There is more to athletics than the Parish Walk

...but it didn't seem like it during the past 7 days.

We went live at www.parishwalk.com a few minutes ago and entries open in 30 minutes.

Here is the news

I've got just a week until the launch of the www.parishwalk.com website and instead of doing any work for it tonight I have been following the news. With an ear and an occasional eye for the TV news (particularly the weather) I've been delving through my pile of half read newspapers - from September! Although I love following sport and "doing my bit" through the website, I hate the thought of not understanding the bigger issues of the world and I have an Asperger's type approach to not throwing out newspapers until I have had a final flick through them all. The pile is still pretty big - as is the Parish Walk action plan. Tough!

How long between the red carpet and the red light

One of the reasons I failed to get the website updated on Saturday was because we decided at the last minute to get tickets for the "premier" of Me & Orson Wells at the Gaiety. It was really exciting to see the youngsters screaming outside and we almost had the bar to ourselves upstairs as everyone waited with their cameras for the arrival of Zac Efron and the other stars.

It was fascinating to see the film from the theatre where most of it was made and, as with all Manx made films there were whispers of "That's in Finch Road" etc. Amazing how well they overlaid the backgrounds that had been made in the Pinewood Studios.

A good number of the audience appeared to be very proud extras. I can only imagine the work that went into the film. I'm glad that I don't have the pressure that they have the film industry where so few films are successful from those that are made. I'm afraid if it hadn't been for the local interest I wouldn't be watching and I doubt if I will be watching it on general release. I hope that others are more positive than me and there is a bigger gap between the red carpet and the red light than I predict.

Time trial

For the past 18 months, other than when I have been injured (which is actually a big chunk of it!) I have been training in the morning. When I am not training, I struggle to answer my own question of how I fit it in as the time seems to go just as quickly without training.


Yesterday morning I planned another "longest run since the London Marathon" of around 19 miles. I had to be in Port Soderick by 10 am and needed to shower, change and get breakfast before driving there. So I had to be on the road by 7. I made it by 6.49 and got to the cottage in time. Actually, this plan really paid off given the bad weather later in the day.

Today I only planned a half hour jog but I lost count of the number of times that I rescheduled it. The deadline turned into 1 pm when I was due to deliver lunch.

And it was the same with the website. A quick refresh and a couple of pictures to publicise the Millennium Way Relay was all I planned and I didn't even plan to watch any sport on TV. But instead of doing the website this morning, it was 7 pm before I started.

I then got deeply into the MWR feature and spent most of the evening online. It was a time when some of those other evenings spent organising files paid off, however, and I found some files that I had forgotten about.

A lot of thinking time in the past couple of weeks has gone into the launch of the http://www.parishwalk.com/ website on 1 December, and a few letters, emails and phone calls too. I had a long chat with Ray Cox, for example, this afternoon. But because the deadline is still 9 days away, other committments have been given a higher priority.

I had at least three other stories to tell but they have been found guilty at the time trial.

Dampening expectations

What a dreadful night. The weather outlook for today appears to be even worse.

Its amazing, when the weather is extreme and you usually run in the early morning, how you can find justification for having another rest day. I turned over and went back to sleep on Saturday morning when I heard the thunder and this morning I decided my legs were too tired to risk injury in the awful weather.

I added a couple of extra photos to the fell running feature last night before watching some of the Ireland v France football. It took an unpunished handball rather than the weather to stop the Irish from having to practice for the summer.

At the end of the day it has to be fun

As I tried to leave my half read pile of newspapers and half full bottle of wine at around 9 pm last night I tried to find the motivation to update the website.

One thing I try to do with the website is to produce a feature when you are not expecting it. I particularly like to publicise events a long time in the future because I believe it is far more effective than last minute plugs and reminders when you assume that everyone already knows about the event.

I ended up delving into my photo library and creating the feature on fell running. I spent far more time than I ever imagined I would but at the end of the day it has to be fun.

Its hard to link that with me getting up again at 5.30 setting off half an hour later to go and run 12 miles in the dark, the rain and the flooded roads of Baldwin. It was my first successful midweek run of this distance since before the London Marathon. This morning was certainly not much fun. But at the end of a lot more days like that it would be fun if I can see less the minute hand on my watch on less than 45 minutes when I finish in London next time around.

The champion frother still going strong

Over the years I have had letters published in such diverse publications as the Manx Media (lots), Race Walking Record, The Sunday Times, Motor Cycle News (MCN), New Musical Express (NME), Autosport & Athletics Weekly (lots).



But for every letter I have written there have been at least 10 times when I got "wound up" about something and think I shall write a letter. But then I either calm down, forget or just decide its not worth the effort.



The same thoughts go with my blogging and indeed with the ideas I get for doing larger features on the manxathletics.com site. I must have had 20 thoughts since Thursday about things I have been going to say and then not done so for the reasons explained above.



