Is it just me but does training and work seem more enjoyable when the weather is better?
Like most of the British Isles we've had a few stunning days and I'm particularly pleased for those brave enough to have holidays at this time of the year. I prepared our holiday cottage for such a couple last Friday night after our tenants from the past couple of months moved on. By getting the "Saturday job" done on Friday I was clear to do my long run early on Saturday morning but left totally shattered by the end of the weekend.
Things are a bit more measured this weekend as I start to cut down my mileage for the marathon in three weeks although I will again be at the cottage all day tomorrow.
I don't think I am going to be covering the Manx Harriers meeting on Sunday (the restrictions on photography when children are taking part are a disincentive) but I still have plenty of challenges for the website.
I finally installed an update for my web editing software last night which I bought a few weeks ago. I generally use Cyberlink Power Director and I want to see what I can get out of this and tidy up some of my files. I've got loads to do on before I launch the new photo website a week from now and I'm taking photos for the IOMAA website at the Cross Country Presentation next Thursday. I'm well behind with the Parish Walk website. I have people lined up for the next two features but I need to find time to interview them as with a special interview I've planned for the manxathletics website for a while.
And I want to see some of that sun. Wouldn't it be great if there were clear skys for the Snaefell Fell Race a week tomorrow.
Friday 25 March 2011
Thursday 24 March 2011
Too tired for anything meaningful so...
I've been trying to clear some email tonight although I've also just published Bethany Clague's wedding photo and another to record Rob Webb's 60th, I'm too tired to start anything else meaningful.
So here is something I retrieved from an email that Marie sent me a couple of weeks ago (I don't always bother with hers!).
So here is something I retrieved from an email that Marie sent me a couple of weeks ago (I don't always bother with hers!).
Monday 21 March 2011
Digging our hands in our pockets
Thanks to Lisa Motley for sending me the link to the Run for Japan website that is featured today. It finally got my wallet open - its all too easy to think that we must do something and never get around to helping other people.
Its difficult to know what any of us can do from the other side of the world. Its difficult for me too as the website editor to decide when I should suspend the website coverage of athletics as a mark of respect for a tragedy as I have on occasions for local and international bad news.
Taken to one extreme there would never be any website coverage of athletics. If I searched hard enough I could find news stories about human suffering every day of the year that would suggest that athletics is pretty futile.
Taken to the other extreme it is all too easy to moan about our aches and pains and treat the Isle of Man and athletics in particular as if they were not in the real world. We would never do anything to help. I can't pretend I have really made any sacrifices to help but that is the point. A good percentage of the people enjoying athletics on the Isle of Man can afford to do something to help with less pain than running, jumping, throwing or walking.
I know that some people think that charity should stay within our shores. But imagine if our shores had been breached in the way that they have in Japan. We would certainly be grateful if the rest of the world breached our charity demarcation to help us.
Thankfully, most of us enjoy good health, a good lifestyle and a fantastic athletics scene on the Isle of Man. I'll return to those things for the rest of the week.
Its difficult to know what any of us can do from the other side of the world. Its difficult for me too as the website editor to decide when I should suspend the website coverage of athletics as a mark of respect for a tragedy as I have on occasions for local and international bad news.
Taken to one extreme there would never be any website coverage of athletics. If I searched hard enough I could find news stories about human suffering every day of the year that would suggest that athletics is pretty futile.
Taken to the other extreme it is all too easy to moan about our aches and pains and treat the Isle of Man and athletics in particular as if they were not in the real world. We would never do anything to help. I can't pretend I have really made any sacrifices to help but that is the point. A good percentage of the people enjoying athletics on the Isle of Man can afford to do something to help with less pain than running, jumping, throwing or walking.
I know that some people think that charity should stay within our shores. But imagine if our shores had been breached in the way that they have in Japan. We would certainly be grateful if the rest of the world breached our charity demarcation to help us.
Thankfully, most of us enjoy good health, a good lifestyle and a fantastic athletics scene on the Isle of Man. I'll return to those things for the rest of the week.
