Archive
6-Nov-2008 Mellow
I am feeling really mellow this evening but like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. no tv on, kids in bed, incense on.
Looking at my website – this just seems so appropriate – the story of my life.
just about to go out for a run… will report back in an hour or so.
*** goes for a run ***
cool. I went for a run at almost midnight. It was blowing a gale but I went topless & commando and did a 6km loop over bonnie vale beach. I left my shoes at the beach head and went barefoot. I took two 3.5kg dumbbells also and ran thru the surf. At the end I did some exercises, pushups x20, air-punches x100 and went for a quick swim. the water was very warm – warmer than the air I think. Loads of stars and a half moon – so even at midnight it’s easy to see without a torch. It was tough doing pushups as the wind blew sand into my face but I was in the right mood to TAKE IT. I know I am getting fitter. In fact yesterday was the first day off in a couple of weeks and I was soooo pissed off about it. how times change. The previous 2 days I went out for almost 2hrs each day. generally finishing in the dark – mate my eyesight is getting better – must be all those carrots & beetroots I am eating. we also have literally about 200 mandarins at the moment – the greengrocer had boxes of them for $5 so we took 2 boxes. They are ace and even the kids love them.
most people know that coolrunning is really pissing me off at the moment. I guess its not just anyone in particular but there just seems a tribe of people that delight in picking stuff to pieces and there’s like this “us & them” mentality against the moderators. But it’s like a free website and the moderators would love not to do anything, so why are people just continually trying to find the negative and scrutinise every written word for a logical inconsistency etc. why spend so many hours each day doing this? why not spend the time running or trying to make the website better. Maybe they prefer CR rather than jokes of the day.com or something.
I had heard of people leaving CR because of the “bullying” and negativity and didn’t really believe it – but I can now and its horrible. truly I feel like walking away from all those f**kers.
I personally feel the rot started when we allowed the very-offtopic chatter stuff (what’s your favourite biscuit etc). Its got nothing to do with running and is pure noise. then people think they can write any old shit and there is a valid place on CR for it, and all of a sudden there is less signal and more noise. and then people’s posting quality drops as anything that takes longer than 15secs is too long so you get all the sarky one liners and in-jokes.
I think I will vote for more quality, less noise and ban/delete all the offtopic shit, maybe just keep the hijackers thread.
coolrunning is meant to be full of runners not f**king discussions on your favourite biscuit and pros/cons of speed dating. sheesh.
Sean is right, we all need to get a grip.
As this was posted to my old blog on coolrunning, it had these comments attached :
From Spud: Midnight runs, when do you sleep Kev? Noice.
Hey I agree with your sentiments about CR. Ditch all that non-running shit and let’s get back to what we all have in common.
IMO the rot set in when we allowed the hijackers thread.
From crazycatwoman : I hadn’t really noticed till now but on reflection I think you may be right about the off topic stuff. The first threads I read as a lurker, the ones that really inspired me, were the SMH and other race threads. Never noticed any negative stuff there. The hijackers thread always had a few hot heads but that was the only one. I don’t know how you have tolerated the crap for so long Kev, I would have spat the dummy long ago. I believe that CR plays a huge part in keeping new runners running. I am sure I would have quit like I did many times before with out CR. And its not the pats on the back that inspire me, it is the enthusiasm of other runners and the sense of fun and comaraderie (sp) and belonging that comes from being a coolrunner. This is what you have given to us Kev, and I for one really appreciate it.
From Skat : As a newbie my lurking is always on the running stuff – races, training tips etc. I’ve seen the hijakers thread, fav biscuits thread etc but have never looked at them because that is not what i am here for. CR is fantastic and full of great running info, inspiration, motivation and people – the other stuff is crap and in my opinion can be scraped
From Colsy : Once we have read and contributed to running threads and start experimenting by ourselves and searching properly there isnt much left to do bar have a poke and a giggle. This does get out of control eventually. I have started many off-topic threads and posted in many more. But my vote is to clamp down on them, get rid of them. How about a new law of no new off-topic threads?
From Shogun : Hi Kev, Haven’t been on CR for a while (not since 12FT) and I can agree that it has gotten worse than ever. I used to enjoy reading all the training and racing threads but it seems there hasn’t been any of real quality in there since everyone started talking in the off topic threads which aren’t worth the bother. Haven’t done much since 12FT but have enjoyed reading about your running adventures. My family used to have a house on Bundeena Beach where we would spend summers and your blog takes me back. Keep running, writing and dreaming. Free yourself of the CR stress and enjoy life!!! Cheers, Branden
From sook54 : Good on you for getting out there and running it off. Enjoy your break from the forums. My guess is they will still be there when you feel like coming back 
04-Nov-2008 Some Random Updates
First things first – I am planning on doing the Kj 5km uphill run on Saturday. It has a good vibe. not sure how well I will run but am currently bein psycho about running everyday, and am generally getting a lot faster, but some days more tired also. obviously been sleeping heaps more, hence no work on anything like Coolrunning or Sixfoot.
looks like I might even make my estimated goal for the year, 1800km – approx 5.5km per day every day average. this would be the best year in 5 years.
i used to like the analogy (as I am not religious) that I went running everyday, but a race was like a festival – a bit like going to church on sunday. to carry the analogy further though, I have become like a hermit who sits in a cave for 7 years, meditating – I am communing with my inner self (and running) but don’t need anyone to validate it, I don’t even need to run a race and get a time to prove anything. fake plastic trees eloquently wrote:
I’m talking about the people who seem the need to use this as a I just ran around the block people tell me what an inspiration I am. A year or so ago everybody who ever did anything started becoming inspirations. “I finished a 10k in 15hours but six months ago I was 2 kilos heavier”, reply “wow you are such an inspiration”. The other side of that is that when the encouragement wanes then what’s left for the person in question. They have had no real self drive as it’s all been external validation of their achievements. They stop running or never improve because when you’re out there running it’s rare to have your own personal cheer-squad.
It sums it up real good.
there is some good discussion about whether coolrunning is becoming lame or not. I think people feel so passionately because they care which is a great thing, but I am beginning to think that there are people on one side pulling, and people the other pulling, and the moderators are stuck in the middle copping flack from both sides. next week it will be different different argument with different people but the result will be the same. I think people like arguing for the sake of it, like that is THE POINT. Maybe because its written down, people can analyse the shit out of it, but in real conversation you don’t.
bob dylan once said : “A lot of people don’t have much food on their table, But they got a lot of forks n’ knives, And they gotta cut somethin“.
I could reword that to “A lot of people got a lot of time on their hands, but they got mice, keyboards & screens, and they gotta chat about somethin”
I feel like walking away from it all – its just negative – nip nip nip, whine whine whine. putting their energy into something, anything would be so much better. and it’s dragging me down – that’s the worst – I am wasting my time on this when I could be doing something constructive that I enjoy, like putting on 6ft (or even … gasp … some of my new projectS)
I am enjoying the slower pace of life, and am really noticing some odd things, like the tides and the moon, and how the same beach and have vastly different markings, dunes etc after different tides. Going for walks and then coming home in the dark and preparing food and going to bed has made me realise that for all our mod-cons we often loose the sense of family – because we CAN all work separately at any time, doesn’t mean we SHOULD. Places in the 3rd world, when it gets dark, people gather for food and then spend time together before going to bed (instead of eating separately, working and wasting all that energy) – it makes more sense.
I have also seen mention of third world clothes make sense – a dhoti or a sari (obviously) can be worn until it wears out and if you get fatter or thinner, its not a problem its easy to adjust, unlike jeans where people have a fat size, a thin size and another size in between. Its like if you slow down you can see some of this stuff, how people think our society is so good because we have stuff and in reality its just bollocks.
On other things I am reading the pillars of the earth a book I swapped with a coolrunner in canberra. a bit of light reading but its good. I am slowly going thru the do website :
The idea is a simple one. That people who Do things, can inspire the rest of us to go and Do things too. So each year, we invite a set of people down here to come and tell us what they Do. They can be small Do’s or big Do’s or just plain amazing extraordinary Do’s. But when you listen to their stories, they just light a fire in your belly to go and Do your thing, your passion, the thing that sits in the back your head each day, just waiting, and waiting for you to follow your heart. To go find your cause to fight for, your company to go start, your invention to invent, your book to write, your mountain to climb. The one thing the Doers of the world Do, apart from Do amazing things, is to inspire the rest of us to go and Do amazing things.
Muscially I am regressing thru my mp3 archives, visage in french, placebo in acoustic, ziggy stardust, martyr mantras, bright eyes, and a bunch in between.
As this was posted to my old blog on coolrunning, it had these comments attached :
By Kathmandu: Hey Kev, Nice entry. I like the bit about noticing the tides and the moon and the beach markings. Too easy to get caught up in the negatives and the conflicts of life, which in the whole scheme of life arent all that relevant. I enjoy your blog. Cheers.
By Tim: Kev I really like where you are headed. I often find myself thinking on the same lines. i love running and have been wondering about the need for validation. i use to crave the attention races gave me. To come back and read threads where everyone watched my progress it was a buzz. But now I am starting to realise that it is the everyday run that gives me the most pleasure. The one where I head out and no one knows I have gone. Sometimes I just stop at the river and watch the world. I do not care about time or tempo, i can stop if I wish. Then when it is time I start to run again. I have been struggling with this injury forever and I think it is the need to run to a schedule, to be ready for a big race that has made me run longer, harder, more often then my body wanted. I should have stopped. i should have listened. All the signs were there. I also see where you are re CR. i am finding myself feeling angry more often then not lately. It sucks your energy out. There are too many cool things to do in life. there is no room for energy sucks. we need to have a BBQ down your place soon. Vegan runners talking vegan eco shit and eating vegie sausages sounds perfect.
By 20th/centuryBoy: I’m reading The Pillars of the Earth on the train to work. There’s a sequel as well if you can’t get enough of them thar 12th century shenanigans!
By Plu: “we need to have a BBQ down your place soon.” ….and check out the “string trail” and other projects – will you allow non vegans trying to cut back on meat?
