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| 137 Days and countingIn exactly 137 days at about 6 AM, I will be bleary-eyed and questioning my sanity as I make my way to the Philadelphia Art Museum to participate in the Philadelphia Marathon. These next twenty weeks will be a drawn out test of my physical and mental stamina. So in the event I end up blogging more (those who have read this blog before know my standing record of consistency on this front), expect to see more content surrounding the soreness, emotions and random tidbits about a runner's life in pursuit of a life's goal.
While I'm presenting it, I might as well share that running (and finishing) a marathon isn't my only goal. I've settled on the ambitious task of posting approximately a 3 hour 10 minute finish time (that's about 7:15 per mile). It's a lofty goal and it would qualify me to run the Boston Marathon, which may or may not be something I want to do depending on how this goes.
So I've been telling myself that I'm in 'pre-training' mode for the past six or seven weeks and it's been a little touch-and-go. The past two weeks I've been a slacker and let myself get by with few workouts, but to my credit I was initially taking a break due to some legitimate soreness/pain that I think I've determined is stress-related from the increased mileage I was posting. I'm now equipped with some snazzy shoe inserts that should alleviate some of the problem by correcting my underpronation - tendency to push off with the outside edges of my feet rather than the front of my foot leading to unnecessary rotation in the knee. I was so excited to slip them into my running shoes - the running expert at Philadelphia Runner's Shop told me there would be a 'POP' if they fit correctly and sure enough, a 'POP' there was!
The real challenge that I've found through 'pre-training' is to maintain motivation on the weekends when I have the tendency to plan fun trips, especially over the summer. So, all in all, this pre-training has been a lot more than working up to my mileage goals: it's been about more generally preparing myself physically and mentally for actual training slated to start around the first week of August (16 weeks from marathon date).
Starting this week I'm not letting myself give in to excuses and will train everyday that I feel capable (there has to be some leeway for recovery). Suffice it to say, today was a rough, easy run. This seems like an oxymoron, but two weeks of sedentary ways have cost me dearly. My goal was to go out for 7 miles at an easy pace, which should be around 8:20/mile (I came in with 6.25 miles and I averaged 7:25/mile pace even after correcting myself part-way through).
Apart from the 90-degree heat with humidity which will slow anyone down eventually, I tend to wear myself out quickly with ambition and excitement. The challenge for me has always been keeping the pace I set out for and not allowing myself to become a competitive runner on a training day. I see a person ahead of me on the path and I want to catch them and pass them; when I come to a straightway I want to sprint to the finish; I want to run my hardest all the time (which doesn't bode well when you find yourself having to traverse the distance you've traveled already and may feel exhausted at midway). This is what made running a team sport for me in high school - we all ran together in training. Those who ever questioned the team dynamic of running, take note!
So today on the path ('the path' is the Art Museum path, which is a common route for me and others in the city), I noticed a sign. This was no unusual sign, it serves a genuine purpose, although I think that it's inaccurate now. The sign said 'Speed Limit: 5 MPH'. When I'm running, my mind craves stimulation. People often say running is boring, and I can see their point, I just give myself mental challenges every once in a while if I feel bored (thinking in Spanish; counting multiples of 6, 7 or 8; or making simple conversions). So I had chuckle at the thought that I was obviously going faster than 5 MPH - even if I made it the entire 7 miles I set out to do, I should have been done in less than an hour because I can't slow myself down to 8:00/mile, which would take 56 minutes. So how fast was I running if I was running that pace? 7.5 MPH if I was running what I was supposed to do, 8 MPH at what I was actually doing - I should have gotten a speeding ticket! This is even more ridiculous if you consider that the path has almost as many bikers as runners who must be riding in 20+ MPH range.
I guess the point to my little story there is I didn't expect to be breaking the law so much by training to run the marathon. At this rate, I should have at least 100 speeding tickets by November 23rd.
Feel free to keep tabs on me (and Chrissy - she's running, too!). We'll need all the support we can get...
Feeling - Ambitious  | | |
| 137 Days and countingIn exactly 137 days at about 6 AM, I will be bleary-eyed and questioning my sanity as I make my way to the Philadelphia Art Museum to participate in the Philadelphia Marathon. These next twenty weeks will be a drawn out test of my physical and mental stamina. So in the event I end up blogging more (those who have read this blog before know my standing record of consistency on this front), expect to see more content surrounding the soreness, emotions and random tidbits about a runner's life in pursuit of a life's goal.
