order to present the Golden Ronnie award to him after his expected run away win on the 3rd of May in the inaugral World Master's Park Run challenge . When asked why he had chosen to put his world championship belt on the line at the Minipinni Wastelands site Lord Garmin answered graciously saying, " it's the bleakness and remoteness of the place . The sense of foreboding and shear hopelessness . The smell of putrid rotting mangroves and toxic waste seeping out of the tidal marshes . It reminds me very much of Glasgow . That pathetic council housing estate that backs onto the bog . Run down , poorly serviced with no amenities . Abandoned by government . When I run to my expected victory I want to be reminded of where I came from . I want my adoring fans and public to know what I had to endure on those bleak desolate back streets of Glasgow dreaming of Scottish independence while I swept chimneys and now for them to see me transformed a world away into a mega star sporting celebrity . That's the magic of the Mr.Garmin story . To come from behind the eight ball against overwhelming odds to reach the pinnacle of your profession . If it gives hope to some struggling teenager being bullied and bashed in some Glasgow ghetto to hear of my success than it makes it all worth while . I know that I give joy to so many , well frankly losers , not to mention try hards and if I can brighten up their drab existences by their living their lives vicariously through my exploits than that is a good thing ." Perhaps one of the best fields in Masters's history is making a pilgrimage to the race so they can tell their many grandchildren ( now already born and grown to adulthood ) that they were there at the inaugural race . Perhaps in the same frame to be captured forever by history standing a hair's breath away from Lord Garmin himself . A photo that may well for future generations capture the spirit of the 21st century . The golden Garmin age .
It is believed that the man known as the Pelican for his amazing ability to ride faster than a Pelican can fly is a sure starter for the May 3rd Master's Park Run challenge . Thought by some to be called the Pelican for his ability to spot a free feed well beyond visual range , it is not expected that Frank (as he is known to his wife ) will have any trouble meeting the age graded standard to qualify for the breakfast and has tweeted he will give his age graded surplus away to anyone game enough to dress as a pelican on the day . A gracious gesture to say the least and sure to generate generous applause on the day when he like the rest of the field makes up the numbers for what is expected to be The Lord Garmin show .
Ronnie ring home straight away ! Lord Garmin needs you.
Stop being selfish . That's an order !
In a move seen as nothing more than false bravado and smacking of cynical superficiality the robot has offered the 1 or 2% modest age grading he expects (delusionally) may nudge him over the coveted 80 % breakfast invitation mark to be donated to the Save the GTrain's knees foundation to be auctioned off at the trustee's discretion . As it is more than likely that the robot will become lost and disoriented breathing the toxic vapours from the swamp and will need to be rescued the offer has been rejected out of hand for the hollow gesture it is and if there is any repitition of this nonsense in the days ahead than recourse may have to be made to the courts to deal with it .
Owing to an unprecedented groundswell of popular support for celebrity athlete and Scotland's most famous son , David MacSweeney (better known as Lord Garmin ), organisers have announced they are accepting offers from adoring younger and obviously very talented runners to pace their hero in this Saturday's international Grand Masters's showdown at the Minnipinni so called Parklands . The Minnipinni age graded record stands at a very modest 84% which many put down to Lord Garmin never having run there and to the toxic vapours that still ooze to the surface depressingly decades after the site was closed down as a dumping ground for industrial wastes . Any younger fans who feel they might qualify for this honour are free to audition, however if they are accepted a strict code of behaviour will be expected of them and they will be asked to conduct themselves in a manner befitting the occasion. No grovelling to be allowed to attend the post race breakfast , no asking for autographs during the race , no undignified barracking and no unauthorised photographs either before or after the start . Lord Garmin is to be addressed as simply 'sir' and conversation is initiated by him on subjects related to the weather or Scottish independence . If you feel you qualify than simply contact the race organisers and in no less than 1000 words say why you deserve this honour when it is apparent to even blind Fredy that you're punching well above your weight running with the GTrain and you should be exceedingly gratefull if allowed to do so .
I thoroughly enjoy reading of Lord Garmin's exploits and hope one day to understand the strange workings of my Garmin too.
My age-grade is currently 68% and feel that my stunning splendour aureus and ability to bench press a peanut should be held in higher esteem.
I am now going to have a cup of tea, which is now brewing in my Golden Kettle on my Westinghouse Stove, and pour the tea into my Golden Cup from which I will sip graciously (pinky extended) whilst reflecting on the adventures of me Lord. After that, I will go and have a lay down and dream of the day I have mastered the intricacies of GPS logarithms and the time I gain a clearer understanding of Mr. Robot's interesting comments that hover above my head in expectation that I will one day look up and see the deep meaning woven into the fabric of his well-crafted words and thus get the gist of what he is saying. From past experience, this will be followed by a little nirvana-like feeling akin to that of when you find your car after wandering around the car park for four hours. I am older than you Mr. Robot and I guess that means more forgetful, so i am sure I have clearer understanding of the joys of discovering old things anew.
Oh, joy,joy!! I just remembered where I put the Brasso. Can't let the gilding go dull.
Best wishes to Lord Garmin and all the best to your correspondents and those who offer commentary.
Sixty eight percenter.
As an Aid reader of your blog I feel I will just have to attend this Minnippi Park run to see what all the fuss is about. I'm not sure if I can come close to getting 80% age grading to qualify for what sounds like a royal breakfast but it would be great to meet Lord Garmin in person. As a fan of Lord Garmin it looks like you're obviously the form runner of the field and everyone is out to knock you off in age grading points. Going on your previous posts your times should out agegrade everyone except for that bearded fellow you call Peter. Maybe that's his secret. I read an article in the paper that said Hair Is Hip. Beards are fashionable now. Maybe you could wear a beard to this race to outsmart the bearded one. Well I must be going. Good luck. I hope to meet you there.