So for now, I am going to keep to my most recent thought and comment about Dave Newton. The 56 year old finished 27th out of the 36 starters so he only made the top 75% of the field. For some people that would be an achievement in itself for someone who used to regularly win Manx cross country events this is hugely sporting.



Most people watching would probably not even know that he used to be a winner let alone have seen a picture of him in full froth. It takes true sportsmanship to carry on making the same effort when you slow through running injuries and other overuse of the body.





Dave Newton (290) with Niall McGarrigle (248) pictured at Nobles Park by Neil Wilson yesterday. Dave has been competing in cross country for more about 35 years.

Website numbers peaked?

Although numbers of visitors to the manxathletics.com site have continued to grow this year, yesterday was a surprisingly quiet day (unless there was something wrong with the tracking software).

The average number of people visiting the site through the year is up to 259 compared to 223 at the same point last year - that's an increase of 16%.

But yesterday only 166 people visited which is by far the lowest weekday of the year.

Here are the days when less than 200 have visitedN


Saturday 25th July 2009 124
Saturday 17th October 2009 134
Saturday 24th October 2009 134
Saturday 22nd August 2009 136
Saturday 12th September 2009 136
Saturday 18th July 2009 152
Saturday 14th February 2009 153
Saturday 21st February 2009 154
Saturday 26th September 2009 156
Sunday 7th June 2009 162
Sunday 15th February 2009 164
Wednesday 11th November 2009 166
Sunday 4th January 2009 174
Saturday 17th January 2009 175
Saturday 8th August 2009 176
Friday 21st August 2009 176
Saturday 21st March 2009 177
Saturday 27th June 2009 177
Saturday 6th June 2009 178
Saturday 14th March 2009 180
Saturday 4th April 2009 180
Saturday 3rd October 2009 180
Saturday 31st October 2009 182
Saturday 3rd January 2009 186
Thursday 29th October 2009 186
Saturday 28th March 2009 187
Saturday 30th May 2009 187
Friday 30th October 2009 187
Friday 16th October 2009 188
Sunday 2nd August 2009 189
Monday 8th June 2009 190
Wednesday 28th October 2009 190
Sunday 26th July 2009 192
Saturday 5th September 2009 192
Sunday 30th August 2009 193
Thursday 15th October 2009 193
Saturday 10th January 2009 194
Friday 23rd October 2009 194
Saturday 25th April 2009 195
Sunday 13th September 2009 195
Friday 2nd October 2009 195
Saturday 31st January 2009 196
Saturday 19th September 2009 196
Thursday 26th February 2009 197
Saturday 7th March 2009 197
Friday 12th June 2009 197
Thursday 20th August 2009 197
Saturday 7th February 2009 199
Sunday 29th March 2009 199
Saturday 1st August 2009 199
Tuesday 27th October 2009 199

No jokes tonight

I've had a pretty hectic social life this week and we saw Julian Clarey at the Gaiety last night. Tomorrow night I am finally going to see Ken Dodd who is now 82 and still performing. I think he has performed hundreds of times on the Isle of Man in the last 50 years but its the first time that I will have seen him.

I have to admit, with the weather is, I wish I was not going to the Ramsey Firemans runs tonight but Robbie is keen to take part in everything at the moment. So unless the weather is extreme and I have to keep my tackle in the dry (too much Julian Clarey!) I will be taking photos or video (or perhaps both) tonight.

Those half finished jobs scare me

I've still got dozens of incomplete projects that I hope to eventually include on the http://www.manxathletics.com/ website.

I have some emails that go back months (or perhaps even years) where I have agreed to do something but never quite had the opportunity.

I stopped work on the database of results from the Northern 10 miles in 2004 and still haven't got back to complete it. I kept copies of some of the results (those that are now part of the Northern AC website) but I still need to research the years that I did not have a personal record of.

On Monday night I worked through the evening until late on a smaller project that has been on my mind for a while. I can at least say that that one will be finished off at the weekend (check out on Saturday morning).

I got back to that one late last night but only after spending an enjoyable three hours or so with Tim Baker. Tim was a top young race walker in the mid 80s (he tried unsuccessfully to make the 1986 Commonwealth Games team) and I stayed with him and his family near Glossop in 2002 when I went to watch the Commonwealth Games in Manchester. Tim has been working on the Isle of Man for the past month (but only staying on the Island for three nights a week) and plans to relocate here with his family in April next year. I forgot to take a photo - another unfinished job.

Actually its the jobs that I have not even started that scare me most. In less than three weeks I am due to launch the 2010 http://www.parishwalk.com/ website. Not started that one.

Bragging rights for Robbie Callister?

I was flicking through the Sunday Times a little while ago and was amazed to find an article in the Culture Section headed "Got those Isle of Man blues".

