Ping Pong-ing the Paper

A good tip from the big boss. Whenever you get stuck with the draft for a paper or a particular section, write up whatever you have come up with - even if it is just bullet points - then send it to a colleague or friend in the know (best if it is a collaborating colleague or senior). Have them send it back to you in a few days with their additions/ideas. Usually by the time it comes back to you, you will look at the thing with fresh ideas and a different frame of mind. Keep this back and forth of the paper going till it gets done.

What I've been getting from running

1) The ability to persevere when you feel and think that you are completely drained or that there is no hope left of reaching your goal.

I've lost count of how many times this has happened. Having gone through the process painfully and slowly, I distinctly remember how hopeless and lonely you feel when you are running alone on a trail, miles from the nearest drinking water/food source or any transport to take you back home. And you've been running for several hours already, your thighs and hips are aching with every step - getting stiffer and tighter, feet feel rubbery and sore , knees hurt, sweat has drenched your body but has dried on your face leaving coarse salty residue that itches. Sometimes you simply forget the reason why you are doing this. It is in those moments when you stick to the plan in spite of all that and keep taking one step after another in a journey bereft of hope, that your mettle is tested. Keep moving and doing what you think is right even if your mind keeps telling you that you are not going to make it. This lesson has proved useful in many other areas.

I think that, like willpower, perseverance is a quality you acquire through practice - regular, painful practice. A typical novel or film hero often has this quality from birth, but I assume that is very rare in real life.

2) A changing perception of distance. 3 miles..10 miles..20 miles are not what they used to mean earlier.

3) A deeper appreciation for people who are physically active and who have shaped their bodies well through effort than through shortcuts.

4) A rewarding lifestyle.

5) Lots of free, organic, intracranial, noninvasive, endorphin shots.

This weekend's 8 mile run was pretty eventful, two bike accidents and yours truly hitting the dirt but escaping with only a graze on the knee. The landscape more than compensated for it - the river, evening sun being swallowed by clouds on the horizon, sea gulls going for a last catch and a cool breeze. Should've clicked a photo.

The next one

Exploring the mind-body connection has been a fascinating experience so far, not just in my personal sample size of one but in other people too. Humans respond so easily to ideas and words if they manage to penetrate their thoughts.

So far, my interest has been to use thoughts/ideas to create habits and change the context in which I perform actions so as to make it easier for me to stick to changes. Joining a team, getting a good hydration pack which will also hold my stuff while on a long run, having multiple alarms etc were ways to ensure that I did not have to rely too much on my willpower alone.

This has worked very well so far...except in the last training season. I had to scale back to a half marathon from a full one because I didn't put in the time and effort needed to train properly for the latter. It was easy to justify this with the fact of increased work, some boredom with running and overall life issues, but justifications don't get you to the finish line.

With the move to an invigorating new city though, things seem to be looking up.

The full-time work is still around and in fact more time consuming, but the context in which I live has changed. I haven't joined a running team here yet, but the city is full of runners and amazingly active people. Whether it is the workplace or my residential area, there is always someone breezing past. Something about watching fit and athletic people do something well makes you want to shed off your inertia. So while after the half marathon I dabbled in weight training and biking and a few odd exercises (kayaking! seven minute workout! yoga!); running is calling me back. And I've given in to the call. Re-experiencing the primal joy of running is different than the good soreness you feel after lifting weights. Plus the best way to explore a city is on foot.

I've managed to put on the miles sporadically in the past month or so and am feeling confident enough to dive into systematic training for the next big 'un. I also switched to thin soled 'barefoot' shoes last month, so it worked out well that I broke into them slowly rather than starting the training with them. I feel my speed has improved, but will need to accumulate data on this before I can be sure.

However, this time I don't have the support/context of a team. So this is where willpower will have to kick in. I will cheat a bit though - I've already set up an accountability system with a buddy in the former city who also needs someone to push him a bit for his workouts. So far, the going has been great.

I have some pleasant memories of logging the training progress for my first marathon. I'd like to repeat that here. This is especially useful for the solitary long runs, which are refreshing yet paradoxically exhausting both mentally and physically.

So here's to a full marathon in Fall (or earlier).