Of all of the places in Chicago, probably my favorite destination is the Chicago lakefront. It’s peaceful there, exhibiting greenery and natural things. People there are active, usually enjoying the weather or relaxing on the beach. I feel that when a person lives in the midst of urban congestion, this is a place where he can forget all of that. It’s not too far of a stretch for me, considering that I was born and raised in Indiana among vast plains of fields and forests. So most of my life, I have dwelled in the countryside, and I have grown accustomed to wilderness and the feeling of space that comes with it. To me, I guess that’s what the lakefront somewhat resembles. It’s like a memory of what it is like to be around natural things. Perhaps it is a reminder of what it’s like to be around home.
I run there every weekend. At first I ran by myself and now I run with a large group of trainees preparing for the Chicago marathon. Usually when I am there, I am not only exercising, but also soaking in the sun. All of this combines to make me feel good and pleasant.
When I run by myself, sometimes I dissociate my thoughts (actually a less than desirable running practice). During these occasions, I build and build into a natural kinesthetic rhythm where I let my mind settle into a meditative state. In this state, distances and time feel as though they were nothing. No worries enter my mind. I feel focused.
In contrast, I now find that I am making tons of new acquaintances when running with other people in the CARA marathon training program. We talk about many things as we pound the trail together, dodging snobby bikers (haha) and other obstacles. I find this makes the long distances of 9, 10, 13, and hopefully 20 miles disappear much quicker and more easily.
So no matter the situation, I feel good and comfortable when I on the lakefront.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Training Day
Today I officially kicked off the process of training for the 2007 Chicago Marathon. A few weeks ago after some deliberation, I decided to sign up for the CARA (Chicago Area Runners Association) marathon training program. Today they hosted their super seminar at UIC medical school. Basically they gathered alot of speakers on a variety of topics such as nutrition, injuries, stretching and strengthening, training programs, and running form. Honestly, it was an information overload. I have never heard so much in one day about technique, stretching exercises, or all of the bad things that can happen to you while running a marathon.
Also true to past form, this running event also allowed me to make the acquaintance of new people who were randomly gathered there as beginning marathoners. As the next few weeks come, and I start my long runs, I can tell I am going to meet so many new people and hopefully form some good bonds as we train together. Ultimately, I feel that the decision to do this was a good one.
One highlight of the event was that I finally had the opportunity to hear Hal Higdon speak about running and the training program. He was pretty energetic for an older guy and I thought he had a great sense of humor in his speaking style. Overall he was a well polished presenter. As I listened to him, I thought about what it must be like to be a legend like Hal. To have run so many marathons (over 100), write for Runner's World since the 60s, and write books like Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide (a good read for aspiring marathoners). His training programs at halhigdon.com are almost the de facto standard, and I am sure his book has inspired many people including myself to attempt this great feat. Sometimes its funny how one man's efforts can have such a wide effect. I really admire his work.
Finally, at one point, the presenters played video highlights of last year's Chicago marathon. Just seeing the menu looping sequence of all the people crossing the huge starting line gave me chills. It is clear that this will be the biggest race I have ever been involved with. It's really amazing that all of these people (all ages, shapes, and sizes) set out to accomplish such a demanding task. People there talked about how completing the first marathon and its training was a powerful experience. If I can pull it off, I am hoping I will be able to say the same thing.
Also true to past form, this running event also allowed me to make the acquaintance of new people who were randomly gathered there as beginning marathoners. As the next few weeks come, and I start my long runs, I can tell I am going to meet so many new people and hopefully form some good bonds as we train together. Ultimately, I feel that the decision to do this was a good one.
One highlight of the event was that I finally had the opportunity to hear Hal Higdon speak about running and the training program. He was pretty energetic for an older guy and I thought he had a great sense of humor in his speaking style. Overall he was a well polished presenter. As I listened to him, I thought about what it must be like to be a legend like Hal. To have run so many marathons (over 100), write for Runner's World since the 60s, and write books like Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide (a good read for aspiring marathoners). His training programs at halhigdon.com are almost the de facto standard, and I am sure his book has inspired many people including myself to attempt this great feat. Sometimes its funny how one man's efforts can have such a wide effect. I really admire his work.
