I asked for this question!

Why you go through the pain of running to reach your personal best?

I first have to clarify that running for me is not very painful. I don't find it disagreeable and in general I find it fun, but would like to do it faster. I have had my fair share of injuries, a weird foot thing, shin splints, some big blisters, the usual; that is just what I expect from it. The human body is a work of art, art is delicate sometimes thus I expect that some of the steps taken to improve it won't always be pleasant, but will be beneficial.

I have no idea what my personal best is, so I don't really look at it as I'm going to reach anything. It's more a mind over matter type of thing. I just know I can push myself further, want to push myself further, will push myself further, always! Also, I am comparing myself to people around me stoking my ego when I can and raising the bar when I can't.

A recent addition to why I run is my medical condition. I've explained it before how as a result of running I discovered cancer. Because that is a result of running, I feel some debt to running and must continue to do it in order to continue to save my life!

Finally, and in my case probably firstly, I admit... I'm a bit vain. Not offensively, but I do think I can look better and feel better as a result of running. This goes back the body as art thing and enhancing and preserving it.

Also

I made mention on a write up from way back. Well, I think I've got it mostly filled out, I may go back over it and edit details if I remember or if anyone volunteers them. Also I've got pictures I can add!

London 2001/2002

As promised

A few posts back I made mention of some old(over 10 years ago) correspondence between myself and a girlfriend. I've come across those recently and noted a few observations she made that I think are still relevant... but maybe they're just a bit too general when taken out of context, especially considering this is all from a time when I was younger and way, way, WAY more rash... Nevertheless, and I quote:

"...you like things to be fair, but it is my opinion that in the long run, you will be the only one you haven't been fair to. you will not have been around long enough to make an impact on anyone's life, neither good nor bad, so fairness is completely irrelevant where anyone else is concerned..."

"...you are a people person, you like to have friends and decent, if not good, company..."

Bet you can't guess which suit is my fave...