Happiness defined

Continuing on from my last post on the topic of happiness I thought I’d relate it to this post about my half marathon last Sunday.

I've heard happiness defined as "the experience of meaning and pleasure." That is, what you enjoy and what is important to you. When both factors come together you can be pretty sure that, that is "happiness."

As you might know already I think running is "important." The whys are numerous but you all know them at different levels in different patterns. After all if we didn't think running was important we wouldn’t keep these blogs would we?

Enjoyment is the other factor and although most of us, except for the insane and Tesso, rarely smile while training or racing we all love what we do and get pleasure out of it.

So did the experience of meaning and pleasure come together last Sunday to make me happy? Decidedly not!

I had high expectations in this race, always a mistake when looking for happiness. High expectations in life and running can often lead to disappointments. So in this case when I ran “badly” it undermined my sense of “meaning” that comes from my ability to keep improving in some way despite the obstacles whatever they are. Add to this bitterly cold winds that left me shaking for an hour after the race and an aggravated hamstring injury that had me stopping 3 times to walk a little and you can see that the enjoyment factor was sorely lacking.

Some might say that enjoyment doesn’t mean simply that everything is perfect, and I’d agree, I like pain but only if it doesn’t hurt ;) no I like pain if it is the sort that comes from entering a new level of fitness, but last Sundays pain mostly came from the hills, 4 long high ones, and the realization that I was totally unprepared to make a decent job of this race.

Although the finishing time of 1:35:20 seconds doesn’t seem too “bad” the only time I’ve ran slower for the half was 4 years ago on my very first half marathon race. I’m too young to be contemplating PW (personal worst’s.) And, as I sit here 7 weeks from my first Canberra marathon (is that math right, Aussie Eddie?) nursing a sore hamstring, 8 kilos above my “perfect running weight” and way under the fitness level I need, I’m a tad depressed.

No need to hide the razor blades yet. If there is one thing above all else that I love about this sport is that it offers one a chance of redemption. And this I will take.

Besides I vowed to cream Eddie my American running mate here, who handed me my head by running last Sunday, his very first half marathon, in 1:28:00! I wonder if I should have said that now. Still nothing like a friendly rivalry is there? ;)

If it makes you happy then why the hell are you so sad?

I have a half marathon this Sunday and I was going to have a whinge, that is, complain about the weather, the course or about being under done, slightly injured etc etc.

But this song reminded me not to!

Wish me luck ;)

And have a nice marathon in Tokyo this Sunday too Steve, we'll be thinking of you.

Slow start

Things are OK, just starting to get rolling after a few set backs. Like I mentioned last post a bit of sickness and more recently an injury. I had a mystery pain at the back of the knee on my right leg that hurt a bit especially going up hills but after a a few sessions with the doctor and a couple more days of rest it is definitely on the mend.

I was ready to get back an do a run this morning but woke to snow again. See above photo that is our house taken from the 2nd floor of our little home school. I couldn't face going back on the treadmill again so I'll take today off as well and start seriously tomorrow.

Not a good start for my Canberra preparation but not a total loss as still have 8 weeks and I reckon I only really train well under tight deadline pressure ;)

"Hey boys! Why don't you let us put a nipple on that for you"

Down with a flu at the moment. Not too bad though just a pretty bad sore throat but not any other symptoms. Should be back into it tomorrow. Took 3 days off running, just to be safe. I don't want to make it worse by running my energy down even more.

That's how I think I got this in the first place. After a week of more than usual work, at work, combined with my regular running schedule and a party Sunday I was rundown enough for this bastard virus to take hold.

Anyway Sundays' party does give me the opportunity to upload a clip related to drinking that I think you will like. Apologies to any Germans ;)

Rant

"Nothing like a good rant" and this is nothing like a good rant but I'm going to write it anyway.

