Saturday, December 30, 2006

A Year of Milk and Roses

Christmas this year was at Wagga Wagga – the town so nice they named it twice! It's also the town where I started running 27 years ago. This time I didn't run as my foot was complaining following the track session I did the previous Thursday.

I've been thinking about what happened in 2006. My racing wasn't good. In fact, it was impressively worse than the bad 2005. I had just 18 races – the best one a low-key 5k, finishing 46th in 22:30. There is more to racing than a finishing time, so there were some races that, with the wisdom of hindsight, were satisfying.

After an eternity of walking, I was very pleased to receive another finisher's medal (sub-7 hours) at the Six Foot Track. The Nail Can Hill Run was great fun on a mud-covered course in miserable weather. I was relieved to run fast enough in the Sydney City to Surf to retain an 'A1' start for next year, despite tearing my calf muscle in a finishing sprint, which triggered an endless string of clever cow puns on the blog.

Running is very much a 'now thing', and as of now, I'm quite excited. I'm able to run and also do the type of running I like - the long slow bush runs, the faster shorter runs and the grass track intervals in the Frees. I'm looking forward to more track racing in January and February.

2006 was also about my trip to America and Canada. This provided a rare chance to see, and run through, some stunning landscapes - Lone Pine, near the Sierra Nevada mountains, Stanley Park in Vancouver and the beach at San Francisco to name a few. This year was also about trying to help other runners, seeing them do well or deal with the lows of being injured. Good luck to you all in 2007. Finally, a sincere thanks to those who have read the blog and/or left comments during the past year. To those I haven't met, I hope we can have a run together one day.

29 comments:

Sekhmet said...

Happy running in 2007

Lulu said...

Thanks for you comments on my blog this year. I hope you have a good injury free year of running.

Tesso said...

I love the way you have put a positive spin even on the not-so-great things that happened this year.

2007 - you .. me .. injury free :-)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for all your advice and good humor this year, glad you found your way to my blog.

Thanks also for recognising my injury before I was prepared to admit it!

I am with tesso, love the positive attitude.

Hears to a great 2007!

Anonymous said...

Hope you have a great 2007 Ewen. Good luck to the super coach in getting Lucky Legs to run faster. Thanks for your help with the tips on running track recently. Very grateful.

Vicky said...

I really like the "running is very much a now thing". How true that is.

I have also been thinking that sports massage might be the next thing to try with my leg... just need to find a good one. Thanks for all of your helpful advice and comments and I wish you all the best for 2007.

Cheers, MAR.

CJ said...

Here's to a great 2007 - hope it all goes well!

TA and the Gnome said...

I'm really glad that you're back and able to run just as you like. I hope it continues just so through 2007 (and looking forward to seeing you in March! )

Gnome

Anonymous said...

Ewen, I am noticing something interesting about the gender ratio of the comments on your blog. I think I should be taking tips from you on things other than running.

But seriously, just wanted to say how happy I am to hear that your "now" with running has finally reached a point where you are really getting some personal satisfaction. You have given so much to so many this year (and probably for many other years before, but I am only aware of it now through the blog) that you really deserve some rewards of your own. I hope it builds to a bigger and brighter 2007 than even you dare imagine.

R2B said...

As always Ewen we (speaking on behalf of many bloggers) appreciate your contribution to the sport of running through coaching and advice/participation.

I believe in Karma and your just deserts are forthcoming.
Happy new year.

Cheers R2B

2P said...

All the best for '07 Ewen - those twin sub 23's are getting closer...

Anonymous said...

I hope, one day :D

Great to see your face now!

This time of the year when we look back we might think not only in numbers but in effort and pleasure, remember? :D

Wish you the best for this 2007 many km to run and lost of health!

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year and all the best for 2007.

Who knows, I might catch up with you around the traps.

Anonymous said...

Your trip to the USA was one of my more enjoyable blog reads. Keep up the great work and best of luck for 2007.

Don Juan said...

From the title, I thought the cows had got into the rose garden again.
A post by any other name would still smell as sweet.

Good luck for a faster injury-free new year.

Stu Mac said...

It was 12 months ago I met you in Canberra and enjoyed a track session and a long bush run with you. I thank you for your comments this year on blog and especially the positive thoughts.

I wish you all the best in 2007, on the track, the road and on the bush trails. I also look forward to your comments and reading about your coaching fortunes with LL!

Anonymous said...

Have a great 2007 Ewin. I really appreciated all your comments this year.

miners said...

Congrats on a great year Ewen (despite the results not being htere), and all the best for 07. Thanks for all your support and comments over the entire year - they've meant a lot and have helped me an enormous deal throughout 06

PS - i miss the cow puns :)

Clairie said...

Ha Ha when I read your blog titled I was very intrigued....I assumed it meant you were running the Cadbury Glass and a Half Marathon!!

Happy New Year Ewen. May this be the year of great joy in running.

Wobbly man said...

Congrats on a great year Ewen, results aren't everything. All the very best for '07 mate!

Anonymous said...

Best wishes with your running this year. I'm sure things will be better this year. Thanks for all your comments over the last year too.

Love the new profile photo. Where was it taken?

Toasty said...

Wagga Wagga was named by a bloke with a stutter!

Contrary to popular thinking calves can really bite. Perhaps that is not a clever Calf Pun but I had to make an attempt.

I'm sure there will be lots of chances to improve my comments in 2007 and hope it is a good year for you as well.

PortRunr said...

Have a great year ahead Ewen. Thanks for all your support in '06.

Anonymous said...

Happy new year Ewen, it sounded as though things were coming together towards the end of 06. So here's hoping that the trend will continue and that 2007 is a much better one for you.

Anonymous said...

nice profile photo, I hadn't seen it until now.

Anonymous said...

The others have said it better than me, Ewen, but I will just say you are a gem and I hope 2007 brings you much satisfaction and happiness.

I just happen to be reading a book about Mark Twain's 1895 visit to Australia and where he also went to Wagga Wagga. He was bemused by the name, but I think you have a better explanation than most for the title.

Samurai Running said...

Yes Ewen it is very much about the now and I also look forward to meeting you someday. Thanks for all your kind thoughts and witty remarks I will be following your blog with interest this year.

Happy New Year!

Anonymous said...

Yes best of luck in 07 mate. I hope to catch up with you at either Canberra or Nail Can.

Anonymous said...

This must be a record for comments Ewen. You deserve every one. It's good to see how positiive you are about the New Year. I hope all your wishes come true.

I always appreciate your uplifting comments on my blog. Thanks Ewen.