Its all about Davy Knowles of Back Door Slam and how they have been taking blues music from the Isle of Man to its homeland in the USA. It reviews their progress (400gigs in the states) and the launch of their new album tomorrow Coming Up for Air.

I missed their local gig recently but have previously seen the original line up three times. I saw them at the Gaiety on a previous occasion and at the Peel Bay Festival.

The first time I saw them was at a private party hosted by David and Barbara Doyle. Imagine the bragging rights Robbie Callister will have if Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam make it as big as some people are predicting. "Oh, they played at my 50th birthday party and I didn't even have to pay them" he will be able to say with complete honesty!

PS - he also used their microphone to give a speech!

We are all more than statistics

I turned my hand back to some statistical analysis earlier tonight. Rather than produce my normal list of fastest times, list by name and year etc (for the Haldane Fisher Syd Quirk Half Marathon) I calculated the number of finishes per athlete and their average time.

I thought my best time for the event (back in 1981) was half decent (as a race walker at the time) but I was put in the shade when I calculated that Steve Kelly's 10 winning times averaged the same as my best! Fantastic.

I have long held the belief that we should recognise people's achievements when they are with us and not wait until they pass away and suddenly realise all the good things they did during their lifetime that was not recognised during it. If something can't be said when they are alive its a bit late when they are gone.

Last night I wrote an obituary that really tested this belief. I can't publish it yet out of respect for the family of the 38 year old woman who was tragically killed in a road accident at Santon at 6 am yesterday morning. The (professional) media have not officially been told the name of the victim and her name won't be realeased until tomorrow.

It really was awful news to know that it was someone, although not in the mainstream, who had achieved an incredible amount in the sport. She will only ever appear very low in the list of rankings, fastest times and number of competitions. But in terms of personality she was near the top. I hope that this showed in my previous references to her but it will make very powerful reading tomorrow.

A new meaning to be under the influence of alcohol

Marie sent me this one, I think she is telling me something!

Last night, my wife and I were sitting in the living room and I said to her,'I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug.'
She got up, unplugged the Computer, and threw out my wine.

This should make you feel pretty bright!

Except for the first one, which is perhaps understandable, you will not see a better advert for eugenics...

UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE (BBC2) Jeremy Paxman: What is another name for 'cherrypickers' and 'cheesemongers'? Contestant: Homosexuals. Paxman: No. They're regiments in the British Army who will be very upset with you.

BEG, BORROW OR STEAL (BBC2) Jamie Theakston: Where do you think Cambridge University is? Contestant: Geography isn't my strong point. Theakston: There's a clue in the title. Contestant: Leicester?

BBC NORFOLK Stewart White: Who had a worldwide hit with What A Wonderful World? Contestant: I don't know. White: I'll give you some clues: what do you call the part between your hand and your elbow? Contestant: Arm. White: Correct. And if you're not weak, you're...? Contestant: Strong. White: Correct - and what was Lord Mountbatten's first name?Contestant: Louis. White: Well, there we are then. So who had a worldwide hit with the song What A Wonderful World? Contestant: Frank Sinatra?

LATE SHOW (BBC MIDLANDS) Alex Trelinski: What is the capital of Italy ? Contestant: France Trelinski: France is another country. Try again. Contestant: Oh, um, Benidorm. Trelinski: Wrong, sorry, let's try another question. In which country is the Parthenon? Contestant: Sorry, I don't know. Trelinski: Just guess a country then. Contestant: Paris?

THE WEAKEST LINK (BBC2) Anne Robinson:- Oscar Wilde, Adolf Hitler and Jeffrey Archer have all written books about their experiences in what:- Prison, or the Conservative Party? Contestant: The Conservative Party?

BEACON RADIO ( WOLVERHAMPTON ) DJ Mark: For 10 Pounds , what is the nationality of the Pope? Ruth from Rowley Regis: I think I know that one.. Is it Jewish?

UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE Bamber Gascoigne: What was Gandhi's first name? Contestant: Goosey? GWR FM ( Bristol ) Presenter: What happened in Dallas on November 22, 1963? Contestant: I don't know, I wasn't watching it then.

RTE RADIO 2FM ( IRELAND ) Presenter: What is the name of the long- running TV comedy show about pensioners: Last Of The .? Caller: Mohicans.

PHIL WOOD SHOW (BBC RADIO MANCHESTER ) Phil: What's 11 squared? Contestant: I don't know. Phil: I'll give you a clue. It's two ones with a two in the middle. Contestant: Is it five?

RICHARD AND JUDY ShowQ: Which American actor was married to Nicole Kidman? A: Forrest Gump.

RICHARD AND JUDY Leslie: On which street did Sherlock Holmes live? Contestant: Er . Leslie: He makes bread Contestant: Er . . Leslie: He makes cakes Contestant: Kipling Street ?

