I’ve been rumbled:
Cooper concludes that we all share pathological narcissistic and masochistic tendencies but that most of us find ways of diverting these tendencies toward useful activities. The marathon runner is likely to be quite far along the narcissistic-masochistic spectrum and, “almost uniquely, carries on a useless activity that symbolises society’s need for a special hero who will enact the infantile triumphs requisite for healthy functioning and who also enables the audience to share vicariously in some of his or her forbidden pleasures”.
(From “Lore Of Running”, Noakes is talking about Arnold Cooper, professor of psychiatry at Cornell University in New York.)
So now we know.
Yesterday I decided it was time to try a lunchtime run. But what a pain in the nuts, having to assemble and convey all that gear into work. I can’t criticise the facilities at the place I’m currently working (I have four gyms to choose from within five minutes walk), but it took time to hunt down one of the changing rooms, and get out on the street. It was supposed to be five miles but I ran out of time halfway round Wormwood Scrubs and had to head back. Still, I managed just over four, which was fine. In the week’s running bank I have a surplus of a mile, so I could afford a bit of flexibility. (I’m trying to match the weekly targets rather than slavishly matching the runs day by day.) It was good to get out, but all things considered, probably more trouble than it was worth. Unless I’ve no choice I’ll be sticking with early mornings and, as a second best, evening runs.
Today’s been shockingly healthy, with a bracing three miler this morning and an hour of Pilates this evening. I need sleep. On the train this morning, glowing with good health and razor-sharp insights, I wrote a ream or two of stuff in my brand new Dublin marathon Muji notebook with my brand new Dublin marathon Muji pencil. The plan was to post it up this evening, but… but I’ve deposited this instead. That’s how it goes sometimes.
And Finally… strutting along by Hyde Park this morning, marvelling at the mental clarity that my early morning run had given me, when I realise I’ve left my smart Lowe-Alpine jacket on the train. Mental clarity? Pshaw!
