A running commentary on school life at a school in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney.
Saturday, May 08, 2004
Cross Country
As Elle said Cross Country was held yesterday. Once again I decided to leave the crowd of bludgers and run through the bush surrounding the school for forty minutes, thinking less and having a bit of fun.
I'd woken up in the morning, and looked outside. Seeing clouds and grey skys I had decided to not bother with putting my sports shorts on under my pants, as it looked like it was freezing outside, and I hadn't had any intention to run. My choice of clothing apparel appeared to be suitable until my legs started to burn as I walked down to Henson, our schools playing fields, after a rather dull "workshop" on the content of our future school song.
It is strange really that although our school has been around for 25 years we've never had a song, but by the sound of things in that little meeting, personally, I'd rather it stayed that way. I was feeling particularly cynical for the duration of the excercise, and had witty comebacks and rebuttals to every suggestion and statement about "our school environment", and the work of St. Columba, (who I found out was a plaguarising royal warmongerer who fled his country after starting a massive tribal conflict). Basically it sounds like we're going to have lyrics talking about the environment (I didn't say anything about the administration having cleared 20 metres into the bush for the entire surroundings of the school), having "wonderful teachers", and a school were we all feal each others pain when something bad happens (oh yes, we print something in the newsletter, how touching)
Back to the cross country. In the process of deciding whether to run I found out that Greg had a pair of shorts, and that seeing as his foot is buggered he wouldn't be running. So, as I was able to wear Greg's shorts if I did indeed (preceding word added for the benefit of all on this blog who go by the name of Elle and/or Smurf) decide to participate in the 4 km mass run / jog / walk.
It was then a matter of waiting for the call toarms the marshalling area.
As I was one of the only people in our group who was listening to the often agonising commentry of one Mr. (checks yearbook related material for the name of this particular teacher which he (me, James) often forgets Note: for those of you reading who have an interest in Yearbook related proceeding, there is due to be an announcement at Tuesdays year assembly. As I have been removed from decisions regarding the yearbook since it was hijacked last year, I really have no idea what it's going to be.) Griffiths, I heard the Year 11 novelty events were on, and, grabbing Nathanael, went up to join in. After tying one of our legs to the others opposite leg, and devising our strategy, we lined up, spread out a bit to give us a bit more room (a feat in itself), and were ready for our first event, the Three-Legged race.
Mr. Dennis, our starter today is ready. He Gives the signal for participants to approach the mark, And their off. Tanya and Sheree stumble after one step, Ashley (Brown) and Bec take an early lead, Jon and Kyle (Macintyre), coming in second, Kyle (Browne) and Greg with Nathanael and James tying for third. They reach the end of the track, turn around, Jon and Kyle lose some ground, Kyle and Greg take second, James and Nath coming in Third, Jon and Kyle recover, take third again, Nath and James put on speed, It's going to be a close one, and it's Ashley and Bec first by a length, Kyle and Greg second, and James and Nath third, by a nose (mine no doubt).
First three go through to the finals, right after the next heat. Me and Nath get third in the Finals and are awarded with a Strawberry Stick each. WHOOOO!!.
Monica and Michaela had been in the second heat, so Nath paired up with Monica for the first heat of Piggy Back races. Not much chance of Michaela and Me. So I went over to the sidelines to get someone to be on my back. Amy was game, and we ended up getting third. It was a bit rough as we were slowing down to turn around, and we almost ran into someone else, but we got third, again just beating someone at the line.
In the finals we were tied third or maybe second, but the call came over for 17 years to the marshalling area.
After standing on the grass above the marshalling area (bottom basketball court) and then sitting in the area being marshalled for what seemed like 10 minutes, we bunched up at the start and began, I was going to try to keep up with Nath, but by the first 30 metres it was clear that he was a bit more serious than I was. So I ran with Amy for a bit. Down past the Food Tech, then the Maths rooms, followed by the Science block. Out through the Bus Bay, across the staff car park, and down the track underneath the power lines. Over the log at the end of the track and turning right, along the north side of the Grotto. Into the bush at the station being attended by 佐籐先生 (Mrs. Sato) and ターナ先生(Mrs. Turner), both very happy to see two Japanese students participating.
