After a disastrous outing last October, I ran the Chicago Marathon again.
This year we were hoping for better conditions compared to the oppressive heatwave and humidity of last year. However, the race day temperature was still high since it pushed up into the 80s.
Luckily, the race organizers learned much from last year and decided to take extra precautions. For example, they increased the number of water stations from 15 to 20. This helped out a lot for dealing with the heat.
I also was smarter this year. Last year we didn't stick with a consistent pace and ended up burning out early. So this year my plan was to hang around the 4 hour 30 minute pacers. I ran with a friend from my training group and tried to stay steadily ahead or with the pacers.
My plan worked out well. Through most of the race we were a minute or two ahead of 4:30 pace. It wasn't until mile 20 or 21 that my friend had to slow down. A little bit after that I started to slow and saw some of the pacers pass me. This immediately inspired me to catch up with them. I tucked behind the pacers for most of the last 6 miles knowing if I stayed with them I would beat my goal. They only built a slight lead on me as I hit the last 2 or 1.5 miles of the race. However, I knew at that point if I could keep them in sight and run this out, I would best 4:30.
The last 2 miles were particularly brutal. I concentrated by looking at my shadow in front of me and imagining that I was keeping the shadow man running. All around me I heard people calling my name and cheering me on (I had a good marathon shirt with my name on it this year), but all I could focus on was finishing out a distance that is usually a routine run. Eventually, I turned on to Roosevelt and felt like I was running in concrete due to the slight incline. Finally I rounded the last corner and saw the finish line. That's all I needed to see. I ran out the last stretch.
I looked down at my watch and saw I finished shortly after 4:29. I had beaten 4:30, I was happy with that performance.
I want to thank all those who came to watch me on the course. I would also like to thank those who wished me well and tracked me at home. Finally I would like to thank my training group leaders and teammates. Your support means a lot to me. I couldn't accomplish this without you guys.
Thanks.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
Pretty Little Hype Machine
In this day of multiple 24 hour news channels and 6 hour Super Bowl previews, one thing becomes clear to me. We live in an age where we are constantly bombarded by the modern day equivalent of "Barnum and Bailey." The media would have you believe that the hype and hoopla that surrounds an event is greater than the event itself. They try to create an environment where the slightest downturn is transformed into the deepest despair and pessimism. Meanwhile a solidly good thing is dressed up into being the greatest phenomenon since Jesus.
They like to create this roller coaster among the masses because the drama and sensationalism sells while gathering tons of viewers. This wild ride is further exacerbated due to the fact that the media holds great creditability as an official, accepted, and convenient authority about happenings in our world.
In my experience, I have found most of the jokers in the media to be pretty clueless when it comes to interpreting events or forecasting the future. In my mind, they live to stroke the flames of the herd mentality.
There is no better place to look in regards to this than the fortunes of the stock market. Back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, technology stocks were all the rage. Analysts, commentators, and hot shot fund managers told everyone that tech stocks were the only ones to own. They projected recent annual 50 percent returns well past 10 years into the future. Jim Cramer was telling everyone that the tried and true stock principles of Benjamin Graham were dead and that tech stocks were the only ones worth owning. It suddenly became fashionable to load up on fast rising stocks of companies that didn't have profitability or a good business case. The public eagerly bought in, not wanting to miss the tremendous gains. The bubble grew and grew with many people never expecting it to end. Then all the sudden, it popped. Leaving in its wake a vast destruction of wealth.
Today, we are faced with a similar situation. The housing bubble recently burst and suddenly everyone was calling in their debts. The chain reaction shut down respected brokerages like Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers. It threatened to topple giant companies like Citibank and still is a concern for the big three US automobile manufacturers. The entire market tumbled and everyone went into a panic. People were selling like crazy and were dumbfounded by their losses. Pessimism set in.
In reality, I don't believe the situation to be as bad as people or the media make it out to be. If you think things today are dire then think back to 1930s. The world was going through a Great Depression where people drifted through the countryside exchanging a day's work just for food. We haven't reached that point.
Also you must look back in history to when market crashes occurred. Eventually the market rose again to prosperity. In time people once again believed the hot streak would continue forever. It's not as though these things haven't happened before. They appear to be somewhat cyclical.
You must think for yourself and not be carried away by the torrent of hype that others have sold you. Despite the cries of panic and despair, there is another perspective to adopt in regards to this situation. It is the viewpoint of optimism. The attitude that despite all of the bad things that happen, there is always an opportunity to be had. This opportunity is that market securities are now trading at a discount and will most likely ride high again. Much as they did after the Great Depression.
In the end, remember what Public Enemy said, "Don't Believe the Hype."
They like to create this roller coaster among the masses because the drama and sensationalism sells while gathering tons of viewers. This wild ride is further exacerbated due to the fact that the media holds great creditability as an official, accepted, and convenient authority about happenings in our world.
In my experience, I have found most of the jokers in the media to be pretty clueless when it comes to interpreting events or forecasting the future. In my mind, they live to stroke the flames of the herd mentality.
There is no better place to look in regards to this than the fortunes of the stock market. Back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, technology stocks were all the rage. Analysts, commentators, and hot shot fund managers told everyone that tech stocks were the only ones to own. They projected recent annual 50 percent returns well past 10 years into the future. Jim Cramer was telling everyone that the tried and true stock principles of Benjamin Graham were dead and that tech stocks were the only ones worth owning. It suddenly became fashionable to load up on fast rising stocks of companies that didn't have profitability or a good business case. The public eagerly bought in, not wanting to miss the tremendous gains. The bubble grew and grew with many people never expecting it to end. Then all the sudden, it popped. Leaving in its wake a vast destruction of wealth.
