The Finish

I've decided to close down this blog, as the number of readers doesn't really justify the time it requires. I still would welcome any comments or questions on the book, you can email me at mike.austin at symbol eku dot edu.
If you are interested in issues related to ethics and the good life, see my blog Morality and the Good Life. I'll be posting any running related items there, as they connect to morality and the good life. If you are interested in issues in Philosophy of Sport, see the group blog related to those topics here.

Triathlon?

One result of my back surgery is that I'll probably be cutting back on the miles and looking for softer surfaces to run on than the asphalt around where I live. It is of course disappointing to have to run less than I'd like, but I'm thinking that rather than focus on that I'd like to find a new challenge. So, I'm going to try a sprint triathlon. The training plans I've seen for a first-timer include just 2 days of running a week, so that should keep my orthopaedist happy. I've never biked much, nor have I spent large amounts of time in the pool, but I'm looking forward to trying. If anyone has made the move from running to triathlons and has any advice to offer, or if there's a triathlon book you'd recommend, I'd appreciate any input you could offer by posting a comment.

Why Jogging is Better than Running

Pearl Izumi has an ad campaign entitled "We are not joggers". One of the lines from the campaign is "Runners are wild. Joggers are runners who have been domesticated." I always bristled when people called me a jogger, or asked if I'd gone for a jog today. No, I'm a runner! But in the chapter of Running and Philosophy, "In Praise of the Jogger", Ray VanArragon, a former college runner and current philosopher at Bethel University, argues that we runners should aspire to be joggers, in part because the motivations and goals of the jogger are better. I found myself being convinced, and echoing his hope to one day become a jogger. I wonder if pride had more to do with not wanting to be called a jogger, or was it simply that I didn't understand what a jogger truly is?

Amazing Grace and Running

This movie is an incredible testimony to the power of perseverance, of endurance in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The film depicts the years of struggle that William Wilberforce underwent in order to abolish the slave trade, including struggles with his own personal health. Ultimately, it was abolished due in large part to his enduring voice and actions on behalf of the oppressed. This movie reminded me once again of the role that endurance/perseverance can play in life, and how those who make a difference in the world must exhibit these character traits. As runners, we know the struggle of endurance on a much smaller scale, but if we can transfer the consistency and perseverance required by running into the other aspects of our lives, this is another way in which running can foster our moral and spiritual growth.

Getting Back to Running?

This is a little more personal of an entry than I usually offer, but I still haven't been able to walk normally, much less run at all, since the first week of January. I want to get back to running for a variety of reasons, but I'm wondering when this will happen. I have an MRI scheduled tomorrow and my ortho raised the specter of surgery to repair a herniated disk. With some brief research on some trusted medical sites, it looks like my symptoms make me a prime candidate for a diskectomy. I've had chronic back pain since an injury in high school, and have hoped to avoid surgery.
My advice, if anyone is interested, is to remember that in a sense each run is a gift to be appreciated and savored. I'd give anything even for one of those runs where you feel like you've got nothing in the tank, just to be running!