Rathin's Daily Run

16 September 2007 Before I started my run, I went to the post office to post a letter. I needed to buy a pre-paid envelope, and I discovered to my annoyance that they cost 60 cents, and I only had 55 cents. However, the lady behind the counter proclaimed that "five cents is nothing!", and let me have it for 55 cents. That cheered me up. Then I went for my run. It was pretty slow. I ran down to the lake, then back past the shopping mall to go home. I was nearly walking. At least I got to sing some spiritual songs along the way.

15 September 2007 Helped out at the finish line of a local fun run, then ran home. Well, first I ran to the shops and bought some water and chocolate for the final 8 kms or so. Then I found that I liked walking better than running. There are large light poles stationed evenly along Belconnen Way, so I decided to run from one post to the next, then walk to the one after that. Then I would run, then walk, etc, etc. In this manner I did do a little bit of running.

19 May 2007 The truth is that I run a lot more often than I update this page. I went for a run with a friend today through Aranda Bushland and Black Mountain Reserve for about one hour. Sorry, no photos were taken!

24 April 2007 Ran to work today. I put all my work clothes in my backpack and headed off through Aranda bushland. I was going pretty slow, then soon realised it was taking longer than I thought it would. I picked up the pace a little. I finished in 1 hour 13, about one minute late for work. Then I had to shower. Fortunately, my boss was understanding. Next time I'll leave home earlier...After work I ran home. It's mostly uphill on the return leg. I took 1 hour 20. I must confess that the photo is from the previous day, when a flock of galahs swooped overhead. But nearing home today I saw, again, a flock of galahs, and I suspect that they were the same birds.

How often do you see someone running with a backpack? Not very often, I should imagine. So there was I, running home with my pack, when I saw a woman running on the other side of the street, also with a reasonably large backpack! Don't they call that synchronicity?

23 April 2007 Went out for a run around Lake Ginninderra. Near the end of my run I saw the sign in the photo. "Fun Turn Permitted" indeed. The workman in the picture was just about to replace the sign with a new, un-vandalised one. You can see it leaning against the base of the pole. I thought I ran pretty well, but it took me 1 hour 10 min to finish. I'm sure I used to run this in less than an hour. But that was before I became a great ultra-runner.

21 April 2007 Went for a run late afternoon up to The Pinnacle, a nearby hilltop that is not as lofty as it sounds. On the way I met David, a local multi-sport enthusiast and triathlete, also out for a run. He said he was looking for some Casuarina trees he had spotted on a previous outing, as he wanted to collect some seeds. I myself have never combined botany with running. I bade him farewell at the turnoff up to The Pinnacle, the summit of which affords a pleasing view of rolling landscape, receding to the smoky blue Brindabella ranges. After continuing through bushland, I returned home through the suburbs. The curving roads of the area mean that getting home is a bit of a guessing game. I was running for 90 minutes.

20 April 2007 Went for a run for an hour through nearby Aranda bushland. Took this photo shortly before evening overtook me. I am wearing headphones, made by Sony, with soft rubber bits behind the ears; probably the most comfortable I've ever worn (during the 3100 Mile Race, I wore headphones a lot, and very few pairs feel comfortable for long!) In the photo it looks like I have got trees growing out of my ears. I was listening to Irish group 'The Dubliners'. Group member Ronnie Drew has one of the most unique folk singer voices ever, a deep, broad Irish brogue. My favourite tracks are "The Rocky Road to Dublin" and "Foggy Foggy Dew." This week, anyway. I must get some Planxty to listen to as well, another great Irish folk group.

19 April 2007 Got home from work a little after five, unbelievably tired from what seemed a pretty easy day. How does this happen? Flopped on the couch, grazed on some salad, and continued reading "The Great War For Civilization- The Conquest of the Middle East" by Robert Fisk, a weighty tome that seems to have no end. Eventually went out for a run around 6.30. Posted a letter along the way. Got to Lake Ginninderra. Ran past some units on Emu Bank. Thought of someone who I worked with who lived there. Realised they hadn't lived there for about four years. Ran up that street whose name I can't remember now, where the bus interchange is. It's slightly uphill and very boring. I ran along the wide, grassy, tree-lined median strip for a change. When I finished I was surprised that the whole run took me 43 minutes.