Finally, at one point, the presenters played video highlights of last year's Chicago marathon. Just seeing the menu looping sequence of all the people crossing the huge starting line gave me chills. It is clear that this will be the biggest race I have ever been involved with. It's really amazing that all of these people (all ages, shapes, and sizes) set out to accomplish such a demanding task. People there talked about how completing the first marathon and its training was a powerful experience. If I can pull it off, I am hoping I will be able to say the same thing.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Thoughts on 300
A few weeks ago, I finally ventured out and saw the movie, “300.” Overall, I liked the movie, especially the visuals. For being a 60 million dollar movie, I thought the computer generated graphics were impressive. Also the choreography of the battle scenes was spectacular. I really liked the usage of slow motion during the skirmishes. It added a nice artsy touch, making the scenes a “ballet of violence” as other movie critics pointed out. It kind of reminded me of when “The Matrix” debuted and showed us the visuals of “bullet time.”
The compelling part of “300” lies in the sacrifice of the Spartans and the other Greek soldiers. One has to wonder what drives men to willingly choose to die. The easy way out in their situation would have been to surrender or least to retreat. Withdrawal would have been a move that many would have deemed wise. However, as Doestevsky once mentioned in “Notes from the Underground”, the fascinating thing about humans is that they don’t always make the rational decision. Humans are rare creatures in that they can purposely choose to respond irrationally. If we assume that humans are almost always guided by self interest, personal gain, and the drive for survival, the Spartans last stand seems foolish. They knew they were going to die. What did they stand to gain from giving up their lives?
Looking from a military strategy perspective, the Spartans’ and their allies’ last stand was to buy time. They would delay the Persian army enough in order to provide cover for the forces whom retreated earlier from the battle. Ultimately, the battle of Thermopylae also bought time for all of Greece. Since the Persians were delayed on the order of a week, the city of Athens was allowed to evacuate. This eventually led to Greece uniting its forces and decisively beating back the Persians’ invading force.
However, when looking at the battle, the deeper ramifications should be considered. The Greek warriors stayed in order to show their resolve and their dedication to their way of life. They wanted to show the Persians how far men would go to protect their own sovereignty and culture. It was rare, because in this instance, men were sacrificing themselves for the preservation of abstract ideas rather than just pure wealth and material.
Many would say that in the face of overwhelming odds with each individual’s death staring him in the face, the natural reaction would have been to bargain with the enemy or else retreat. The natural move would have been to preserve one’s existence instead of just throwing it aside as a gift to posterity and country. However, the Greeks choose to betray their own flesh rather than their principles and ideals. It was because of these principles (determination, honor, and integrity) that they could not back down. Their ideals of democracy would have died had they submitted, because then everyone would have considered the ideals as frivolous and because the Persians' culture would have stamped them out. However, the fashion of the soldiers’ sacrifice provided true value and legitimacy to those ideals. It showed individuals were willing to give something very valuable in order for those ideals to survive.
The sacrifice at Thermopylae arguably saved Greece from being wiped from the annals of history. It also sent a ripple through time that culminated with the founding of the United States and thus the rise of the western world. This chain of events was the ultimate realization of the burgeoning ideals for which the 300 and their allies sacrificed themselves long ago.
The compelling part of “300” lies in the sacrifice of the Spartans and the other Greek soldiers. One has to wonder what drives men to willingly choose to die. The easy way out in their situation would have been to surrender or least to retreat. Withdrawal would have been a move that many would have deemed wise. However, as Doestevsky once mentioned in “Notes from the Underground”, the fascinating thing about humans is that they don’t always make the rational decision. Humans are rare creatures in that they can purposely choose to respond irrationally. If we assume that humans are almost always guided by self interest, personal gain, and the drive for survival, the Spartans last stand seems foolish. They knew they were going to die. What did they stand to gain from giving up their lives?
