Halfway and The Triumph of Desire Over Reason (Journey to Marathon: Third in a Series)

The halfway point on this journey, was the Koala/Luke’s Locker Half Marathon, which I completed in 1:55:18 — just under my unofficial 2-hour goal. I’ll spare everyone the blow-by-blow, though one aspect of the race escapes that forbearance: pacing. My great victory at this race was pacing. It’s the most important part of these endurance runs, and it’s the skill of running–the rest is just being crazy enough to try. I managed a pace beginning at 8:45 min./mile and tapering down to 8:30 min./miles. Marathon day survival depends on how well I pace out.

Several runners at the race Sunday wore shirts which read, “Marathoning: the triumph of desire over reason.”– the most succint explanation of the mental process that one goes through in attempting this distance running obsession. Of course it’s already a joke, but still–while running I kept thinking the logic doesn’t really work, because–why would somebody desire to run for 3+ hours? Despite questioning it, I still want it, but the mystery remains.

Olbermann on Habeas Corpus

A history on Habeas Corpus in US Law.

The Last King of Scotland

This film, based on a book of the same title, tells the fictional account of an idealistic doctor, Nicholas Garrigan, who travels to Uganda to “do something different.” He arrives in the midst of Idi Amin’s coup to overthrow President Obote. After attending a rally for the new President, the good doctor Garrigan impresses Amin and is invited to become his personal doctor. For a time, Garrigan focuses on his work to help Uganda build it’s medical resources, but he finds maintaining non-involvement in the political matters of the Amin regime, less and less plausible leading to the eventual realization, he is trapped in an increasingly delusional and deadly government.

This thriller not only keeps audiences on the edge of their seat, but also manages to remain true to the facts of Amin’s reign. The title refers to Amin’s penchant for the struggle of the Scottish against the British, which lead to the self-proclaimed title, “King of Scotland,” and also Garrigan’s nationality. The time period covered includes Amin’s coup until the highjacking of Air France Flight 139, when Amin, a Muslim, invites the PLO to land in Uganda. Forest Whitaker in an Oscar-worthy role, portrays the horrors of the dictator who would kill 300,000 Ugandans as mercilessly as he reveals the human qualities of a man who believed passionately in empowerment of African people. James McAvoy also delivers a convincing performance as the fictional doctor who becomes Amin’s “closest advisor.”

This film is in limited release as of this writing, but take the opportunity, if you happen to find it playing at a nearby theater.

Audience Participation – An Ethical Issue

I know there aren’t any readers out there, but still I want to depress myself, so here is a chance for all of you (or, none of you) to participate.

Yesterday, a complete and utter stranger, asked to borrow my cellphone. Now, admittedly, I struggle with selfishness, a tendency to be overly private and pettiness when it comes to certain items, but I just didn’t want to loan out my phone to this person who I didn’t know.

Last year, I spent about a month in New York, staying just off of Times Square, and I was often asked for my cellphone by strangers. But, I refused to loan it out, in part, because the requestor never furnished a rationale as to why they needed mine. In fact, in a humorous incident, I received a verbal harangue from one such jilted borrower, who said, in a heavy asian accent, “Ah! Fine! F*ck you, motherf*cker-r-r!”

Yesterday, my battery was dead, so it ended a non-issue, but I noticed that this person, who only claimed to have lost his own viaduct to the world, found refusal from 10 or more people, before he finally obtaining the desperately sought communicator. Also, noticed, a tone of irritated response, in both others and myself, including the person who finally relented to the request. True, it could have been an emergency, but that was not stated in the request. And, a cultural barrier presented itself to further complicate the matter: english is an unlikely first language of the requestor.

So, my question(s)…would you loan out your cellphone to a stranger? How do you feel about being asked? Do you think it’s rude? Or should we take mercy on the misfortunes of the cellphone-less creatures seeking our compassion? Do you have any humorous stories about being asked for your phone?

Have a good weekend, everyone! (or no one as the case may be.)

I effen did it!