While I'm presenting it, I might as well share that running (and finishing) a marathon isn't my only goal. I've settled on the ambitious task of posting approximately a 3 hour 10 minute finish time (that's about 7:15 per mile). It's a lofty goal and it would qualify me to run the Boston Marathon, which may or may not be something I want to do depending on how this goes.
So I've been telling myself that I'm in 'pre-training' mode for the past six or seven weeks and it's been a little touch-and-go. The past two weeks I've been a slacker and let myself get by with few workouts, but to my credit I was initially taking a break due to some legitimate soreness/pain that I think I've determined is stress-related from the increased mileage I was posting. I'm now equipped with some snazzy shoe inserts that should alleviate some of the problem by correcting my underpronation - tendency to push off with the outside edges of my feet rather than the front of my foot - leading to unnecessary rotation in the knee. I was so excited to slip them into my running shoes - the running expert at Philadelphia Runner's Shop told me there would be a 'POP' if they fit correctly and sure enough, a 'POP' there was!
The real challenge that I've found through 'pre-training' is to maintain motivation on the weekends when I have the tendency to plan fun trips, especially over the summer. So, all in all, this pre-training has been a lot more than working up to my mileage goals: it's been about more generally preparing myself physically and mentally for actual training slated to start around the first week of August (16 weeks from marathon date).
Starting this week I'm not letting myself give in to excuses and will train everyday that I feel capable (there has to be some leeway for recovery). Suffice it to say, today was a rough, easy run. This seems like an oxymoron, but two weeks of sedentary ways have cost me dearly. My goal was to go out for 7 miles at an easy pace, which should be around 8:20/mile (I came in with 6.25 miles and I averaged 7:25/mile pace even after correcting myself part-way through).
Apart from the 90-degree heat with humidity which will slow anyone down eventually, I tend to wear myself out quickly with ambition and excitement. The challenge for me has always been keeping the pace I set out for and not allowing myself to become a competitive runner on a training day. I see a person ahead of me on the path and I want to catch them and pass them; when I come to a straightway I want to sprint to the finish; I want to run my hardest all the time (which doesn't bode well when you find yourself having to traverse the distance you've traveled already and may feel exhausted at midway). This is what made running a team sport for me in high school - we all ran together in training. Those who ever questioned the team dynamic of running, take note!
So today on the path ('the path' is the Art Museum path, which is a common route for me and others in the city), I noticed a sign. This was no unusual sign, it serves a genuine purpose, although I think that it's inaccurate now. The sign said 'Speed Limit: 5 MPH'. When I'm running, my mind craves stimulation. People often say running is boring, and I can see their point, I just give myself mental challenges every once in a while if I feel bored (thinking in Spanish; counting multiples of 6, 7 or 8; or making simple conversions). So I had chuckle at the thought that I was obviously going faster than 5 MPH - even if I made it the entire 7 miles I set out to do, I should have been done in less than an hour because I can't slow myself down to 8:00/mile, which would take 56 minutes. So how fast was I running if I was running that pace? 7.5 MPH if I was running what I was supposed to do, 8 MPH at what I was actually doing - I should have gotten a speeding ticket! This is even more ridiculous if you consider that the path has almost as many bikers as runners who must be riding in 20+ MPH range.
I guess the point to my little story there is I didn't expect to be breaking the law so much by training to run the marathon. At this rate, I should have at least 100 speeding tickets by November 23rd.
Feel free to keep tabs on me (and Chrissy - she's running, too!). We'll need all the support we can get...
Feeling - Ambitious | | |
| Why Bother?No, I'm not asking myself 'Why bother writing in my blog?'. Though it may seem like I've been asking myself that lately, it's more a product of my computer sucking than one of futility.
'Why Bother?' is a question most of us ask ourselves when we're thinking about global warming. For example, 'Why bother changing my light bulbs when I flip on the fluorescent light bulbs 40 hours a week at work?' or 'Why bother buying groceries locally if it's ten times harder than going to the grocery store where there is more variety?' or my personal favorite, 'Why bother thinking about my carbon footprint when roses sent to Britain from Zimbabwe could have a smaller environmental impact than roses from Holland (compounding the environmental/ethical debate to a new plain - should one buy products from depressed economies when the carbon footprint is comparable or even slightly higher?)?'
