Can you run faster than Paula?

Was and is the question often asked of male runners in England.

There is a great story on Grete Waitz and Paula Radcliffe and the NYC marathon in the NYT.

...Waitz laughed when recalling a gratifying moment in 2005, when she was buying a cup of coffee before watching the Boston Marathon.

“Excuse me,” someone asked her, “are you Paula Radcliffe?”

Waitz, then wearing a blonde ponytail, responded, “Only in my dreams.”

She added on Friday, “That is the biggest compliment I’ve ever gotten.”

Eugene's Run

There was a nice talk by Mr. Eugene Robinson today- it replaced my run, but was well worth it..

Old time but a fast time

As I walked up the stairs today I saw my 1988 Marathon certificate on the wall...I had a time of 3:24 and a few seconds in my first marathon. That was not bad...for someone busy doing a Ph.D.

Running backward

One cannot help but go back in time to a romantic past as one listens to the songs of one's youth- Osibisa's Ojah Awake, or yeh pyaase dil bezubaan.

NY Marathon

is coming up on Sunday. It would be interesting to see how Paula Radcliffe runs.

During June 2007 I visited NY and my friend took me to Central Park so that I could run there. It was a great experience. Though the romantic friendship broke down, the run in Central Park still provides many enjoyable memories.

Running in an Indian Summer of Romance..

As I chatted today with a friend from India, I remembered wistfully the days I spent in Delhi this past summer. I used to run regularly, and met quite a few folks who walked during the time I ran. I also had romantic discussions with a runner from California, a romance which unfortunately did not come to fruition. Nevertheless, it was a hot summer for running and romance. Now the cold is back in Chicago, and both the Rs are dragging...

The Lake Effect

Running by the lake is quite a serene experience, and watching many others run, often alone, is also inspiring. It is not quite the same elsewhere.

A marathon effort

I read that our track coach ran the Chicago marathon in 2:29, which is extremely fast. I wish I could record a time like that. While I have had the potential, the inability or the unwillingness to train to the extent that's needed, has been my bugaboo.

Going fror a weekday runner to a weekend runner

Busy schedules are forcing this runner to do it on the weekends. Takes discipline to get up early in the morning to go out and run...

Memories of a lonely past...

thus begins a song by Los Lobos...titled the 'River of Fools.'

I remember the time I was training for marathons, running fifteen to twenty miles a day, and going out with some good female friends...those were the days of stress and strides.

sprinting ahead....

It is nice to see a student 'get it' once in a while. This becomes apparent as the student starts answering questions, then asking questions, and slowly starts putting the pieces together. When the grades start to follow, then everything falls into place.

Athletes...the Educated Ones.

This year I don't have any female athletes who are graduating, but I have some stellar male athletes ready to go on into the big world. Kyle, a footballer, and Vince, a baseballer, and Tim, a wrestler, are outstanding students and athletes- they will be sorely missed, both on the sports field and in the classroom.

Dancing in the rain...

It is interesting to compare the Lata Kishore song 'Ab Ke Saawan Mein Ji Darre' of RD Burman with the many Kishore Asha duets involving romance in the rain, like "aaj rapat jaiyyo toh hamein na uthaiyyo" of Bappi Lahiri. It an be argued that Lata did a better job of conveying the playful mood much better than Asha.

Running...into old friends

is always interesting and at times bittersweet- whether it happens physically or on the Net. Over the years people get into and out of relationships, and sometimes it is worthwhile just to engage as good friends.

A diwali run

Now's the time to go for the sparkling runs, before winter snows and slows usdown.

Running fast but gap keeps increasing...

The feeling that one gets when the goal post keeps getting moved as one gets closer...

Equivalence

How many stairs should one climb up and then down that equals a specific distance of running? A great number of variables come into play, but for those who are running short of time, and get their workout through taking the stairs this computation might be useful.

Speed bump...on the running path

Going to work at 6:00AM and returning at 8:30PM ensures the demise of one's running schedule...

Breaking a habit...through a new habit

I have run for three days in a row, breaking a habit of highly irregular running. I have also re-started my sit-ups and push-ups. Let's hope this does not got run over...