Friday 18 March 2011
Finish line chat
I have to admit to a sense of relief at the conclusion of the veterans handicap event last night. It was the fifth event in 15 days that I have attended - four as a photographer and one as an athlete. As usual, against my better judgement I took the video camera as well as the ordinary one and filmed the races from the finish line.
I wanted to get to bed on the right side of midnight so I didn't do much editing. So apologies for (unless you mute the sound) having to listen to, among other things, David Griffiths and I talking about his good work on the compilation of Manx road running records.
I don't think there were any set last night but the event was revived by the inclusion of veteran athletes from outside the host club and it was a great achievement by Mike Garrett to set a personal best for 10km when he is only a few weeks away from his 42nd birthday. Robbie Lambie put his years of experience to good use to win the walk.
I wanted to get to bed on the right side of midnight so I didn't do much editing. So apologies for (unless you mute the sound) having to listen to, among other things, David Griffiths and I talking about his good work on the compilation of Manx road running records.
I don't think there were any set last night but the event was revived by the inclusion of veteran athletes from outside the host club and it was a great achievement by Mike Garrett to set a personal best for 10km when he is only a few weeks away from his 42nd birthday. Robbie Lambie put his years of experience to good use to win the walk.
Thursday 17 March 2011
FW: Top ranked events: European Indoors, Stuttgart meeting, US Indoors / Very deep Top Lists / Tamgho videos
From: All-Athletics.com [mailto:newsletter@all-athletics.com]
Sent: 17 March 2011 10:50
To: murray@murrayandmarie.com
Subject: Top ranked events: European Indoors, Stuttgart meeting, US Indoors / Very deep Top Lists / Tamgho videos
|
European Indoors and Stuttgart take first ranks
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 10.0.1204 / Virus Database: 1498/3511 - Release Date: 03/16/11
One I prepared earlier
I've refreshed the front page this morning with a feature on the 20 miles - I don't think we had brought it to everyone's attention how good Nikki Boyde's time was. There is also a reminder about the Veterans Handicap tonight.
I prepared the page last night but didn't publish it until this morning in case I confused too many people with references to "tonight" and "today".
Do you remember when people buy newspapers to read about NEWS. Chris Evans has just annoyed me by saying that the papers are interesting today after being very quiet for the past few days. In other words people have actually been reading about important world events for a change instead of celebrity s*it.
I prepared the page last night but didn't publish it until this morning in case I confused too many people with references to "tonight" and "today".
Do you remember when people buy newspapers to read about NEWS. Chris Evans has just annoyed me by saying that the papers are interesting today after being very quiet for the past few days. In other words people have actually been reading about important world events for a change instead of celebrity s*it.
Tuesday 15 March 2011
Not seen on the site below
It took me a while to get the site cleaned up this morning with recent pages archived and some of the other links moved to the Features page - I rarely delete content completely.
And its given me the chance to feature a couple of the runners from the fell race that have probably not appeared before which is something I like to do.
And its given me the chance to feature a couple of the runners from the fell race that have probably not appeared before which is something I like to do.
Monday 14 March 2011
Offline
Unusually for me I have not been near my computer today, give or take the odd five minutes, having been involved with meetings all day and dinner tonight. I'll get back to normal, and reply to some emails, in the next couple of days.
The only time I have seen Marie today was in the foyer of a hotel - we were both at different dinners!
The only time I have seen Marie today was in the foyer of a hotel - we were both at different dinners!
Photos shared
Thanks to Peter Bradley for letting me know that my photos from yesterday were not in the public domain as intended. Hopefully everyone can see them now.
Murray
Murray
Friday 11 March 2011
Athletics Weekly
I have taken Athletics Weekly for more than 30 years (gosh more than 1500 copies!) and in recent years I have had a postal subscription. I've recently renewed for a further 2 years which worked out at about £2.20 a copy compared to the cover price (when did it go up so much?) of £3.95.
Subscribers also get access to copies online - not just the latest but you search back to July 2007. I finally set myself up for this yesterday and its fascinating if you do a search on your name, your club etc.
I recommend it. You can get the digital only version for £58 per year although its not quite as handy for the room where I normally read mine!
