2007 - March

[El Gordo]

Big moth.


I know, but more attention-grabbing.

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

[Sweder]

Good luck with that Oxford challenge, Andy.
After the heroic triumph of Zurich last year (after the bookies had stopped taking bets) nothing would suprise me. You seem in feisty mood to me, which is great to see.

I'll give SteveRunner a go, too, though not this weekend; perhaps on a long midweek run instead of my usual diet of rock n roll. For now I've more pressing matters to attend to. I've just heard $tevie Me bigging up the MU Rowdies which bodes ill for this lunchtime's titanic clash.
If you offered me a draw right now I'd bite your hand off.

[El Gordo]

Just settling down to watch the match now. Unpredictable, but a draw looks a reasonable bet.

[Sweder]

Wow,
[SIZE="6"]10,000 posts![/SIZE]
That calls for a celebration . . .

[Ana]

Dear Andy,

Your challenge looks like real difficult, but do not worry at all, ski injuries use to be serious, and you will run faster than M. I am sure.

If not, at least you have another good motivation...

Anyway, what is sure is that you will get a good oxford-wine-rehydratation*

[SIZE="1"]
*Lets keept this as a secret, you know how angry gets MLCM when there is no beer [/SIZE]

[Sweder]

I listened to some of the Steverunner podcast the other day, enjoying the Alan 'Stilletto' reference. That got me thinking it was high time to revisit that piece of work when, lo and behold, that very morning The Times ran a special offer:
A copy of The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner for every reader: only 99p with today's Times

Ooer - spooky! Synchronicity run amok.
I splashed the extra semolian for the spindly tome and started thumbing, reading the text as for the first time. Years ago, before I'd given any thought to ripping into the countryside by the dawn's early light, this all seemed like powerful enough stuff but several times removed from my cosy suburban existence. Now though the imagery and emotions evoked by the borstal lad as he tears across frosted farmland, plotting his bitter gift to the Governor, have a more familiar ring. I particularly like his view of each run as an escape to another world, or as he puts it a 'little life'. It reminded me that the literal translation of the Japanese phrase for 'orgasm' is 'little death', and I pondered other possible links between these two selfish human pursuits besides the chemical flooding of the system with endorphins.

Ok, ok, so I've got a warped mind.
Like Robbie going back into rehab that just isn't news, is it?

[Ana]

the literal translation of the Japanese

Once I have heard that Japanese use the same word for telling “crisis” and “opportunity”.
Last Monday, I took part at a seminar and one conference speaker explained that Japanese people use the same word for “Takeover bid”, than for “plane kidnapping”. I do not know if both cases are true, but, anyway, this is the third intelligent metaphor on this way… that makes me think a lot about...

[El Gordo]

Last Monday, I took part at a seminar and one conference speaker explained that Japanese people use the same word for “Takeover bid”, than for “plane kidnapping”.

Well, we pretty much do the same, with the word "hijack". A hostile takeover might be described as a hijack, or attempted hijack, which is the word we use for 'plane kidnapping'.

[Sweder]

I experienced something similar last week.
Apparently the phrase 'can I borrow 50p Dad' has the same meaning as 'I'm going to clean out your wallet Dad' :mad:

[Bierzo Baggie]

Just saw the last post on the monthly forum... "t'was 40 years ago"... and I thought that cup-final programme looked familiar.

My great-granddad made the trek to Wembley and saw Albion win the cup in 1931. Granddad went too but was locked out. He certainly made it next time though in 1954. My dad was next in line for a taste of cup glory but the problem was .. he was always a bit of a jinx for the big games and predictably, he was there for that league cup final which QPR won in 1967. I reckon someone paid him not to go when the Baggies reached the FA cup final the following year and guess what? We won.

I'm still waiting for my chance and probably will be for some time...

[El Gordo]

Jeff Astle, 1-0 against Everton. Yep, I was at that one as well.

[Ana]

Hello,
Yesterday I finally do it. You know, 3,5 Kms was my maximum, but yesterday I was able of running 4 Kms.
Today I have a meeting for running in the park.
I am very happy.
It is really great to increase.

[El Gordo]

Hello,
Yesterday I finally do it. You know, 3,5 Kms was my maximum, but yesterday I was able of running 4 Kms.
Today I have a meeting for running in the park.
I am very happy.
It is really great to increase.

Well done Ana, great news. I'm really pleased for you.

I've spent the weekend re-reading and re-writing some stuff I wrote a while ago about starting to run, and how it took me 8 months to increase to 3 miles (about 5km) without stopping. It's a fantastic feeling.

Are you following a plan of any kind? Like the usual 10 week run-walk plan? If not, let us know and I'll find one or devise one for you.

[Sweder]

Yesterday I finally do it. You know, 3,5 Kms was my maximum, but yesterday I was able of running 4 Kms.

Great news, Ana.
You know it's true what people say about running - the first few kms (or about 30 minutes) are always tough - even when you graduate to longer distances.

But when your breathing settles down and you can relax your body, become comfortable with a steady rhythm, then you begin to enjoy the freedom to run and breathe, and you can understand the true joy of running.

Well done

[Ana]

thanks a lot for the encouragement. It is really the best of having do it

Ok, actually my only plan consists on trying to involve some friends for going jogging together.
This is really difficult because my friends (and even me-myself) are more on the line of SP.
The only "exception" is our friend, who has run 52 marathons. Regarding him, last Friday we had a farewell party… because he will be out for several months in a country in war, as humanitarian help. Thanks to a lot of beers and other alcoholic drinks, some friends of mine will perhaps train a little bit, so that we declared that on his return we will be ready for running a short race…
It will be great if you can explain me one method, because, at this moment I only count with my natural pride against sceptics…

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

Great work Ana! You're so close to 5km now that you'll be there before you know it, and then there's no limit... you'll be able to set your goals anywhere you like.

You might even run 52 marathons yourself - there's no telling where the running bug will take you.

[El Gordo]

But when your breathing settles down and you can relax your body, become comfortable with a steady rhythm, then you begin to enjoy the freedom to run and breathe, and you can understand the true joy of running.

Oh.

Should I have started getting this by now.....??

[Seafront Plodder]

No andy it doesn't apply to you.

[Antonio247]

Best of luck with your writing adventure, Andy.

I´d like to have encouraged you to write it in Almería but I was not with you when you talked about the topic. I´m sure we all will enjoy reading the book. Actually, I´m looking forward to it. If you want it to be translated into Spanish, just tell me.

Regards

Antonio