By RachinAus: I’m a bit of a newbie to the running scene and CR and it has been interesting to watch some of the threads develop over the months. Mostly I enjoy it and sometimes I think poeple just say things to be provocative. The world is full of poeple who need external validation. I just read Affluenza by Oliver James which touches on peoples need for external validation – as well as a need to validate through the possession of objects….a common contemporary struggle I think for lots of human beings. Personally I’m grateful you have had the energy to maintain this site for the huge benefit it gives loads fo people – from the need to feel like they belong to something to the need for a bit of sensible advice on running. I think as you get older you are more able to find satisfaction internally and start worrying less about what others think – in all aspects of life….as I build up a history of running (albeit a recent one) it is starting to give me more satisfaction than running better races. Cheers
By John Stevens: I don’t have the words for a sensible comment right now. Not enough sleep, achilles hurting 24/7, etc. RE- CR – and the “Lameness” of it all. It just isn’t your fault how ppl are thinking, ever. And they are out there, thinking, posting, all for their own little reasons. I’m thinking you are right – some comment just because it’s there, and they can comment. Other ppl are passionate, but still posting from opposite ends of the spectrum = conflict. Just apply a language filter, and let the rest happen, I think… Pity the whole lot can’t go unmoderated, really.
Re- the validation ppl seek thru the CR Board – I notice it now, bigtime, cf. the old days of Mr G, Phantom Strider, Uncle Dave etc. But, that’s the community out there, currently using the Board to communicate. Again, it just is.
Glad you are happy, RUNNING (!), Do-ing what you want, more of the time.
Re- Tim and Plu – I think an Un-race in your quarter, and a BBQ, would be a lovely thing to do. And you could time it with the co-oping of ppl for the menial little jobs for 6FT :-).
Cheers, Di.
By Colsy: Kev, cant you take a break from it, handball it to someone else for a solid month? It’ll still be here when you get back. It must be tough, whenever there is conflict on the board I always think of what it must be like for you. That doesnt seem to stop me from, sometimes, being one of those Nip Nip Whiners though. After I read your blog entries I always try to make an effort to contribute more and stir less. I appreciate what you do.
By Fred: just put some stiff little fingers on and bop around the lounge room
I really love CR and am grateful to you for creating it, as are many many around us.
Lets just enjoy the good stuff. There is so much of it.
19-Oct-2008 Kembla Joggers Brokers Nose Race
Oh my God – I did a race!
Kembla Joggers Mountain Running Series – Bulli to Brokers Nose and back (22km run – approx 20km offroad, 2km road).
I was mightily impressed with this run, not really run in the area before. In fact I really appreciated the whole setup – very agreeable, low key, cheap ($5), well marked course, great views, good bunch of people, no fuss, no bullshit.
To cap it off I had a great run – I know I am weak on the uphills so didn’t bust a boiler and figured I would push harder on the downhill. Worked like a dream and finished off with basically the last ounce left in the tank. I fancy going back to do some more training. Big ups and downs would suit anyone doing six foot training, or ws100 and longer stuff.
Good chats afterwards and then a swim in the sea. perfect.
(I figured that am well out of race-mode as I realised I didn’t bring a drink to take on the run – don’t bother when training even for 3-4hrs – seems liked most people carried bottles/camelbaks etc).
Thanks Stalky and Fats (timekeeper).
Results:
Phil Whitten 01:36:58
Paul Gillan 01:39:30
Paul Stein 01:41:00
Nikolay Nikolaev 01:41:58
Peter Berry 01:44:44
Rod Cutler 01:50:54
Alisa Williams 01:51:09
Bruce Hammond 01:55:46
Greg Peoples 01:57:04
Amanda Underwood 02:00:14
Kevin Tiller 02:07:14
Mark Everton 02:07:26
Nathan McInnes 02:07:54
Neil Peace 02:08:36
Chris Moreiry 02:24:20
Mark Gooch 02:24:20
Bob Kimbrey 02:25:00
I don’t particulary care about the big races anymore, I like something a bit more homely, cheaper. Like this and of course fat ass runs.
I went for a bit of a walk/jog in the afternoon and then went for a kayak/brief swim, was totally cactus by the evening.
14-Oct-2008 Sizzlin’
I guess this is a bit of a catch up post, as I have been too busy DOING to write it down.
Friday week – was very hot. Went for a walk with the family on our beloved Bonnie Vale. The hot wind still felt fresh. In the water there was a lot of Phosphorescence in the water. We went swimming. Not sure if its safe to encourage kids to swim in the sea at night but its a great place and pretty safe. It was cool to move arms & legs in the water.
Overnight it rained and unfortunately I spun the car off the road whilst driving out for a run. The technical term is fishtailing. I ended up in the bushes at the other side of the road – lucky no one else on the road. I was well under the speed limit 70km on a 80km road, but the car is well slippy on wet road and I suspect the rain just sat un gunk that came out during the heat. Luckily I just had to change the tyre (helped my my next door neighbour who was next car along). I could have been killed pretty easily.
Over the long weekend I got into some decent running. I started to read “Once a runner” and its still a great book. Unfortunately it made me a bit sad as I realised that I used to run with the Uni Cross Country/Track team in a big group everyday and did stuff like is in the book, and that time has probably gone now. Anyway I have started to run everyday now and I feel like I am pounding myself hard. Many a time now I stagger back home well beaten down (with a massive smile on my face I should add – nothing makes me happier).
Guess what : I even got up on morning at 6am and went running then went for a swim in the sea before going to work. how cool is that (it is cool – it was a statement not a question). However that morning it was cold – the phrase that comes to mind is “the agony and the ecstasy”.
I was planning on running the Blue Labyrinth with the fat assers on Sunday, but on Friday the thread on CR made it clear the run was Saturday. Usually I am pretty anal about dates and stuff so not sure what happened. I was all psyched for the Sunday (even had permission). Whilst I could have changed it to the Saturday we had planned to do stuff together, so I gave it a miss. I do that a lot these days so was not too worried. (Sean has tipped me off about the KJ Mountain run next Saturday, so may do that 22km run but I won’t post on the thread else it will jinx me).
Swimming was just great and have started swimming to the wharf. We also went kayaking on Saturday. On Sunday the missus stood on a stingray at the beach but no whatever it is that they do – bite/sting. Even one of the kids swam part way to the wharf. Sunday went for a bush run on this new track I found, Jaz saw a snake, luckily only a grass one.
Even went running tonight after work – bonnie vale of course. In the dark, barefoot on the sand, plus a moonlight swim. I have tried everything before it seems, but tonight was the first time I properly went commando. It was cool but interested to see how it goes on a long run. Could get nasty. Let me know if you have experience of long commando runs.
I have been running every day since the previous saturday now (umm except Thurs). Even though the mileage is not that high 6km-9km daily – the 9km runs have some killer bush, hills, sand, everything and still takes over an hour. I have been walking like I have wooden legs all week. it’s wonderful.
CR has been going ok, although I should say Vurt has been doing most of the work. Some interesting posts today on how much offtopic stuff there is. What goes around comes around (in bigger doses it seems).
22-Sep-2008 Rapture
I got up “not early” on Saturday and did stuff around the house, can’t remember what. oh yes posted some loco shoes (walk along the beach). it was a hot day and lots of people on MY beach.
Went for a kayak with the missus to bonnie vale – it was great to get out, but after we went past Gunnamatta headland the wind was blowing quite hard, so we headed to the beach. picked up litter whilst we were kayaking – most from the boats at bonnie vale for sure. wankers. got back to hordern’s in quite big waves, dawn lost her nerve and bailed before the waves broke so I swam out and paddled it in.
Later in the afternoon I ran (started approx 4.20pm as was fiddling around with ipod – first time used in approx a month), it was still hot, humid and no breeze. I wanted to run to wattamolla and back. As I was going up a hill you get this view to marley and across to wattamolla – got there just as rapture by blondie (a remixed version) was playing (hence the title for this post) – I was on quite a high.
At wattamolla I went for a quick dip – brrrr. the sun was going down. I also drank for the tap that says quite emphatically “do not drink from this tap – water unsafe” or words to that effect. I got back to marley as the sun went down – very beautiful indeed. I ran well and got into a good zone – even running in the dark, no torch. I got home approx 7.30pm – had been dark for about an hour. I was very thirsty/dry – didn’t take a drink. I went for a quick dip on hordern’s beach. like ran in, went underwater and ran out.
Sunday I got up lateish and sorted some shoes out as we are selling Loco shoes thru John Hill’s shop at Bondi Beach. I was dropping off his stock at 2pm. After that I went to Newtown to look at Futon frames and bought some chai and veggie sausages from a health food store as the kids wanted a bbq tonight.
Read the posts on coolrunning about the sydney marathon/half. it would have been good to run but couldn’t be arsed.
20-Sep-2008 Weekly RoundUp
A quick flurry of updates :
I saw an echidna on the trail last weekend when I was out running near garie beach. It was funny as it heard me coming, moved about 6 inches then hid its head – figuring it couldn’t see me, so I couldn’t see it. almost trod on it but I did stop to admire it. ditto the lyre birds that I saw in 3 or 4 separate spots. afterwards I tried my diving mask (found in seaweed) at hordern’s beach – it worked well.
Went running with the missus on sunday near wattamolla – great rainbow, and frogs chirping – missus thought they sounded like farts underwater. went swimming in the lagoon.
Spent most of the week in Brisbane for work (Cisco Live Conference). Went to bed 2am monday and got up at 3am for a 6am flight. very busy day in brissie starting 9am. finished at 7.30pm. dinner & bed pretty much (oh yes I watched shameless probably the best show around at the moment). I could have contacted the brisbane crs but I knew the week would be long and stressful enough.
quick rant – I will never go into another body shop. I think they have totally changed since being taken over by l’oreal. I have been using them since the year dot but now all the shops look like david jones perfume hall. stupid gits. I have been using chandrika soaps for the best part of 10 years off and on – only about $1.75 from health food stores.
anyway coming home the gooses at qantas didn’t bring my bag back on the same plane as me. they had to deliver it hours later by vip courier.
today I went to the cr drinks / lunch at circular quay. I felt like a bit of a fraud as I am not running at the weekend. even so it was good to meet some new people and old friends. it was really good actually and a shame I had to return to work at 3pm.
cr itself seems to go from strength to strength ie lots of people (too many?) and waaaay too many threads to read them all. I guess I miss a lot. good help from sook, ellie and vurt. love ’em all. means a lot less stress for me. next stop : getting the treasurer and secretary firing on all cylinders.
This was originally posted on my old blog and had some comments :
Tynomite: “I could have contacted the brisbane crs but I knew the week would be long and stressful enough.” Are you implying something about the Brissie CRs Kev?
Me: sorry didn’t come out right. I find it stressful enough to do what I am supposed to do and check emails, without having to worry about being in a certain place at a certain time to meet people – especially when its somewhere I don’t know too well. As it was I took my gear and didn’t run once. however that would be usual – I only run when I feel happy about things. If I am stressed it all goes downhill.
