Yesterday, I did the Manhattan Half-Marathon, 13.1 miles in Central Park. That’s about 2 and 1/8 times around the big loop.
First, the exciting news: From what I can tell, I was 992/1111 in my age group. That’s exciting only because it’s the first time in any race that I haven’t been last in my age group. I did it in 2:14:52. That’s not impressive, but not totally hopeless for someone as slow as I am, especially given that no matter what direction you run in
Central Park, it’s all uphill. This was also the longest run I’ve done since 2005.
The right knee held out. It’s still a little sore, but seems to do best when left alone. It’s still obviously weaker than the left, but that’s something I can work on. If I don’t injure out before Boston, I have about five runs over 10 miles left. Six miles seems to be the magic distance for aggravating runner’s knee (if that’s what this is) and I have about 14 runs over that. If I stick to icing, strengthening exercises and running on decent surfaces, I think I’ll make it.
The loops in the park let you know exactly how slow you are because at mile 5 or so, when you’re thinking about the 25 blocks to go before you start your final loop, the leader laps you. The faster runners have to stick to the far outside and dodge the pokey runners with no lane control who block all everything. The mechanics of the race experience are similar to what you feel at a Wal-Mart at 6 AM the day after Thanksgiving. I apologize to the guy I bumped at the Gatorade table, the rest of us running up to the table behind you just didn’t expect you to completely stop and start pondering which cup you were going to take.
The Bronx race is in two weeks. Tempting.
My coworkers got me a swell mug from the Onion that sums it all up:
I’m glad to know that my special brand of positive vibe is spreading! Catch the fever!
On the one hand, my Boston Marathon application is in. On the other hand, the right knee is still totally screwed up. I’m hoping that ice and Advil can fix it.
I’ve read two books which cover knee injuries. What I’ve taken away: Running Injury Free says that you shouldn’t just run through the injury, not to pop painkillers before the run and not to wear neoprene braces. Lore of Running says to just run through it, to pop painkillers before the run, and to wear a neoprene brace. They’re both written by doctors.
I’m going with the the one that lets me run as much as I want when I misread its advice. The one that didn’t let me do that said I’d do that given the chance.
My Quiet Life has a good description of the Democrats:
Obama: The system sucks, but I’m so awesome that it’ll melt away before me.
Edwards: The system sucks, and we’re gonna have to fight like hell to destroy it.
Clinton: The system sucks, and I know how to work within it more than anyone.
We went to Kang Suh for dinner last night. As I was just remarking, it’s like a pregnant she-yak ate a bushel of rancid garlic and died. In my stomach.
I still recommend the place!
As a huge fan of jingoism, entertaining facial hair and bayonet fights, I have to say that Boy’s Own Adventure is my new favorite blog.
I was reading some market commentary from Barrons about just how bad the debt market is and wanted to see if it coincided with the start of Flip that House! on the Discovery Channel. Sadly, there isn’t that 1:1 relationship I would have expected since the show first aired in 2005, before the shark was quite jumped in real estate. That still seems to be about the peak of the good times though, so there still is a sense that when you see it on TV, it’s done. Sex in New York? Over. Undertakers? Gonzo. Hedge funds? Done. Anything south of LA? Done. Upper East Side High School Kids? So 2007.
The wikipedia article had a telling statement:
The third season of “Flip That House” premiered on July 7, 2007 on TLC. These episodes now feature what happened to the house after the “flippers” flipped the house. Most “flippers” end up moving into the house, or leasing it due to the declining house market.
Now that we’ve blown through equities and real estate, what market is next? Everyone’s going to be financing movies? Bolivian reverse repos market finally taking off? Water rights?
Water rights have already been done by a lot of big infrastructure corporations, but there’s one for the little guy for 2008.
“I don’t care how the economy goes, people still need water.”
“I totally see that. I’ll take 50.”
The baby finally got me. He’s been trying to get the pacifier in my mouth for a month. He totally went doe-eyed and giggled and when I let my guard down, pow: right in the kisser. It’s wet and tastes like rubber. NASTY.