Subscribers also get access to copies online - not just the latest but you search back to July 2007. I finally set myself up for this yesterday and its fascinating if you do a search on your name, your club etc.
I recommend it. You can get the digital only version for £58 per year although its not quite as handy for the room where I normally read mine!
Thursday 10 March 2011
Jock's stats
One problem I have with publishing websites is that I don't have time to read the content enough. Even with results I rarely get to study them in the way I would like. Last night, when searching for something, I stumbled upon the End to End Stats produced by Jock Waddington, the winner last year:
http://www.endtoendwalk.org/7.html
on Adrian Cowin's site.
I bet that Dave Turner wishes he had put his foot down a bit harder - he is credited with an average speed of 5.999 miles per hour on one occasion!
Really good stats - and they make the research I did on the old course worthwhile.
http://www.endtoendwalk.org/7.html
on Adrian Cowin's site.
I bet that Dave Turner wishes he had put his foot down a bit harder - he is credited with an average speed of 5.999 miles per hour on one occasion!
Really good stats - and they make the research I did on the old course worthwhile.
One of my older emails
I've spent the last 20 minutes dealing with an email I received almost 2 years ago. I had an "S Taylor" and and "A Callow" among the 1985 Peel to Douglas results and Steve Taylor informed me that they were Allan Callow and himself. Now that I have that off my list I have republished the following:
Peel to Douglas Run Results 1965 - 2010 - |
40% of trial tickets
From: UKA [mailto:intouchgoodform@yourcrm.co.uk] On Behalf Of UKA
Sent: 08 March 2011 18:51
To: murray@murrayandmarie.com
Subject: Make the most of the Aviva GB&NI team's success
Sent: 08 March 2011 18:51
To: murray@murrayandmarie.com
Subject: Make the most of the Aviva GB&NI team's success
|
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 10.0.1204 / Virus Database: 1497/3491 - Release Date: 03/08/11
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 10.0.1204 / Virus Database: 1497/3491 - Release Date: 03/08/11
Wednesday 9 March 2011
flyBe get worse
This probably beats anything that Ryanair could manage.
A single flight from the Isle of Man to Manchester including taxes and charges (but excluding luggage, a seat reservation, insurance, car hire, hotel, super-economy upgrade, extra passengers, credit card fees, debit card fees etc) costs £67.52.
Ok. Maybe we could use some of those wonderful points that we receive for being a regular and valued customer or the free flight they enticed you to their credit card with.
A FREE FLIGHT excludes all the other extras but you also have to pay for taxes and charges which total £69.99!!!!
So the free flight actually costs more than the normal flight.
And the flight we were looking at was not even on April 1 - although it would only have taken a few hours delay to push it into that day.
A single flight from the Isle of Man to Manchester including taxes and charges (but excluding luggage, a seat reservation, insurance, car hire, hotel, super-economy upgrade, extra passengers, credit card fees, debit card fees etc) costs £67.52.
Ok. Maybe we could use some of those wonderful points that we receive for being a regular and valued customer or the free flight they enticed you to their credit card with.
A FREE FLIGHT excludes all the other extras but you also have to pay for taxes and charges which total £69.99!!!!
So the free flight actually costs more than the normal flight.
And the flight we were looking at was not even on April 1 - although it would only have taken a few hours delay to push it into that day.
Track open, up and running
I've been delighted to see some progress at rationalising the fixture list this year and I congratulate everyone who has been a part of this process.
I am particularly pleased to see the return of open meetings at the track in the Isle of Man nearly 20 years after an all weather surface was first laid.
One of my low points in the sport was in 1991 immediately after the opening of a facility that the sport had waited for so long to take advantage of, I failed to bring about change which I still feel would have been helpful.
I've just re-read the minutes of a meeting of the IOMAA on 16/09/91 at a time when I was Chairman of the IOMAA. I tabled a draft fixtures list for the following year and the central feature was that the fixtures should be re-structured around a series of all island track and field meetings. Not only did I believe this to be in the best interests of the sport but it was what the athletes told me that that they wanted. I didn't receive any support from the voting members of the IOMAA and I decided later that evening that I could no longer lead a programme of change that had seen my club Boundary Harriers merge with Manx AC.