RunBare: was great to see you at the CR lunch Kev, I always enjoy chatting with you about things minimal and slightly crazy 
I like the way you run, you’ve renewed my enthusiasm for life.
5-Sep-2008 Sixfoot
I think the main frame of mind I am in is “yikes I am shitting myself”. We haven’t quite wrapped up 2008 and need to start 2009. We have been looking for a new Race Director, but don’t have one. SO I probably will keep doing it …. but I am also struggling with CR work and can’t see how I can both. I really wonder how on earth I have done it all over the years, before I realise all the time off I took and weekends spent working and late late nights.
At the moment I have cut back and have been living a life. I am really enjoying the non-work side of things – just except the piles of stuff “growing” around me. My running is going well (mainly at the weekends – but a few runs on Bonnie Vale during the week). I had a great run the other night and found some phosphorescence on the water so when you waded it shone like glitter. I ALWAYS run barefoot on the beach now and often run back thru the waves. I always get home high high high as a kite. Its very nourishing. I have also started something that could become (yet another) lifetime project – I am doing some “trail maintenance on loads of tracks, as well as finding out new ones – there are just SO MANY tracks all over the place – I am just having so much fun.
I am also trying to load my docs and cr docs and loco and six foot into google – much easier for other people to pick them up and run with them, and anyway I don’t even use one pc (we have 3 at home) and I use pcs all over.
It’s a bit like a new attitude – cut it all back to the basics – no watch, no gps, no heart rate monitor. I have even dug out some old cotton running tshirts from the 1980s, my shoes have already done more than 1000km. no water bottle even for 3hr+ runs. I just run off and take new tracks no idea where they go – I come out of the bush on hands and knees sometimes. I think it falls into the whole fat ass mindset – just run and have fun, and the fitness will follow. It doesn’t mean I don’t run fast – in fact when the track is good I go as fast as I can (I creamed the missus last weekend – I don’t think she wants to run with me anymore). I know I am getting fit now, but I can’t quite be bothered to run any races. There’s some great tracks here – lots of mud, reminds me of the UK. Also what I call tunnels – its like in the bush but the bush comes over the top of the track and joins over your head – forming a tunnel. Great stuff (you can’t even see the tracks on google satellite maps – you have to go out and find them all).
I have been thinking about running at glasshouse (even mentioned it on my blog), and guess what ? I will be in Brisbane for work on the mon-thurs after the run for a cisco conference. It would be so easy to go up on the friday and do glasshouse, but I have to take one of the kids to homebush for a dance contest on Fri pm, and we have family stuff already lined up for Sat and Sun, and I don’t really want to leave them, I love being with my family. I might try and bunk off the conference and get someone to take me for a run on Mt Cootha as that is quite close to where I am staying I think.
ps shout out to tim – made some date & oat balls – well cool. we replaced the dates also and used apricots and also rolled in dessicated coconut. just like the ones you buy at $2 a pop, except our cost like 20c.
well, we all know that the truth is only known by guttersnipes in any case ….
This was posted on my old blog and I had some comments:
Tim: sad about the Glasshouse but family is better than a race (most of the time). Hey cool about the balls, I like the extra stuff I think i will make some the Tiller way.
Plu: Kevin have you looked at zoho.com – not bad functionality compared to google docs. Just read about the it last night on Techcrunch.
Brick: Hi Kevin, Again with tim sad about the Glasshouse but I do understand totally.All the same it would of been nice to catch up and if I am lucky I might of been able to keep up with you but after reading this entry maybe not any more. Nice too see you are getting back your running mojo. Since my achilles injury I have really been enjoying just running very very easily it makes such a difference not wanting to go fast all the time.
26-Aug-2008 Stumped & Struggling
<sigh>
I am really struggling. I seem to get up at 7am-7.30am and sort kids out then go to work and get home at an average 8pm. by the time I do dinner and maybe catch some of the Olympics or do something with the kids, its getting late and I have done no work on CR (again) or sixfoot (for that matter). Not sure how I used to get it all done, but maybe I spent half my day at work doing it (but can’t now). I used to be in a rut and spend half the weekend on the computer, but not so much now.
Lucky people like Vurt and sook & others are helping out big time else I’d be really in the shit.
Last weekend was both Willy2billy and Sutherland half and I didn’t do either. In a way I felt bad about missing both, particularly willy2billy as I have done a lot of them, but am going thru a funny phase where am not too into the races. On Saturday morning I decided instead to do my own big run and went out for 3-and-a-half-hrs (25km according to gmaps) but its a really great run – bonnie vale beach, wade, then sand then swim to Yennabilly. The water was icy cold and I was wearing a cotton top so froze for a while till it drip dried. then run on the road and take the bush to Anice falls (via the Swedish masseur according to Billy from Billy’s Bushies). Its called that as its like gorse bushes on both sides of the track and I got blood (lots of) on both legs as it meets in the middle. the path was underwater also. Then run Mount Bass firetrail to the trig point then down to Big Marley. It was getting warm so I drank out of puddles – man I am getting psycho these days!! Saw 3 pelicans flying just in front. Big Marley was a wild place due to wind/waves. Then ran back to Bundeena via the little marley track. Ran in the surf at Horderns in barefeet and went swimming before getting home. Got it in the neck from the missus as apparently I’d said I would only be 2 hours. I am sure I said “a long one, more than 2hrs” and 3-and-a-half-hrs is more than 2. Didn’t see anyone out. Ran pretty well. I felt tired going into Big Marley, but it was downhill and very inspiring. I slogged it out of Marley (as its all uphill) but overall I was very happy with my speed. Coming into Bundeena I felt pretty good. It was quite funny as coming along the beach there were these people, obviously straight off the ferry in jeans, boots, coats, scarfs, gloves and I ran past stripped off to shorts and dived into the water. It was a great circuit and would make a good striders run. hmmm now there’s a thought. If we did it at low tide and ran the sand/mud to Red Jacks and up the track there it would be s.u.p.e.r.b.
Went mountain biking in the afternoon with the kids. Jaz is getting pretty bloody mean on a bike these days. She loses interest unless there are good jumps now. The puddles were great – just like being in the UK again. Needless to say Sunday I was wrecked so watched the Olympic Marathon on Tv and read the paper. Did feel inspired though.
This was originally posted on my CoolRunning Blog – and I had one comment:
Curtisrocco : you sound like a wild man. you need to grow a beard. You also sound fit. you should run the glasshouse. i hear those tea drinking vegetarians have a spare bed.
19-Aug-2008 Running & Thoughts
I ran 12foot track – 90km. my race report is here.
Not sure what’s next – am thinking about glasshouse 100miler, but to be honest I can’t see the weekend costing less than $500 so am not sure I will bother.
Of course there is willy to billy or the sutherland half. mmmm maybe. My legs were still cactus during last week, but improved by the weekend.
On saturday I did a great run, actually I did it a couple of weeks back – Garie beach to Werrong beach via The Squeeze and return via Era. 17.5km. For those unaware Werrong is a nooodie beach. So I did a quick skinny dip. No one around. The run is just great – a bit of road, a bit of 4WD, some single track, some big ups and downs and probably my all time favourite surface – some soft sand mixed with dirt and leaves – there is a great section near Werrong Beach. Anyway after reading the Werrong Beach pdf I thought that after the turnoff for Werrong I would stick my clothes behind a rock and run the 2km to and from the beach in the nude. I did and I didn’t see anyone down or up or at the beach (water was cold). It was a weirdly liberating feeling – was quite happy not to see anyone but also I think if I did see anyone I don’t think I’d care. I did it for me. I will definitely be doing it again (lucky its a legal thing).
On Sunday did more or less the same minus the beach section with the missus (we started late, or that was her excuse …). I was quite flying along some of the tracks.
I really am beginning to see how the aborigine’s could have a great depth of feeling for their local territory – I am beginning to feel that way about MY park, an spending a lot of time on a bunch of different trails – I’m not doing all of them but am spending quality time on a lot of them and gradually expanding my knowledge. Even the ideal of running the sutherland half on Sat pm just round the corner is like “what, and share the track with a load of oiks from the city?!”.
I think I will spend some hard core time getting fit and just race sparingly. I think that’s where my mind is at at the moment.
17-Aug-2008 12 Foot Track Race report
I awoke at noon today, felt like I’d been run over by a truck. The kids were up a lot earlier of course and my wife had been running for the day and got back. I was oblivious. “Where’s Dad ? “, “he’s still in bed”. I looked in the mirror to see a haggard 40-something looking back at me, maybe too many late nights. I’d got home that morning approx 5am after a late night out. My mouth felt like sandpaper – what had I been drinking last night ?! Like all party nights, it all started out as good clean fun, but gradually deteriorated as time wore on and ended up as a vague blur such that I can hardly remember how I got home. I staggered to the front door, and saw that the car was there, in one piece, but inside it was a right bloody state. I opened the door of the car and was hit by the smell of poo, saw a table that wasn’t there when I left home (!) and found a pair of (used) underpants.
However, we both know that I wasn’t getting my kicks at a boozy nightclub last night, but had been on my annual pilgrimage to the 12 Foot Track. I won’t call it a race, although people do record their times. Its definitely in that class of run where the runners are more inclined to help each other out – its a “runners versus the course” mentality. Many runners know about the Six Foot Track, and the annual 45km run each March. In 2008 alone, well over 800 people entered this race, so its quite an achievable goal for many. Running the same route AND BACK is stunning in its simplicity, but like a game of chess, it can all unravel quite quickly. By some strange quirk of physics, out and back is about 3 times as hard as just the one way.
Like any run, 2008 was no exception : some people ran better than expected, some ran about the same and some experienced some difficulties and may come back next year to improve, this year’s knowledge tucked away to be learnt from, sometimes painfully. For myself, I have had a lot more failures than successes – Out of 7 previous starts (2001 to 2007) I have one finish, 2 serious attempts at a finish and 4 not very serious excursions. So with some improvement in training, both physically and mentally, I thought I had a good chance of a finish in 2008. This is the story of how my weekend unfolded.
I left work approx 6pm Friday and had an veg-Thali at my favourite Indian restaurant in the city – rice and nan is good (ditto lentils..). Train to Sutherland to pick up my car then drove to Leura to pick up a table I bought from eBay. (I figured a 6am knock on a Saturday morning or worse a 2am Sunday morning wouldn’t go down well). I struggled to put it in the boot (station-wagon type car). I nipped into to Coles in Katoomba to buy some batteries and some nut bars as I forgot to bring any food (!). By about 10pm my time was my own so learning previous lessons from the race I made my own arrangements for aid at the Deviation (36km/ 54km points in the run).