Looking from a military strategy perspective, the Spartans’ and their allies’ last stand was to buy time. They would delay the Persian army enough in order to provide cover for the forces whom retreated earlier from the battle. Ultimately, the battle of Thermopylae also bought time for all of Greece. Since the Persians were delayed on the order of a week, the city of Athens was allowed to evacuate. This eventually led to Greece uniting its forces and decisively beating back the Persians’ invading force.
However, when looking at the battle, the deeper ramifications should be considered. The Greek warriors stayed in order to show their resolve and their dedication to their way of life. They wanted to show the Persians how far men would go to protect their own sovereignty and culture. It was rare, because in this instance, men were sacrificing themselves for the preservation of abstract ideas rather than just pure wealth and material.
Many would say that in the face of overwhelming odds with each individual’s death staring him in the face, the natural reaction would have been to bargain with the enemy or else retreat. The natural move would have been to preserve one’s existence instead of just throwing it aside as a gift to posterity and country. However, the Greeks choose to betray their own flesh rather than their principles and ideals. It was because of these principles (determination, honor, and integrity) that they could not back down. Their ideals of democracy would have died had they submitted, because then everyone would have considered the ideals as frivolous and because the Persians' culture would have stamped them out. However, the fashion of the soldiers’ sacrifice provided true value and legitimacy to those ideals. It showed individuals were willing to give something very valuable in order for those ideals to survive.
The sacrifice at Thermopylae arguably saved Greece from being wiped from the annals of history. It also sent a ripple through time that culminated with the founding of the United States and thus the rise of the western world. This chain of events was the ultimate realization of the burgeoning ideals for which the 300 and their allies sacrificed themselves long ago.
Monday, March 19, 2007
No Shame
As expected, Purdue dropped the second round NCAA tournament matchup versus Florida, 74-67. However, with this loss, there is nothing to be ashamed of. As I posted previously, I said I would be impressed if Purdue put out a great effort. They didn't disappoint. Purdue took it right to Florida and played their hearts out. We enjoyed a consistent lead in the first half (7 points at one point in the game) and ended up leading at the half by 2 points. In the second half, we had the lead for probably 10-12 minutes. Then we clawed back from 5 to 7 point deficits to lead again at the 7 minute mark, 49-47. Ultimately, Purdue could not withstand a flurry of free throws made by Florida, the clutch inside play of Al Horford, and missing their own free throws. Despite fading some in the second half, Purdue never gave up and kept it close.
The physicality of the game was best summarized by Josh Peters in his Yahoo Sports column. Here is the excerpt:
"The Boilermakers gave Florida a taste of Big Ten basketball, and it went down about as well as Castor Oil. A plodding tempo. In-your-face defense. The kind of body slamming usually reserved for a mosh pit."
Landry finished the game with 18 points and 10 boards against the bigger Florida frontline. His effort was inspiring, so much in fact that he earned the respect of Florida stars, Joakim Noah and Al Horford. All three players embraced on the court after the game. It was almost as though Noah and Horford were warriors showing respect for a worthy fallen opponent. Noah later went on to say "I give [Landry] a lot of respect. He's a warrior. There was not a single play when he gave up going for the rebound or for the shot. I feel bad for him because I know how hard it is to lose in the tournament."
Teague and Chris Kramer also played well each finishing with 14 points.
Personally, I would like to take time to thank the seniors for this season. Landry and Teague had great performances throughout the whole year. They were really the catalysts for this year's turnaround. When Purdue fans look back, Teague and Landry will be seen as the firestarters, the guys who brought Purdue back. Hopefully they both can continue their careers professionally.
This game only reaffirms the future is bright for Purdue. Matt Painter and his staff are good. They are good tactically, good at developing players, good at motivating players, and so far good at getting some recruits. Purdue as a team improved substantially as the season progressed. Also Purdue's nationally ranked recruiting class comes in next year. If they can gel with the mainstays, Purdue will be tough once again.