The sport has moved on so far since then. We would never have believed the level of public funding for sport and sports development that would be available 20 years later.
I really hope that the open meetings are a great success.
And Manx Harriers have the sponsorship of Up & Running for their league this year and judging by the early promotion it looks set for a revival.
So we can look forward to the track open and being up and running.
I am particularly pleased to see the return of open meetings at the track in the Isle of Man nearly 20 years after an all weather surface was first laid.
One of my low points in the sport was in 1991 immediately after the opening of a facility that the sport had waited for so long to take advantage of, I failed to bring about change which I still feel would have been helpful.
I've just re-read the minutes of a meeting of the IOMAA on 16/09/91 at a time when I was Chairman of the IOMAA. I tabled a draft fixtures list for the following year and the central feature was that the fixtures should be re-structured around a series of all island track and field meetings. Not only did I believe this to be in the best interests of the sport but it was what the athletes told me that that they wanted. I didn't receive any support from the voting members of the IOMAA and I decided later that evening that I could no longer lead a programme of change that had seen my club Boundary Harriers merge with Manx AC.
The sport has moved on so far since then. We would never have believed the level of public funding for sport and sports development that would be available 20 years later.
I really hope that the open meetings are a great success.
And Manx Harriers have the sponsorship of Up & Running for their league this year and judging by the early promotion it looks set for a revival.
So we can look forward to the track open and being up and running.
Percentages
I haven't been feeling 100% for the last few days so there was no burning of the midnight oil last night.
I did get the film of the Inter Counties by David Griffiths published and that is the main feature for today.
Andy Fox circulated a revised fixture list yesterday the main change being the movement of the new series of open meetings at the track to a Monday evening. I have extended the list of fixtures on through to August but I again appeal to all the organisers to let me know the best pages to link to, assuming that they have information about all of their club events for the year on their websites.
The number of fixtures in recent weeks is catching up with me when there are lots of things to do outside the sport and I have not been able to devote so much time to the Parish Walk website. Its six weeks since I did my last feature there and there is no possibility of one this week. I keep chipping away at the smaller things on that site though, principally the blog analysing the entries (and a few other things).
Parish Walk entries passed 500 yesterday.
I did get the film of the Inter Counties by David Griffiths published and that is the main feature for today.
Andy Fox circulated a revised fixture list yesterday the main change being the movement of the new series of open meetings at the track to a Monday evening. I have extended the list of fixtures on through to August but I again appeal to all the organisers to let me know the best pages to link to, assuming that they have information about all of their club events for the year on their websites.
The number of fixtures in recent weeks is catching up with me when there are lots of things to do outside the sport and I have not been able to devote so much time to the Parish Walk website. Its six weeks since I did my last feature there and there is no possibility of one this week. I keep chipping away at the smaller things on that site though, principally the blog analysing the entries (and a few other things).
Parish Walk entries passed 500 yesterday.
Monday 7 March 2011
First time lifting as a walker
I've just published an old photo of my old school friend Simon Capelen on the front page from when we were in the same team in the TT relay walk. He has been in and out of the sport, both as a walker and a runner, since the old photo from 1975 was taken so it was good to see him as the fastest walker yesterday. He is at least 53 (if not 54, I remember he was a few months younger than me).
We went to the English Schools Walks together that year. They were held in Sheffield but we were accommodated by some of the Merseyside Schools families in Formby. I was aged 18 and we flew to Liverpool and it was the first time I had ever flown. It might seem strange to those younger than me (and there are a lot!) but it was probably more unusual that I had flown by the age of 18 than not.
The next time I can remember flying was Manchester to the Isle of Man in 1978. I was a business studies student but doing part of my "sandwich" course working in Manchester. I had no holiday entitlement so I flew home for the Parish Walk on Friday night and back on Monday morning.
Simon and I were sometimes great team mates but at other times deadly rivals. More another day.