I drove round to the deviation – my wife said I was nuts – but its a damn sight easier than taking stuff to pluvi by car (which I have been doing for the megalong mega). I stopped off at Mt Vic servo for a coffee on the way. I put out 2 cans of coke (one for the way out and one for way back) – figuring I can crush them and carry the empty. I also put out a bag with some more drinks, tights, beanie, thermal top, more food and importantly my torch. I would pick this up on the way back, but it was there if required on the way out. It would be a good incentive for me to run back to deviation at least. I buried it all under some leaves. There had been no discussion on CoolRunning about any aid there – I think its a better aid drop than the caves as there is a shop at the caves. Anyway Katoomba to Deviation is approx an hour or a bit less. I know the way well now and don’t even get scared of the dark. There were signs out saying ice and snow on the road but I didn’t see any but it was cold.
Afterwards I drove back to the Explorer’s tree and parked by the hut where Six Foot starts (further away from the road). As I am a short arse I was able to get in my sleeping bag on the back seat, i bought a pillow and doona as well. My head was positioned so I could look out the window up to the stars. Lovely. Went to sleep just after midnight. The next I knew it was just before 6am as it was getting light. I didn’t realise it but lastish and Coolwalker David must have come past (separately) during the night. I wasn’t first at the start! there were already people gathering. It was great to chat for a while whilst slowly getting ready. I had my normal breakfast of cold porridge. We signed a sheet that Rod passed around and had the usual photo by the tree. We left almost dead on 7am, amazing to start on time (quite clearly nothing to do with me).
I went off with Alison and Meredith but must have just got in front of them going down Nellies Glen and was quite happy just drifting by myself. Megalong Valley was simply stunning – the firetrail section was cold – but not excessively – with white frosty grass and blue skies. Buzzlightyear was at the cemetary, where I picked up my 2 handhelds – I wasn’t wearing a pack – just a striders “thermal” and cr tritop (with pockets) and shorts. he bright blue sky with no clouds was superb, it was really enough to make an adult cry it was just so perfect. Seeing the track wend its way over the hils was breathtaking. I ran to the river with a guy, but can’t remember his name (sorry), and he took the bridge and I took the river and we got to the other side almost spot on the same time. We passed Coolwalker David going up mini-mini I think. He was cursing about something or other and had lost his scarf (we saw it miles back). I was pretty much by myself after the river and started listening to my ipod. I felt I was going at a decent pace. Sometime after pluvi the guy I was at the river with went past. I must have slowed down but was still tootling along ok. Close to the deviation Alison and Meredith came past, or nearly past, I must have been daydreaming so I zoomed ahead only to stop by my bag and they went past. I had a coke and put my gloves away.
My next goal was to make it to the road before I saw the first runner coming back – I had always managed to do this. The girls must have scotted on a lot quicker as I never saw thenm but was still moving ok. I made the road and a fair way after then the first runner I saw was Shogun. Wow. He said Tim had blown up (he had said he would go hard). I think he needed to show a bit of respect for the race (refer: http://au.youtube.co…h?v=C6C83lwwxJ8 ). ha ha. Then came Tim, poor bugger looked tired, then Spud then a shite load of others. Someone had said that Kev Cassidy was at Jenolan. I got a round of applause when I arrived (from Kev) in 6:30. I don’t wear a watch but Kev showed me his – exactly 13:30 and given we left pretty much dead-on 7am it was 6:30. I then spent 10-15mins chatting. Then I got a coffee (short black, which took 10 bloddy minutes the effing slowcoaches) and a sandwich, then had a quick photo op with Jan. I noticed that Caves House looks a lot better since they took down the scaffolding – great paint job indeed.
We left together (23mins+ at Jenolan). 13:53 by Kev’s watch. Saw a bunch of roos at Jenolan Cottages – they are always there. We saw the last few stragglers coming down and Kieron + mate – stopped for a quick chat and photo. me Jan and Kieron go back a long way now! Moving on we were chatting about Jan’s attempt at Mont Blanc, Dawn, Bundeena etc as I haven’t seen Jan since Jan(uary). Jan took off just after the road (I am meant to be running and him walking). I caught him up by the black range campground. He leapfrogged and sorted my gear at the deviation (only 100m further on). I always chuckle to myself at the deviation at the time Max was crew-dude and built this campfire at deviation and almost everyone dropped out there. Lets hope no one does that again – its good for morale but bad for runners! He put on his coat and said the weather look bad, and I said it had never rained. Jan took off saying I would catch him later on the downhills. I never saw another person afterwards all the way back. 10mins later it was pissing down like cold shards of glass. Another 10mins and it was sleeting a treat. bloody hell! Thankfully it stopped soon after and I scootled off. Previously I had hit pluvi in the dark and I wanted to get past there this time. I did it I did it ! In fact I got pretty much all the way down to the creek. I got my torch out and put my tights & beanie on before it got too dark to see. I got my feet wet in every sodding creek and the water was really bloody freezing. Going past the halfway mark at Alum creek near the camp ground there was a couple putting up their tent in the wrong spot. I think they thought I was an axe-murderer some to get them. Coming down Mini-Mini I turned my torch off and just used the stars. Beautiful. I still remember running along here at this time of night with Dave Flimpyhead on the very first 12foot. I was running with my ipod down this section and I guess this was the first indication my mind was unravelling, as I approached the river I was running well, feeling good, well fed and hydrated. I suspect it was the Bauhaus song Bela Lugosi’s dead where I started to become unhinged. I was really pissed off at getting my feet wet and knew I was in for a soaking at the river.
I hit the camp ground by the river and remember this morning that it was just as quick to take the bridge than the river. I had come back by river once before and remembered it was a fair way round. So off I trotted, or walked, I can’t remember. Probably no difference actually! Anyway I was sure I had gone too far, have no idea of the time. Turned around. f**k f**k f**k. Then saw the path and sign I missed so followed that. Quite a few cows. Loads of cow pats. Am quite sure I went thru heaps of it. Eventually got to the bridge. I hate heights but was in no mood to fart around. Turned my light off – 2 reasons – 1- I didn’t want t see too much and 2- the moon/stars/clouds were really great. By the time I got across I was a bit cold so put on my last top. Now it was just back to megalong then the finish.
I started tripping over all the sodding f**king rocks, going thru cow pats. Didn’t care – just don’t fall over (I didn’t). The ipod play list was obviously on the female section – Germ-free Adolescents (Xray-spex) and Eight Day (Hazel O’Connor) are stand outs. I had turned it off during the bridge/river section as I needed all the concentration I could muster (evidently not enough). However I was still moving ok and thought that maybe I’d only lost 20mins on my extra excursion. So I could still be on for a sub-midnight finish. Who knows? I estimated at approx 9pm. I was mighty pleased to out of the rocky section back onto the grass. Coming over Pinnacle Hill I turned my torch off again to savour the sky (“big sky” as I like to call it).
Coming onto the track towards the Megalong Cemetery I was struck by an idea – maybe I would see David Coolwalker at Megalong, he was mates with Lastish and he looked like crap coming out of Jenolan and surely couldn’t be far ahead. Maybe I could catch a lift out. I thought I was going pretty slow and just. could. not. be. arsed. to. go. all. the. way. up. nellis. f**king. glen. by. myself. in. the. cold. Anyway I got to megalong. no one there. Found bottles ‘n’shit all over the place so put then all in the tree (the otto bins were nowhere in sight). drank a weird selection of blue and black drinks. I still had some left but not much. At least I got the pick of it. took a bottle with me (I only had a little left). Crossed the road and then stopped. Bugger – maybe I will wait and try to get a lift. I strained my ears left and right, jumped on the spot. But eventually my feet got too cold and I decided no one was coming. In any case it WOULD be better if I finished the bloody thing. I took off.
It was very frosty but I felt I was moving ok. The signage seems to be a lot better these days (most paid for by the Six Foot race). In a couple of spots I had wombats shot out of the bushes across the path in front of me. They are normally pretty slow, but I was starting to loose it. I imagined that all the leaves were like little animals, a penguin with a cat in its mouth, fancy letterboxes, just totally weird stuff. Eventually I hit the last section – you know it well, it goes up high, its got steps and jeepers, tonight it has a small stream coming down as well. There were the rough bits that I had forgotten about, then the stream crossings, and then finally the steps. I reflected that this morning I was skipping down these and now I was like Sisyphuspushing the damn rock up the damn hill, slowly, slowly, slowly … and finally, a gate, THE GATE, then I did break into a trot and went past the start of 6ft, past the hut, onto the road all the way up to the tree.
Nobody else was there. Who cares. Rod’s sheet was on my back wiper – I chucked it in the car without even looking at it. Turned the key to get the clock up 12:59, bugger, all that time lost, maybe going slow or getting lost of maybe just daydreaming on the track. My previous (and only time) was 17:37, I had just down 17:59. If I had wasted 50mins then It would give me a pb. who cares, I think the goal is 14:00 ie twice 6ft within the cutoff. Still I did make it the rat has been fed for this year at least.
I started off for home asap, still in my gear as it was so cold. however the windscreen was frozen with thick ice. I cleaned this off and started driving back. I was thinking I would stop off and get a coffee, but didn’t. I did stop at Glenbrook next to the servo, a regular, snoozing spot of mine, and slept for an hour, then drove as far as I could M4, M7 then near Liverpool near the M5 took another snooze. I was reasonably out of it, but knew where I was going and made sure I stopped whenever I needed to. Eventually I was on the drive back to home, it’s true I was barely driving a straight line. Eventually I got home at 5am, and took a bath and climbed into bed at 6am. t.o.t.a.l.l.y.c.a.c.t.u.s.
postscript – in some ways I hate this race, like running in a freezer, every year its the MIDDLE of winter. But I love it. I think I’ll be back. Its the challenge. Looks so simple on paper. But so hard in practise. Next year ok? 14hrs ?
10-Aug-2008 12 Foot Track
I awoke at noon today, felt like I’d been run over by a truck. The kids were up a lot earlier of course and my wife had been running for the day and got back. I was oblivious. “Where’s Dad ? “, “he’s still in bed”. I looked in the mirror to see a haggard 40-something looking back at me, maybe too many late nights. I’d got home that morning approx 5am after a late night out. My mouth felt like sandpaper – what had I been drinking last night ?! Like all party nights, it all started out as good clean fun, but gradually deteriorated as time wore on and ended up as a vague blur such that I can hardly remember how I got home. I staggered to the front door, and saw that the car was there, in one piece, but inside it was a right bloody state. I opened the door of the car and was hit by the smell of poo, saw a table that wasn’t there when I left home (!) and found a pair of (used) underpants.
