Off topic...

Please excuse this post as it is off topic. If you are expecting a running post, you can pass on this one, but if you are interested in a little more of my personal life, then, this is for you.

I have not taken, nor had, a lot of time to post recently as a couple of things have kept me mentally occupied. First is interviewing for a new job. Recently, my supervisor's supervisor has been actively helping me find and prepare for another job within the company. It is not that she wants to get rid of me, rather, she sees potential that is being under utilized in my current position.* She has so encouraged me that she has taken many steps like getting contacts for me, putting interview questions together, coaching me as to the best way to respond in an interview, as well as, reviewing/enhancing written submissions that both me and my supervisor submit for the position.

This week I interviewed for the position and took the entire morning to prepare, interview, and get back to the office. Before the interview started I was able to ask them many informed questions about the prospective area and, indirectly, show the interviewees I did my homework. Once the interview started, I was able, as far as I could tell, to answer their questions appropriately and intelligently. In the second part of the interview, I had to woo their techie associates into thinking I understood how to use Microsoft Excel. Fortunately, I was prepared and had an example of a spreadsheet I use on a daily basis that automatically pulls and updates data from a database and has some other functions not used by most people on a daily basis. Eventually, they had me take their Excel test and it did not amount to much more than using a couple of simple functions. I was able to satisfy their need to "test" me by proving my abilities and using their jargon. Overall, I left the interview thinking I did an excellent job and almost could have done no more to help my chances.

The second thing that was keeping me mentally busy was being summoned for jury duty. Until this week I was a jury virgin, but today I was called in and spent 2.5 hours doing my civic duty. Although I spent that amount of time, I was never seated as part of a jury. The angst of the unknown would not let me sleep very well last night and I was up for a couple of hours pondering the possibility of what today would entail. In the end, it was very informative and I now see why it takes so long for trials to complete. I wonder, is there a better way to come to the same conclusion in a trial, but make the process more efficient.

Thanks for letting me get a couple of things out of my mind; I am sure I will sleep better tonight.

*If you know me, you know I am not conceited, but if you don't know me, please take this part at face value as I don't brag about myself very well, often, or at all.

Running your healthy life...

If you have any plans for the distant future you may want to consider your options. A recent article purports the benefits of Running...err...exercise on lasting health and longevity. Stanford researchers used runners to study the effects of cardiovascular exercise on the aging adult. In a 19 year study, they followed healthy runners and healthy non-exercisers. Their findings showed evidence that even though both sets were healthy the runners were less disabled further into their life and lived a longer life as well.

Not only did they show longer healthier lives, but they noted another nail in the coffin for a long held theory among non-runners; running hurts your knees and expedites disability. In there study "the slew of predicted orthopedic injuries never materialized." Not only did injuries not rise with the runners, but "the health gap between runners and non-runners only increased with time," meaning, the longer a person runs/exercises in their life the more benefit there is in the long term.

This idea somewhat bleeds into the way I interact with people. When I am around people who talk about there exercise I am almost always interested. I work with one such person who has lost just under 200 pounds in 10 months and will be doing his first 5k this weekend. At least 2 or 3 times a week he comes to my desk to discuss what he is currently doing, how he is progressing, and how excited he is to be losing weight the hard way. Recently, with the inception of his running training regimen I have been able to impart my meager knowledge of the sport. When I look back at where he once was I am really proud of how far he has come, and I know he has added years to his life because of the choices he has made.

Ending thoughts: Get started; Keep it up; Improve your life.

Hash House Harriers...

Many reports get to go to the Olympics to describe the unfolding events with their wit and inside knowledge. Apparently, that is not all they do. This post from a Runners World editor describes some of the perks of the job, especially, when part of your job is mixing beer with work. I thoroughly enjoyed this posting and I hope you will too.

A hill...

Last Saturday the New York Times ran an article about a trail on a hill. This trail is lined with railroad ties and the hill is actually Pikes Peak. With a gain of 2000 feet in about a mile one begins to understand why it is called the "Incline" among those who use it, and apparently, we are about to see a lot of people who use it in training starting on Friday. Yes, Olympians use it to better themselves no matter their sport.

Am I jealous? Oh yes. The closest thing we have around here is Jersey Hill, a 1/5th mile stretch with a gain of about 50 feet according to mapmyrun.com. The only other thing close to this is a parking garage, which, we do have a few, but always taking right or left turns gets old real quick. In the opposing view we have wonderful surroundings for easy runs. If a person needs an easy run the least they need do is head to the Constitution Trail, an old railroad track turned trail, and they will be in heaven.

The biggest reason I am jealous is that when I go to races with real hills I am like a fish out of water. The Akron Marathon is one such race. They don't proclaim to be "flat and fast," which I interpret as be prepared for hills and this September I will truly find out to what they are referring.