Blog of a Pink

Bluenose pics

2006-05-29T16:49:00.000-03:00

So Buddy said....

2006-05-21T15:39:00.000-03:00

So Buddy asks me - how was it?
And I says hard in the middle part. But good on either end.
And Buddy says what about yer time. Did ya meet yer goal?
And I says Yup!
And Buddy says well.......what was it - arse.
And I smiles and says 1hr:54 min and change (don't have my official time yet).
Well now says Buddy, that's somethin t'smile about.
And I says - yes b'y I am smilin'

Ok here are the stats:
Official Pace Chip Gender Category
Place Time km Time # Name City Plce/Tot Plce/Tot Category
373 1:54:24.4 5:26 1:53:37.2 2411 PINK, DESMOND HALIFAX 274/602 137/278 Open Men

Complete results: http://www.sportstats.ca/res2006/noseh.htm
Wow- what a day. I can say that I was definitely nervous this morning, but I didn't throw up.
Met up with a bunch of friends at the Running Room at 8...Rose went off to meet her friend Erica - I was too nervous to wait around. Met up with Derek - a guy I had run with several times - so greatI had a running partner. Everything was great until about 8 Km in....my left calf started to act up and I told derek to go on ahead......I have yet to see him again. I had strained my calf a few weeks ago, but thought it had been rested enough. The next 5-6 Km were grueling. My calf hurt like hell, I was almost limping - even after I stopped to massage the damn thing. And running alone is not fun....time m-o-v-e-s s-o s-l-o-w-l-y. By the time I reached Maple Street - the hill of hills - I realized that I was still ahead of the 2hr pace bunny. So I felt a little better. I stopped for ~ 5 steps on Maple to take a sip - but otherwise powered through it. Then I was home free. I knew I could do the remaining 4-5 km easily, if not quickly. So I pushed on - I had thought at one point I would not finish - deep dark middle section of Shubie. But when I saw the bridge and started across, I knew I had it, although I was convinced my time was going to be about 2hr10+. After crossing the bridge I noticed a town clock that read 10:50AM - well the race started at 9 so I could still make my time. I thought of the fact that I was so close to the running room and that I should wait another few minutes and then I would try to increase my pace and finish strong. Well these thoughts took a few minutes to course through my brain ....I was thinking of speeding up and then I saw the finish line.....well holy jaysus --- off I took. And just so happens I was out of the pack and running by myself so they announced my name as i came across the line ...now that was a great moment for me.

I then heard my name and realized that Rose's old roommate was singing out to me. She congratulated me and introduced me to her folks - I have no idea what I said to them cause I was feeling a little shaky. As I moved to get my timer clipped from my sneakers - I saw Amy - she watched me come across the line as well. It was great to have friends congratulate you after doing something like that. Thanks!

Then I turned and waited for Rose. i was kinda worried cause she has been studying so hard lately and has not been able to get in the runs. She finished a short time later, looked great - a good strong finish but said that she felt a little sore. see what studying will do to ya - I have heard it might even kill ya. Anyway we watched some other friends come in - I am so sorry Erica - I looked but didn't see you come across the line.

After getting some food into us we walked, rather sluggishly the 3 km home. we decided to stop on the bridge just before Point Pleasant park and watch the marathoners. Rose made an emergency bathroom break and got back just in time to see her running group, Susan and Janice and Kevin (?) run by. They looked in great shape as they ran by the 30 Km (21Mi) mark. Hats off to you guys.

So when we have the pics I will post then so you can see the sweatier side of running.

Tired with a crooked calf

So Buddy says........

2006-05-20T16:35:00.000-03:00

So Buddy says, tomorrow's the big day huh?
And I says yup.
Buddy says You ready?
And I says 'ope so, soon see won't we.
And Buddy says Yup! You nervous?
And I says right quick Yup.
Buddy says No worries; Just Giv'er

Back tomorrow to tell you how it went and whether I made my goal time of 2hrs

Today was 20Km Day

2006-05-07T13:43:00.000-03:00

This morning we ran 20 km through the streets of Halifax. This run culminates the peak of our running distances; next week we begin to taper back and resting our bodies for the half marathon on the 21st. So 20km is the farthest I have run in my life; our group had a respectable 2h:05min slow run time. Last week we did our 18 Km in 1h:54 min. But today we slowed our pace considerabley and had a really strong finish - a sprint for the last 500-800 m. Our little group has been getting stronger and we're a fine mix of people - from early 20's to mid 50's. Anyhow today - no complaints, no injuries, my knees are a little tight but I have to walk off the lactate yet. So all smiles and only 2 weeks til race day.

Later

Mrs. Stillie-Pink

2006-05-04T22:19:00.000-03:00

rosie clouds
Originally uploaded by Des Pink.

So 4 years ago today, I took my wife out on our first date. Nothing fancy, dinner and a movie (Spiderman in fact) followed by a long conversation over coffee at Uncle Timmy's. I guess I made an impression, more so than I thought - I actually thought I bored her, but I guess not, cause a couple of years later she asked me to marry her.