However, we both know that I wasn’t getting my kicks at a boozy nightclub last night, but had been on my annual pilgrimage to the 12 Foot Track. I won’t call it a race, although people do record their times. Its definitely in that class of run where the runners are more inclined to help each other out – its a “runners versus the course” mentality. Many runners know about the Six Foot Track, and the annual 45km run each March. In 2008 alone, well over 800 people entered this race, so its quite an achievable goal for many. Running the same route AND BACK is stunning in its simplicity, but like a game of chess, it can all unravel quite quickly. By some strange quirk of physics, out and back is about 3 times as hard as just the one way.
Like any run, 2008 was no exception : some people ran better than expected, some ran about the same and some experienced some difficulties and may come back next year to improve, this year’s knowledge tucked away to be learnt from, sometimes painfully. For myself, I have had a lot more failures than successes – Out of 7 previous starts (2001 to 2007) I have one finish, 2 serious attempts at a finish and 4 not very serious excursions. So with some improvement in training, both physically and mentally, I thought I had a good chance of a finish in 2008. This is the story of how my weekend unfolded.
I left work approx 6pm Friday and had an veg-Thali at my favourite Indian restaurant in the city – rice and nan is good (ditto lentils..). Train to Sutherland to pick up my car then drove to Leura to pick up a table I bought from eBay. (I figured a 6am knock on a Saturday morning or worse a 2am Sunday morning wouldn’t go down well). I struggled to put it in the boot (station-wagon type car). I nipped into to Coles in Katoomba to buy some batteries and some nut bars as I forgot to bring any food (!). By about 10pm my time was my own so learning previous lessons from the race I made my own arrangements for aid at the Deviation (36km/ 54km points in the run).
I drove round to the deviation – my wife said I was nuts – but its a damn sight easier than taking stuff to pluvi by car (which I have been doing for the megalong mega). I stopped off at Mt Vic servo for a coffee on the way. I put out 2 cans of coke (one for the way out and one for way back) – figuring I can crush them and carry the empty. I also put out a bag with some more drinks, tights, beanie, thermal top, more food and importantly my torch. I would pick this up on the way back, but it was there if required on the way out. It would be a good incentive for me to run back to deviation at least. I buried it all under some leaves. There had been no discussion on CoolRunning about any aid there – I think its a better aid drop than the caves as there is a shop at the caves. Anyway driving Katoomba to Deviation is approx an hour or a bit less. I know the way well now and don’t even get scared of the dark. There were signs out saying ice and snow on the road but I didn’t see any but it was cold.
Afterwards I drove back to the Explorer’s tree and parked by the hut where Six Foot starts (further away from the road). As I am a short arse I was able to get in my sleeping bag on the back seat, i bought a pillow and doona as well. My head was positioned so I could look out the window up to the stars. Lovely. Went to sleep just after midnight. The next I knew it was just before 6am as it was getting light. I didn’t realise it but lastish and Coolwalker David must have come past (separately) during the night. I wasn’t first at the start! there were already people gathering. It was great to chat for a while whilst slowly getting ready. I had my normal breakfast of cold porridge. We signed a sheet that Rod passed around and had the usual photo by the tree. We left almost dead on 7am, amazing to start on time (quite clearly nothing to do with me).
I went off with Alison and Meredith but must have just got in front of them going down Nellies Glen and was quite happy just drifting by myself. Megalong Valley was simply stunning – the firetrail section was cold – but not excessively – with white frosty grass and blue skies. Buzzlightyear was at the cemetary, where I picked up my 2 handhelds – I wasn’t wearing a pack – just a striders “thermal” and cr tritop (with pockets) and shorts. The bright blue sky with no clouds was superb, it was really enough to make an adult cry it was just so perfect. Seeing the track wend its way over the hils was breathtaking. I ran to the river with a guy, but can’t remember his name (sorry), and he took the bridge and I took the river and we got to the other side almost spot on the same time. We passed Coolwalker David going up mini-mini I think. He was cursing about something or other and had lost his scarf (we saw it miles back). I was pretty much by myself after the river and started listening to my ipod. I felt I was going at a decent pace. Sometime after pluvi the guy I was at the river with went past. I must have slowed down but was still tootling along ok. Close to the deviation Alison and Meredith came past, or nearly past, I must have been daydreaming so I zoomed ahead only to stop by my bag and they went past. I had a coke and put my gloves away.
My next goal was to make it to the road before I saw the first runner coming back – I had always managed to do this. The girls must have scooted on a lot quicker as I never saw them but was still moving ok. I made the road and a fair way after then the first runner I saw was Shogun. Wow. He said Tim had blown up (he had said he would go hard). I think he needed to show a bit of respect for the race (refer: http://au.youtube.co…h?v=C6C83lwwxJ8 ). ha ha. Then came Tim, poor bugger looked tired, then Spud then a shite load of others. Someone had said that Kev Cassidy was at Jenolan. I got a round of applause when I arrived (from Kev) in 6:30. I don’t wear a watch but Kev showed me his – exactly 13:30 and given we left pretty much dead-on 7am it was 6:30. I then spent 10-15mins chatting. Then I got a coffee (short black, which took 10 bloddy minutes the effing slowcoaches) and a sandwich, then had a quick photo op with Jan. I noticed that Caves House looks a lot better since they took down the scaffolding – great paint job indeed.
We left together (23mins+ at Jenolan). 13:53 by Kev’s watch. Saw a bunch of roos at Jenolan Cottages – they are always there. We saw the last few stragglers coming down and Kieron + mate – stopped for a quick chat and photo. me Jan and Kieron go back a long way now! Moving on we were chatting about Jan’s attempt at Mont Blanc, Dawn, Bundeena etc as I haven’t seen Jan since Jan(uary). Jan took off just after the road (I am meant to be running and him walking). I caught him up by the black range campground. He leapfrogged and sorted my gear at the deviation (only 100m further on). I always chuckle to myself at the deviation at the time Max was crew-dude and built this campfire at deviation and almost everyone dropped out there. Lets hope no one does that again – its good for morale but bad for runners! He put on his coat and said the weather look bad, and I said it had never rained. Jan took off saying I would catch him later on the downhills. I never saw another person afterwards all the way back. 10mins later it was pissing down like cold shards of glass. Another 10mins and it was sleeting a treat. bloody hell! Thankfully it stopped soon after and I scootled off. Previously I had hit pluvi in the dark and I wanted to get past there this time. I did it I did it ! In fact I got pretty much all the way down to the creek. I got my torch out and put my tights & beanie on before it got too dark to see. I got my feet wet in every sodding creek and the water was really bloody freezing. Going past the halfway mark at Alum creek near the camp ground there was a couple putting up their tent in the wrong spot. I think they thought I was an axe-murderer some to get them. Coming down Mini-Mini I turned my torch off and just used the stars. Beautiful. I still remember running along here at this time of night with Dave Flimpyhead on the very first 12foot. I was running with my ipod down this section and I guess this was the first indication my mind was unravelling, as I approached the river I was running well, feeling good, well fed and hydrated. I suspect it was the Bauhaus song Bela Lugosi’s dead where I started to become unhinged. I was really pissed off at getting my feet wet and knew I was in for a soaking at the river.
I hit the camp ground by the river and remember this morning that it was just as quick to take the bridge than the river. I had come back by river once before and remembered it was a fair way round. So off I trotted, or walked, I can’t remember. Probably no difference actually! Anyway I was sure I had gone too far, have no idea of the time. Turned around. f**k f**k f**k. Then saw the path and sign I missed so followed that. Quite a few cows. Loads of cow pats. Am quite sure I went thru heaps of it. Eventually got to the bridge. I hate heights but was in no mood to fart around. Turned my light off – 2 reasons – 1- I didn’t want t see too much and 2- the moon/stars/clouds were really great. By the time I got across I was a bit cold so put on my last top. Now it was just back to megalong then the finish.
I started tripping over all the sodding f**king rocks, going thru cow pats. Didn’t care – just don’t fall over (I didn’t). The ipod play list was obviously on the female section – Germ-free Adolescents (Xray-spex) and Eight Day (Hazel O’Connor) are stand outs. I had turned it off during the bridge/river section as I needed all the concentration I could muster (evidently not enough). However I was still moving ok and thought that maybe I’d only lost 20mins on my extra excursion. So I could still be on for a sub-midnight finish. Who knows? I estimated at approx 9pm. I was mighty pleased to out of the rocky section back onto the grass. Coming over Pinnacle Hill I turned my torch off again to savour the sky (“big sky” as I like to call it).
Coming onto the track towards the Megalong Cemetery I was struck by an idea – maybe I would see David Coolwalker at Megalong, he was mates with Lastish and he looked like crap coming out of Jenolan and surely couldn’t be far ahead. Maybe I could catch a lift out. I thought I was going pretty slow and just. could. not. be. arsed. to. go. all. the. way. up. nellis. f**king. glen. by. myself. in. the. cold. Anyway I got to Megalong. no one there. Found bottles ‘n’shit all over the place so put then all in the tree (the otto bins were nowhere in sight). drank a weird selection of blue and black drinks. I still had some left but not much. At least I got the pick of it. took a bottle with me (I only had a little left). Crossed the road and then stopped. Bugger – maybe I will wait and try to get a lift. I strained my ears left and right, jumped on the spot. But eventually my feet got too cold and I decided no one was coming. In any case it WOULD be better if I finished the bloody thing. I took off.
It was very frosty but I felt I was moving ok. The signage seems to be a lot better these days (most paid for by the Six Foot race). In a couple of spots I had wombats shot out of the bushes across the path in front of me. They are normally pretty slow, but I was starting to loose it. I imagined that all the leaves were like little animals, a penguin with a cat in its mouth, fancy letterboxes, just totally weird stuff. Eventually I hit the last section – you know it well, it goes up high, its got steps and jeepers, tonight it has a small stream coming down as well. There were the rough bits that I had forgotten about, then the stream crossings, and then finally the steps. I reflected that this morning I was skipping down these and now I was like Sisyphus pushing the damn rock up the damn hill, slowly, slowly, slowly … and finally, a gate, THE GATE, then I did break into a trot and went past the start of 6ft, past the hut, onto the road all the way up to the tree.
