luckycanuck: (half marathon)
Yesterday I was up at 3:30am and was out the door at 4:00am.

I ran/walked through Ainslie, past the War Memorial, past the airport, then all the way up Majura Rd going behind Mt Ainslie and Mt Majura before going the long way up to Gungahlin and making my first stop after 25km at the home of Coffee Snob who plied me with tea and some cakes and a banana. Man I was hungry.

Then I ran back home, which was another 8km. After putting some laundry on and refilling my water bottle, I decided I wasn't done yet and ran down to the gym for a bit of a workout involving kettlebells and pushups and pullups.

I decided once more that I wasn't done yet, so I ran down to the lake and along the path to the spot where the 12 hour race will be based to check out the facilities. There is a toilet block and a public BBQ with a tap with running water.

Then I finally decided it was time to make my way home. I happened to come across a runner who lives on my street while I was on Commonwealth Avenue and we ran back to Downer together, and it was good to have someone with me to ensure I ran the whole way back instead of walking. By the time I got home, I had covered a total 50km, and about 90% of it was done while running. At the end, I still felt as though I could keep running.

I ran a marathon at the age of 17 two weeks after finishing high school, but have never done that distance since. Today I did, and then I did more. I have never gone 50km in one day, and though it wasn't all done in one session (I hadn't planned on going that far and I can't carry enough supplies with me and still be able to run rather than walking) I felt it was the best training day for the 12 hour run I have had. There were no problems with my ankles or knees or feet and my legs felt pretty good the whole way.

There will be more runs, but this is the last really long run I think. Your body really does get used to doing long runs, and now I would rather ensure I am entirely recovered before the race.

In the process I reckon I burned enough energy to be the equivalent of nearly two days of eating, and I have been doing a lot of that since.
luckycanuck: (SPARTA!!!!!!!!)


A few work issues aside, today I was more or less consumed by a desire to get justice from Qantas and American Airlines for the frequent flyer points and status credits they have refused to give me.

I just sent the following e-mail to American Airlines explaining the situaiton in what I think is calm and measured language.

 

Click to see Luckycanuck get diplomatic )



I think I struck the right note.

Additionally, I suspect that I am not likely to earn 300 status credits to put me into the Gold level with Qantas by the end of February given that some work travel has been delayed until after that time.  Flying to Mildura this weekend for the Victorian election would give me some, but not enough, and I would find myself taking flights I didn't need to take and gratuitously spending money just to chase something that is nice but not a necessity.

Luckily, sometimes Qantas offers double status credits in the late stages of the frequent flyer year to people who look like they might come up short in an effort to convince them to fly.  If I am offered this, it's a whole new ball game.

Listen Qantas, I'm not willing to chase Gold status in itself.  It was always stupid to take flights I wouldn't otherwise take and it's just taken a little while to remind myself of this fact.  But I do fly a lot and I will continue to fly a lot, so if you are willing to give me a hand, I am willing to take it.

Of course, if you're not, or if you want to continue to shaft me over my missing frequent flyer points in America or the ones you refused to grant me last year when I flew to Papua New Guinea, then you can get stuffed.

Oh I can be stubborn when I feel like I've been wronged.

The Cricket has started again with Peter Siddle taking a hat trick on his birthday in the first Ashes Test against the Poms at the Gabba.  (Extra points to anyone who understands what that sentence means.)

We're off to dinner courtesy of W and his wife for Christmas in a little bit.


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luckycanuck

June 2012

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