It can be a bit underwhelming when your individual efforts include replacing light bulbs, buying local produce and dutifully breaking out your note pad and calculator while asking a helpless florist how his roses were grown and transported.
Masterful writer Michael Pollan, who has written about plants and the human consumption of those plants-turned-food for most of the decade, presents a convincing argument in last week's New York Magazine (Why Bother?).
Here's a particularly inspiring quote for a taste:
"If you do bother, you will set an example for other people. If enough
other people bother, each one influencing yet another in a chain
reaction of behavioral change, markets for all manner of green products
and alternative technologies will prosper and expand. (Just look at the
market for hybrid cars.) Consciousness will be raised, perhaps even
changed: new moral imperatives and new taboos might take root in the
culture. Driving an S.U.V. or eating a 24-ounce steak or illuminating
your McMansion like an airport runway at night might come to be
regarded as outrages to human conscience. Not having things might
become cooler than having them. And those who did change the way they
live would acquire the moral standing to demand changes in behavior
from others — from other people, other corporations, even other
countries."
Even this one paragraph makes the effort (i.e.: bothering) seem a little bit more empowering. His entire purpose is to encourage as many people as possible to start a garden, buy space in a community garden, compost - do your part no matter what! Not only will it have an effect on your carbon footprint, it also saves you money, keeps you away from other carbon-consuming activities, inspires others to be 'greener' and the final product of your home garden is often more tasty and satisfying than the mass-produced and transported variety in stores.
Most of us know that making environmentally responsible choices is the right thing to do. If you read Pollan's article and subscribe to his philosophy of viral social change, then you probably didn't need to be persuaded. However, you'd be missing the point if you were only inspired to change your actions. 'Why bother?' is a question we ask ourselves, but it's also a question others ask of us. So encourage others to ask you the question and be confident that you bother for a reason - to do everything you can to change your effect on the climate and inspire others to do the same.
Feeling: Felicitous 
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| New Beginnings
I'm back with some renewed vigor. I'd like to say that writing here will be more regular in 2008, but a quick look at some of my previous posts shows some huge gaps that make it doubtful that I'll live up to my intentions. So -- no promises. Boding well for making this exercise more regular, though, is my list of 'routines' (avoiding the term 'resolution') for the future (not just the year).
Before I get to that...the latest on the job/job search. Frustrations with my current job are still abundant. Having completed the course-work for my masters over the summer, there has been little change at work except for a meager attempt to placate me with some more professional responsibilities that require reporting to a more experienced higher ed professional and a welcome office switcher-oo.
At the end of the spring semester, the Dean of the College came to talk to me in my old office, which was slightly larger than a closet, had one incomplete wall adjacent to the community kitchen and another thin wall that was shared with the mens' bathroom -- leaving the details of why I needed a switch to the imagination. Anyway...the point was he realized from the details I listed on my job evaluation that I was interested in advancement. Although he was willing to make that a reality, what he couldn't do was match it with any guarantees of salary compensation within the academic year. Taking what I could, I accepted the proposal for more professional experience.
Fast forward...I've been in committee for "early decision" in admissions and gotten additional exposure in the admissions office, both of which make me feel like a more valuable professional. A semester later, it all feels inadequate considering my barbone salary, though.
As for the latest, an administrative employee with similar sentiments as myself (she also does well above and beyond the expectations of an administrative aide) and an assistant director have announced new job opportunities that will have them both leaving within the month. Given the fact that in addition to myself there are only two other employees in the 40+ person staff at this level, this is an unusual strain for the office.
Rewind a bit...back in October I applied for jobs at two institutions I have become enamored with: Haverford College in suburban Philadelphia and Davidson College in suburban Charlotte, North Carolina. Turns out I got a few bites on these annual fund jobs. After two successful phone interviews, I have on campus interviews this week as a final candidate at each institution.
So -- opportunities abound. We'll see what materializes, but it should be exciting whatever the result.