I'm just a 48% Park Runner . A nobody . Too stupid to post a comment . Took a year to prove I wasn't a robot. The race will be long over by the time I finish . I'm hoping to be lapped by Lord Garmin . In fact it would be an honour . Lord Garmin has changed my life forever . I love his book , The Mr. Garmin Story . I loved the part where he was clinging to the barest slither of a piece of timber after his refugee boat floundered in those treacherous conditions . Tiger sharks nudging incessantly . Unrelenting . Probing . He never gave in . He believed he was destined for greatness . That's why he will win this Saturday . Millions of people around the world are living the dream inspired by their hero . At one time or another in life's perilous journey we are all adrift and at sea . Most drown of course . But some cling to hope . People like me . The unsung nobodies who will be playing their part as well this Saturday . We will not be at the Gala breakfast . I'll be lucky to finish by lunchtime . But our hope is that our hero will put that robotic bearded misfit in his place once and for all . Do it for us . The nobodies of the Park Run circuit . We need flesh and blood heros not androids . Go the GTrain . We believe in you .
I''d dream of being a 48%er . I'll be lucky to get get half that on Saturday . If I finish by tea time it will be a miracle . My only regret is I'll miss the victory speech . I'm going for the GTrain . I loved his book as well . He should have waited till Saturday to add the final chapter .
I've contracted Malaria in the swamp hoping to get a glimpse of his lordship . Probably will be to ill to run on Saturday . May just walk the course to be part of the GTrain experience . Feel the vibes . He'll win . He has to win .
I've contracted malaria and have lost all feeling in my legs due to poisoning from toxic waste (agent orange) leaching out of the ground . I've been camped out here all week . I've come from Scotland to watch the GTrain . I hope to be pushed around the course in a wheel chair so I I can say I was a part of the greatest race in the history of the human species . The GTrain will win . Go the GTrain !
What about my mate the Pelican ? Don't write his chances off . There's a lot more to him than feathers and a long beak . He's been building all year for this race . He may pull off the age graded surprise of the century . What a boil over . Technical officials will have a field day .
I've contracted malaria , been poisoned by agent orange, been dive bombed by the pelican , had my lunch stolen by seagulls, my wheel chair confiscated for having over size wheels by over zealous technical officers but I'm still going to crawl around the course on Saturday and hope the GTrain runs over me on his way to victory . I may not live to crawl to the finish but I know his Lordship will win . He has to win . I don't want to die for nothing in this god forsaken swamp !
We have a spirit at the seance . Claimed they died of exposure camped out waiting to cheer on their hero ,Lord Garmin on Saturday . Says they will be there in spirit competing . Wouldn't be seen dead missing it . Obviously has a sense of humour . Claims much easier to get a good age grading on the "other side" . Every one here is 100% . Bloody boring competition they reckon !
They GTrain will win . I predict it .
It can be revealed today that the source of the mischievous God quote on one of the most visited blogs on earth was none other than the Vatican and the instigator none other than the Pope himself . The Pontiff has never made any secret that he is GTrain follower but is strictly apolitical in regards Scottish independence . Thought by a billion Catholics world wide to be just that inch closer to the divine , His Holiness was quick to point out that while the divine plays no favourites with regards to any of his creations he does have an obvious soft spot for the man known world wide as Lord Garmin . Perhaps this is the explanation for the medical miracle behind the most MRI scanned knees in sporting history and is a reason that a thin slither of cartilage refuses to dislodge itself but rather serves as a metaphor of hope to the dreams and aspirations of not only Lord Garmin's league of Catholic followers but to persons of all faiths including Buddhist Monks now reported to be secreted away in their Tibetan isolation chanting in perfect rhythmical unison an incantation for the man they call Lama Garmin . While nothing is certain in this life one should take note of the Leader of the Mormon Church who twitted he was sure Jehovah would be pacing his favoured son on Saturday and would smite his opponents with an avenging sword of divine and holy retribution . Grim news surely for the rest of the field .
Please leave the Catholic Church alone. They have fallen on tough times of recent, not even allowed to practice their sinful ways anymore. And besides, they are the only one true church, the one truth faith. Park Run followers are not a real religion, they are just heathens, all there just for the free run. They should be charged a fee, then baptized in the name of Lord Garmin, the G Train himself. Then made to listen to the flaming bagpipes. How do you do that!
Sources close to legendary coach , Pat Clohessy , have said he is of the firm conviction that the man known on the Indian sub continent as the Garmin Lama will score a runaway win in this Saturday's World Park Run age graded challenge at the euphemistically labelled Minnipinni Park Lands venue . The man whose name will be linked forever with sporting icon and Australian sport Hall of Fame inductee , Robert DeCastella , paid tribute to the gallent Scotsman who has won the admiration of an adoring public the world over . While not one to make rash predictions he was quick to dismiss the chances of any of his own athletes, a clear reference to the Robot . " I told him he wasn't in the same league as the GTrain . Like comparing a crack in the Minipinni cement path to the Grand Canyon . Just be grateful if he qualifies for the post race breakfast and for God sake not to dribble or let crumbs collect in his beard . " Clohessy said he follows Lord Garmin's blog and is hoping to catch up with the man himself to have him personally sign his copy of the Mr. Garmin Story . " Inspirational stuff ," commented Clohessy , " along with Running with Deek it's one of my favourite books . When I catch up with him I'd love to ask him how he does that flaming bag pipes trick without turning himself into a human torch ."
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