Nobody else was there. Who cares. Rod’s sheet was on my back wiper – I chucked it in the car without even looking at it. Turned the key to get the clock up 12:59, bugger, all that time lost, maybe going slow or getting lost of maybe just daydreaming on the track. My previous (and only time) was 17:37, I had just done 17:59. If I hadn’t wasted as much time at Jenolan then it would give me a pb. who cares, I think the goal is 14:00 ie twice 6ft within the cutoff. Still I did make it to the finish so the rat has been fed for this year at least.
I started off for home asap, still in my gear as it was so cold. however the windscreen was frozen with thick ice. I cleaned this off and started driving back. I was thinking I would stop off and get a coffee, but didn’t. I did stop at Glenbrook next to the servo, a regular, snoozing spot of mine, and slept for an hour, then drove as far as I could M4, M7 then near Liverpool near the M5 took another snooze. I was reasonably out of it, but knew where I was going and made sure I stopped whenever I needed to. Eventually I was on the drive back to home, it’s true I was barely driving a straight line. Eventually I got home at 5am, and took a bath and climbed into bed at 6am. t.o.t.a.l.l.y.c.a.c.t.u.s.
postscript – in some ways I hate this race, like running in a freezer, every year its the MIDDLE of winter. But I love it. I think I’ll be back. Its the challenge. Looks so simple on paper. But so hard in practise. Next year ok? 14hrs ?
20-Jul-2008 Angry Young Man
Not sure why but on friday I was an angry young man. or an angry old codger depending on your age perspective. I have no idea why, but it could be because of work – I still have more than 20 years left before retiring age, or maybe its just because works is all higgledy-piggledy at the moment. then of course I couldn’t be arsed to pay $45 to see sham69 at the afore-mentioned concert. I finished work approx 6pm and didn’t want to hang around till 8pm+ before any action. I would have just gone to bar and end up feeling i was wasting time and money. I was angry about the aura thread on CR. too be honest I was itching an open sore. I have unresolved issues with aura. I love geoff hook and what he and Dot did at aura and I think the current regime (mainly the president) are taking aura in a different direction. the more I post the angrier I get, so I am not going to bother anymore.
In fact I am thinking of not posting as joggerkev much but just use the “coolrunning admin” account for “cr business” and my own private account (sssh…) for my own posts. eagle-eyes will notice that joggerkev is not a root admin anymore – this is now (correctly) “coolrunning admin”.
I went to cronulla on the ferry today and took the kids to see Kung Fu Panda. yeah I liked it.
Then I put my angriness to the best thing possible – I went for a 2hr run. I went approx an hour before it got dark so of course it soon got dark and I was torchless, and it was a tad more than a 2hr run, and of course dark nights in the bush without a torch go slower so I was out approx 3hrs. Even though I swore off dark runs in bushes without torches previously (due to the large number of twisted ankles) I was really up for this – had been planning it all day especially when I saw that was the right time for the low-ish tide – water crossings and sand running. I had a surreal run – very fast, great in the dark – saw the moon rise up over the sea, ran big marley beach in the dark, great fire trails and superb natural lighting (was a full moon yesterday). Lucky I know all the short cuts else I would be totally shitting myself. Dawn was a bit peeved I was out so long, but I was on a high all evening. am about off to bed now – very sore legs.
Am thinking about the cities marathon next week. however I must have a reputation for being the World Biggest Piker so we will have to see..
on the whole ronnie thing – I am so over it, I don’t think I will post to him or about him. i personally believe he is trying to make cr look bad and subtly promote his mates running website (not naming it).
I feel bad that I have not being doing many emails – especially cr ones- I will post more about this later during the week.
Been reading lots and even tooling around youtube.
I like this one: shopping in a label-free world
Also found one by a superb feminist band that I am a huge fan of :
Poison Girls – persons unknown and cry no more – both eminently listenable – especially if you want a peak into my life approx 25yrs ago.
This was posted on my old CoolRunning Blog and I got some comments:
Tim: mate. I know what you are saying. i feel a whole pile of angry right now and there is no reason. Well I am not sure maybe there is a reason or maybe I am cranky and looking for a reason. I’ve been listening to whippet talk about what it was like to just live in the mountains with ultra guys. no talk about skins and iPods and what songs you are listening to when you post on CR, or where an off handed comment is violent. just guys running trail and at the end of the day soaking their legs in icy mountain streams and drinking beer.
Undercover Brother: kev after reading your post i think you are morphing into tim. and thats not necessarily a bad thing. luv your work. bro.
Bellthorpe: >>I’ve been listening to whippet talk about what it was like to just live in the mountains with ultra guys. no talk about skins and iPods and what songs you are listening to when you post on CR, or where an off handed comment is violent. just guys running trail and at the end of the day soaking their legs in icy mountain streams and drinking beer.
Well I’m no ultra guy, but that sounds like life in Bellthorpe! Went for about 20k today. No iPod (don’t have one). No skins (don’t own them). No Garmin (knew where I was). No HRM (that only slows me down). No watch (!! huh … many runners I know can’t do that). On the trails. Plenty of wallabies around. Take it easy guys, CR forums are not real life! Oh, the beer drinking is about to start …
18-Jul-2008 Last Coupla Days
still been running. that’s the main thing. its funny that my standard run is 6km and I am almost at the point now that it’s a daily habit – I feel crap if I miss a day and look forward to it and finish on such a high. eventually I will increase it. but my usual trick is to increase it too much then get too cactus. am usually in the dark running – never see a sole. actually today some people had a bonfire on the beach. I went wading on tues as it was still daylight, and today I ran back in the wash from the waves ie ankle deep. it was great. am getting stronger. I can feel the sub-3 coming back (just got to get the sub-4 monkey off my back first ha ha ha).
that guy ronnie (little aussie) has been a total jerk on cr. yep you read it. the same guy as was a total jerk 2 months back. 5000 people can read and write posts everyday but he is the one to get his knickers in a knot. more fool me for saying or doing anything online. it makes me want to walk away from the whole thing. I was impressed that tim tried his hand. I suspect he thinks he failed. i KNOW that if we were all in a room reading out what we wrote, there would be no issue. blue dog often gets slapped down but he really wasn’t out of line this time. jeez even rudolf’s posts were making sense.
anyway ronnie posted about seeing sham69 in brisbane – they are playing sydney tomorrow so will go along. at least his taste in music is ok. suspect the world youth day kids won’t be there!
posted to cr that we are out of visors and almost out of caps. we did order some new ones weeks and weeks ago, but I don’t think hotdesigns did anything other than the rest of our order. we have ordered 300 caps and 200 visors – am guessing at least a year’s worth. its too painful to do it much more frequently.
the missus told me that an old friend of mine from striders got knocked off his bike and is not likely to walk again. he has kids the same age as ours even though he is older. its a scary thought and makes me less inclined to ride on the roads again. also puts it into perspective a bit – must make sure I stay safe. he’s still in intensive care 2 weeks later, no feelings anywhere.
Am currently reading this book – the singer by cathi unsworth – its great.
still not inspired to read emails, sorry if you have written one.
work’s been a total bitch – leaving earlier in the mornings, although still only getting into work by 9.30am so its not super early. I just like staying in bed till nearly 8am.
This post was originally on my old coolrunnng blog and it had some comments :
plu: Yeh Tim did a good job. Also sorry to hear about the Strider’s bike accident- that sort of thing is always on my mind.Yeh nothing like family to make you a bit more sensible. cheers PLu
tim: thanks I appreciate you guys saying that.
Dave: Just saw this Kev, who was the Strider, anyone I would know? I’m actually back out on the bike quite a bit in Singapore, mostly in bunches and surprisingly it is actually pretty safe, not what I expected at all. Don’t let the negative people drag you down, in a community the size of CR there will always be a troublemaker or 2, just remember the vast and sometimes silent majority who appreciate CR’s existence!
sunny1: Seems to me to be a pattern to the behaviour of your worrying poster, Kev.
- Takes offense.
- Takes others statements out of context or literally.
- States his interpretation of their error or stance as a fact.
- Defensive to ridicule, but uses strong language back.
- Takes offense at others attempting to clarify.
- Repetitive and determined.
As yet he has not responded to BlueDogs ‘complaint’ regarding his avatar. I predict that there will be none, but that the said poster will reappear morphed into another name and avatar eg ‘Venia’ (incidentally the Latin word for forgiveness). Not wishing to drag this all up again, but sometimes recognising a pattern of behaviour is helpful when it starts again. Helps to be ready. Definitely not to be taken personally. But must be extremely frustrating to you guys. Take care. Don’t worry, be happy!!
undercover brother: some people just luv a fight kev. idiots the lot of them 
tim did a moderately good to well job.
Ian Hamilton: First time I’ve been on here, it’s in response to your mate Ronnie referring to it. Re CR, keep up the good work.
16-Jul-2008 Losing My Religion
thankfully I am not referring to my running!
Last weekend I did not check email, not my own, not coolrunning, not sixfoot. nothing. Its was great and I didn’t miss it. It feels like since 1994 I have got myself onto this treadmill of email/constantly connected etc. Now I think I will use it for what I want when I want. Actually its great living in a place with crap mobile reception as I usually leave the phone at home when I go out locally. only take when I am going to work or somewhere with reception. On cr I was saying to people to use the report! button to flag a problem, but I might not read it for 24hrs+. other moderators might though.
I had a good run saturday – actually it was a combo – mtb to the middle of bush, dumped bike and ran over sand dunes and saw wallabys and deer, crossed a creek, bush bashed like a dill brain and ran back to bike and pedalled like a crazy f**ker. got home wrecked.
On sunday I did have visions of going to the striders run at berowra – I used to host the run there for like 8 or 9 years and so never did the actual run. there is a new host (alan wareham -many thanks I thought the run was a gonna). But I could not face a 4.30am start, and a 90km drive. In the end I got up at 9.15am and ran for 2hrs with the missus. We had a great run. I massacred her, so the training is going well. I think she even enjoyed it. I think we were both totally pooped when we finished so read the paper for a few hours. Sunday pm we all did a bike ride on lady carrington drive. 7yr old whining – my legs hurt, my arms hurt, its too rocky. we also did a long walk on saturday with her also along the beach.
monday I barely even checked my emails. up at 7.45am and out the door approx 8.10am. busy all day. home at 7pm, went running approx 7.30pm-8.20pm. bath then made dinner. juiced a carrot, used juice and pulp. made like a tahini from “juicing” sunflower seeds. lightly nuked it with mushrooms, spinach, lemon juice & vinegar. fruit platter for desert (faves at the moment are quatered oranges, watermelon, rockmelon). quick check of cr. don’t think I even did much email. my run was great – bonnie vale in the dark BUT I ACTUALLY RAN FAST/SPRINTED for some of it. I am really getting fitter. (I might even be losing weight…)
read this on the gaping void blog – it so reminds me of me!
