Bay Run 2008

Last Saturday, I miscalculated the dates and i was too excited and thought that the bay run was 20th of July, just remembered the Saturday i woke up, its on 28th of July, 2008! I did plan not to run with the Woodies as i dont run the day before a race. Although Steve from Woodstock says its alright if i am training for a half marathon to run a day before a race.

Anyway, so I did run with the group last Saturday at Timbrell Park. And missed the interval speed training with Steve . Again this Saturday which i planned to run really early on the bay and meet the group on time slowly not to compromise my performance a day before the race, i was late yet I still did the run at the bay, speeding at the end not wanting to miss the coffee.

So I did meet the group maybe 5 minutes after everybody arrived, just in time! They did run the Five docks at 7KM and I did the bay at 7Km. After the nice usual coffee and breakfast, went home and did a lot of stretching and free light weights.

I was aiming for a time of 35 mins for the 7KM. Alarm set off at 620, and slept through it until 650. Still plenty of time to prepare, as race starts at 815 for females, and the venue is 15 minutes walk from my flat, which will be a 7 mins jog warm up for me. Reckon the weather agency says its going to be 6 degrees today. Went out with my sunnies and cap, long sleeved singlet, and my skins + jumper on.

Arrived the venue 30 minutes early, checked in my bag, got my race kit. There was a fair number of runners, walkers and their dogs. So we organizers lead some warm up excercises. Then at 8 the male runners set off, we followed at 815. Whoa! they were really fast! i tried to make a good head start and pace on the course, but well i did, but i dont think I am still fully aclimitized with the Sydney weather. Chilly breeze from the bay kissing your face, i did rub petroleum jelly on legs and arms to keep me warm as I left my jumper with my bag. My feet is freezing, i missed putting jelly on it. i Think i was struggling to keep my body warm, it was not a bad start, until the hill which i need to catch my breath, then regained at the iron cove bridge. Up the hill to victoria road toward Drummoyne down back to the bay route. I can remember pacing with this little girl on her elementary days. darn! she runs faster than me! we were just like alternatingly overtaking each other and another female runner.

Did a steady pace around the bay, with feet starting to ache with the temperature. I can feel myself kicking in on some parts, i think it was the Gu (thanks to Woodie mate, Thalia. Yes i just tried what gu’s effect, on a short run as i planned to go a long run after the race) .

Well as soon as I saw La Montage, i added more speed then saw the finish shoot and just sprinted my way to it. Finished at 337 overall out of 1215 participants, at 28th place for category for 15-29 yo females and ranked 55 out of 593 females. See results.

The even was good, with some barb after and head home to leave my goodie bag and ran to Rozelle bay and another round at the bay for another 1 hour and 40 minutes approximately taking in one more gu. Drank thrice for water stops and only drank my gatorade at the end of my training run. I think I am improving although i am not yet fast enough like the ozzies, ill keep on trying .

The Bay Run was for the benifit of Dobroyd Point Public School.

That afternoon I also decided to pass the Running Science Store to check on some long sleeved singlets, and i got one and the manager threw in some Endurance packet with it for free as i was asking how is it different with Gatorade. I also was able to have my pronation checked (aside from the attendant noticing my bunion! embarassing!) she says the pins and needles on my toes might be caused by wrong shoe and i should be wearing a shoe for stability. I asked her if she did run the race earlier this morning and she said yes, after her asking my time which i proudly told her, i regrettingly said mine, as she run through the course at 29 mins placing 2nd! and she is slight taller than me! wow! anyway …

race:
Distance: 7km
Location: Bay Run, Innerwest NSW
Pace: 4.8985
Time: 34.29

Training after the race:
Distance:15.0829 Km
Location: Rozelle bay + Bay Run
Time: 1:40 approx
past 2 weeks:
mileage: 64 Kms/pw

Us and the World Youth Day

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Been 2 months ago when you feel the World Youth Day fever going around the city. It’s a good feeling you know.

A year ago, February of last year, is when I learned that the WYD will be held in Sydney. That was the period I first came to Sydney, Australia. Which at that moment I did like the country at first sight.

Because of I, when I saw the countdown at St. Mary’s Cathedral, I told myself, I will come back to Australia no matter what to see the WYD. Same thing I told myself I am coming back to this huge country/continent to discover the place and backpack. Maybe that was a prophecy on my own which led on subliminal way on myself to come here.

Anyway going back to the WYD event. Weeks ago I was thinking of joining th volunteer program for the event. I sent an email but they only accept volunteers fulltime on all days of the event. So I thought of sponsoring a homestay. A few also requested on my Couchsurfing account and suddenly the agreement I had with a colleague to temporarily host her while she looks for a home was more reasonable/on my own opinion to be a Christian and standing on my own promise. So I appologized and at least sent emails to those who requested. Until now I am thinking what can I do to become a contributor in this world event which is happening in Sydney.

Last Sunday the Pope Benedict arrived in Sydney for the week long event. Buses were delayed and there were road closure since then. Tomorrow will be his parade. In the papers, there were a lot of news regarding this event. Some still puzzles me.

Like the priests who are sex offenders, the Pope did make a public appology. Aside from that in the paper, a man was hosting 5 pilgrims, and during the course of their stay the host did introduce his partner another Man and they turned out to be gay couples. So the guests did left the host’s home, condemn him and his partner that they will burn in hell. That I can not understand. So that was read aloud by my colleague while we were eating at the pantry reading papers and he commented on a picture of young couple making out/kissing, he said that should be the one that will burn to hell. Now I am confused! The world and society makes its own rule. I wonder what were the rules during Jesus, the prophet’s days? I wonder in Jesus’ time if kissing was bad, or it is a mere not display but a extension of affection to one person? Maybe if it is lust then that is bad.

I am not religiuos and I do not know the bible by the back of my hand. But I did complete and did get high marks on my religion subject at school. In the Bible it mentions Jesus/God being compassionate. It mentions on focus on the poor in spirit, heart, physically. Don’t this people do belong to the group mentioned in the Bible? It says all of us belong to the Kingdom of God. Those who Believe, ok ok… butthen those who believe…why do they act/condemn people who need guidance morally/spiritually? I myself I agree should be condemned therefore I have no right saying to someone that he/she will burned to hell.

It’s the same question I have in mind. Organ donation. Doing good and donating your organs when you accidentally die is a good thing (on my own opinion) as you help others, YET it is socially questionable? Or religiosly questionable of why extend a life of a person whom God/Life is already telling that is over? Or why donate your organ to a person dying and you might not know that he/she is a criminal. This is not for discussion on religion or morals. I do not know if some of you guys reading this do have specific answers to this questions and you think the answers and beliefs you have are RIGHT in the eyes of the SUPERBEING.

So I may not be able to attend any of the WYD events even if I wanted to, and its not an excuse not to either, but on my thinking its better to treat your neighbors with good deed and continue living as a Christian than being a hypocrite of attending the WYD event and yet you do have a selective heart and a judgemental mind.