Competition...

There's a great scene in the movie "Caddyshack" where the Judge (Ted Knight) approaches Ty Webb (Chevy Chase) and asks "Ty, what did you shoot today?" Ty modestly responds by saying, "Oh, I really don't keep score, Judge." The Judge then asks, "Well then, how do you measure yourself against other golfers?" Wittingly, Chevy's character Ty says, "By height!"

When I really think about that scene I think it can relate to running when we look at it from a competitive standpoint. When Ty responds, "By height", he is throwing out such an obtuse answer that it absolutely does not make sense. The answer the Judge was looking for was first a hard physical number, a score. Then when he didn't get it he was looking for reason. He himself was trying to establish how good he was compared to Chevy's character by associating a number to it. The same holds true for anything of a competitive nature because those of us who are competitive (and runners generally are) all want a ranking. How do we hold up to other runners, our peers, our age group?

In reality this is all okay. I mean when I run a race I want to be within the top percentage of finishers in my age group. I see a guy ahead of me with 500 yards to go, and I want to beat him. Someone is gaining right behind me, just footsteps away, and I try to kick it into another gear. When its all said and done, I want to give my competitive best.

For my fellow runners, I don't get caught up in competing with them individually. That would drive me nuts. When I golf with others, I know that each player is at a different level. The same holds true for my running buddies. Collectively we can almost guess to the minute what the spread will be between us at any given race. We also know that at any given race, one of us could have a great day, or just bottom out. In golf, you know what people shoot, and can guess the score. There are good days and bad too...however, there is a handicapping system. In running, we don't handicap...it would be too difficult. Inately the competitive drive to "catch" the next fastest runner kicks in. So this takes us back to the beginning. How do we measure ourselves against other runners?

My answer is simple..."By height."

When it all comes down to it, my competition isn't one of my fellow run club buddies, or the guy just ahead or behind me in a race. Sure, those mechanisms help me to push myself, and in the end, that is what matters most. Am I pushing myself greater than before? This is the true essence of competition as I see it. I am competing against myself and nothing else. How is this measured best? By the clock...period! Am I running better, stronger, and faster than last race, last month, last year? If I threw up a PR in my last 10K, can I beat it in my next one? Will I have a better track workout next week? Will I improve my overall well being and awareness of what my body can do? Can I push new limits and reach new heights beyond what I ever thought I was capabale of doing before? Competing against that is what sparks the fire and drives my competitive nature.

This is how I measure myself against other runners...how about you?

Hot....F#$!^ing Hot!!!

So a few posts ago I threw out some heat warnings. This was just general information to deal with "normal" summer heat. Now I say, take every one, read it, and IMPLEMENT IT!!!

It's just too damn hot right now. We are in San Francisco, not Arizona. It should never be 115 in San Ramon, I mean never. I can't cope. My AC is broken, its 11:00 pm and the house is 95, and all I have been doing is slamming beers and sangria to try and stay cool. Its so hot, I can't even cop a good buzz.

The run today went well, despite this heat. 14 moderately paced miles with temperatures rising from beginning to end. I must stress the word moderate because today it truly was. Usually running with Tani, Fermin, and Doug (just to name a few), moderate runs turn into fast runs and we never end up doing the slower pace as we should. Today, we all held to a steady pace, sweated until it was pure salt, and finished well. I felt great.

What really got me today was that some S.O.B. had the balls to take our water that Louis had planted. We found the first two water stops just fine, but the 3rd most important...not there. At that point, I was beyond cotton mouth. I really don't know who could have (or would have) taken our water. A do-gooder thinking he was doing something good for the environment...a kid or two playing a practical joke...a homeless person? Whoever it was deserves my size 12 Saucony up their ass!!! I was pissed.

I eventually got over it.

Okay, its late and still no relief from the heat in sight. You want my real opinion? I think heat is the cause to all of the world's problems. I mean look at it...Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel. These people live in god forsaken places where it is hot all of the time. And I do mean ALL of the time. No AC, deodorant, beer, etc and the end result is you want to freaking kill someone. On top of all that they don't shave and their women are wrapped from head to toe. I would hate my neighbor too if that were the case. Mix in some Old Spice, Sierra Nevada, a Hooters, and some Gillette product and you have paradise. Add some freon as a bonus and you would have peace in an instant!

Okay, for a running site I got a little political there but good topics for the next 14 miler. I think the heat is just getting to me. I am OUT!!!!