LINCS FM PHONE-IN Presenter: Which is the largest Spanish-speaking country in the world? Contestant: Barcelona Presenter: I was really after the name of a country. Contestant: I'm sorry, I don't know the names of any countries in Spain ..

NATIONAL LOTTERY (BBC1) Question: What is the world's largest continent? Contestant: The Pacific?

ROCK FM (PRESTON) Presenter: Name a film starring Bob Hoskins that is also the name of a famous painting by Leonardo Da Vinci. Contestant: Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

THE BIGGEST GAME IN TOWN (ITV) Steve Le Fevre: What was signed, to bring World War I to an end in 1918? Contestant: Magna Carta?

JAMES O'BRIEN SHOW (LBC) O'Brien: How many kings of England have been called Henry? Contestant: Er, well, I know there was a Henry the Eighth ... er.. ... er.... three?

CHRIS SEARLE SHOW (BBC RADIO BRISTOL ) Searle: In which European country is Mount Etna ? Caller: Japan? Searle: I did say which European country, so in case you didn't hear that, I can let you try again. Caller: Er... Mexico ?

PAUL WAPPAT (BBC RADIO NEWCASTLE ) Paul Wappat: How long did the Six-Day War between Egypt and Israel last? Contestant (after long pause): Fourteen days?

DARYL DENHAM'S DRIVETIME (VIRGIN RADIO) Daryl Denham: In which country would you spend shekels? Contestant: Holland ? Denham: Try the next letter of the alphabet. Contestant: Iceland ? Ireland ? Denham (helpfully): It's a bad line. Did you say Israel ? Contestant: No.

PHIL WOOD SHOW (BBC GMR) Wood: What 'K' could be described as the Islamic Bible? Contestant: Er . .. .. Wood: It's got two syllables .. . . Kor .. . .. Contestant: Blimey? Wood: Ha ha ha ha, no. The past participle of run . . Contestant: (Silence) Wood: OK, try it another way. Today I run, yesterday I . .. . Contestant: Walked?

THE VAULT Melanie Sykes: What is the name given to the condition where the sufferer can fall asleep at any time? Contestant: Nostalgia?

LUNCHTIME SHOW (BRMB) Presenter: What religion was Guy Fawkes? Contestant: Jewish. Presenter: That's close enough.

STEVE WRIGHT IN THE AFTERNOON (BBC RADIO 2) Wright: Johnny Weissmuller died on this day. Which jungle-swinging character clad only in a loincloth did he play? Contestant: Jesus.

Taught a lesson

What miserable conditions yesterday for the Haldane Fisher Syd Quirk Half Marathon.

As I stood waiting for the start feeling the effects of the wind and the rain I wished that I was not there. Not just because of the discomfort (it was much better once we actually started running) but because I would have liked to have filmed Colin Watterson's pre-race briefing.

Colin is second only to Gordie Brew of Western AC as the longest serving club Chairman in the UK (or is it the other way around?) and his role of briefing the competitors of the dangers that they should be aware of is extremely important and serious. But as he listed all the places on the course where there was flooding, wet leaves, wind and rain I felt I had to be flippant and shouted "Haven't you got any good news for us Colin". I would have liked to have recorded the race briefing of the doomiest and gloomiest race briefing that I have ever heard!

I worked out it was the 14th time that I have finished the Syd Quirk which makes me (with Steve Kelly) the second most experienced in the event, even if it is only half the number of finishes clocked up by Alan Pilling. It was a personal worst for me and for the first time I ran more than a minute a mile slower than my best ever time. What is more, it was slower than eithe half of my run in London just a few months ago.

But I certainly wasn't trying any the less and wasn't going to let too much people beat me easily. It was fairly obvious that Lloyd Taggart, Martin Malone and Mike Garrett were going to take the top three places and I settled into a race for fourth tracking half marathon debutant Russell Collister with plenty of runners not too far behind.

I thought we were pulling away until Rob Sellors passed us before end of the first lap and left me for dead. I knew as soon as he passed me that he had me beaten and I would imagine he was one of the few to set a personal best. The primary school head teacher must have been slowed by the weather so he clearly has more improvement to come. The prolific racer had not competed since the Western 10 four weeks earlier. Training hard for endurance events and then lightening the load often has a delayed benefit and I think that Rob may have taught himself a lesson.

Oh and by the way, Colin's answer to my cheeky question was: "There will be better weather next year". 56 runners and 44 walkers who made it to the finish yesterday will be pretty pleased if Colin's long range forecast is as accurate as Adrian Cowin's forecast of the doom and gloom that Colin described at the start of the race was. Whilst I can't speak for all of the larger than normal number of non-starters, I think that some of them might be on the start line if he is right!