the best laid plans

The workout started early today. As if wandering around with the little lady on my back isn't enough we managed to walk past a pigeon sitting in a shop doorway. The dogs, predictably enough, were keen to catch the pigeon (catch the pigeon, catch the pigeon...) although they eventually calmed down (read for that I dragged them away.) The rest of the walk was relatively incident free. Oh, hang, on, not it wasn't. Carrying on the avian theme we stumbled upon a scrub turkey which, predictably enough, the dogs were keen to catch (catch the turkey, catch the...no, that doesn't work.) The turkey, not being backed into a corner, sauntered away. Rowlf, quite good in these situation wandered away with me while Rumpole took a wee bit of dragging. Cocker Spaniels are, I believe, bred to go after cockerels, so I'll forgive him a bit.

Shoulders done it was time to get running. Sal took over parenting duties and I got ready to run to work. I had considered going through to Chatswood and clocking up 10-12km but ditched that idea in favour of a slightly-quicker-than-normal run form home. My ankles were feeling a little odd - nothing serious, still a slight ache in the right from where Rowlf had clattered me at the weekend - hence the short course. I managed to get to the top of the rise above the freeway, which is the main climb, feeling pretty good. The mainly downhill to the Bridge was pretty cruisey.

I had no intention of nailing the Bridge and was composing this blog entry in my mind to that effect when I spotted a guy a couple of hundred yards ahead of me. Should I? No. No, keep the pace up a bit but no silliness. Ah sod it, I picked the pace up a bit, passed the two other runners he'd passed and caught him with about a hundred yards to go. I didn't fly past, so he could have had a dig at me but didn't. Bridge done in 5.40, which isn't too bad as my best is 5.17 (I think.)

Observatory Hill was a slog after that, but over the top and I recovered on the downhill to the office for a time of about 33mins, which was enough to work up the kind of sweat that probably should get me banned form the office for an hour or so. Glad I'm me and not experiencing me.

The work day was fairly ordinary and over pretty soon. Well it was for me; work Christmas lunch went on a bit and left me barely enough time to get back to the office and pack up to leave for Chatswood and Santa. I got to Santa at the same time as Sal and AJ, just as little 'un lost the plot and refused to go anywhere near the big bloke in red. No amount of bribery would change that. AJ happy that we walked away from Santa, Sal a little disappointed. Pretty sure she took AJ along as a stooge for her own Santa pic. Maybe tomorrow, maybe next year.