We went to the English Schools Walks together that year. They were held in Sheffield but we were accommodated by some of the Merseyside Schools families in Formby. I was aged 18 and we flew to Liverpool and it was the first time I had ever flown. It might seem strange to those younger than me (and there are a lot!) but it was probably more unusual that I had flown by the age of 18 than not.
The next time I can remember flying was Manchester to the Isle of Man in 1978. I was a business studies student but doing part of my "sandwich" course working in Manchester. I had no holiday entitlement so I flew home for the Parish Walk on Friday night and back on Monday morning.
Simon and I were sometimes great team mates but at other times deadly rivals. More another day.
Sunday 6 March 2011
A few clips of Kevin
Much as I would have liked to have sat back and watch all four and half hours of the Inter Counties Cross Country had didn't have that much time so I was using the fast forward features a lot.
Here are three clips in which you just about see Kevin Loundes.
Well done to all the Manx runners.
Here are three clips in which you just about see Kevin Loundes.
Well done to all the Manx runners.
Up and running before the finish
I decided that I had done enough video editing in recent weeks so I stuck to photos at the Manx Harriers Up & Walking Winter League this morning.
I don't take any photos of the junior races because there are such restrictive rules on publishing them (you are not allowed to name a junior walker on a photo which makes it pretty pointless). The senior race didn't start until 10.32 so I took some photos of the first few laps and had them all published by about 11.20 - before the un-named fastest walker would have finished.
I don't take any photos of the junior races because there are such restrictive rules on publishing them (you are not allowed to name a junior walker on a photo which makes it pretty pointless). The senior race didn't start until 10.32 so I took some photos of the first few laps and had them all published by about 11.20 - before the un-named fastest walker would have finished.
Chas and two Daves
Great Strawbs concert in Peel tonight. I'm even tempted to go and see them again at the Villa tomorrow.
Saturday 5 March 2011
Walker claims 4 minute mile
The average age of the first six finishers in the Leinster Management 20 miles this morning was over 50. A bit sad.
But it was still a great day of sport from the unpredictability of the results to the achievements of some of the elderly runners to the support all the athletes gave to each other to the fantastic officials supporting everything that we did.
I say “we” because it was my first race for five months with the result that I didn’t take any photos or videos for a change. In fact there was a distinct lack of photographers other than Mike Wade from Isle of Man Newspapesr.
The in form Kevin Deakes blasted away from the start with Tony “I’m running 2.10 pace” Okell following him through the first mile in 2.03 pace. And that was to be Tony’s winning time after Kevin started to tie up with a calf problem and slowed to 2.07.
The winning times may have been slower than normal but in perfect weather conditions were probably faster than I expected. And if Tony Okell were to stick to the roads I would expect to see the over 50s record smashed out of sight with a sub 2 hour performance next year. Kevin remains in great shape and will surely smash his marathon best if he goes ahead and runs in the Salclear Marathon at Ramsey in August.
Tom Melvin dramatically improved his best time to grab third placed in 2.12 and will surely do the same with his marathon in London
I thought that Richard Radcliffe was catching me after un-lapping himself but it was Paul Cubbon who was actually closest. He was another to set a big PB and Richard is thought to have set an over 55s record with a negative split. I am not sure whether they both beat 2.14. Paul had only run as far as 13 miles so far this year but it didn't prevent a big PB.
I am writing this all from memory so I am struggling to remember all the places but Nicki Boyde was her usual impressive self in 7th (I think) although she started an extra lap – the only lap scoring problem that I was aware of. Rachael Tewksbury was also impressive and was not far behind. Although still suffering from vertigo, Nicki hopes to run the London Marathon for the third and final time next month before trying her hand at a number of other big races in years to come.
There were many other racing highlights not least when Stephen Brown, Paul Curphey and Alan Sandford all took the bell within about 6 seconds. Alan has improved speed after training with Nigel Armstrong on occasions and took the honours. Paul passed Stephen who was determined not to be 4 seconds behind Paul, as in the London Marathon last year, and re-took the position. Paul avoided a personal worst on his 18th consecutive finish.
