Thursday, April 29, 2010

Back to Work-Again!

I noticed some time ago that the title of my last post was "Obverservations". I almost corrected the spelling then decided to let it stand; for some reason I like the new spelling and the fact that I've invented a new word. Since one of the definitions of obverse is "constituting the opposite aspect of the same fact" this title seemed appropriate for the post.

And now, faithful readers, the real subject of this particular post-yes, I am returning to work, possibly as early as next week. Hopefully this will be a short gig of no more than 2 or 3 weeks; I'll be training someone for the job that I used to do. I enjoy training and with the right trainee it can actually be sort of fun, showing them all the shortcuts I learned after almost 20 years as a cubicle monkey. The bad part of returning to work is that this time I won't be able to adjust my work hours to accomodate my running schedule, since I'll have to be at work bright and early to work with the newbie.

After this stint, I am absolutely, positively, without question, done working (unless my boss calls me again..).

Friday, April 16, 2010

Some Obverservations

A few things I realized somewhere between mile 6 and 7 during a slow, tedious 8 mile run today:

  • The intensity of the need to scratch an itch on your back during a run will be in direct proportion to your inability to reach the itch.
  • The awesomeness of your muscled, toned legs after 4 years of running is in direct proportion to the ugliness of your feet after 4 years of running.
  • The importance of the run you want to do as early as possible on any given morning is in direct proportion to the number of issues that will come up that will prevent you from getting out the door and completing the run.
  • The more important and impressive your last race was, the less likely that you will meet up with any runner type people to whom you can brag and who will understand how amazing it was.

Seriously-if any of you, my faithful readers, could see my feet, you would understand the second point. I've considered posting pictures, but I'm pretty sure there's a law against it.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Shizo Kanakuri

While I vacillate on an almost daily basis between embracing my slowness and just living with it, and actually doing something about being so slow by-you guessed it-running faster, I've discovered a runner who has me beat all to heck in the pace department. Shizo Kanakuri ran the marathon in the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, that is, he ran part of the race, then stopped for a drink and a nap. Feeling great shame for not finishing the race, Mr. Kanakuri left Stockholm and returned to Japan without notifying the race officials; the Swedish officials considered him missing for about 50 years. Mr. Kanakuri was invited to return to Sweden and finish the race; thus, he has a finish time of 54 years, 8 months, 6 days, 8 hours, 32 minutes 20.3 seconds (in running terms, would it be 54:08:06:08:32:20.3) which makes my 6 hour marathon finish seem pretty dang fast. I guess speed is all relative after all-isn't that what Einstein said?