Nasty, short and brutish - and other adjectives I left off my resume

In college and graduate school, I used to give a lot of thought to the motivations of people who had different politics. Specifically, I wondered how bright, well educated people could reach such different conclusions about the world, the fundamental assumptions about the nature of people, and conceptions of the proper roles of government in society. Or, in more extreme cases, were infamous tyrants of history awful people who derived incredible pleasure from the suffering of others? Was life indeed “nasty, short and brutish” in the absence of an active ‘sovereign authority’ – and in their demented view they were protecting the people from themselves (or from “other” people, like those who looked different, spoke different, or maybe prayed to a different God)?

I never really found an answer to these questions that satisfied me. The answer I would settle on (coincidentally just before happy hour started most times I pondered this back in the day), is that these differences arrive from different priorities and different conceptions about cause/effect scenarios in life. And, from these differences arise different opinions about what policy structures will provide maximum benefit to society. I refused to believe that, except for a small portion of mentally disturbed persons, people were actually seeking to do harm to others (though their self-preservation priority may rank far higher than help others priority). Doing the wrong thing was a result of being focused on the wrong priorities or taking the easy way out to avoid the pain of the right thing, not waking up deciding it felt like a good day to be evil.

Not following a “health routine” seems to follow this principle too. Ultimately, there isn’t much value in providing excuses – we all have them and it doesn’t really matter to anyone else. Not eating right, not getting to the gym as much as you should, or drinking too much. We all can find reasons for doing these things – to justify to ourselves or others. But, it’s pointless. Sickness, family obligations, and injury – that’s life. In the past month, I haven’t found ways to find time for fitness and health amid these. Well, at least not as much as I need to reach my goals. Those days are lost; no getting them back now though. What’s important is what I do going forward.

For those who sent me emails asking what’s up with the blog. Thanks so much! You guys help keep me accountable and helped me from straying to far off the path.

I am chewing dust from Dale and Yanny. But, the goal of 300 km in 100 days is still well within reach. Need to get after it to get back on track.

Pictures from (after) Dakota and Erica's Baptism

OK, so one of the things I was eager to post were photos of the baptism. Well, except those pictures were taken with another camera - and I haven't got them yet. In the meantime, here are some more casual shots from after the event.

Solid progress

Not quite half way into the month and I am above target on mileage. I was hoping to get 100k in the month, I already have 70k. The joints are sore, particularly the left knee, but it's completely manageable (so far).

Only 172 days to Gold Coast...

January target

Sunday Run

Not quite as much mileage this weekend as I had hoped. I continue to do alot of RPM spin classes and non-impact cardio to try to keep calorie consumption up while saving my knees some of the abuse. Nursing some lower-back muscle pain and seem to have tweaked my right knee a bit, but it's a soreness level that is to be expected with the intensity of workouts I have been putting in. Today only some light interval work: really just a brisk walk with some jogging after RPM and BodyPump.

No races this month, but there will be another Jakarta 5k race next month. My goal is to finish in less than 40 minutes.

Genius.

Speed kills

Belated Happy New Year!

Yanny has come roaring out of the starting blocks. Dale is nursing a busted toe and is on the shelf for another week or so. I feel like Bobby Riggs, huffing and puffing as best I can to keep up with the pace. No better injury in the world to keep a guy pushing hard than bruised pride.

Workouts in the new year have gone well. I have been working with a personal trainer a bit, which is helpful for motivation and ensuring workout variety. Legs are in rough shape from a couple of killer lower body routines, but the joints are holding up well. No major mileage yet though, so hopefully that remains the case after a couple of long runs this weekend.

If others out there have made resolutions of their own for 2008, keep it up! Getting past the first week is probably the hardest step.