The G Running Diary

Yesterday's Whine: 9/7/02

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Here's an even funnier impression. I talked with a guy a work who didn't know about my 100 mile races yet. I showed him my Western States buckle. He said that if I ran that, then I must run every day. And he wouldn't take no for an answer. I wonder if he would have the patience to read through these stories. I did not run today. I ran yesterday for about 40 minutes, and once again got a bit confused by my neighborhood streets. The ones in Sunnyvale were pretty straightforward grids, with the major roads at 90 degree angles. That was simple. The roads here do weird things, and the main roads are at diagonals. There are grids, but one set is 45 degrees offset from the other. There are lots of dead ends, and roads with bends. So it is all much more interesting, and much of the time the sidewalk is dirt.

Frustration with my job makes me want to run more. I wonder if there is a balance where I could be really happy with my job and still have enough time to run as much as I'd like. Being happy with my job always seems to include a lot of work. I can' t really be happy with it if I am only putting in minimal effort. So then the running time suffers. It might be only because I was in a job that I thought was kind of a joke for about a year that I was able to go from running 50Ks to running 100 milers. I didn't care about that job, so I ran a lot in the mornings, and got to work at 10:30 or 11. Or, I'd get there at 9:30 but then take off by 5 for an afternoon run. Don't get me wrong--I cared about the job at first, but then it changed, so a lot more energy went to running and shopping online.

In looking at it like this, I can see the good part that makes a difference from how I used to be not so many years ago. When my job is going well, I am happy. When it is not going well, I have running to help me through it. I didn't used to have that. Many years ago, during a job interview I was asked what my hobbies were. I couldn't think of anything except work. So I made something up. That is terrible. I'm glad I can answer the question better now.