It's Go Time

Hmmm, what should we do today? Oh, I know. Why don’t we run an 8 km race. But first let’s go to Tom n Toms for lattes. Oh, free wireless. Yeah! Angela caught me online and we were Skyping for awhile (texting or instant messaging for you non-Skypers out there). Ahhh, life is good – drinking a latte on the patio in 25 degree weather while blogging and skyping.

Oops, where did the time go? Time to get ready for the race at Paramatta Park. First stop when we got there was the porta loos. Funny story: The porta potties here actually flush, but I couldn’t figure out how to do it. I was contemplating going out and asking someone how to flush, but decided to figure it out myself. Damn tourists! What is that plunger looking thing? A better description would be a stick shift. I decided to make like I was changing gears in my Mazda, and I was never so happy when a toilet flushed.

First thing I did was run into a friend from St. Albert. Sheesh, I have to come all the way here to see my friends!

It’s 2:30 pm and time to toe the line. It was supposed to be a cross country race, but it wasn’t like the river valley in Edmonton. It was more like running three laps on a soccer field. By the middle of the second lap, I was feeling the heat in my face. It is hot here. Yikes, I forgot to put on sunscreen. My time was 44:50 and I don’t know if that is a good time or not because I have never ran a cross-country race before so have nothing to compare it to. I guess it was OK because I’m still standing and I’m on the right side of the grass.

Time to go to Manly, but not before we stop by the hotel to clean up and try to look presentable. Manly Beach is a very trendy area that is accessible by ferry. As I type this I am on the ferry to Manly. I’m here. That was fast, eh! Oh no, I’m speaking Canadian! Here I am in Manly and the first stop was Gelatissimo. If this is gelato heaven, I am there. Cheryl, let’s go here for gelato instead of the place beside MEC. Do you think we’d be able to make it in an hour? I had two flavours because, well, one isn’t enough – caramel truffle and another flavour that tastes like Ferrero Rocher. Walking along the beach, flip flops in hand, watching volleyball, running, surfing and skateboarding, all on the beach. I could definitely get used to the way of life here.

Dinner is at a local hotel and I am having pizza – seafood pizza. A bunch of Kiwis just came to our table. Warren is chatting me up and has invited me to stay at his place next time I’m in New Zealand. Maybe this is my opportunity to stay here (hee hee). Time to head back to catch the last ferry before we are stuck here for the night. But wait, I think I need another couple of scoops of gelato. This time it’s chocolate chip and coffee.

Here are the results from my race today. As you can see from the results, I am not as good of a cross-country runner as a road runner.