Chariots of Fire

Without a doubt, Chariots of Fire is my favorite film of all time.  The fact that I saw it the night before my first ever track meet has been one of the best coincidences of my life.  Not only is it about two of England's most successful and inspirational athletes, it also touches upon some of my family's biggest influences.  From its opening scene, the film held me captive with its wonderful storytelling and compelling soundtrack.  I have watched it so many times I know nearly every line by heart and that enabled me to really enjoy the stage adaption that is currently playing at the Gielgud Theatre in London.  It is difficult to describe how the running scenes come to life on stage, but the audience is truly in the midst of all the action.  The timing of this production fit so well into my Olympic experience, and I'm not afraid to admit that I had tears in my eyes during the final scene in which Vangelis' famous theme blasts out as the cast takes its curtain call wearing the 2012 Team GB uniform.

The stage rotated in a complete circle. 

A figure eight track also ran around the audience.

Eastbourne & Brighton

The southeast coast of England, from the White Cliffs of Dover all the way to Land's End,  has been a family favorite for generations.  The fact that my parents met at its mid-point in Southampton is probably fitting.  This week, I returned to Eastbourne and Brighton for a final glimpse of the seaside.

Sea mist at Beachy Head

Skies have cleared at Beachy Head and Eastbourne.

The seaside town of Eastbourne 

The famous Brighton Pier

Punch & Judy has entertained since 1662.

And some modern day entertainment . . .

  

Father's Footsteps

Yesterday, I travelled to Rochester in much the same way as my father did in the 1950's.  The train took me through his hometown of Snodland and stopped at Strood, where I walked across the bridge into Rochester.  King's School Rochester was founded in 604.  Yes, it's over 1400 years old!  Next to the school is a medieval castle and next to that I had a drink in a pub in which my father drank his very first pint in 1956.  Of course, the pub was built in the 12th Century, so it's been around awhile.
From Rochester, I walked to the next town of Chatham and climbed up the hill to the Naval War Memorial that was featured in the Michael Caine film, Last Orders.  The term 'Last Orders' has a double meaning.  It's the British term for 'Last Call' in the bar, as well as a dying man's final request.  I highly recommend this film which also stars Helen Mirren and Bob Hoskins.

The cathedral at King's School Rochester

Medieval castle in Rochester

Naval War Memorial in Chatham

Toasting my father's school 

Day In The Country

A typical day in the country with my aunt:  First a nice lunch in a pub once visited by Charles II in 1651, while fleeing Oliver Cromwell.  This was followed by a short drive to a small town festival/carnival, which was preceded by the smallest parade I've ever seen.  Finally,we returned home for a village cricket match just down the road.  Definitely an itinerary not available in the USA.

The George and Dragon in Houghton, Sussex

Cozy nook inside pub

Don't get the Mexican-hatted locals leading the parade

Parade led to this carnival in a field

Village cricket on the green

Heavyweight batsman

Sussex Bound

This week, I'm spending a few days in Sussex with my parents, who are staying with my aunt.  Today, we hiked along the ridge of the South Downs, hunting for wild blackberries.  Following a delicious pub lunch, we headed down to the coast for another stroll along the seaside.  The weather cooperated and it was a fantastic final day for my parents who will return home tomorrow.    credit my aunt for most of today's pictures.

Taking a break up on the South Downs

Fresh blackberries never tasted so good.

Taking a break down at the seaside

First into the English Channel at Rustington

Doing our Chariots of Fire impression

Marathon

The Olympic Marathon is traditionally held on the final day of the Games and so I again travelled up to London to watch this amazing event.  This course consisted of three and a half big loops around the city and so I was able to move around to the 1, 3, 8, 12, 15, and 21 mile marks throughout the morning.  I eventually settled in a pub overrun with Canadians where we would watch on television and then all rush outside to see them run by.  Great fun!  

Approaching the one mile mark

Rounding the bend & along the Embankment

The leaders on the television . . .

. . . and outside the front door of the pub

Golden Wedding Anniversary

Olympic celebrations took pause on Saturday, August 11, 2012 to celebrate the Golden Wedding Anniversary of my wonderful parents.  Friends and family gathered in Tunbridge Wells for feast and fun and a good time was had by all.  Earlier in the month, my parents spent a few days in Somerset, visiting friends, family, and the church in which they were married 50 years ago.  Many thanks go out to everyone who participated, but especially to my cousin Susan for hosting the party and creating the majority of the delicious food and exotic desserts.  Obviously, I wasn't around for the original wedding, but we celebrated their Silver Anniversary in Australia and now Gold in London.  Timing is everything!

The royal couple with the fake Crown Jewels

An eclectic feast

Homemade lemon meringue pie

Watching the Olympics after the party

4x1

I have to admit I was a little concerned that Team USA was going to switch out some women from a semi-final team that had near-perfect exchanges and the fourth fastest time ever, but the changes paid off and after 27 years, the Americans finally erased the dirty East German team from the record book.

