Just a Runner

Hicham El Guerruj 3:43 mile WR from 1999

Monks Mound at Cahokia Mounds, Collinsville, IL

Back in college one of my teammates decided to start training based on perceived effort. Our coach hated it. He would push harder than the rest of the team most distance runs and his weekly mileage fluctuated with no real pattern other than mirroring how his body felt. Results were mixed. I think it takes a lot of discipline to successfully train using perceived effort - but it can be done.

Dr. George Sheehan

I was fortunate enough to run in Central Park last week. It was my first time running there but I'd read so much about it that I felt like I was having déjà vu. It was a truly amazing and cathartic experience.

People often use "jogging" and "running" interchangeably. I take issue with that. I consider myself a runner, not a jogger. Running is a sport, jogging is a leisure activity. Running is a craft, jogging is a fad. Running is an under-appreciated skill, jogging is a social event. I don't differentiate the two based on pace. I view them as different mindsets. -- Background: The term "jogging" was popularized by New Zealander Arthur Lydiard and spread to the United States by University of Oregon Track Coach Bill Bowerman in 1962.

Timex Ironman Watch does NOT account for leap years. To fix: hold upper left until set mode comes up, lower left 6x, press front button until you get back to February, lower left, press front button until you get to the 29th, press upper left.

I'm glad I brought my running shoes today. Otherwise, I would have had to run in my work shoes. Man, that'd be embarrassing.