Somewhere along the track here the adrenalin ran out. And I decided to slow down a bit, I wasn't in it to win it, so I fell in with Miki. By the time we got back out of the bush and onto Henson, Miki had pulled ahead and I was running with none other than Jonathan and Bec. I rarely run so I usually don't do it properly when I do, running for a bit, then slowing down for a bit, which I really shouldn't have done. Somewhere near the hill up from the Colloseum I lost those two, but caught up with Christian, from the SRC, and two girls he was running with, Jo Appleton and a girl where there for a while too but they fell behind.
Towards the end coming up the track, was not really the hardest, but it was the section in which I was thinking that I didn't really want to be doing it anymore. Just before getting onto Henson again, we starting running again (most people do, unless they really can't be or they really are stuffed). On the home straight I decided I'd give Christian a run for his money, but he was up for a challenge, and I didn't bother, when he shot off.
It was pretty good overall. I came 17th out of maybe 40 people, which is pretty good considering I walked a bit.
Coming back to my bag I discovered that the drink bottle Amy had lent to me was gone. I wasn't sure if I'd put it in my bag or not, but seeing as I had also lost another bottle (mine) I was pretty pissed off (I really needed a drink). I ended up borrowing a bottle from a friend's brother.
If someone was going into bags and pinching drink bottles as some kind of prank: I AM GOING TO TRACK YOU DOWN AND CHASE YOU AROUND THE CROSS COUNTRY TRACK AND THEN NOT LET YOU HAVE ANY WATER. Nah, just kidding, just thought it was stupid.
Overall It was good. I'd rather run than sit around for an hour doing nothing anytime.
As Elle said Cross Country was held yesterday. Once again I decided to leave the crowd of bludgers and run through the bush surrounding the school for forty minutes, thinking less and having a bit of fun.
I'd woken up in the morning, and looked outside. Seeing clouds and grey skys I had decided to not bother with putting my sports shorts on under my pants, as it looked like it was freezing outside, and I hadn't had any intention to run. My choice of clothing apparel appeared to be suitable until my legs started to burn as I walked down to Henson, our schools playing fields, after a rather dull "workshop" on the content of our future school song.
It is strange really that although our school has been around for 25 years we've never had a song, but by the sound of things in that little meeting, personally, I'd rather it stayed that way. I was feeling particularly cynical for the duration of the excercise, and had witty comebacks and rebuttals to every suggestion and statement about "our school environment", and the work of St. Columba, (who I found out was a plaguarising royal warmongerer who fled his country after starting a massive tribal conflict). Basically it sounds like we're going to have lyrics talking about the environment (I didn't say anything about the administration having cleared 20 metres into the bush for the entire surroundings of the school), having "wonderful teachers", and a school were we all feal each others pain when something bad happens (oh yes, we print something in the newsletter, how touching)
Back to the cross country. In the process of deciding whether to run I found out that Greg had a pair of shorts, and that seeing as his foot is buggered he wouldn't be running. So, as I was able to wear Greg's shorts if I did indeed (preceding word added for the benefit of all on this blog who go by the name of Elle and/or Smurf) decide to participate in the 4 km mass run / jog / walk.
It was then a matter of waiting for the call to
As I was one of the only people in our group who was listening to the often agonising commentry of one Mr. (checks yearbook related material for the name of this particular teacher which he (me, James) often forgets Note: for those of you reading who have an interest in Yearbook related proceeding, there is due to be an announcement at Tuesdays year assembly. As I have been removed from decisions regarding the yearbook since it was hijacked last year, I really have no idea what it's going to be.) Griffiths, I heard the Year 11 novelty events were on, and, grabbing Nathanael, went up to join in. After tying one of our legs to the others opposite leg, and devising our strategy, we lined up, spread out a bit to give us a bit more room (a feat in itself), and were ready for our first event, the Three-Legged race.
