A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Finish Line

Relatively silently, but with lots of preparation I ran my 4th Half Marathon in Queenstown 2 weekends ago.? It did not go to plan.?

I had the food and the fluids with me, I had followed the training and coaching and I had a plan for the run, which I also followed.? But about 13 kms in my oomph left me.

That isn’t a text book technical running term, more a term for when you ask your body to do something and it says "can we negotiate?". It wasn’t a flat out "NO", no injuries or cramp, just a slower pace than what was required... I lost the negotiation ??.

Instead of coming in with a 5 minute PB, I came in 9 minutes over my PB.? Such is life sometimes.??

When I realised I was not going to get the time I wanted, which then morphed into realising I was going to be way over, I decided to wave at every camera, thank all the Marshalls and supporters and get home without cramp, so I can walk like a normal person the day after.??

Why do this?? Why run a long way?? I guess because it is there.? After my accident in June 2020, I cannot lift heavy weights any longer, so running long distances provides the challenge.??

The time spent on the runs allows for a bit of listening and learning.? Instead of my own thoughts or music I listen to comedy podcasts, science podcasts and Danny Baker podcasts (The Treehouse on Patreon), which are often a bit of both comedy and science, and Amazon reviews of anvils.?

From the end of 2020 through to mid-2022 I wrote a book.? I didn’t start out writing a book.? I started out writing about what happens to me with my depression*.? Even though I had been going for counselling and taking medication for over 18 months I had never explained, even to my counsellor, what happened to me, and when I needed help.? As I wrote more, and I started to call the pieces “chapters”, it became a book.? Chapter 5 is about Danny Baker and how he helped me.? He didn’t know he was helping me, I listened and laughed and it helped.

A few weeks ago I was on the podcast; episode 357 “A lovely leg for the role”.? For those of a comedy history bent will recognise the title as being from a Peter Cook and Dudley Moore sketch.? I talked on the episode about being on the cover of a Wonder Stuff 12 Inch, a visit to a strange shop in Kennesaw and making my own fruit based wine.? Danny expressed a distaste for Quince or Rhubarb wine, preferring his wine to “taste of wine”.??

At the end of the episode I wrote Danny a letter.? I had decided I would send him my book, not for a review or a plug, just to say thank you.? I also found some Wairarapa wine on a UK wine site and sent him two bottles “of wine that tastes like wine”.

Before running my latest half I downloaded 4 episodes of The Treehouse, 365 to 368.? I created a playlist on Spotify and before the run set it to play.? At around 9kms I heard my name mentioned.? Episode 367 “Sit you down Father” included a thank you to me for the wine and a mention for the book.? It made me smile and chuckle.

It wasn’t planned, (I have checked the blurb for the episode and there is no reference to me or wine, or my book).? But with all the many things going on, the reasons for running and the reasons for writing, it was superb timing.? It was a funny thing on the way to the finish line.

This half marathon wasn’t a success when compared to the target.? I am not anywhere near an elite runner, but I know that elite runners have bad runs too.? Maybe I just run slowly, but for a long way… So this one is being chalked up to experience, a stepping stone to the next long run which will be a marathon. After that maybe an NZ Backyard Ultra.

Also I run to raise money for the charity I set up.? The logs in the picture have been bought by the charity and will be firewood for Wairarapa families in Winter 2024.? If you know a family that needs help with heating, ask them to contact the charity, or facilitate a conversation between them and the charity (www.drfx.xyz).? Or if you would like to donate you can find the links on the web site.? Or if you need firewood for Winter 2024, why not buy from DRFX, the money you pay goes directly to helping heat Wairarapa families.?

The book is coming out soon.? Every copy sold will mean a $10 donation to I AM HOPE, an NZ charity that helps young NZers get access to counselling to help with their Mental Health.

If you would like a copy, and I hope you might.? Please let me know and when it is ready to send I will let you know.

*I am conscious that not everyone will know about my depression. Is it risky to declare it on a social media platform? Maybe.? But buy a book anyway and read about what I did to be better and how I changed.? If nothing else you will be donating to a great cause, and you might like me even more ??.? Thank you.