Things That I Think (Part Deux)

6. Bracketology has been occupying a lot of my time lately. My bracket is below. Although I am aware that the odds of picking a perfect bracket ([incorrectly] assuming random wins) are one half raised to the power of sixty-three, or 1 in 9.22 X 10^18, I think mine will be the one that beats the odds. :)

Addendum: #6 was written in a draft [obviously] before the start of the tourney, but I'm still sticking to my picks for the final, so the bracket stays. And when I went back and saw that I had somehow picked Texas over USC, I was so ashamed of myself. It's so wonderful they advanced to the Sweet 16 anyway. That's a loss in my bracket I'll gladly take.

7. Regarding the previous post, maybe, just perhaps, I have been pushing the running a teensy bit too hard lately. Running makes one of my ankles hurt. I think I overextend it. Whatever it is, I'm coming down on it wrong, that's for sure. When I don't run, even if it's only a one day break, the pain markedly decreases. So do I decide to lay off of the running for a few days and let it heal? No. I can't do it. Not I won't. Just cannot. I tried to incorporate swimming into my workout week but it just isn't the same. Not the same intensity.

8. What is it about your birthday that makes you want to eschew the normal routine? I mean in reality, it is just another day. I do believe that it doesn't have to be the momentous day everyone makes it and every year I tell myself it's no big deal. It's just another day and I've been feeling the aging of the year, really, all year. But the closer it gets to my birthday, the less I want to do routine things, the more I start window shopping for a "birthday present", the more I pull out the line "but it's my birthday".

9. Ever tried matching people to cars? For example I was told that I'm not a Civic coupe person (the car I've been driving lately). The Subaru fits me better because I am an All Wheel Drive (AWD) person, but not a 4x4 person. I was naturally excited about this because I'm thrilled at the thought of a WRX Sti, but then I was told that's not me. I'm a wagon. The Sti is too fast and I'm slower. Yup. Slow-paced. Through life. Slow. I think that sucks, but unfortunately, I think it's right. [Read: the birthday coming up above coupled with the fact that, yes, I'm still a student!!] Think about it. What car would you be? Or your friends?

10. I wonder what's more addictive, nicotine or coffee. And I wonder what the differences are in the propensity to be addicted to a substance between the two. I tried smoking for a couple of months in my younger years, but never took to it. It was very easy for me to stop. I don't know if it would be easy for me to stop drinking caffeine. I haven't tried. Not that I'm addicted now. I just don't think I have a problem. :)

Slow and steady...

Amid concerns from some about how I've been pushing the running too hard lately (I haven't), I thought I'd post an image of my latest running accomplishment. This was my Tuesday run. Note the steadiness of the pace. Almost a straight line with zero slope indicating a consistent, albeit slower than I'd like, running speed. Also, this was the longest distance I've ever run in my whole life: seven miles. I defy anyone to run four or five times a week for more than two weeks and not get addicted to the high. To the feeling of accomplishment and immense strength you feel when you're done. It's also so encouraging when you see improvement in your pace, endurance, health, stress level, and overall well being. Perhaps when my knees start cracking, I'll start singing a different tune, but until then...