10-Jul-2008 Sick As Pig
Last week I was feeling very cactus – not bad enough to take time off work mind you, but enough to feel shite all week. It was funny as the previous weekend I had been very virtuous and woke up and said to the missus “I feel feel fantastic” jumped out of bed then it all went pear shaped. one of my daugthers had it first, then she climbed into our bed and that’s what gave it to me.
that weekend was a kid’s birthday party and we had approx 8, 7-11 year old girls camped out at our place all weekend. very trying. it was soo cool though as we did egg and spoon races and sack races on the beach.
we sent our eldest daughter (age 12) to hong kong for 2 weeks to stay with a cousin. I was the bad old father for deciding to buy her a ticket as she originally didn’t want to go, but now she is there I think its ok a bit more.
this weekend everyone went out so I had a couple of quiet hours at home. Jason Murphy dropped off some recycled runners at my house – many thanks for the long trip south. I was too ill to run so went for a walk on the beach. I quite like the peace and the waves. I picked up some rubbish as I always want to make the best of my time.
On the Sunday I did go running, and found a track I was looking for, only a bit on hands and knees! I found some deer bones also. But I need to go back a bit more to find a runnable track.
I have still been a bit under the weather this week and have been running, but no ocean swimming. I am in love with bonnie vale I run there A LOT, nearly always in barefoot, which is strange as I own a running shoe company (!)
On the diet front, I made steve pavlina’s green juice – a banana, fresh spinach and water bended up. the missus didn’t want me to waste a banana and refused initially to try some, but one of the kids did and liked it. she reneged and tried some, and also liked it. It sounds like it will be crap but was lovely and smooth – just fab. really.
Been emailing with someone who wants to write a book about cliffy and reckons they have a publisher all lined up.
the bad news is that sook has gone walkabout and left me feeling lonesome for 5 or 6 or 7 weeks (its too long to count). she is doing such a great job on answering cr emails and helping people. she makes me look like a real loser to be honest. We probably need someone else to help (post news stories to the homepage, answer emails and stuff like that). We also need a new secretary as Jen is also going walkabout – sounds like for a long time. she is helping me draft the “rules” of CR – who runs it, how the committee is run etc. its slow work. This on top of the new treausrer – moondust – although we haven’t got her started properly yet. Need to pull my finger out. lots of fingers even.
reading : my signed copy of project sahara
listening to : Jonsey’s Jukebox podcasts
This post was originally on my coolrunning blog, and it got some comments:
Colsy: Geez Kev, banana, spinach and water? Doesn’t the spinach get wrapped around the blender blades?
Me: just.try.it. – maybe start with more banana and less spinach but if you have a good blender it is amazing. really.
sook54: Hey Kev nice to know I’m missed 
Sorry to hear about you feeling yucky. Hope it passes soon. I’m here in Darwin for a couple more days I’ll see if I can spare an hour or two somewhere to help out while I have internet access.
MissZ: That juice sounds truly revolting. But I am gonna have to try it now.
Tim: its cool how banana and greens work. You can just wrap a banana in a lettuce leaf and it works. the green drink is gold when it comes to health. I have been slack and have not had one for a while. I like banana and parsley. hope you are feeling better mate. i guess even green drinking, barefoot, winter swimming, trail runners get sick sometimes.
27-Jun-2008 Raw-ish
I guess I should just be a bit clearer from my previous post about a raw diet, or thoughts about it.
At the moment I stopped cooking my porridge. For a while I have been soaking it for a day or 2 or 3 – cheap “quick oats”, pepitas and cut up dates with a 50:50 mix of homemade soymilk and so-good. I just have it raw/cold with a small amount of maple syrup (a teaspoonful). Now its just soaked and eaten.
For lunch I might buy a couple of apples, a couple mandarins and a banana. approx $3.50 – surprisingly cheap when compared to even fruit salads, or regular salads – you can $5 for 2 mouthfuls. Sumo Salad is a total f**king joke the price they charge. I don’t have fruit all the time – I have a love affair with masala dosa and also sometimes a macro burger. But I am thinking about being more hard core which is always the first step.
In the evening I try to make sure I have a big bowl of fresh fruit and/or fresh juice – and amazingly the kids love it too. However I do love beans and rice so definitely not even close to raw. although I do often juice a carrot and put the juice and pulp into the meal. wicked.
Its funny that most of my blog posts are so late at night, well not really, am a busy puppy during the day. It would be better of course if I didn’t spend half the night reading and meandering down the alleyways of the internet (was a big Mob, Crass, Portobello Rd-fan). And watching videos was never much of a billy bragg fan but he’s pretty cool – and this pisstake is even better).
CR Stuff – I picked up the shorts last weekend – didn’t pass them to amjan – was slack. so posted the remainder myself. will get them to her. The shorts are good, the inner is ok for the time being but will probably cut it out at some point. the pocket (with velcro) is f course really good. overall I am really happy with them.
running – nah
This post was originally on my old CoolRunning blog, and I had the following comments:
Tim: I just blogged using the term raw-ish. Now I read your blog. Too funny. We are on the same wave length. I really like some of Billy Bragg but I think it was the accent.
20thCenturyBoy: Levi Stubb’s Tears, Greetings from the New Brunette, New England – 3 of my favourite Bragg songs I never tire of!
undercover brother: you and tim are twins.
and thats not a complement
i gotta get me some of those shorts!
bro
cakeboy: One of them’s off her food
the other ones off his head
and both of them are off
down the boozahhhh….
…….nice to see he has a few fans left still….geez I’m gettin old….
Colsy: I get a bit choked up when I see the ‘New Brunette’ clip.
But I usually want to get my Revolutionary Army together for “Waiting for The Great Leap Forward”.
25-Jun-2008 Running Smoothly
My running is going smoothly. Check out my running log:
https://kevintiller.com/sport/running/
I have migrated it to google docs, which is a totally superb piece of free engineering technology. Whenever I update the spreadsheet, its updates on my website. how cool is that. let me know if you want to do also. I moved my website to google sites (a free wiki).
Anyway, as a consequence I have been more tired than usual. And work is busier than usual. I try to leave home by 8am and get home by 7.30-8pm. gmail is blocked at work and so I usually do a quick squizz of emails and CR in the morning – approx 7am-7.30am and then again approx 9pm. I keep up to date with the forums during the day but that’s only light relief ! Luckily CR is cruising on ok, looks pretty busy. Sook is doing a very sterling job of keeping the emails under control. (she might disagree!)
I have done a few runs along Bonnie Vale late at night, I leave my shoes at the end of the beach and run barefoot, often running thru the seawater. Maybe a swim at the end (I expect swimming in the dark by yourself is a big no no, so please don’t tell anyone!!). Run back. Even a 40min run is VERY exhilarating. I feel like I am almost back to a daily habit, a few more months and I will be doing ok I think. I ran with Dawn on Sunday for a bit then started on my other little hobby – finding tracks thru the bush that are not on any maps. Been spending my time in dead ends, on hands and knees etc. But found so great tracks. It’s really exciting and I guess not a chore so am really looking forward to doing more. Spending time zooming in on satellite maps on google maps. I have also found a lot of mud – Sydney doesn’t have much mud in general, and I miss it. I even had a shoe sucked off on Saturday and I arrived home covered in mud. If I did the route in reverse I could have washed off when I crossed fisherman’s bay (long wade and short swim – I do some wacky runs!)
Anyway not only am I doing some barefoot runs (only on sand) but I have started experimenting with more raw food (and reading up a lot about it – that’s what I stay up late reading at the moment). I have been thinking about it for quite a while and have been tinkering around the edges. definitely I can’t see myself being a raw vegan, but skewing it a bit more in that direction seems to be making me feel better.
I don’t think it’s influenced by Rudi, but more by Tim – I guess I consider him a mate and if barefoot and raw is interesting to him, then I thought I should have a closer look at it. I have found that whilst running barefoot, and bush-bashing on other runs, I am becoming less interested in watches, races, times, gear etc. I feel like ita s return to “earthy matters”. Actually I read a post by tim yesterday (about ipods but transferable to my situation). I started running knowing nothing, but just hitting the road every night, no races, no times, no clubs etc. It was winter when I started so it was just me and the wind and rain and recently that is EXACTLY what I have been feeling like – me, the wind and rain etc.
I have been toying around with drawing routes etc on google maps as the main documentation tool – will link from the running guide part of CR when I get around to it (one recent example).
ps thanks for the comments on the blog, must try to post more regularly than once a week….. still on training wheels (how long can I keep using that excuse for?)
This was originally posted on my old CoolRunning Blog and I even got a comment :
Ellie80: Hey Kev, I am also intrigued by raw-ism and have tried a few times but find that it takes a lot of effort, and I am a bit of a lazy bugger. But would love to more. I think I scared myself off with a truly horrific raw pasta that I made… let us know how it goes!
19-Jun-2008 Changes to CoolRunning
Note- this was posted to my old blog and I am just moving to over here.
It was funny the other week that southaustralian noticed some new emoticons and posted a thread about it (whilst I was composing one also). I had barely even finished uploading them. I think I browsing anotherinvisionsite and saw some different icons and thought that we hadn’t added any new ones for a while. checked out the usual suspects that gave some free downloads so add them. Total time from initial thought to all done was maybe 20mins or 30mins.
Most people have passed comments about our homepage for a while, a bit cluttered etc. It is in the same software as wikipedia and so we are limited to a degree as to how it will work. Wombatface is a bit like the resident interface gatekeeper – he checks it out and passes judgement (he is generally right) and we try to improve it – usually simpler or less heavy in kb. I know he’d bee fiddling with his own version of the homepage but was surprised to see him whack it onto the homepage. however “happily surprised” as he’d done a good job and getting other people to make their own changes is something that I am personally keen on – I don’t want it to be “my site”. Most people think it is an improvement. We will be putting more and more onto the wiki system.
We do need to update our forums to the very latest version (not many changes) and we can now upgrade mediawiki to the very latest version (and the bridge software between the forums and the wiki – allows use of the same username/password). We were waiting for our server to upgrade to php5 which we need to run the latest mediawiki. Hopefully their won’t be any instability or outages (no dates in mind yet – whenever I chase Mick).