Hot Race on a Cold Day

The Chicago Marathon today produced the fastest time on U.S. soil. Kenya's Samuel Wanjiru posted a phenomenal time of 2:05:41 in rather cold weather. However the weather was dry, not very windy and not humid- quite perfect conditions for a fast run.

I went out to run in the evening and had to struggle with the lunch still stirring in my stomach...realized that I had to get back to doing stomach crunches.

Winning before the Start of the Race...

The Nobel Prize given to President Obama has stirred up a big pot of controversy. The Republican party and its supporters have been vocal in their criticism, never mind that Obama never asked or applied for the award. Ms. Dowd has written a hilariously satirical piece titled "Gandhi Wuz Robbed" in the NYT, in which the former Presidents Bill and W. are discussing this Obama-fascination.

There was a funny cartoon on this topic...

A cold one.

The past few years I have not the Chicago marathon but have gone out and put in a good run that day. I hope to do that this year too, despite the prediction of a cold morning.

Always running....

My students gave me a little insight into their eating habits- apparently they eat in a hurry and just gobble down food because they can use the time for something else...

Marathon in the air...

The Chicago marathon is coming up this weekend. While there are no "top" stars like Paula running in this marathon it does have a lot of interest for past marathoners like me. The race is always fun, and goes through some great neighbourhoods.

Running...ahead of one's thoughts...

At times, a runner experiences a stream of thoughts racing through his head, resulting in a perception of slow down. How does one slow down the thoughts, and focus on one? When that happens the runner does not feel the expenditure of any effort in running- a feeling of floating in air.

Running joke...NOT!

David Letterman used to make jokes about the 'extra curricular" activities of politicians, athletes, artists and everyone else- he got a lot of mileage out of President Clinton, Elliot Spritzer, and many others. What really runs counter to these jokes is that Dave himself was running through a lot of these activities. How he made those jokes about others while being a sleazeball himself...

Running on "Full"...

Running on Empty is a wonderful movie of Christine Lahti..

Running on a full stomach, or running after a few days of sloth (which makes the body sluggish) is far from a wonderful experience, as my body realized today...

Running down the memory lane, we watched the first season of the TV series, My Two Dads- a cute comedy starring Paul Reiser.

Running fast....down the wrong path?

A long time ago I was running a race in Evanston and was going at a very fast clip. Suddenly there was a fork and no sign to direct the runners. I veered left and found out after a few minutes that that was not right. As I debated the virtues of "consistency" with my brother, one who is well-versed in the classics and in contemporary writings, I began re-examining my assumptions about consistency- consistency in one's thought processes, consistency in one's deeds, and consistency in one's dedication to learning. When learning supersedes all other priorities, perhaps other actions fall into place. As one consistently learns more about the environment and then about oneself, then all other elements will be in harmony, even if they appear inconsistent to the external observer.

Running Out on Chicago

A runny rainy day in Chicago- a red-faced mayor Daley, accepting the fact that the 2016 Olympic Games went to Rio de Janeiro. This was clearly a good decision by the Committee, as the Olympics have never been held in South America, and Brazil as part of the BRIC group has seen significant development. Far more importantly, President Lula is head and shoulders above the U.S. leaders- he has the experience of working in a factory, and losing a finger. President Lula comes across as a gentleman who really cares. Another factor is Brazil's excellence in soccer, the world's most popular sport. While many Chicagoans might mourn the loss, this one is quite pleased with the Games in Rio.

Running down Texting...

One good act today-

"Federal employees will not be allowed to text while driving, according to an executive order signed Wednesday night by President Obama.

The order covers federal employees when they are using government-provided cars or cellphones and when they are using their own phones and cars to conduct government business.

Separately, the federal government plans to ban text messaging by bus drivers and truckers who travel across state lines, and may also preclude them from using cellphones while driving, except in emergencies.

Ray H. LaHood, the transportation secretary, announced those and several other measures on Thursday, aimed at curbing what he called a deadly epidemic of distracted driving."...

From the NYT.