September 30,2006 Weston,Connecticut

Running

Missed out doing that 5k race at Danbury in August. My right achillies flared up again 2 days before the race. I made a couple of mistakes that were instrumental in having injury problems again. Doing 3 track session in 6 days on a tartan track. It was too tempting having this track 1.5miles within where we were staying. Also continuing to train in an old pair of racing flats that offered little cushioning. Over enthusiasm and not having enouhg rest days. I have not had a run on grass or trails with the exception of our stay in Vermont. I had 5 days off running and with plenty of icing started back again in Cape Cod and after 1 speed sessions sore achillies. I tried to run 5 days in a row and my achillies got sore again. So I had 7 days off and did heaps of icing. This time when I started back I ran very conservatively and ran with Amy at a 5m45s k pace. I have had about 10 days of running by myself and have built up to 5.75mls in about 41mins. I must have been back running for 2.5 weeks but have not done any speedwork. I have not been game. My plan is to start skipping again and take a visit to the physio when I get back and not try a speed session till I've seen the phsio. I'm looking forward to running again softer surface again in the confines of Centennial Park.
The most pleasing aspect about the trip from a running point of view has been that Amy has been running at least 5 days a week. Her improvement has been astonishing she started runing a 3.3k course in 23.20 and now is doing 5k course in 26.50 and has lost 10 lbs. It has been great running with her again as we used to do in our pre Kieran days. I think it was a great thing for our relationship. I used to run with Amy in the mornings and then do my run in the afternoon. It would be great when we could do this again.

Life
Well our holiday is coming to a close with only 2 days to go before our trip home .We are now back in Weston Connecticut. We have been to Cape Cod camping with some of Amy's friends who had 3 kids and were very nice people. Camping wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be as Amy was so orgainised. Kieran struggled a bit though . He was talking about going home to Australia and seeing the animals. The big plus was that Amy caught a fish on his new fishing line and he claimed the catch. He was very excted. We then spent 3 weeks in Orlando with Amy's eldest sister Susan and her family. It was hot and humid in Orlando. Nearly every afternoon it rained. It was a very quiet household and neighbourhood compared to what we have come across on our travels. The 2 kids are very scholastically minded and would hit the books or play on the computer. They never exercize and the parents take naps in the middle of the day. Our hosts could not have been more accomodating though . John the husband took us Disneyworld twice and to Gatorland and took Amy and myself to Sanibel for an evening away from Kieran for our first night away from Kieran. Susan looked after the little man while we had the night away. Kieran adored Tom their 14yo boy he really looked up to him. I caught up with a friend Steve who lives in Ponte Vedra near Jacksonville. I had not seen him in 10 years . He is a bit of a sportsnut fan like myself and a keen Red Sox fan. His wife Sheila is lovely and was doing a triathlon in Orlando while I was there. There son Henry was hard work a bit of a whiner. Steve was very kind to drive me back to Orlando . I was unsure whether to go as it was my first night away from Kieran. I met Steve in the early 90's when lives in Sydney for 3 years. I spotted my first alligator in captivity. He doesn't run much anymore due to injury . He know is becoming fantical about golf. Kieran has ben tricky at times but he has enjoyed having other kids around and his verbal skills are picking. He certainly is an energetic kid who loves his sport. We had a trip into NY and went into Central Park Zoo. We caught the trip in by train from Westport and had a good day. We went to this great toy store and spoke to to 2 Aussie guys working in a RM Williams store. It was the first Aussies we have spoke to on our trip and it sounded wierd. I look forward to getting home as a little sick of living with other people and living out of a suitcase. I would really like to start working again. I don't think I can say the same about Amy as she is straight back into a 8 day straight working block and will miss her family.
I'm very excited about Newtown playing in the Premier League grandfinal it is a pity I will miss it but at least a mate is taping it for me. I heard the AFL grandfinal was a ripper. I'm looking forward to seeing some cricket on my return. A lot has happened since we left with the untimely deaths of Steve Irwin and Peter Brock. The falling petrol prices will be a big relief.
A few observations on American . Such a high road toll 43,000 a year. The amount commercials on TV . People in suburban New Jersey were very nice as opposed to Orlando. Car drivers give you plenty of room when on the road when you are out running.
Till next time.