Easter

It's Easter.

Our calendar is looking weirdly empty for the next five days, and Mulan and Miya are looking forward to relaxing with almost nothing planned.

For lunch today they're having Chinese time; they're out with Mama and friends having a restaurant meal.

Meanwhile, over the past few days I've been enjoying contemplating the meaning of Easter as originally intended in the Gospels of the Bible.

This video is part one of a multipart mini-series by James Tabor.  It's decently detailed, with each 20-50min video covering one day in the story of Jesus' final week.  Highly recommended for those interested in the texts themselves.

But here's my practical takeaway message from the first couple of days:

Those who know me know that I'm an ethical vegetarian.  Animals have the capacity to suffer -- they feel pain and have their own interests.  We shouldn't unnecessarily cause them pain and suffering.  We (mostly) don't need to eat them.

I'm delighted that Jesus in the Gospels was strongly and forcefully trying to put a stop to the unnecessary torture and slaughter of millions of animals.  On day two, when Jesus disrupts the temple, he quotes the Hebrew Bible as scriptural authority to stop the killing of the animals.

I really hope that more Christians would follow Jesus on this one.

Athletics season finished

Our athletics season is over.  The big comps are done, and we had our final clubnight last night.  It's good to have a rest; it's been a busy several weeks.

(We're not joining the schools North Island Champs in about 10 days, as it clashes with a school senior music camp that both Mulan and Miya are attending.)

Miya:

Miya's had an awesome season, with huge improvements and some great competition results.  It was a huge experience for her to qualify and compete at the Nationals.

This season Miya got new PBs in high jump (1.54m), triple jump (10.04m), long jump (4.50m), 80m hurdles (13.41sec) and 300m hurdles (51.67sec).

Takapuna Club nominated Miya for the Auckland Junior Track and Field Sportsperson of the Year.

Miya broke Club records in high jump, triple jump and sprint hurdles (some still to be updated).

Her competition results include:

North Island Colgate Games (5-7 January), Grade 13:

• 6th 80m hurdles (4th in North Island)
• 8th high jump
• 10th discus (8th in North Island)
• 10th shot put (9th in North Island)
• 4th Takapuna Club team 4x100m relay (3rd in North Island)

Results

South Island Colgate Games (12-14 January), Grade 13:

• 2nd high jump
• 2nd 80m hurdles
• 12th discus

Results

Auckland Senior Track & Field Champs (3-4 February), Under 16 Women:

(The hurdles races were held on another day, but we didn't compete as we were busy.)

• 2nd triple jump (PB)
• 3rd= high jump
• 9th long jump

Results

Auckland Junior Champs (23-24 February), Grade 13:

• 1st high jump
• 3rd 80m hurdles
• 9th= long jump

Results

Auckland Junior Pentathlon Champs (9 March), Grade 13:

• 4th pentathlon

Results

New Zealand Track & Field Champs (14-17 March), Under 16 Women:

(Miya's performances during the season meant she qualified for five events, but she decided to just do three, and didn't sign up for 300m hurdles or long jump.  A lot of the girls she competed against were a year older than her, so she's got a really good chance to do well next season, when she'll still be an Under 16.)

• 4th= high jump
• 10th 80m hurdles (PB)
• 13th triple jump

Results

Auckland Combined Events Champs (23-24 March), Under 16 Women:

• 2nd heptathlon

Results

Schools Auckland Champs (26 March), Junior Girls:

(To compete in this competition, athletes first needed to qualify by placing in the schools Zones competition.  Miya qualified in five events, but decided to scratch from the long jump and just focus on four events.)

• 1st triple jump
• 2nd 70m hurdles
• 2nd 300m hurdles (PB)
• 3rd high jump (PB)

Track results, field results

Mulan:

Mulan's had another great year of athletics.

She got new PBs in triple jump (9.89m), 100m hurdles (18.20sec) and 300m hurdles (52.71sec).

She broke Club records in both the sprint and long hurdles.

Mulan received a trophy for the best female field event athlete at the Auckland Launch competition.

And she got third Senior at the Westlake Girls Athletics Day.

Her competition results include:

Auckland Senior Track & Field Champs (3-4 February), Under 18 Women:

• 2nd triple jump (PB)
• 3rd long jump
• 5th shot put

Auckland Combined Events Champs (23-24 March), Under 18 Women:

• 2nd heptathlon

Schools Auckland Champs (26 March), Senior Girls:

(Mulan qualified in five events, but didn't want to scratch from any.  Unfortunately the programme wasn't ideal for her, and she triple jumped ten minutes after running the 300m hurdles.  Understandably her jumps weren't as good as usual, otherwise she probably would have got 3rd.)

• 3rd 100m hurdles (PB)
• 4th 300m hurdles (PB)
• 4th triple jump
• 7th long jump
• 10th shot put

Me:

I'm still continuing with athletics, and at the moment I'm feeling in pretty good shape due to trying to keep up with the girls at training and comps.

I got a new "old person" best (personal best since returning to athletics nine years ago) in the triple jump (10.97m).  I also tried out the 400m hurdles for the first time in my life!

I got Club records in 800m, 1500m, 400m hurdles and triple jump.

I also broke my Auckland Masters pentathlon record.

Auckland Senior Track & Field Champs (3-4 February), Masters Men 45-49:

• 1st triple jump
• 1st long jump
• 2nd high jump
• 4th 60m
• 4th 100m

Auckland Combined Events Champs (23-24 March), Masters Men 45-49:

• 1st pentathlon