One last thing, Purdue recruit E'twaun Moore and East Chicago Central takes on IU recruit (top 5 talent) Eric Gordon and Indy North Central in the 4A title tilt next Saturday.
The physicality of the game was best summarized by Josh Peters in his Yahoo Sports column. Here is the excerpt:
"The Boilermakers gave Florida a taste of Big Ten basketball, and it went down about as well as Castor Oil. A plodding tempo. In-your-face defense. The kind of body slamming usually reserved for a mosh pit."
Landry finished the game with 18 points and 10 boards against the bigger Florida frontline. His effort was inspiring, so much in fact that he earned the respect of Florida stars, Joakim Noah and Al Horford. All three players embraced on the court after the game. It was almost as though Noah and Horford were warriors showing respect for a worthy fallen opponent. Noah later went on to say "I give [Landry] a lot of respect. He's a warrior. There was not a single play when he gave up going for the rebound or for the shot. I feel bad for him because I know how hard it is to lose in the tournament."
Teague and Chris Kramer also played well each finishing with 14 points.
Personally, I would like to take time to thank the seniors for this season. Landry and Teague had great performances throughout the whole year. They were really the catalysts for this year's turnaround. When Purdue fans look back, Teague and Landry will be seen as the firestarters, the guys who brought Purdue back. Hopefully they both can continue their careers professionally.
This game only reaffirms the future is bright for Purdue. Matt Painter and his staff are good. They are good tactically, good at developing players, good at motivating players, and so far good at getting some recruits. Purdue as a team improved substantially as the season progressed. Also Purdue's nationally ranked recruiting class comes in next year. If they can gel with the mainstays, Purdue will be tough once again.
One last thing, Purdue recruit E'twaun Moore and East Chicago Central takes on IU recruit (top 5 talent) Eric Gordon and Indy North Central in the 4A title tilt next Saturday.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
March is the best time of year
The month of March is probably my favorite time of the year. The primary reason for this is because the NCAA Division I basketball tournament takes place during this month. The tournament is the biggest and most exciting event in America. There are so many games to follow , and everyone has a reasonable chance at predicting the outcome which makes it very accessible. This last thing in itself gives everyone a stake in the tournament. What other event captivates the attention of so many fans and even their grandmothers? Many are in interested in all the games since each has an effect on their prediction. The excitement is increased because of the nature of the tournament format and the game of basketball itself. Basketball is inherently a game of runs and flows. A team may have a huge lead, but there almost always is a chance to make a comeback. The game goes back and forth and is usually very unpredictable. The other great attribute is the fact the tournament format gives us rare matchups between majors from vastly different power conferences as well as between the good mid-majors and the majors. Since it is not a series format, but rather a one and done game, anyone has a chance to knock off any team on a given night.
We are in the midst of the first four days of the tournament, which I think are the best. In this span, the most games are played simultaneously. Also we usually see the crazy upsets of the first and second rounds. I almost feel the final four and the championship game are anticlimatic in comparison to the first four days.
Anyway now on to Purdue basketball. Purdue pulled out a great win on Friday night to stay alive. They outhustled and overwhelmed Arizona with their toughness. Also Purdue really slowed the game down and forced Arizona to play half court. We imposed our will on them. It really shows that sometimes talent and athletic ability alone cannot win games. It is a combination of many factors. A few of those factors are desire and effort. Friday night Purdue overcame Arizona's edge in athleticism and talent with heart, toughness, coaching, and determination. It was a great win in the Painter era. Hopefully more great things are on the way the next few years.
Purdue now gets the matchup with possibly the best team in the nation, Florida. I don't think realistically Purdue will win the game. Florida is a very complete team and definitely has the inside edge on Purdue. However, anything can happen since the game is a tournament game. Personally, I like these desperate situations. Instead of dread, I look at this as a great opportunity to give one of the best teams your best shot. This is a chance to leave a lasting impression. I am already proud of Purdue's turnaround this season. I will be more impressed if they give Florida all they can handle tomorrow afternoon.
