Some more running inspiration....

While I lived in Ballarat, I spent my last year as part of a running group, The Tann Clan. I've mentioned this in an earlier post, but I can never underestimate the impact that being a part of it made on me.
Anyway, we even had a monthly newsletter that we could all contribute to, and in one of them this letter was posted anonymously, and to this day we are still unsure who the author is, not that it matters.
What stands out is how it emphasises the need to be accepting of everyone, and this could be applied to our workplaces, other clubs, friendship circles, whatever!
So, have a read, hope you appreciate it too.

And just to show that I had some vague running ability at one stage, I won the coveted 'Lord of The Lake' run just before we left Ballarat.

For those of you who don't know about this, the "Lord/Lady of the Lake" is the annual handicap race around Lake Wendouree in Ballarat, a distance of 6 km, and a mecca for all runners in Ballarat.

A decent trophy was mine to keep for a year, something which I cherished.

BUT... more needs to be added to the story...

About 2-3 months before this race, a few of the blokes who I did some extra running with all developed some groin and stomach problems, most likely from over training. We all went on courses of anti inflammatories, which killed the pain and kept us running, but didn't treat the problems.

After a while it became too much for me, so I got mine looked at. It turned out I had developed a few hernias, which explained why I doubled over in pain every time I sneezed, coughed or tried to sit up. The end result was a week in hospital, and missing the Melbourne Marathon. All my mates were keeping a close eye on my treatment as none of them wanted to stop running, and were waiting to see how long they would be out of action if they followed suit.

Then followed many weeks of recuperation.

However, by late December I was taking tentative steps towards running again, and by the time of the Lord of the Lake run I was ready.

The handicapper really looked after me, as no-one knew how ready I was, which explains the great handicap I was given, and duly saluted!! Winners are grinners!!

The handicapper copped some very direct, but good natured abuse from everyone about the time he gave me, which I will be forever thankful for!

A glance through the other times would have placed me well down the list.

Another memorable part of the run that day was that a great colleague who I was teaching with at Creswick ran 2nd, and it was also the day that we both finished at that school.