Racer X: 100 Best First Lines (7-9)

Wherein Anonymous Racer X takes the 100 Best First Lines from Novels and turns each one into the opening of a really lame tri-blog post by an infuriatingly self-obsessed triathlete.

Today's installment: Opening Lines 7-9.
Previous installment (4-6).

7. riverrun, past Eve and Adam's, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs.
Just as history is a cycle bound to repeat, so too, is my triathlon periodization training plan. But, laddie, can it be possible to peak at Wildflower if I miss masters tonight to down Jamesons at that bastard Finnegan's wake?
—James Joyce, Finnegans Wake (1939)

8. It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.
I looked down at my watch perplexed, for there was no thirteen, and became sublimely thankful that I had purchased my own timing chip. Anyway, I knew Big Brother would rectify this bizarre race-timing snafu.
—George Orwell, 1984 (1949)

9. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.
And it was true: London was the site of my best marathon time, while Paris was home to my worst. In both cases, my postrace nap was a far, far better rest that I went to than I have ever known.
—Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities (1859)