Go Purdue
We are in the midst of the first four days of the tournament, which I think are the best. In this span, the most games are played simultaneously. Also we usually see the crazy upsets of the first and second rounds. I almost feel the final four and the championship game are anticlimatic in comparison to the first four days.
Anyway now on to Purdue basketball. Purdue pulled out a great win on Friday night to stay alive. They outhustled and overwhelmed Arizona with their toughness. Also Purdue really slowed the game down and forced Arizona to play half court. We imposed our will on them. It really shows that sometimes talent and athletic ability alone cannot win games. It is a combination of many factors. A few of those factors are desire and effort. Friday night Purdue overcame Arizona's edge in athleticism and talent with heart, toughness, coaching, and determination. It was a great win in the Painter era. Hopefully more great things are on the way the next few years.
Purdue now gets the matchup with possibly the best team in the nation, Florida. I don't think realistically Purdue will win the game. Florida is a very complete team and definitely has the inside edge on Purdue. However, anything can happen since the game is a tournament game. Personally, I like these desperate situations. Instead of dread, I look at this as a great opportunity to give one of the best teams your best shot. This is a chance to leave a lasting impression. I am already proud of Purdue's turnaround this season. I will be more impressed if they give Florida all they can handle tomorrow afternoon.
Go Purdue
Monday, March 12, 2007
NCAA Tournament and weekend thoughts (Greg Oden please go pro next year)
This was a pretty solid weekend. Friday, my beloved Purdue Boilermakers claimed victory over Iowa in the Big Ten tournament. Purdue played with alot of energy and as I predicted, Landry and Teague would not be held to another bad performance by the Hawkeyes. The woodshed beating we gave Iowa was the exclamation point and really helped solidify our case for an NCAA bid.
Saturday, I again attended Big Ten Tournament action at the United Center (this time with the Abate brothers). We were treated to their favorite team, the Ohio State, going up against my fav, Purdue. Purdue played really tough and like the other meetings this year hung with Ohio State for 30-32 minutes. However, Ohio State shut our scoring down the last 8-10 minutes and pulled away eventually for a 11 point victory. Landry played really well and showed some versatility going up against superman center, Greg Oden.
Oden just changes the game. He was really the huge reason why tOSU beat us down the stretch. I liken him to Shaq because he just has what I call a "Black Hole" effect on the game. He draws so much attention as well as the opposition's worries. Oden alters people's shots physically and psychologically. He cleans up alot of rebounds. He finishes well in the post. He does so many things that just affect the game. He is a master of intangibles, and the fact of the matter is that his teams just flat out win (look at Lawrence North HS in Indiana). No doubt lingers in my mind that Oden is better than Kevin Durant and should be the #1 NBA draft pick if both players declare. Oden is just a rare player that comes out maybe every 10, 20, or maybe 30 years. It's players like Oden who are the foundation of championship teams and perhaps basketball dynasties (see Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlin) . Durant is good and statistically more flashy, but players with his skills and game come every few years (if not every 1 or 2 years).
Oden had a monster put back dunk on Purdue over Landry and Teague in the game. It was in a way his heralding. The announcement that yes, the basketball superman had just busted out. It's just a shame this highlight reel had to come against my team. All I can say to Oden is that I hope he goes on to success in the future and that hopefully that success will be with an NBA team next year. I don't think the rest of the Big Ten could deal if he comes back for another college season.
So after the loss, I was sweating out selection Sunday. However, with North Carolina and Florida taking care of the upstarts (NC State and Arkansas), I was breathing easier. All of the drama was put to rest, when early in the brackets I found Purdue was set to face Arizona in the Midwest 8 vs 9 matchup.