 

Michelle, Sara, Momo, Johnna, and the rest of the girls, if you are reading this, remember how much fun you had running on that 4x100.  Bulldogs Rule!

U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A

Across the board, a great day for the Americans!  Many medals in many sports, but a new hero in track & field is born.  The man broke his leg halfway around the track in the qualifying round of the 4x400, but didn't want to let his teammates or his country down, so he finished the race.  Amazing inspiration!

"As soon as I took the first step past the 200m mark I felt it break.  I heard it.  I even put out a little war cry, but the crowd was so loud you couldn't hear it.  I wanted to just lie down.  It felt like somebody literally just snapped my leg in half." Mitchell said.  "I knew if I finished strong we could still get it (the baton) around.  I saw Josh Mance motioning me in for me to hand it off to him, which lifted me.  I didn't want to let those three guys down, or the team down, so I just ran on it.  It hurt so bad.  I'm pretty amazed that I still split 45 seconds on a broken leg."

Don't want to spoil anything for those of you watching on tape delay, but just have to say that you don't want to miss tonight.  The Women's 4x100 semi-finals and the Men's 200 final are awesome, but the Men's 800 final is possibly the best race I've ever seen.  Don't miss it!

Finally, taking a page from the NBC book of How to Piss People Off, the BBC coverage ended after the 200 and I had to watch the Decathlon 1500 on a computer that buffered every eleven seconds.  Arghhh!

Interesting People

During a break, Al Roker wandered over and shook my hand.

Everyone follows the Olympics, not matter what the language.

Swimmer Tyler Clary

Two interesting observations I made while Tyler Clary was being interviewed in Olympic Park after his victory in the 200 meter backstroke were that I wouldn't recognize Ryan Seacrest if he was standing in front of me and that people like the bling.  Typically, you see most guys walk by a beautiful girl and subtly check out her chest; but on this occasion, it was fellow Olympians of both sexes whose eyes went directly to Tyler's chest.

And finally, it's nice to be able to meet some of my family in the most interesting city in the world . . .

A family stroll along the Thames

The Agony of Defeat

Today's morning session on the track was not a happy one for two popular athletes whom I watched earlier this summer in the Diamond League Meet at Crystal Palace.  One of the best 110 meter hurdlers of all time, China's Liu Xiang, failed to make it over the first hurdle and tumbled to the track in the first round.  He was China's first ever (track & field) gold medalist in Athens and a former world record holder, but was unable to compete in Beijing because of an Achilles injury.  He ran a world's best at Crystal Palace just a few weeks ago, but he reaggravated his injury and was unable to finish this race.  He eventually got up and hobbled to the finish line, where he was assisted by two of his fellow hurdlers to the cheers of the Olympic Stadium crowd.

Probably Liu Xiang's final Olympics

Team GB's Goldie Sayers broke the national record in the meet at Crystal Palace on her third attempt, but then tweaked a nerve in her elbow on her fourth throw.  She spent the past three weeks, including her 30th birthday, in a controlled state of panic.  She took all three throws today but couldn't reach the qualifying standard and just like that, her home Olympics was over.  In her post-competition interview, she put up a brave front and explained how much it meant to her to compete in London, but she had tears in her eyes trying to figure out why she had been injured for the first time in her career, just three weeks before the biggest day of her life.   

Heartbreaking day for Goldie Sayers.

Men's 100 Meter Final

Final Wind (m/s): +1.5 Official + Rk Bib Athlete Mark + 1 2170  BOLT Usain 9.63 OR + 2 2169  BLAKE Yohan 9.75 =PB + 3 3216  GATLIN Justin 9.79 PB + 4 3217  GAY Tyson 9.80 SB + 5 3205  BAILEY Ryan 9.88 =PB + 6 2547  MARTINA Churandy 9.94 + 7 3051  THOMPSON Richard 9.98 + 8 2184  POWELL Asafa 11.99

When I first started following Track & Field, I was lucky enough to see Calvin Smith set a World Record in the Men's 100 Meters at the U.S. Olympic Festival at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.  His time of 9.93 broke a 14-year-old record set by Jim Hines in Mexico City.  Last night, Tyson Gay ran 9.80 and DIDN'T EVEN MEDAL!

Calvin Smith wins another 100 meters in the 1980's.

Usain Bolt is the first man to successfully defend his title as the World's Fastest Man (don't get me started about Ben Johnson & Carl Lewis) and he does it with such style.  I fully appreciate the relaxed attitude he displays all the way up until he takes his mark.  The Jamaicans have us there.  If Asafa Powell doesn't come up lame in the final 20 meters, all eight finalists would have been under 10.0.  

The 4x100 is going to be amazing!