Today, we are faced with a similar situation. The housing bubble recently burst and suddenly everyone was calling in their debts. The chain reaction shut down respected brokerages like Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers. It threatened to topple giant companies like Citibank and still is a concern for the big three US automobile manufacturers. The entire market tumbled and everyone went into a panic. People were selling like crazy and were dumbfounded by their losses. Pessimism set in.
In reality, I don't believe the situation to be as bad as people or the media make it out to be. If you think things today are dire then think back to 1930s. The world was going through a Great Depression where people drifted through the countryside exchanging a day's work just for food. We haven't reached that point.
Also you must look back in history to when market crashes occurred. Eventually the market rose again to prosperity. In time people once again believed the hot streak would continue forever. It's not as though these things haven't happened before. They appear to be somewhat cyclical.
You must think for yourself and not be carried away by the torrent of hype that others have sold you. Despite the cries of panic and despair, there is another perspective to adopt in regards to this situation. It is the viewpoint of optimism. The attitude that despite all of the bad things that happen, there is always an opportunity to be had. This opportunity is that market securities are now trading at a discount and will most likely ride high again. Much as they did after the Great Depression.
In the end, remember what Public Enemy said, "Don't Believe the Hype."
186 and Holding
Awhile back I was listening to a morning talk radio on one of the popular FM stations. During this show, they usually take topic suggestions given by the listeners. They then take calls from listeners who want to talk about or comment on a particular topic. One topic was about motorcyclists in Chicago and how they were upset about almost being killed by crazy motorists.
One local guy called in about this topic. After briefly acknowledging that he hated Chicago drivers for almost blindsiding him, this guy went on to talk about a more interesting point. He described to the radio show how he liked to take his motorcycle out on Interstate 290 during the day and proceed to accelerate up to 186 MPH while swerving in and out of traffic. He then went on to say how his high speed exploit was on YouTube and how everyone should check it out. The radio hosts viewed the video and decided to post it up on their webpage. Immediately, the pleased guest blurted out his gratitude. Even going as far to say "this will help get me hits man!." Wow what a display of shameless self promotion.
Of course, the topic couldn't die there. The radio show decided to take other callers on the topic. The next caller was a semi truck driver who operated in Chicago. The man had a very confrontational and angry tone, but he had a few interesting points.
The truck driver went on to challenge the motorcyclist claiming that his high speed exploits were a danger to other motorists around him. The motorcyclist then responded that he was a skillful driver and would be careful not to crash into other people. The motorcyclist went on to say that his actions were fine because he would be the only person who would be hurt or killed in case of an accident. The truck driver countered with a hypothetical. He said that if the motorcyclist crashed in front of his truck at that speed, there would be no time to react and avoid running over the motorcyclist. The motorcyclist once again reiterated that the crash would only kill him. However, the truck driver made perhaps the most poignant point. He said that because the motorcyclist was engaging in this dangerous behavior, he was not only harming himself. He would be placing the burden and guilt of his death upon the truck driver since there would be nothing the truck driver could do. For that reason, the truck driver believed that burning up I290 at 186 MPH was wrong and dangerous.
After the heated exchange, the radio host had a change of heart. He decided to remove the video of the motorcyclist. He did not wish to promote his dangerous behavior. I believe this was the correct decision.
The whole discussion evoked one key thought within me. This was the fact that no matter how much we believe ourselves and our actions to be isolated, we do affect others in many undesired and unseen ways. No man is truly an island.
One local guy called in about this topic. After briefly acknowledging that he hated Chicago drivers for almost blindsiding him, this guy went on to talk about a more interesting point. He described to the radio show how he liked to take his motorcycle out on Interstate 290 during the day and proceed to accelerate up to 186 MPH while swerving in and out of traffic. He then went on to say how his high speed exploit was on YouTube and how everyone should check it out. The radio hosts viewed the video and decided to post it up on their webpage. Immediately, the pleased guest blurted out his gratitude. Even going as far to say "this will help get me hits man!." Wow what a display of shameless self promotion.
Of course, the topic couldn't die there. The radio show decided to take other callers on the topic. The next caller was a semi truck driver who operated in Chicago. The man had a very confrontational and angry tone, but he had a few interesting points.
The truck driver went on to challenge the motorcyclist claiming that his high speed exploits were a danger to other motorists around him. The motorcyclist then responded that he was a skillful driver and would be careful not to crash into other people. The motorcyclist went on to say that his actions were fine because he would be the only person who would be hurt or killed in case of an accident. The truck driver countered with a hypothetical. He said that if the motorcyclist crashed in front of his truck at that speed, there would be no time to react and avoid running over the motorcyclist. The motorcyclist once again reiterated that the crash would only kill him. However, the truck driver made perhaps the most poignant point. He said that because the motorcyclist was engaging in this dangerous behavior, he was not only harming himself. He would be placing the burden and guilt of his death upon the truck driver since there would be nothing the truck driver could do. For that reason, the truck driver believed that burning up I290 at 186 MPH was wrong and dangerous.
After the heated exchange, the radio host had a change of heart. He decided to remove the video of the motorcyclist. He did not wish to promote his dangerous behavior. I believe this was the correct decision.
The whole discussion evoked one key thought within me. This was the fact that no matter how much we believe ourselves and our actions to be isolated, we do affect others in many undesired and unseen ways. No man is truly an island.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)