2008 - May

[El Gordo]

Thanks for the kind words. I didn't mean to suggest that I could become addicted enough to use an iPod in a race -- even if I started using these tracks regularly in training I'm too committed to the anti-MP3-player-in-races standpoint to consider backtracking. I've had several run-ins with RW correspondents on the subject, to the point where I know all my opponents' arguments off by heart and each one can be countered easily. In fact, I've repeated myself so often on this subject that I feel I should write an article about it and just refer people to it.

The point I wanted to make is that I can see how these sorts of long, regular-pace tracks can become so compelling and so effective, and this may explain why people get so emotional when they are faced with the suggestion that they shouldn't use them in races. It's like telling smokers that they can't smoke in pubs. I genuinely think that it's an addiction, and like all addicts they pull out the same old arguments [which I just started to list, but no, I'll keep them for my article if I ever write it].

Anyway, Sweder's right, that the best approach is to mix things up a bit as i can see this stuff could get deadly dull after a while. Unfortunately I've had little success with my portable DAB radio: reception is infuriatingly patchy. I occasionally download radio show MP3s and podcasts for a bit of variety, but it's quick and easy to just rely on the usual formula.