Rest in Peace Nik!

On the 10th of April 2006, our good friend and running companion Nik Kain was tragically killed in a skiing accident. I knew him as a loving and caring husband to Astrid, a doting and energetic father to his two young boys, a reliable and companionable partner to our running club and a good and compasionate friend to Christine and myself. He will be sorely missed by us all.

Our deepest sympathies go to his family, friends and colleagues. Our thoughts have been with Astrid, Martin and Constantine constantly this week.

Nic, god bless you and keep you close to him.

You will be remembered.

Happy Easter!

As we are leaving on a short holiday tomorrow morning, we wanted to wish you all Happy Easter! We hope you have a great weekend in sunny weather!

We are heading south to Trentino (northern Italy). Our orienteering club has a partnership with a club there. Every year either the Italians or us organise a training camp together. Richard is looking forward to orienteering in great terrain and I am looking forward to italian food, cappuccino, walks with Hanna and hopefully some sun!

Have a great day!
Christine

A hard session...

This post is mainly for the athlete's out there :)

I headed to the track today in the pouring rain to do some 1500m intervals, with a 90s break. I wasn't feeling so great but I just wanted to get some more speed work done. After warming up with a 6:15 then 6:10 and 6:05 I was hoping to break the 6 min barrier for the remaining 5. Things were looking up with a 5:56 followed by a 5:54. Then things started to happen - a 5:48 followed by a 5:37 and I finshed off with a 5:24.

So that was the training - not bad, just I can't seem to put it together during a race. After some serious thought I think I might have to give the Salzburg Marathon a skip, the last 4 weeks I have only managed an average of 30 km - not really enough for a marathon - later in the year maybe!

So to all of you running the 2 oceans on the weekend - lots of luck - don't break any legs!
Richard.

First win of 2006

Saturday was the first OL that I have done since last year October, and although this OL was on a different continent, the weather conditions were great (and similar) and the pace was fast (same as then). We had the first Salzburg cup this weekend, which consisted of 10 km of hard running over soggy fields and even soggier (is that a word?) forests. The course was nice, more about running than orienteering, but it was good to get out there and strech my legs for the first time in 2006.

As I'm getting old, I get to run in the Veteran Catagory these days, were the competition is somewhat thinner than in the elite, but we still get to run the same course. So although I get run in my own age group I can compare myself against the other top athletes. I was quite pleasantly surprised actually - only 7 minutes behind Tobias was a good result and he only caught me towards the end of the course. The other guys in my class don't really train so much (excepting for Leo) so I cannot really compare with them and thus it's nice to run elite courses.

So first time out in 2006, first win (100 % ratio) - I bet you that record lasts at least until next weekend, when we have our next event. Naja, one win a year is OK! Last year Michael Schmacher only won once!

I am posting the map here for those of you who would like to see it. I was wearing normal running shoes (not OL shoes) and lost time at control 5 and 6 because it was just too slippery. Additionally I made small mistakes at control 2 and 7. I think the route choice between 4 and 5 could have been better, but other than that I was satisfied! Total distance about 12 km, time 55 min!

So keep well all,
god bless,
Richard.

Just call me Hanna Schumacher

Yes, as you can see, I'm nicely wrapped up in my new woolen Jacket from Aunty Michelle and socks from Granny, and strapped into my 3 point safety system (just like that Schumacher guy that dad keeps talking about) so nothing can happen to me. Mom said though that that's unlike to happen because dad drives soooo slowly these days, apparently not at all like he used to drive :)

Anyway, except for that odd thing that keeps hurting me in the middle (read stomach :ed) I'm doing fine and getting bigger and bigger. Mom is always complaining that I never stop eating, and that she's running empty? I don't understand much, just as long as I get my milk I'm a happy camper!

So I just wanted to thank you all for looking at these photo's of me (what are photo's), I don't know why you'ld want to do something like that, but dad keeps saying something about cute and then flashing something at me and then saying "oh this one is for the blog" - go figure - he's a funny guy!

I better stop banging on dad's keyboard now, if he finds out I've been using his computer he'll be banana's - what are banana's anyway?

Bye,
baby Hanna.

It's a whale...

No, not really - it is just Hanna growing up fast (thank God for keeping her healthy) Yup we went to the Doctor and Hanna is a massive 3150 grams now, that is almost 50 % more than she was at her lightest. That is a huge stone from our heart, we are so glad to see that she is finally picking up some weight and doing well. To that end she has been sucking on Christine's breast like a champion, but as I said before this is causing bad stomach problems.

I would rather have a whale and no sleep, than a beanstalk and lots of sleep! Keep well all,
Love from us!

The speed wobble

Well, Sunday saw me running the Austrian 10 km raod championships. The weather was OK, the course was flat (5m height difference over the whole lap), there was a bit of a cold wind blowing but it wasn't gale force :) All in All - no excuses!

I was planning to run a sub 40 minute time, which I felt was OK bearing the situation. As is usual I started conservately, running the first KM in 3'53 and the second in 3'55. Not bad I thought, lets just try and keep this up! The 3rd and 4th km also went well and where passed in 3'53 and 3'57, so I was running exactly as I planned, just 5 sec a KM faster. KM 5 was s bit faster at 3'53 and km6 and 7 were both around the 3'57 mark. At this stage I was getting ready for the last lap (of 4) and was running with a young lady I know from orienteering.

And then the combined effect of the previous quick Km's hit me, and the speed wobble set in. The fact that I had only slept about 3 hours in 3 days also probably played a small part as well, but be that as it may I slipped over the 4 minute barrier (4'02 to be exact) and then that traitor Arthur (who I had been pulling through) decided to make his move as well - when I was at my weakest - he made a dash for home (with 2 km still to go) - I was finished, washed up, dead as a doornob (add your own expression here)!

The good news was that I could still see Arthur, and we were catching up on Frank and Heidi (i.e. we were going to lap them)! I stuck to my guns, but the legs were gone. The next km slipped passed in 4'08 (can you believe that) and I was into the last KM. Passing Frank helped me as they gave me some support and for a brief 250 m it looked like I was catching Arthur again. Unfortunately, that was the extend of my recovery, and I slumped back, finishing the last KM in 4'04, giving me a time of 39'36 (Arthur ended up with a 39'12)!

Man, I was buggered. Well at least a got my time, but I must admit, I have seldom been ssssoooo physically finished after a race. I guess the lack of sleep hits you harder than you think, but I'll keep at it and see what the Salzburg Marathon (or half) brings.

So until next time!

Calm before the storm

Looking at this picture (taken last night at 11 pm) you think what a cute, sweet, lovely baby - which of course - she is! Man can she scream though. The last few days have been bad tummy days, which means lots of complaining and in baby speak that means "screaming your head off". So last night we got little to no sleep :( but I'm getting used to it now and I can almost hear past it. Certainly I didn't hear her last night in the beginning - it was only when Christine got up that I woke up, but once awake, there was little or no sleep to be had for the rest of the night!

I hope you are all sleeping OK :)