Date: Wednesday, 25 February 2015

From: Carmel

Coloured Girls in Canberra

A group of Griffith Ferals attended the Colour Run in Canberra weekend of the 22^nd February. It was a great weekend and everyone had a great time. We stayed at the Breakfree Capital Resort in Civic and the venue was only 1km away. Really recommend the accommodation. We walked to Commonwealth Park early Saturday morning to collect our bibs and when we arrived back at the Capital Towers, everyone was ready for breakfast and then shopping, as you do on these sort of road trips. Sunday started with huge enthusiasm, smiles were abundant, the weather was perfect and the atmosphere was buzzing. As you can see there was heaps of colour around and we would not hesitate to attend another Colour run. Looking forward to the next weekend away.

Members involved were Carmel, Linda, Carissa, Venera, Emma, Louanne, Melissa, Donna and Hailey.

Carmel

Date: Saturday, 21 February 2015

From: CJ O'Neill

Feral Postcard From the President of the Melbourne Chapter

Mein Gott, time goes quickly. Hot off the press is that our favourite Zimbabwean import (Hansie) is married to a german girl, living in France, working for the UN in Switzerland and has 3 cats and a dog. Either that or he's a spy and just thought he'd feed come ludicrous story and I'd believe it. The last I caught up him was on a caldera (look it up) in Northern Sumatra, having omelettes laced with 'medicinal' mushrooms, so I'm willing to bet the 3 cats and a dog line is false.

The O'Neill's of Caulfield North are no longer, given that Kate found herself 'in the family way'  once again last year and we had to decamp to Murrumbeena as the brood expanded once more. My miserly engineers wage now has to feed five hungry, whinging mouths, but thankfully the 5th is Archie the wonder-dog, and he doesn't ask for much. Kate's going well, off this year again with baby Anna, but still working for our state's finest. Alex has my good looks, charm and wit, so I'm sure he'll go far in life.

Running is mostly a hazy memory, but I did do 6 k's on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, I felt like I'd given birth, so I've decided not to pull on the runners for a few weeks to let the swelling go down. 

Work is good. I'm in India once a month and keeping out of the papers. Caught up with that cheetah-like embodiment of fitness, Ben Chopping, in Sydney a few weeks ago. I'm happy to report, he knows how to down an iced coffee and two doughnuts just like the old days.

I don't have an e-copy of my family portrait, but found this one on the world-wide-web, and I think you'll agree, the resemblance is uncanny (That's me, second from right, or far left, I'm not 100% sure).

Date: Monday, 9 February 2015

From: Neil

Postcard from Penang

16 Nov 2014  Sunny, Hot, Humid

Little did we know that the weekend we lobbed into Georgetown, Penang was also the weekend that 80 000 runners also lobbed in for the Penang Bridge Marathon.  They had hotel bookings, we didn't!  So we ended up in three different hotels 20km apart over four nights.  The third night was at the Equatorial near the start line where we bumped into many of the runners enjoying a fantastic breakfast.

The Penang Second Bridge is 24km long, flat except for the lump the boats go under.  First event starts at 1:30am and the last 8am.   All the runs are out and back, not even the full marathon making the opposite side.  The most common comment "Boring!" but they all loved it and were bubbling!

Neil

Date: Tuesday, 6 January 2015

From: Gerald

A postcard from New York

As most of you know I have moved to Sydney now but still doing the running and the odd feral trail run. Decided I had another marathon in me and the biggest of them all was New York. What an experience. Yes 3 deg and 40 km/hr winds and a 3hr wait to start, but when the gun went off we went up the Verrazano bridge and the whole New York skyline in front of us was brilliant. And right from the start people cheering, screaming, clapping and as I ran along crowds grew, 6 deep in places.

2 million spectators along the course. Great way to see the 5 boroughs of New York. Felt like I was floating. That was until I reached the Queensboro bridge at 25km. Cramps in the thighs made it a painful walk/ shuffle to the end, many others also succumbed to cramps. The last 7km though difficult was fantastic. The absolute roar of the crowd was unforgettable. Through Central Park with autumn leaves, beautiful. The legs are painful and stiff as I write this. Do I have another marathon in me? Bring me back to New York anytime!

Date: Thursday, 4 December 2014

Just a short postcard from the top of Noorilla Street.

We met as normal at the bottom of Collina Oval and because it was his birthday we let Heff lead the training group of Adam, Derek, Rodney, Vince and Brendon. Things wore looking grim as we were led on a gruelling hill session consisting of Holmes, Doolan, Lawford and McNabb Crescents. The pack howled as he indicated right off Macarthur for a sprint up Mallinson Street.

At the top we headed west toward Noorilla Street and weren’t surprised when Heff entered his driveway, we figured he was done for the day, we were surprised as he ushered us into where, beautifully presented on the veranda, was freshly baked banana bread from the "Master Heff" himself along with fresh orange juice, the good imported stuff from Brazil as Vince pointed out. Brendon also pointed out the Brazilian stuff has no hair in it.

And now we know Heff's little secret about running "to all those out there that just don’t know the secret to improving their running performance...................stop half way for banana bread. I know my performance (motivation) was definitely enhanced when I was running toward the banana bread."

The pace on the run home was considerably slower (about 8 min/km) as those who have had a run just after eating would know!