How lucky can one guy get?

Love ya Rosie
Des

2006-04-30T07:33:00.000-03:00

Many injuries are possible when you become a runner....sprained ankles, IT band strain, pulled muscles, sore muscles, shin splints and so on....but I have succumbed to a dermatological malady that apparently is not so uncommon in runners. Women have the sports bra but us men have nothing (in the normal apparel) to protect us from the evils of mamilla excoriation - NIPPLE CHAFE.

Ya know - the earth really is warming up...

2006-04-06T09:38:00.000-03:00

Ok -so we have all heard the various rants about climate change and global warming. A couple of summers ago - I attended a conference on global warming and got to see and hear some of the evidence first hand. Climate change is not some big voodoo thing. It's happened before......the earth normally goes through cycles of warmth and cold....ever hear of the different ice ages. The kicker this time is that we, the industrialized people of the earth have accelerated the process via any number of mechanisms. Industrialized populations equal industrial pollution. The more industrial, the more pollution. And so we have finally taken notice (warmest winter in Canadian history, for example; glaciers receding at alarming rates, etc etc - holes in the ozone - ya remember that big scare a few years ago - the hole didn't just go away we didn't plug it ). But now weare in a quandry - how to fix the problem. So a few of us - who actually understand and fully appreciate the details that go along with this massive problem put our thinking caps on. And hey we had some ideas. Then we realized there were other people with similar thinking caps and they/we all got together and made a deal - the Kyoto accord. We might not have all the answers to the problem - but we have a starting point.

And then we get the politicians involved..... now it seems to methat when you have a plumbing problem - you call a plumber. If the problem is structural - you call an engineer. If medical you call a doctor...you get the picture right. Well in this case - the problem is climate - so you call the climate people. The previous Liberal government and various provincial governments (of any party affiliation)set up a Canadian plan to deal with this and the research was starting to yield results. I have worked with some of these researchers and they are uing the money to fund important research into the problem at various levels. So my rant boils down to why does the new government need to whitewash the plan that was working and yielding results for a new Conservative plan that must be better....do I get the feeling that we are taking 3 steps back to move ahead by 2?????????

Oh to run and run and run

2006-03-02T23:14:00.000-04:00

This past Christmas morning I awoke with much anticipation. Now what would my new wife have for me......hmmmmmmmm. I wondered. So under the tree (thanks Amy and Rob) I dove, and out from the branches I pulled out my gift. Ripping into the paper I was greedy with anticipation.....ahhhh greed that must have been it. I unwrapped a booklet of sorts with the image of a smiling runner proclaiming life and enduring power across the cover. Just what the hell was this. With the booklet was a shirt - a RunningRoom shirt. My new and loving wife a signed me up for a half marathon. 16 weeks of training through the bitter cold and snowy paths of an eastern Canadian winter.... followed by a 21 Km run during May. I was so sure she loved me ..... I was sure there was love in this gift.....but where?

So it been a few weeks and I am still alive. My legs have not exploded, nor have I been frozen
solid running along the sidewalks of Halifax. We are a motley crew of runners, all shapes, all sizes, colours and creeds. And at the end of a run we are all smiling. It has turned out to be a great gift. Although we do start running hills next week, so maybe I will have to retract that last statement.

running scared

Inspiration

2006-03-02T22:15:00.000-04:00

Ok ...so I think this is one of the best books by the ever popular Dr. Seuss. Everytime I read it, I get a great feeling like I can take on anything.

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care.
About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any
you'll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you'll head straight out of town.

It's opener there
in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen,
don't worry. Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.

OH!
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.

You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don' t
Because, sometimes, you won't.

I'm sorry to say so
but, sadly, it's true
and Hang-ups
can happen to you.

You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You'll be left in a Lurch.

You'll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you'll be in a Slump.

And when you're in a Slump,
you're not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they're darked.
A place you could sprain both you elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And IF you go in, should you turn left or right...
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused
that you'll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place...

...for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or a No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a sting of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.

NO!
That's not for you!

Somehow you'll escape
all that waiting and staying.
You'll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.

With banner flip-flapping,
once more you'll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you're that kind of a guy!

Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored. there are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Fame! You'll be famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don't.
Because, sometimes, they won't.

I'm afraid that some times
you'll play lonely games too.
Games you can't win
'cause you'll play against you.

All Alone!
Whether you like it or not,
Alone will be something
you'll be quite a lot.

And when you're alone, there's a very good chance
you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.

But on you will go
though the weather be foul
On you will go
though your enemies prowl
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.

On and on you will hike
and I know you'll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.

You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3 / 4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
you're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!

---Dr. Seuss

Beginning of a Blog

2006-02-20T01:50:00.000-04:00

Ok, so I am kinda new at this and am nowhere as verbose as some of my friends. I will endeavour to rant, speak out, publicize or simply post a random thought or two.