It was no wonder that Dave Walker was feeling tired afterwards after running 4 minutes per mile! He meant 4 minutes per lap of course.
Steve Cain was not among the finishers after sustaining a calf injury on Peel Hill during a walk last weekend but he set a PB at half marathon before calling it a day at 17.5.
It’s only in the Isle of Man where you can order your drinks a lap in advance and Simon Cox and Vinny Lynch were a credit on the drinks station. The help that the walkers give to the runners is certainly appreciated with Parish Walk heroes Sean Hands and Jock Waddington among the lap scorers.
There was a great spread of goodies at the finish and Brenda Charlton was the star with endless cups of tea. Thanks to Marie Jackson for pulling the whole event together – another selfless performance.
I didn’t intend to write this much and I can’t mention every official or every athlete but its worth mentioning Moira Hall who is more than 60 years of age and ran 3.08 with a word of support for every runner in the race whether faster or slower. That sums the day up.
Friday 4 March 2011
Set all your recorders
There is a mammoth feature on the Inter Counties Cross Country on Sky tomorrow.
The BBC and Eurosport are covering the European Indoor Championships.
The BBC and Eurosport are covering the European Indoor Championships.
Thursday 3 March 2011
Ramsey Fireman's
I've just finished a video of the run tonight. Just for a change, it took longer than planned.
That's all for today.
Hoped you liked the photos of Steve Brennan that I put on this time last night.
That's all for today.
Hoped you liked the photos of Steve Brennan that I put on this time last night.
Tuesday 1 March 2011
20 miles on Saturday
It was great to learn that Tony Okell is returning to the 20 miles on Saturday. I watched him set his best time in 2001. I set a PB but I was 4 laps behind!
He made his name at the event through smashing the course and Manx record. Paul Curphey made his name for his consistency and often running behind people that he would beat in London the following month. Paul will be there for the 18th year in a row and with more miles in the bag this year should be faster than for at least three years.
The event still terrifies me despite covering the course twice in training. It will be my first race for five months despite me telling some people that I had not raced for six and half months as I had forgotten about the Amsterdam Marathon. My last "proper" race was the Peel Heritage Trail when I was happy with my performance just before I injured myself.
Its a shame that Nigel Armstrong, who would have started as favourite, will not be running. He has been injured since the National Cross Country.
He made his name at the event through smashing the course and Manx record. Paul Curphey made his name for his consistency and often running behind people that he would beat in London the following month. Paul will be there for the 18th year in a row and with more miles in the bag this year should be faster than for at least three years.
Position | Time | Year |
2 | 2:01:02 | 1994 |
1 | 1:59:00 | 1995 |
2 | 1:58:31 | 1996 |
2 | 1:58:38 | 1997 |
3 | 2:02:57 | 1998 |
1 | 2:02:14 | 1999 |
3 | 2:07:19 | 2000 |
3 | 2:02:27 | 2001 |
1 | 2:04:49 | 2002 |
2 | 2:06:11 | 2003 |
2 | 2:04:35 | 2004 |
3 | 2:08:48 | 2005 |
1 | 2:14:45 | 2006 |
4 | 2:13:38 | 2007 |
7 | 2:17:28 | 2008 |
11 | 2:26:16 | 2009 |
9 | 2:27:41 | 2010 |
The event still terrifies me despite covering the course twice in training. It will be my first race for five months despite me telling some people that I had not raced for six and half months as I had forgotten about the Amsterdam Marathon. My last "proper" race was the Peel Heritage Trail when I was happy with my performance just before I injured myself.
Its a shame that Nigel Armstrong, who would have started as favourite, will not be running. He has been injured since the National Cross Country.
Can't explain this one
I updated the database of all the run times from the Manx Harriers Open meeting last night and published them.
Then I did the same for the walks for thing this morning. The only problem is, no matter how many times I republish the home page, instead of listing the walk times, the run times are replicated. So until it fixes itself, here are the walk lists:
Then I did the same for the walks for thing this morning. The only problem is, no matter how many times I republish the home page, instead of listing the walk times, the run times are replicated. So until it fixes itself, here are the walk lists:
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