Chapter 95: photos of city to casino

Chapter 94: city to casino

The clouds tell me that the 11 kay is cancelled and people have been given an alternative. Run the 7 kays.   There will be more people at Cornelian Bay. And there are. We see people everywhere.  People stretching, hopping and running on the spot. Groups jumping or jogging as they talk.  Plenty of pent-up energy.

How much water will I need? Too late to change anything.

The road is covered with runners. I leave my wife and edge up the road. As close as possible to the front without pushing and without being surrounded by elite runners. I speak to a few runners. They had entered the 11 kay run. They are happy with the way the race has adapted and changed to cope with the road conditions.   

It is a warm cold. No frost or wind or showers but this is Tasmania. Cold air is part of our life down here. I wear a jumper unlike many of the people around me. The jumper is because I am training for a race on the Gold Coast. Hopefully I will sweat.

Everybody is united by wearing different clothes. Skin tight lycra; loose fitting baggy pants; track suits; jumpers; singlets or shirts asking to be read. Shirts telling me where they have run in the past, which club they run for or what product I should buy. Shirts saying Tasmanian Road Runners or Solemates surround me. I look for my team. Tasmanian Masters Athletes.

We huddle united on the road. Occasionally peering forwards.

Suddenly some runners start running. The running contagion spreads back and finally reaches us. We hesitate, just to be sure, and then start to run. We are careful and completely aware of all our surrounding runners. We don’t want any collisions. After a time of shuffling, weaving, and walking we stuttering across the start line.  Because of the extra runners the road is very crowded.

The angel sitting on my shoulder says, “These people are slowing you down. You would run quicker without so many people around you.”

On my other shoulder another angel says, “Celebrate the fact so many people are here. Celebrate these people getting out of bed and doing something good. Celebrate the crowded road.”

I side with the angel praising the crowd. It is a beautiful, rumbustious, well-behaved crowd full of happy people.

 Some people passing the start line reach for their watches and push a button.

On my right people flash past me. I don’t see them coming and they fly past rapidly merging into the running peloton. Shall I settle down into safe, comfortable running or attempt to overtake people?

After the start line we head up the hill towards the Domain. We are going through a very familiar spot which today feels completely different. The centipede of legs changes the Botanical gardens, Government house and the old Beaumaris zoo site. They somehow look and feel different.

The running peloton is quiet. Very little talking. I can hear feet smacking the ground. I can hear breathing.  Running styles vary. Some are jerky. Some are smooth. Some pump their arms furiously. Some rest their arms and make enormous strides.

I watch the people in front of me. Are they struggling or cruising?  Will I pass them and finish ahead of them or will they disappear towards the front of the field?

My style is modeled on a drunken camel. I must make my strides as smooth as possible.  And as big as possible. That’s the biggest I can do. Perhaps I can increase my takeoff.

I watch the soles of the feet immediately in front of me. I then look up at their shirts and shorts.  I must try and get past them. Pump arms. Pump arms more. Faster. I look ahead down the path. Is it clear to make a move. I will go for it. I give up. I can’t make it. I settle back. Maybe later if I hang in there. 

Past the start of Soldiers memorial avenue. This is what these men were fighting for. The right of the local community to do things like this. To freely gather and play.    

I hear footsteps approaching me from behind. They sound like they will overtake me. I must try and prevent that. Legs please go faster. Faster. Move quicker. Quicker and quicker. Quick as possible. That’s the quickest I can do. Past me run faster legs. Can I stay with them? They will drag me over the line.  

I swing my arms as rhythmical as possible. Must keep the rhythm going. Keep it going. I breathe deeply. Swing my arms and stride big. A sticky sensation tells me good news. Sweat. I am sweating. Sweat fills my eyebrows. I wipe it away to stop it dripping into my eyes.  My shirt sticks. That’s more good news. I love sweat.

The finish is an air-filled blown up gate. It tempt us and beckons us to sprint to the finish. We run through the sponsor’s message and are inaudibly scanned.  The gate takes our time and will tell us later. 

I stop running and lean on my knees breathing deeply. I look around. Where can I get a drink of water? I see a trestle table laden with bottled water. Beside that is a table with fruit. I help myself.

