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When odd bits of ego meet masochism we bipeds find ourselves
doing all sorts of feats "because we can." Surely this sort of
egoism is responsible for all sorts of entries in the Darwin Awards book as
people meet their demise in incredibly stupid yet charmingly creative ways. If you need a morbid laugh or to feel like a relative genius, please see:
http://www.darwinawards.com/
One of my Triathlon partners e-mailed me today to say that
he is on his 6th day of making 100 runs in 100 days. Hmmm. Suggested that I try it as a prep for the
looming ½ marathon in Feb ’08.
Ultramarathon man
Dean Karnazes amazed me by remaining in this world after running something like
50 marathons in 50 days in 50 states as a promotion with North Face.
http://www.thenorthface.com/na/athletes/athletes-DK.html
No joke. Strangely
this man continues to live, breathe, and of course, run. Even Forrest Gump could not compare to
Karnazes. He’s been at the head of this new breed of ultramarathoner that feels
26.2 is too…common. They do 50 and 100
mile races, and even have the gumption/lunacy to do runs in
Death
Valley
where Karnazes wrote about having to run on the white
median paint strip so his shoes would stop melting on the road.
The problem, is that I happen to really like “rest days.” A
lot. I love my runs/hikes, but I sure do
savor the days I lay about and read books. Kind of like how I love my organic golden
turnips and kale/chard…but some days I gotta bust out the Haagen daz &
triple cream French brie. Renders
balance unto life, ya know?
But why else do we do things? Most of us North Americans are
fortunate enough that we aren’t on survival mode. I am overeducated and credit carded enough
that I have time to ponder existential issues. I am sufficiently nourished to seek artistic sustenance and personal challenges. Why climb Half Dome? Why journey alone to
Costa Rica
? Run
races regularly? Do Triathlons? I go on, to show myself what I can do. Because
I can, and because I know there’s no guarantees in life how long I will be able
to.
Then I thought about the challenge/experiment I heard being
discussed on the radio:
A woman and her husband were planning to have 100 straight days
of sex.
One commenter said, “after a week or I’d be like ‘YOU
again?!’”
I floated this notion to P and asked what he thought. Not
that I was recommending it. Just wondered what that would be like. “And for
what reason exactly?” he asked.
“Because we can.”
Then there is the literary equivalent of an ultramarathon :
NaNoWriMo
National Novel Writing Month. The operative goal here to write a passable (loosely
defined) novel of about 50, 000 words in one month’s time. Why? To see if you
can of course. And it’s one way to make
short shrift of the “inner editor” which renders my normal attempts at writing more like a mental
wrestling bout. I did wrestle some in
high school P.E. Suffice to say it is not my strong suit. Alas, I have missed this year’s special
NaNoWriMo month, but I think I will be adding this to my to do list as
well. After all, I’ve always wanted to
write some books. (actually publishing
one is another feat, but hey, let’s start with the writing.)
Thus, as we enter that season of new beginnings, the
holidays are nigh, new clients are calling me in droves, and the resolutions
frame of mind is setting in.
What’ll it be this year? 100 days of sex? 100 days of
running? Better yet, how about both at once? Your body will either collapse in
mutiny or else you’ll sport the mother of all healthy “glows.” (and maybe a limp.)
And while you’re at
it, let’s throw in novel completion. Because
we can.
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