Onto resolu-, I mean routines. The reason I'm going to refer to changes in lifestyle as routines as opposed to resolutions is because I'm starting to realize that calling something a resolution only reinforces the fact that I'm making a change, which can make it more difficult to accomplish. I also want these routines to extend beyond the year, so I won't limit myself to making this "Routines for 2008".
Routine #1 - Running Personal Records. I'm making a commitment to run on a regular basis with the intention of eclipsing my performance in 2007 in the 10-mile race and Half Marathon. Whether or not I run a marathon in 2008 is still up for debate, but I'll be content to run both distances that I ran in 2007 with more competitive results.
Routine #2 - Live healthier. Since adequate training is required to improve, going to the gym will be a necessary routine, including regular running, weight training and fitness regiments. I won't stop there, though. I'm dedicated to eating a more balanced and healthy diet, including cooking meals at home more often.
Routine #3 - Read 20 books in 2008. Back in 2006 I did this and found it incredibly rewarding. I have enough time on my hands with graduate school out of the picture. My only rule is that I don't compromise what I'm reading to accomplish the goal (i.e.: I won't be choosing quick reads just to say I've reached 20 books).
I'm confident that nothing I've listed is beyond my ability. My intent will be to inject updates on these three routines in regular blog posts along with general updates, news and ponderings.
Feeling - Unstoppable
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| What Happens When First Impressions Are Outgrown?My last post was about, among other things, new beginnings. A new degree from a professional school should be a rather clear indication that a person has dedicated valuable time and money to something in the hopes of seeing a return on the investment. I don't think many people would be surprised to hear that my intention in getting a masters degree was not just to keep myself occupied; few things that I choose to dedicate my time to are simply to kill time. The way I'm feeling at work, I wonder if anyone cares that I have dreams.
I took a job out of college in a position I don't readily identify with (two and a half years later). There is nothing wrong with being an administrative assistant, but my goals and ambitions are not consistent with this career track. I see myself as a leader; I consider myself a visionary; I aspire to inspire.
Don't get me wrong, administrative aides are invaluable resources and among the least appreciated in most offices. They answer phones, create an environment that is comfortable to others through friendly platitudes and sincere acts of support, ensure the smooth operation of equipment, supply and restock supplies we wouldn't value unless they were absent (i.e.: coffee, pens, paper, cups, plates, water, the list could go on indefinitely), perform the routine acts that allow others to dedicate time and energy to other priorities, and they are always ready to help a cause when called upon. In short, without the administrative core, most offices (mine definitely included) would hopelessly shrug its shoulders and ask 'Where's the coffee?! I can't start my day unless Margaret Mary or Barbara is here to brew me a cup of joe...'. (I've witnessed these days on occasion, and it's rather sad to see so many capable individuals quizzically wonder what to do make the coffee brew...)
The fact that I started in an administrative position, I'm starting to seriously fear my fate in the office. I've heard it countless times: jobs in higher education are not designed for upward mobility. Get yourself a job at a school and you've secured your fate in a well-defined niche (either administrative staff, lower professional, middle professional or senior professional, among others obviously excluded for simplicity). For two and a half years, I have ignored convention. I've been narrow-minded. I think I'm finally at a fork in the road...continue down the administrative path or take the higher road...for clarity, that's a metaphor for professional development not a dig at administrative professionals as evidenced by the last paragraph.
I've enjoyed more than my share of promotions and congratulatory accomplishments by my count in my office (there are people just as deserving, perhaps just lacking in ambition, although that is not a dig either). A lot of people are similarly convinced that I'll continue to advance in the office. My suddenly less-optimistic view is that I've reached a limit (the first time I've considered calculus functions and limits valuable since freshman year of college...). The fact is that I'm suddenly forging my own path. There's not a well-trodden path from administrative assistant to assistant director - that only happens in corporate America. The way I'm looking to be rewarded for my work is an American dream, but sadly not a reality in education.
I'm starting to rant, but I'm somewhat disappointed: I was optimistic. I thought it was possible for someone to overcome adversity, even if I am a straight, white young male (see the last post for more guilt on that front). I think I'm finally realizing that sometimes you have to cut your losses and hope that the work you've done has left an indelible (if not temporarily impressive) mark on a place so that you don't have to start over completely.
First impressions may be important, but I think last impressions aren't given enough of a chance...
Feeling: overly appreciated and unfulfilled
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