Wednesday, I run an 6.7 mile route with BCRR, before we go to Valhalla, a beerhall on the Rice University Campus, for 85-cent beers. I’ve had a goal of running that route in 52 mins. for awhile now, which seemed reasonable to me, because I can do 2 3-mile laps around Memorial Park in 47 or 48 minutes. Last night, I did the 6.7mi route in 52:30. It felt good.

Sunday Morning (Journey to Marathon: Second in a Series)

Sunday morning, praise the dawning
It’s just a restless feeling by my side
Early dawning, Sunday morning

Marathon training requires l.s.d., long, slow duration. Every Sunday morning at 6:30, begins the long run of 10+ miles. Today, it was 16. I don’t talk about running often, because I’m not sure why any non-runner would care. It’s just a personal, intimate, if rewarding experience. 10 years ago, if someone had told me, I would wake up early to do this, I would have scoffed “Why?” That is why I’m never surprised when I get that response now. And yet, Sunday is my weekend–no other day is a enjoyable.

Sunday morning and I’m falling
I’ve got a feeling I don’t want to know
Early dawning, Sunday morning

Robert Pirsig described “chautauquas” in his Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. The chautauquas are Pirsig’s essays on philosophy born out of the wanderings of his mind while motorcycling. A similar wandering occurs during running, however with medititave qualities Pirsig never mentions. With the body stressed by exertion; waking dreams emerge, thoughts refine themselves and moments of mental stillness occur. It can be transcendental. That’s not a runner’s high talking, either–those occur after the run, not during.

Watch out, the world’s behind you
There’s always someone around you who will call
It’s nothing at all, Sunday morning

This morning was perfect for running. The temperature was chilly and the air dry–unusual for Houston. For the first time, I used gels or “fuel supplements” which help to restore glycogen levels. Without glycogen, runner’s “hit the wall” or run out of energy. The gel experiment succeeded, so I felt better afterwards. I ran my route in 2:27:09, which is about the same time I ran 15 miles in last week. That’s encouraging for the final race, because while finishing is the primary goal, secondarily, I’m seeking a time at or under 4-hours.

I can’t believe I just said I was planning on running for 4 hours.

it makes no difference to me
how they cried all over overseas
when it’s hot in the poor places tonight
I’m not going outside

I don’t really run with an iPod, but music always is on my mind–especially when running. Last Sunday, the Velvet Underground song came to mind as the sun-hued clouds glowed yellow-pink in the blueness. Then Pete Yorn’s song, Life on a Chain–it was just a free association. This week, Wilco’s Poor Places crept in mind–though I was neither hot, nor was I in a poor place (River Oaks).

And I was waiting over here for life to begin
I was looking for the new thing
And you were the sunshine

After finishing out the run, dealing through some recent thoughts on the fairer sex, and imagining my life back in school, came one of the highlights, the shower. It was the best shower I remember in a long time, too. Next, breakfast: eggs benedict ala Florentine from Empire Cafe, cheese hash browns and fruit. After a nap, I started a new book, ran some errands and went to see the new Scorcese film, The Departed.

Go see The Departed–it’s easily the best movie in the last 5 years.

Horns!

28 to 10 against the Sooners. Hook em’ Horns!

Admitted – UTD

I think I got into the University of Texas at Dallas. I checked my application status today and noticed that it says, “Student admitted.” It won’t be official until I get a letter from them, but I think I can expect the letter. It’s nice to know I got in!

EDIT: I got the letter on Oct. 5th. So now, I just have to wait on UT-Austin. Thanks, Header5 for your encouragement!

The Science of Sleep

The Science of Sleep is more about sleep than science. This believable, yet dreamy, love story, from the director of Eternal Sunshine for the Spotless Mind, Michel Gondry, follows a young man who has troubles sorting his dreams out from reality. Comic, but without surrendering a dramatic edge, the film shifts between Stephane’s dreams and the actuality of his relationship to Stephanie, who occupies the apartment across the hall.

The film is surreal in the child-like montages that illustrate Staphane’s fantasies, yet real to spark the memory of my own would-be relationship with a girl, though my experience varied from the film’s conclusion. Though Stephane and Stephanie know themselves well, they stumble when trying to get to know each other–then again, isn’t that the best part? Definitely worth the price of admission.