Dublin Marathon 2006

seeing as Mr H isn't around I'll do his line where he says "whenever you're feeling lazy remember <insert very small percentage here> of the population have ever run a marathon or are ever likely to... Let us know which one you decide to do. I'll be heading to all the ones that I'm not away for

I've not seen athletics weekly. Will have a lookn ext time I'm in easons

Just to add to the general merryment going on the am:

Real answers given by school children in a history test.

Ancient Egypt was old. It was inhabited by gypsies and mummies who all wrote in hydraulics. They lived in the Sarah Dessert. The climate of the Sarah is such that all the inhabitants have to live elsewhere.

Moses led the Hebrew slaves to the Red Sea where they made unleavened bread, which is bread made without any ingredients. Moses went up on Mount Cyanide to get the ten commandos. He died before he ever reached Canada but the commandos made it.

Solomon had three hundred wives and seven hundred porcupines. He was an actual hysterical figure as well as being in the Bible. It sounds like he was sort of busy too.

The Greeks were a highly sculptured people, and without them we wouldn't have history. The Greeks also had myths. A myth is a young female moth.

Socrates was a famous old Greek teacher who went around giving people advice. They killed him. He later died from an overdose of wedlock which is apparently poisonous. After his death, his career suffered a dramatic decline.

Joan of Arc was burnt to a steak and was canonized by Bernard Shaw for reasons I don't really understand. The English and French still have problems.

Queen Elizabeth was the "Virgin Queen". As a Queen she was a success. When she exposed herself before her troops they all shouted "hurrah!" and that was the end of the fighting for a long while.

It was an age of great inventions and discoveries. Gutenberg invented removable type and the Bible. Another important invention was the circulation of blood. Sir Walter Raleigh is a historical figure because he invented cigarettes and started smoking.

Sir Francis Drake circumcised the world with a 100 foot clipper which was very dangerous to all his men.

The greatest writer of the Renaissance was William Shakespeare. He was born in the year 1564, supposedly on his birthday. He never made much money and is famous only because of his plays. He wrote tragedies, comedies, and hysterectomies, all in Islamic pentameter.

Romeo and Juliet are an example of a heroic couple. They lived in Italy. Romeo's last wish was to be laid by Juliet but her father was having none of that I'm sure. You know how Italian fathers are.

Abraham Lincoln became America's greatest Precedent. Lincoln's mother died in infancy, and he was born in a log cabin which he built with his own hands. Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves by signing the Emasculation Proclamation.

Johann Bach wrote a great many musical compositions and had a large number of children. In between he practiced on an old spinster which he kept up in his attic. Bach died from 1750 to the present. Bach was the most famous composer in the world and so was Handel. Handel was half German, half Italian, and half English. He was very large.

Beethoven wrote music even though he was deaf. He was so deaf that he wrote loud music and became the father of rock and roll. He took long walks in the forest even when everyone was calling for him. Beethoven expired in 1827 and later died for this.

The nineteenth century was a time of a great many thoughts and inventions. People stopped reproducing by hand and started reproducing by machine. The invention of the steamboat caused a network of rivers to spring up.

Louis Pasteur discovered a cure for rabbits but I don't know why.

Charles Darwin was a naturalist. He wrote the Organ of the Species. It was very long and people got upset about it and had trials to see if it was really true. He sort of said God's days were not just 24 hours but without watches who knew anyhow? I don't get it.

Karl Marx was one of the Marx Brothers. The other three were in the movies. Karl made speeches and started revolutions. Someone in the family had to have a job, I guess.

GFB, Have you any interest in tri's? I usually find when I don't feel like running that a swim (in a pool!!) and a spell in the jacuzzi afterwards feels good?


"BUT AW NOT RW"
SJ, 'cuse my igonorance but what's AW? (I feel a Doh moment coming on)

Far too many jokes to read today, so I'll just add to the FLM speculation:

I did NOT donate my money this year, and my cheque has NOT been cashed.

Deduce from this what you will (David Bedford did it in the billiard room with the dagger, etc.)

Hi all,

STILL coughing and cough mixture has brought me out in a itchy rash Ugh! Haven't run since the Marathon.
Whilst at the GP's I enquired about the cost of a Medical Certificate confirming fitness to run in France. Was quoted £45!
I wasn't that keen on running there anyway so will stick to German races where they don't ask for such documents. First Marathon next year January 29th in Elb Tunnel underneath the river in Hamburg. Done it 5 times already. Must start training soon.

Supergirl Pam -

Will you need to borrow Mr Happys head torch for that one or will they do the decent thing and leave the lights on?

Surely it's not all underground?

SJ

SJ

Yes, it's all underground and well lit. Closed to traffic on Sundays and in fact it's 2 tunnels, an up one and a down one. 199 finishers at the last one. There are lifts either end, 2 for pedestrians and 2 for vehicles. During the race, one houses the portaloos and one is a changing room. Great fun!

What next Pam?

Surprised no-one has thought of installing a row of treadmills in the upper deck of a 747 whilst it circles the globe.

Or have they?

SJ

Apparently George Dubbya Bush has a treadmill on Airforce One...he's a nifty runner, or was.

SJ
On 4th August 2002 we (100 Marathon Club) organised a Marathon in the Greenwich foot tunnel under the Thames to celebrate the tunnels 100th birthday. We had 100 runners and the race was won by Hugh Jones (London Marathon winner)
There is also an annual Marathon in a salt mine in Germany although I haven't done it.

Mr Branson is putting 'em on the new A380's

Completely different subject...did you not think the medals were the best medals you've ever seen!!

yep great medals and good t-shirt. Next year I'm going to ask santa for an early stocking full of freebies...

A bit late, but just to add to Jo's "You know you're a runner IF" list:

You know you're a runner (in my case) if you can remember your split times, chip time and bib number, but forget your 4-digit bike combination after you've locked the bike to a metal railing in Battersea...despite having remembered the combination at least four times already on that day.

For those of you following the saga (OK, it was only one post) I went down there today, 5 days later, and took a hammer and chisel to it. It broke in about 10 seconds. Then I unlocked my D-lock with the key and was on my way. Hooray!

P.S. Yes, I loved the Dublin medal
P.P.S. Well done, Chas N-B. Pretty much on target, yeah?

hi gang,

dunno about running dub again next year but can I hang out for a while anyway?

Haven't run since....squash tomorrow just to test the legs...

Pam - sorry you are still sick! It was all that talking - I introduced myself to Pam at around mile3 - and she apologised that she wouldn't be able to chat becuase of her throat infection - hee hee hee ho ho ho.......no wonder that throat is bad - 26 miles and my legs are knackered so no wonder your throat is :-)

Guys -

I'm seriously thinking of investing in a treadmill for winter training to avoid having to brave the elements (cos I'm a great big wuss really).

Any tips from you guys on what to look out for, reputable makes, key features etc?

I haven't used one for nearly two years so I'm not sure what I'm looking for.

All input gratefully received as always.

SJ

Giller -

Course you can. What are you drinking?

Sorry, but we're all out of Venos. Pam has necked the lot.

SJ

Never mind the venos - a large g&t would be nice ta.

SJ - funny bout the treadmill - have just been offered one and am about to go google it -

2 hp Continuous motor
4 LED Windows 8 X 8 Dot Matrix give lap ,speed, distance ,time ,calories Hand Pulse
One Touch Control ( OTC)
14 programmes including HRC plus 1 user
Quick Speed and incline controls/ incline to 15 %
speed 0-18 kph
198 X 83 cm running deck
10 year motor warranty / lifetime frame


1400 euro new - being offered for 1000.