People are using the chatroom a bit more now. I added in a few extra chat rooms, as when I was in there it seemed that some people wanted to talk about running, some about dogs, and some about punk (guess which was me) and rather than talk over each other it would be good to change rooms. I suspect we need to upgrade to the latest version of that software also, sounds like there were a few intermittent glitches etc.
The other change – made the week after six foto back in March that no-one has commented on (plu ? wombatface ? were you asleep? or what ?) are the new favicons. I use the inks bar in my browser and try to have no text just the favicons – refer this image:
There are 2 new favicons, one for the forums and one for other parts of the site eg the homepage. I would like to get a bunch of different ones as I am sure that people link to different parts.
We also changed the photogallery – read this – I think that was around March also. It’s really good but I must work out how to move the old photos to the new gallery and tidy it. I am expecting to get torrents of emails saying they can’t find their photos now.
Other than that we haven’t changed much – behind the scenes we have dumped our old ticket system and gone for a simpler gmail interface (coolrunningaus@gmail.com – however best just to contact us via info@coolrunning.com.au). Our main helpers there are sook and colin townsend – they can also deal with ad requests, news postings, forums issues etc as not everything is done by me (yippee ! or is that yahoo!)
Adios.
As this was posted to my old blog I did get some comments :
Plu – Hi Kevin, I was on the ball for the Gallery changes but stalled when I did not know how to get all the photos across. Also I was not sure what to do with the photos in the Forum. I still remember your comment on people voting with their feet and using Picasa and photobucket – still think about the effect of those types of galleries. Completely missed the favicons – not sure how to get them but I want them. cheers Plu
Sook54 – I reckon the new homepage look is great! Thanks to wombatface, Kev and whoever else was involved. One thing that will be good to get fixed when we have a chance is the weird extra menubar for the wiki, which is on the home page and confuses new people when they click the Login/create account link (which doesn’t take you anywhere – would be good for it to take you to the standard forums register page)
15-Jun-2008 Moderation, Pink & Running
Note- this was posted to my old blog and I am just moving to over here.
The rudi stuff quietened down after we merged a couple of threads and closed it to posting, in theory allowing people to calm down and cool off. it’s open again now. We were between a rock and a hard place. Thomo was vehemently for rudi and spammed the moderators every time someone posted something negative. RonnieRennen did the same (but in public) any time there was a positive post. arrrggghh.
Thomo made it clear to me that all moderators should be sacked for failing to do their duty. I received a bunch of emails from moderators who wondered if they should quit or what, given they often leave nasty stuff for me. Colin (The Colin) has also – often – expressed his opinion that the moderators (likely just me) are inconsistent and not up to scratch. I spend a lot of mental energy worrying, thinking and analysing these sorts of jedi-mind games and it gets me down. I like thomo and colin, and suspect if we were face to face all would be ok, but I don’t feel it’s been said like that. It feels like a lot of needle & aggro. I am only venting here as its prime position in my mind.
I don’t think we do a bad job (given my overall lack of qualifications) and as its meant to be a part time hobby!
I went to the Wild Endurance Awards night on Thurs as Sean was MC. It was a good evening. Sean did a good job. I felt a bit of a fraud for going to the awards drinks but not competing in the event! Saw a few CRs, most commented that shutting the thread off was the best thing to do.
I am sitting here watching Pink Floyd’s The Wall. If you remember the scene with a burnt out Pink in a hotel room – that’s how I feel about CR, Six Foot etc and most people don’t realise I am not some megalomaniac I am just a little boy trying to offload this monkey (or plural) that jumped on my back. I would like to disappear back into obscurity. Maybe I shouldn’t post to CR, but if I continue to moderate I will be seen as a faceless nazi wanker if I just edit but not give any reasons why.
On the running front, my mind was also occupied with the upcoming running of the billy bushies run in Bundeena, where I had had been dobbed in as ranger for the run ie set the course and lead it (like AT THE FRONT). I did a decent route round Maianbar and back to Bundeena last weekend – took 3 tries to really get it right. I ran most of it with Dawn on Monday. Anyway we did the run today – bit of bush, bit of road, some very narrow, wet, gorse stuff, some firetrail and then some sand. the tide didn’t work quite as the website suggested so it was with some horror that the tide was much higher than expected. We waded / ran / walked round from Red Jacks to Yenabilli point, where everyone just said – we either swim for it or go on the trail the long way. 90% opted for the swim – the bushies are very hardcore. I was told to say Go so everyone races back and I was left for dead. A Great 2h 15m run. VERY cold at the finish though. The swim was only about 10metres, but approx 50+ metres of wading, in parts waist deep. A great honour to set the route and most people seemed to like the route. I was impressed that I stayed at the front until we said Go without embarrassing myself and collapsing in a heap halfway round and going short back home. I should go out more frequently with them. The contrast with Striders is quite stark ie at bushies you get extra credits if you lose everyone else. I contemplated taking a map of the route but figured that was against the rules (you betcha!).
Unfortunately it meant that I missed the Poor Man’s Comrade’s that was also on today.
Next up – keep the training going, Cities Marathon and 12foot hopefully.
As this was on my old blog I did receive some comments:
Plu – Hi Kevin, I can only just imagine the emails/PMs you would have got. I got my own fair share as well after my blogs posts on the issue. Many were distressed Cool Runners. Also there are a lot of CR who did not what – if anything had happened. Perhaps having a monkey is not necessarily a bad thing. If it is not Cool Running it would be something else – at least now you have the lifestyle you love. Having said that you can stop if you want I feel the same way with some of the professional things I do like web pages that no one has the skills nor inclination to do anything about. cheers Plu
Me – plu – quick response – ta. I made it clear to the missus that WHEN I am not RD of 6ft or chief janitor @ CR then it would be replaced with other stuff. I am still doing the running shoe recycling, and would love to spend more time on the australian running guide and …. yes there will be other monkeys for sure.
Loubee – I think you do a great job.
Tynomite – Not collapsing in a heap, either on CR or the run. Five stars!
MissZ – Hi Kevin, As a silent observer of the recent fracus, I just wanted to say that I really, really appreciate the work you and the other moderators do on CR. Its not easy and you are only human, you can’t be perfect. No one should expect that. I love CR and it brings a lot of pleasure to my life. Thank you very much for that.
StellaBella – Kev, Miss Z pretty much summed up what I wanted to say. Things have gotten ridiculous and ppl are being unreasonable and I think you moderators are doing a great job under the circumstances so thank you
AMK – I agree with the girls you guys do an amazing job keeping this site going. This site helps so many ppl it would be a disaster to lose it because of a few.
Ellie80 – Seconded! (seventhed?) Many times I have started typings posts and deleted because I am not truly sure what my problem with those few threads is. I think it is mostly my discomfort with the level of aggression. You don’t deserve to be copping both sides of it so I hope it dies down soon. And I think you would be well within your rights to shut those threads down permanently. And then wait for the cries of censorship?
WhippetGal – All I want to say is thank you for CR. You (and the other moderators) do a good job. I really appreciate this site and depend on it, not only for information, race calendars etc., but for motivation and encouragement. Don’t get disillusioned by the sh*t fights – your job is damn hard.
Didge – I agree. I’m a relatively new runner and most of the advice I have received is from CR. I don’t know if i would have improved as much as i have already without CR. Keep up the great work Kev & Co. Don’t let the minority spoil it for the majority.
Serena – This is a great site, Kev. You and the other moderators do a sterling job. I know being a moderator is an often thankless, unpleasant job. SJ
Colsy – You guys do a great job here, without CR I would have accomplished half of what I have so far…if that! It can sometimes be draining enough just reading negative posts or getting caught up in controversies, let alone the job that you and the Mods do. Well done.
11-Jun-2008 Tuesdays
The last few weeks now I have been working from home on a Tuesday. I am lucky, my job is “playing on the computer” and speaking on the phone. The missus works on Tues from 5am-9pm (she has an almost 2hr commute each way – long story). Although the kids can get up and go to school and come home again, we found that if I go to work by the time I get home (am a slack timekeeper) the place is in disarray and I am still cooking dinner at 9pm, no homework etc. So I get the kids off to school, do the washing, clearing up, and make sure the kids get a proper dinner and do some homework etc. During the day I am working and on the whole, I do. My only vice is that I sneak out for a run.
Actually last week I didn’t and spoke to the missus at 7pm and said I hadn’t been running and she thought that was sad, so I went out immediately after. It was cold dark & wet and I ran thru the bush without a torch. I promised myself long ago I wouldn’t do that after I got 3 twisted ankles in about 6 weeks. Anyway, did that, but when I came to the Bonnie Vale stream, of course it was high tide, so I waded out (and spooked some deer and vice versa), then swam the rest of the way in my shoes. It was the widest I had ever seen it. It shit me up big time. Then I ran back along Bonnie Vale beach, I ran at the surfs edge in barefeet. The wind was fierce but the water was surprisingly warm (currently approx 18-19C). I had the biggest smile. Best 45mins of the week.
This week, today, I snuck out approx 4.45-5.30pm just as it was getting dark but as we have “big sky” here you can run when its pretty dark and its ok. Did a different route. Swam at Hordern’s beach. Very few people go in the sea this time of year but I have decided to try to go all thru winter. At the moment I just wear my shorts, go in the water – swim like crazy for 10 secs straight out, turn round and come straight back and get out. You know that phrase “the agony and the ecstasy” ? I know where it comes from now… In the summer I do much longer for sure. lucky I can just walk home all wet and in barefeet, its only 50m away.
I quite like looking after the kids and being involved with them. Keeps you grounded. At the weekend, I took 5 girls swimming, as they had some friends sleep over, different breakfasts, lunch, dinners etc. it’s full on. still at times we have even more over!
All the stuff about Rudi on CR (here and here) is making me feel ill. really. that’s probably why I have posted a bunch of times. I am not sure I could ever be so nasty about people, don’t like ’em just move on. I am quite sure if we were all in a pub or at the finish of a run, everything would be a lot calmer even if people disagreed (disagreement is ok its just the “knives out” I can’t stand).
This post was originally on my old blog and it had some comments:
Blair: I know what you mean Kev about the Rudi stuff Kev. It has left me with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach too.
PlodBod: Your life sounds fantastic. I want to live in your part of the world 
WombatOutofHell: Like I commented on Plu’s blog I dont envy you your mods position. I dont know what all the Rudi bashing-or indeed others posting on the threads you mentioned is all about. If you dont like what someone says then no one is forcing you to read it!
I think all the mods do a great job. It’s just a pity they are needed at all.
Kevin Tiller 
Recent Comments