This afternoon I got the news that my uncle had died and my first thought was "Jesus! Why are all my relatives dropping like flies" And the second thought was "Why is it always my favorite ones?" The answer on reflection is simple. Firstly, they are all getting older and I suppose plenty of worse relatives have died before my "favorites" but frankly they weren't such good people so I guess I hardly recognised their passing ;)

If this isn't making much sense then it must be at least a half decent "rant". Well, I'm going to miss this Uncle as he was really everything I reckon a "man" should be, that is, he made you feel like you were important and always made people in his company feel safe and happy. This wasn't easy as he was physically kind of imposing. A big guy with tattoos and a head that at first glance had the neck hairs rising and you looking for the nearest exit.

I will never watch another "Aussie Rules" game or drink another beer without thinking about him as he was the person that made these things cool enough to want to make them a part of me.

As I'm feeling the distance between here and there a bit more tonight and I'm thinking about the value of people I'd like to say, even if it goes without saying, that virtual or not you bloggers mean a lot to me.

Any talk about giving up blogging should be given some more thought.While I wouldn't pressure anyone to write if they "can't" at times, I understand we all have other lives, still I feel that we got into this for the right reasons and those reasons haven't changed.

My supposition is that blogging is part of the third wave of the revolution of human relations.(Classic rant uses the word "supposition" and goes on to sermonize.) Nobody should underestimate the power of people of like minds coming together over great distances. Virtual or not these relationships are every bit as real as the face to face ones we have in say our workplace and deserve similar courtesies.

Our "Spark Driver" understood. While I of course wanted him to keep on writing, he did have the good manners to say he was, "pulling the plug" so long and goodbye. Well he didn't leave us hanging wondering what happen to him.

This rant has ended like all rants do with the writer coming off as slightly crazed and more than slightly needy. But I really just want you to know that I appreciate you all and the opportunity we have here.

Don't worry I'm back to making lame jokes and writing about running tomorrow. Don't let me scare you off ;)

1:30:18

Another day another T-shirt. Had a good half marathon today. A slow start as there was a fair crowd doing this marathon I reckon I lost 5 minutes in the first 10 kms because of the crowd and getting warmed up, it was 4 degrees and blowing some, but me second half was a pissa. Sure I ran close to under 40 mins for the second 10kms.

I got Freddy in my head 3 kms from home and ran my best finish for a half marathon I've ever done. I didn't hardly see any of the K markers nor was I taking splits just running how I felt and I felt good and better with every km after the 10K mark.

I need to lose some weight again and start with some upper body exercises but I can see no reason I can't chip away at my times this year. This and bit more consistency so as the song says "Don't stop me now!"

Cruel

My song of the week is dedicated to "Bay" the blogger who has just returned from Laos. The songs title "cruel" refers to the fact that I didn't have a holiday over Xmas New Year and think it's "cruel" that I didn't ;) especially to that part of the world, as it's my favorite.

As for the song I've just been getting into "Calexico"'s music. This song will get into your head give it 3 or 4 listens, great stuff.

Running is not going too well this week missed a couple of sessions due to not waking up early enough and being too tired after work. Anyway I have a half marathon this weekend, Sunday, and I don't want to be tired for that ;)Well this race should give me a good indication of where I'm at and I'll go from there.

Have a good rest of the week.

So far so good

Hope everyone is doing well. My first post of '08 and so far so good. I will start training in earnest from Sunday as it marks 12 weeks until the Canberra marathon. If all goes well I be there and I'm very much looking forward to meeting "all and sundry". Sundry, for those that don't know, is a blogger mate of mine from Kiama ;)

Anyway I'll be posting regularly about my build up for this and hope to get your feedback.

For now I'm going to upload a clip of "an educator." This guy is terrific and everything that I'd like to be as a teacher. I don't usually talk about teaching/learning on this blog but he is so on it with his analysis and funny to boot so I thought you'd like to see it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Wishing everybody a peaceful, prosperous, and successful new year. I will continue to run and blog and hope that this time next year we will still be in contact and better runners/people for the experience.

All the best

Scott Brown

Bye the way I'm all set up with Skype and if you'd like to talk sometime I can be found under the name "abenokibrown"

A PB's a PB no matter how small!

Well that's, the title of this post, what I'm telling myself. Did 3:17:50 a full 2 minutes faster than my previous best time so I'd have to be happy with that. It ended up being near perfect conditions so I didn't have to worry about that and as this came on the back of a pretty average build up and mileage I should be satisfied.