Mr. Dennis, our starter today is ready. He Gives the signal for participants to approach the mark, And their off. Tanya and Sheree stumble after one step, Ashley (Brown) and Bec take an early lead, Jon and Kyle (Macintyre), coming in second, Kyle (Browne) and Greg with Nathanael and James tying for third. They reach the end of the track, turn around, Jon and Kyle lose some ground, Kyle and Greg take second, James and Nath coming in Third, Jon and Kyle recover, take third again, Nath and James put on speed, It's going to be a close one, and it's Ashley and Bec first by a length, Kyle and Greg second, and James and Nath third, by a nose (mine no doubt).
First three go through to the finals, right after the next heat. Me and Nath get third in the Finals and are awarded with a Strawberry Stick each. WHOOOO!!.
Monica and Michaela had been in the second heat, so Nath paired up with Monica for the first heat of Piggy Back races. Not much chance of Michaela and Me. So I went over to the sidelines to get someone to be on my back. Amy was game, and we ended up getting third. It was a bit rough as we were slowing down to turn around, and we almost ran into someone else, but we got third, again just beating someone at the line.
In the finals we were tied third or maybe second, but the call came over for 17 years to the marshalling area.
After standing on the grass above the marshalling area (bottom basketball court) and then sitting in the area being marshalled for what seemed like 10 minutes, we bunched up at the start and began, I was going to try to keep up with Nath, but by the first 30 metres it was clear that he was a bit more serious than I was. So I ran with Amy for a bit. Down past the Food Tech, then the Maths rooms, followed by the Science block. Out through the Bus Bay, across the staff car park, and down the track underneath the power lines. Over the log at the end of the track and turning right, along the north side of the Grotto. Into the bush at the station being attended by 佐籐先生 (Mrs. Sato) and ターナ先生(Mrs. Turner), both very happy to see two Japanese students participating.
Somewhere along the track here the adrenalin ran out. And I decided to slow down a bit, I wasn't in it to win it, so I fell in with Miki. By the time we got back out of the bush and onto Henson, Miki had pulled ahead and I was running with none other than Jonathan and Bec. I rarely run so I usually don't do it properly when I do, running for a bit, then slowing down for a bit, which I really shouldn't have done. Somewhere near the hill up from the Colloseum I lost those two, but caught up with Christian, from the SRC, and two girls he was running with, Jo Appleton and a girl where there for a while too but they fell behind.
Towards the end coming up the track, was not really the hardest, but it was the section in which I was thinking that I didn't really want to be doing it anymore. Just before getting onto Henson again, we starting running again (most people do, unless they really can't be or they really are stuffed). On the home straight I decided I'd give Christian a run for his money, but he was up for a challenge, and I didn't bother, when he shot off.
It was pretty good overall. I came 17th out of maybe 40 people, which is pretty good considering I walked a bit.
Coming back to my bag I discovered that the drink bottle Amy had lent to me was gone. I wasn't sure if I'd put it in my bag or not, but seeing as I had also lost another bottle (mine) I was pretty pissed off (I really needed a drink). I ended up borrowing a bottle from a friend's brother.
If someone was going into bags and pinching drink bottles as some kind of prank: I AM GOING TO TRACK YOU DOWN AND CHASE YOU AROUND THE CROSS COUNTRY TRACK AND THEN NOT LET YOU HAVE ANY WATER. Nah, just kidding, just thought it was stupid.
Overall It was good. I'd rather run than sit around for an hour doing nothing anytime.
1 Comments:
You should have wagged it like me. Saves all the uneeded exercise.
Benita | 04.05.08 - 5:34 pm | #
.: posted by :
Anonymous @ 10:13 am :.
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