18 April 2007 Did the Barbecue Stakes race at Woden for the first time ever. It has a handicap start- being my first attempt, I got to pick my own time. I set off at 7 minutes 15 seconds after the first runner. Soon realised I was faster than the blokes I started with. The course weaves through suburbia and bushland for 6 km, and is unmarked. I was enjoying catching other runners and passing them. Then there were no runners ahead. I realised that I was in first place. I kept turning back to the fellow behind me for directions. One runner passed me, but I came a close second. Amalendu finished a few minutes later, in about 30th place. He had been given a tough 18 minute handicap. He was gasping for breath. I think I was a bit generous to myself, with my 7:15 handicap. That's why they don't give you prizes until you've done this race a few times!

11 April 2007 Hello friends! Just back from a week up in North Queensland. The picture is from Port Douglas. I went for a run for 90 minutes through this laid-back little tropical paradise. But even paradise has its dangers: up here they are to be found mainly in the waters, in the form of box jellyfish, crocodiles and sharks. I stayed out of the briny blue!

7 April 2007 Went for a short run around Aranda, up to the new Gungahlin Drive Extension, Canberra's latest monument to progress. Most runners, I believe, have several routes, usually loops, they use for their training runs, starting and finishing at home. And, unless you live somewhere really flat, there's always going to be a bit of uphill, and a bit of downhill in your loop. And if you start and finish at the same place, there is exactly the same amount of elevation gained and lost on a run. I see this as some kind of spiritual metaphor, but I am still trying to work out all the implications of it...

1 April 2007 Went for a 2-mile run late this afternoon. It was twilight. The full moon was on the rise, and the sky around was a marvellous soothing collision of pinky orange near the horizon and a deepening blue above. I wished that I had have taken my camera, but alas! I did no such thing.

25 March 2007 See this fluffy little fellow? Isn't he cute! Well, this rascal wanted a piece of me today. I encountered him towards the end of my 5km run around the neighbourhood. I soon decided he was not the friendliest of canines, with all that yapping and running up behind me like he wanted to nip my calves. As soon as I confronted him he went racing off in the other direction. But when I resumed my run, he would chase after me again, barking. I didn't try to give him a pat. I only pat nice doggies.

24 March 2007 Went for a run around Lake Ginninderra, close to home. It's an 11km round trip. I felt that I was running quite well. Since doing some ultras, when by myself I tend to revert to a slow ultra-shuffle. Today I felt quite springy. I saw some cows grazing in a paddock there, which I've never seen before. Isn't it owned by the government? Sometimes they let cows in to graze on government property when there is a drought. These cows were young steers. Quite handsome creatures. I wish I had taken my camera. A lady was walking down the wrong side of the path towards me, an umbrella firmly planted in front of her face. She couldn't see me. I decided to give way. It wasn't actually raining then. It started raining for a bit then stopped. I got home and the total time was 1 hr 9 mins. I was happy. I've done it much slower!

14 March 2007 Went for a run with a friend up Mt. Paynter, which is in suburban Canberra. He drew away from me going up, but then turned off the summit track to go down the other side. I continued up to the top. Note that Canberra is already at 600m above sea level, so some of the "mountains" actually look more like hills.

Here is a picture of some wallabies I saw up near the top! Or maybe they are joeys. Whatever, they seemed quite young. And, like most of their brethren, quite shy.

13 March 2007 I meant to go for a run straight after work. Then, when I was almost home, I decided to relax for a very short while first. But after getting home, I noticed with disappointment that there was no new literature in the house to distract me. So I settled for playing some guitar. After a while, I discovered I had been napping, guitar in hand. So then I finally went out for a run as the sun was setting.

This photo was taken on the pedestrian overpass over Belconnen Way. You can see all the cars going home.

When I am out running and enjoying Nature's beauty, I am inclined to feel that running is quite a good thing to do, and not just an onerous task undertaken for the sole purpose of keeping fit (or trying to become fit!)It's usual in Canberra to see all sorts of birds. Today I saw a rooster, of all things. Just going for a walk.