Pool running 1:00:00 [3] 0.7 km (1:25:43 / km)
The original plan today was for a longish ride but that was scrapped. I probably could have coped with a road ride but it wouldn't have been the most pleasant of experiences. The hand has swollen somewhat but still seems to have a full range of movement, which is encouraging; from past history of severe bruising I expect the discomfort to peak at about 24 hours and then ease from 48 onwards, so I'm not too perturbed by current progress (or lack thereof) - might be if there is no improvement by Friday. (I suspect my injury is similar to Michele's at the Schools this year, and she ran the next day - if you're reading, how long did it take for the soreness to settle down?).
Anyway, plan B was a pool running session at Fitzroy on the way to the cricket. Probably did me good to work various bruised and battered bits through the water. A bit more of a crowd than usual in anticipation of a hot day - almost as much of a crowd as there was at the MCG (a surprise given the potential, although not reality, for a classic finish). I found myself near a bunch of enthusiastic Pakistan supporters; at one stage the residents of Bay 13 came around to pay a "visit" before being moved on by security. (I wasn't close enough to hear what was being said, but knowing what the occupants of Bay 13 are like I would be surprised if there were no breaches of the ICC anti-racism code, probably in the form of references to illegal immigration and/or terrorism).
(Personally I think it adds a lot to a sporting occasion if there are large numbers of supporters present for both sides - something that happens a lot at AFL matches in Melbourne, but not at the cricket except sometimes when Sri Lanka or India are playing. The example par excellence which comes to mind internationally is the Rafter-Ivanisevic Wimbledon final of 2001; there might be potential for something similar next year at the Australia-Pakistan series in England, part of which might just fit nicely into my Europe 2010 schedule).
I'm on the road to Falls Creek tomorrow so now's the time to review the year - one which was mostly spent in Australia (unlike 2008) but involved many different bits of Australia. It was a rather frustrating finish to the year and I'm a bit apprehensive as to how things might unfold in the early months of 2010, but there was still much to enjoy this year.
Best run: probably Binna Burra in early August for the scenery and the company, although a few other honourable mentions on the trip, notably Laurieton (August) and Eyre (June).
Best race: the WMOC long final, with the middle day at Easter close behind. The symmetry of the Easter result (beating Craig by 1 second after he'd beaten me by 2 seconds the last time we met at Easter) was a nice touch too (although Craig may disagree).
Worst race: Victorian State Series at Kooyoora. Definitely not a venue to take on as an afterthought after a long shift working on the start.
Pain is temporary, glory is permanent: running the last two-thirds of the NT Long Champs on an inner sole after my right shoe fell apart. The WMOC long final gets a guernsey here, too.