I am so elated because this is a huge stepping stone in bringing Purdue basketball back to being competitive. Even if we lose the game, we will have great momentum for next season. The future really looks bright. Alot of the credit for this amazing turnaround goes to Matt Painter for being a good coach and to Landry and Teague for their awesome final seasons. Hopefully we can knock off Arizona. Then we could most likely get a shot against defending champion Florida (I love suicide missions).
Regardless of the tournament outcome, go Purdue.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Pregame Thoughts - Purdue vs. Iowa - Big Ten Tournament
I had a pretty good day considering that I went to the opening round action of the Big Ten tournament instead of going to work. I attended the opening day since I had projected Purdue to be in the lower half (6-11) of the seeds. However, the best laid plans of mice and men go awry. Purdue earned the five seed and now plays on Friday. So now I find myself anxiously anticipating a Friday afternoon matchup between my beloved Boilermakers and the Iowa Hawkeyes.
First, let's examine the backdrop for this matchup. After many frustrating seasons (at least the past four), Purdue has turned in a good effort this year. They find themselves 20-10 with a Big Ten regular season record of 9-7. In the preseason there were some good wins over Oklahoma, Depaul, Virginia, and Missouri. In the Big Ten, we creamed Michigan State and Illinois, had a nice win over hated arch rival Indiana, and split the series with Michigan. This is a marked improvement from the past. David Teague and Carl Landry have been outstanding for Purdue this season coming off of major knee injuries. For once, I think the ship is righting its course. Not only has Purdue had an awesome year relative to the recent past, but they bring in a nationally ranked (top 10) recruiting class for next year. So naturally, I am optimistic about the future of Purdue basketball.
With that said, tomorrow's game is pretty important. Lose and Purdue is looking at the NIT. This is an improvement, but why settle for less? At this moment, Purdue finds itself on the bubble in regards to NCAA tournament consideration. If Purdue can pull out this victory, I think they have earned a berth in the NCAA tournament. A victory won't be easy. Iowa killed Purdue a few weeks back in Iowa City. Plus we all know Steve Alford's Big Ten tournament record and the fact that Iowa needs to win the tournament to get in.
Despite all this, I remain positive about the game. It's on a neutral court and I don't think Iowa can hold Landry and Teague to bad games twice in a row. If Purdue wins, this will be a major accelerator in terms of momentum for next year. It would also be a date that many Purdue fans could look back upon and see as a turning point in our basketball fortunes.
Go Purdue.
First, let's examine the backdrop for this matchup. After many frustrating seasons (at least the past four), Purdue has turned in a good effort this year. They find themselves 20-10 with a Big Ten regular season record of 9-7. In the preseason there were some good wins over Oklahoma, Depaul, Virginia, and Missouri. In the Big Ten, we creamed Michigan State and Illinois, had a nice win over hated arch rival Indiana, and split the series with Michigan. This is a marked improvement from the past. David Teague and Carl Landry have been outstanding for Purdue this season coming off of major knee injuries. For once, I think the ship is righting its course. Not only has Purdue had an awesome year relative to the recent past, but they bring in a nationally ranked (top 10) recruiting class for next year. So naturally, I am optimistic about the future of Purdue basketball.
With that said, tomorrow's game is pretty important. Lose and Purdue is looking at the NIT. This is an improvement, but why settle for less? At this moment, Purdue finds itself on the bubble in regards to NCAA tournament consideration. If Purdue can pull out this victory, I think they have earned a berth in the NCAA tournament. A victory won't be easy. Iowa killed Purdue a few weeks back in Iowa City. Plus we all know Steve Alford's Big Ten tournament record and the fact that Iowa needs to win the tournament to get in.
Despite all this, I remain positive about the game. It's on a neutral court and I don't think Iowa can hold Landry and Teague to bad games twice in a row. If Purdue wins, this will be a major accelerator in terms of momentum for next year. It would also be a date that many Purdue fans could look back upon and see as a turning point in our basketball fortunes.
Go Purdue.
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