I do know one thing for sure I will really have to train hard and have things all come together on the day if I'm going to get anywhere near under 3 hours.

But you'll be happy to know today didn't deter me from that goal.

The photo was taken by Kato san a fellow Kawachinagano running club member and it is 200 metres from the finish of today's marathon. And if you look closely you can see that I'm getting some "air!" ;)

Unfriggenbelievable

I can't believe my luck when it comes to rain. I just checked the weather and it is going to rain on this Sunday. Seriously the last time it rained on Sunday here was the last race I ran. This would be funny if it happened to someone else, Ewen for example. But frankly I'm a little pissed off.

Any advice for running marathons in the rain and/or uplifting stories about you or anyone you know running a PB in the cold drivng rain.

As the clip says "I'm looking for a perfect sky."

By the way this song sung by Bonnie Pink features "Ebi Chan" the lastest teen idol here. "Ebi" is "Prawn" and "Chan" a title for young girls. The prawn reference comes from the fact that she made her debut in a TV commerial for the McDonalds "Ebi Burger."

Torn

I have a few things to say but also pretty tired tonight. As I was "torn" between posting and going to bed I thought about this clip. I reckon it makes a good compromise.

Feel the vibe from here to Asia!

I've had a good week and feeling pretty fit. Had three great sessions this week, a long run, 31kms, on Sunday, a speed session on Tuesday 2mins flat out 2mins jog recovery, 1min flat out, 1min jog, 30 seconds flat out and 30 seconds jog, x 3. And a 15km run on Weds @ an average of 4:30 per km. The reason I'm happy about all this is that I did them all relatively easily.

I don't want to put a jinx on myself but I'm really feeling good about my marathon on the 23rd. The foot pain is down to a slight burn and even with a bit of partying recently I've been able to keep the weight down.

I'm still a bit worried about my lack of kms in the build up but I have a secret training method that sometimes helps in cases like these. Now don't go writing into the running site's noticeboards cause its an advantage I'd like to keep pretty much under wraps. What I do is, I've learnt the words to "Cantaloop" see video, and I sing these at the top of my voice while dancing under a alternatively burning hot and ice cold shower. Please try it and let me know how it goes for you. If you're worried about your mother/father, wife/husband or children, boyfriend/girlfriend coming in mid session you could do it in some bicycle pants. A good idea too for those old fellas prone to shrinkage, pun intended. "Bid de Bid de Bop!!"

What's your favorite movie?

I finally signed up to "facebook" the other day. I mean I've been resisting cause I know that I'm going to spend more time over there than I should, but I think I'll try it. Not that I will give up this blog, not as long as Ewen and Speedygeoff and a half dozen others, you know who you are, continue to blog.

"Facebook" seems interesting but I don't like when they ask questions like: "What are your favorite books?" And "What are your favorite movies?" I mean I've read a fair bit and of course watched a few movies, still, I feel I always come off like a dill when I say what they are. I just think I'm not as "highbrow" as most. A bit like the following.

Don't be so postless.

Sorry for the delay in posting, I've be lurking but shirking. Anyway I'm fine, working a bit more than I'd like but can't complain about that.

I've lost 6 kgs in the last 5 weeks and feel good but my ankle is still not 100% and I've cut out a few runs to try to rest it. That seems to have helped as it is definitely getting better but I'm a little worried that I'm under done, kms wise, for my up coming marathon on Dec 23rd.

Well just thankful that I've lost the extra weight that I put on over the summer here and that the ankle is almost healed. I was thinking that as this is my 7th attempt at a full marathon and if I hit the start line with no other problems my experience and my 4 years of accumulated kms might be enough to see me to a PB. I've still been doing about 50 to 70kms a week for the past three months just haven't been able to get in the couple of 100km weeks that I wanted to do before this next marathon.

We will see. I'll let you know how the training goes for the remaining three weeks.

I'll leave you now with a favourite song from my youth. Actually still is. This kind of music probably doesn't do much for you there in Australia as you still may hear it often but for me it is special for the memories it brings, I reckon I haven't heard this song for close on 20 years.