I look for my grandson and daughter. My grandson says, “Can I put your medal around my neck.”

“Of course you can.”

He proudly parades around wearing the medal. I ponder. Should I tell him the medal is not for coming first? He should have seen that I was in the middle of an alphabet soup of runners. I was not winning. But anybody who finishes is a winner. And deserves a medal. That’s me.

I now turn around and watch the runners finishing. I applaud all of them. They have all done something good. All of these runners and walkers have made Hobart a better place.

Chapter 93 : Should I retire?

Bob said, “You haven’t helped me. Should I retire? Should I enjoy retirement or dread it?”

Bob I will try and answer your questions. To retire successfully there are four things you need. We can argue later, over a beer, about that dogmatic statement but I’m writing this. 

First thing you need is money. You need enough money to do what you want to do. You’ve worked for the government for about 40 years. It’s too late for you to accumulate money. If you don’t have enough money now you never will have. Do what I do. Make your aims and plans fit the money available. Don’t try and make your money fit your plans. 

You have got enough money to spend time in the garden growing vegetables. I can’t tell you what to grow. I can’t tell you the disadvantages and disadvantages of kale, broadbeans or cauliflower.  My wife and I have been there. Initially we argued; then we discussed and finally we reached consensus.

Second thing you need is good health. Bob at the moment you are pretty healthy. You may be suddenly hit by an unexpected malady. I can’t tell you how to avoid a sudden medical disaster.  All I can do is tell you to try and maintain your present health indefinitely and wish you a quick recovery and successful rehabilitation if you are hit by the sick stick.

Third thing you need is a good social network. You need people to talk to. Other than me. Somebody to talk to about what was written in The Mercury.  About where the Bulldogs are heading. About the latest film you saw at The State.

Bob, I know you and when working you seemed to have a strong and deep social network. During your whole working life your social network evolved and changed. People left and others entered. Well entering retirement land the changes will be sudden and more numerous. Some of the changes, like avoiding the man trying to sell you another phone plan, will be welcomed. Some of the changes are unavoidable and precipitate sadness.

Your social network should include people who say, “That’s a really dumb idea.”

I have managed to hear such words. Unlike some retired professional sports people I live with people who know and care enough about me to tell me the truth.

When somebody recently asked me where I worked I was initially pleased and upbeat to be thought of as a worker and then ashamed and embarrassed to admit, “I don’t work.”

This is where my social network judged it was time I heard the truth with comments such as, “Nobody could possibly think that you work.”

This is where I say to Bob. Don’t ape me. When you retire be proud of yourself and what you do.

Number four is a reason for getting out of bed. You need something to do. You need an aim or goal. It may be turning your hobby (music) into a small money-making business.  Busking. It may be turning some of your interests (music) into non-paid volunteer work. Busking. Unfortunately in your case it won’t be looking after grandchildren.  It is defiantly the way I spend part of my time–pretending I am looking after my grandchildren– and I know there are people who spend all their time with their progeny. 

Perhaps you can aim to improve your backhand. I know when I partner you it worries me. When I play against you I go for it. I see it as your weakness. Now that you are retired you have got no excuses. Your backhand should become good.

Bob I realise I haven’t told you whether or not or when you should retire. I can’t.  But I can say don’t look forward to retirement as nirvana. Don’t spend your working life complaining about your job and saying, “I hate this. One day I will retire and no longer have to put up with this nonsense.”

Enjoy your work. Don’t delay pleasure until you retire.  

Your life in retirement land will not be dramatically different to your working life. It’s a different stage of life. It is not a dramatically different country.  When you migrate from working land to retirement land you take a lot of luggage with you. Some of the luggage, like old friends, is welcome and appreciated. Some of the luggage, like some of your old friends, you should have left behind but you had no choice about that. That’s life.

Bob I can’t say if you should retire.  You are still capable of working successfully. You could go on for a couple more years. However now may be a good time to retire. You are fit and healthy.  It may help you adjust and settle into retirement land.

Bob enjoy your retirement –whenever it comes– as much as your working life. Enjoy them both. Go for a pair.