Monday, September 13, 2010

Running the Half, and other thoughts...

As usual, I promise no revelations, or anything relating to real coherent thought.

Well, I did it.  Last September I said I wanted to run a half marathon, and yesterday, September 12th, I did it!  I finished 45th in my age group, 208th out of the males, and 387th overall (out of 3,000).  My official time was 1:50:39.  And I finished before my Albion "peers"!...though I am younger than them by at least a few years, and not all of the Albion-ites who run actually ran the half marathon. I have to say though - the running community is a very supportive, but competitive one. I am glad that I am part of it, and I am glad to have made some new friends (or at least friendly acquaintances) from it! And to think, 3 years ago, I complained when Lisa tried to get me to walk to the end of our road and back (barely a mile round trip...).

Not that I follow football, but I guess it was opening weekend around here.  The Bills played (couldn't tell you who they played) and lost (I think.  And I also think that is to be expected around here...).  I was too busy trying to recover from 13.1 miles.

Now, don't get me wrong, but I have changed from a person who used to sit on the couch, to one who would rather be outside running.  Sometimes I wonder who the real athletes are in the world; the people we see on the TV every Sunday, or the ones we see out in our own fields and on our roads every day of the year?  Don't get me wrong - I am sure that most pro athletes will defend their training regimen, and their athleticism. But I gotta tell ya - I don't get paid to run, and I don't run to get paid. It's nice to hear "Good luck!" and "Congratulations" when all is said and done, but I can't help but wonder if these pro athletes would continue to play if there was no pay!

In other news - potty training with the boy is getting better - he will sit now, and go in it, but we have to tell him to, and often he sits for quite a while! You may have seen the Facebook video of our little "potty party" - Adam went in the potty 28 times, and we made a little cake and he got a prize (an Imaginext BatCave). And so it goes - hopefully soon we can stop buying pull-ups. My wallet will rejoice!

Some observations I have made lately:
Ever notice how many people everyone say "We" when talking about their favorite professional sports team? As in "We" kicked the Giants behind this week. As if they has something to do with the success of the team, other than buying the team-logoed paraphernalia. Interesting.

Ever notice how some people walk into Subway (which is supposed to be "healthy"), order 3 footlongs, 10 chocolate chip cookies, 3 large sodas (not diet; not that diet is any better), and then order a low-calorie, low-fat yogurt? Don't get me wrong - I ate pizza and wings last night (remember - I burned about 2000 calories yesterday). But the folks I'm talking about weren't the type that looked like this was a special occasion. Interesting.

Here's a positive one - ever notice how when someone is down, 9 times out of ten people come out of the woodwork to try and help. I have seen a lot of that lately, both with my own program and trying to find instruments for students, and with a former student who has become seriously ill. Definitely a good thing (the fact that people come out in droves to help and support).

Teachers - ever notice how your credit card bill gets higher in August and September?

Here's one that is more of a question - why do people not follow the arrows in parking lots? I understand that it's not a city street, but when I follow the arrows, it sure get awfully frustrating when I have to squeeze by in the Wal-Mart parking lot because someone else doesn't. And shopping carts - I love how people walk to the cart return...and leave it outside it! Or when someone uses two parking spaces, or parks so close I have to climb out the back door. I am sure this is nothing new, but I'm just saying'...

Anyway - I guess that's it. Keep movin'!

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