Sometimes, I wish I had named my blog something a little more specific to my running talent, or lack thereof. Names like "Average Runner" or "Mediocre Runner" cross my mind. And of course, this is in no way a dig at people who see my paces and think they're "fast", because I've written ad nauseum about how "fast" is relative. But I'm an honest person, and I know that I'm not particularly talented when it comes to running. Not naturally, at least. The other day, I read this article, and this line really hit home: "I’m not used to being so passionate about something I’m not good at." It's just human nature to feel passionate about things you're good at, isn't it? And if you're passionate, you work hard and you improve! But for many of us, running isn't really one of those things. We can work and work, yet there's still a threshold we can't seem to cross. I'm not really that good at running...but I sure do love it. I'm used to loving things partly because I'm good at them; most of my hobbies are talents that come easily to me. Running is a challenge every single time, and that makes it a totally different kind of a passion. I don't love it because I'm good at it; I love it because it challenges me, and each run allows me to feel empowered because I'm beating the odds just by being out there.
This year is my year of speed, and I intend to find a new comfortable pace that is (hopefully) back into what I consider fast for myself, but I'm also perfectly happy to be honest about my abilities. Do you have a passion for something you're not particularly good at? ABK
Taking the personality quiz at 16personalities.com satisfied a curiosity I've had for awhile because I'd never done a personality test before and all my friends seemed to know their type and reference is fairly often. (Is that weird?)
It's funny that a week or two after taking the test, and shortly after sharing my post, I saw this post on SciBabe's Facebook page. I watched the video (after sitting through an excruciatingly long commercial for the Squatty Potty) and found it really interesting.
Don't let the name fool you - Yvette d'Entremont is a legit scientist.
The argument is that the MB test is totally pointless. Scientists and psychologists agree that the results tell us very little about what we're actually good at (career-wise) and the methodology is based on pseudoscience.
Having taken the test mostly for fun, this doesn't discourage me. But it does make me wonder about people who take the tests really seriously. And it also made me think of Hanna, who mentioned in her comment on my original post that tests like this determine what we prefer but not really how we act - and if how we act is who we are, then really, preference is a moot point.
I thought this was a fun addition to my self-exploration, so I wanted to share! I still think my type's description was accurate in describing me, but I was never planning to let that type truly define who I am or the actions/careers/decisions in my life, so I guess it was a fun 10 minutes wasted, and now I can go on my merry way!
I know some of you took the test after I posted about it. What are your thoughts?
Do you buy into the MB test, and tests like it? Do you like science?I always say, if I hadn't gone into English, I would have majored in biology. It's my second love. ABK
There's no rhyme or reason to this post; there are a few things swirling around in my head right now, so today HtGR is going to take on a diary-esque feel. Sometimes I just need to let a brain-dump happen!
1. I have no shame about being completely and totally devastated by both David Bowie and Alan Rickman's deaths. When I first heard about Bowie, I immediately went into denial mode, and since Sunday I've been listening to his music nonstop. Growing up, my siblings and I watched Labyrinth literally hundreds of times - anytime my parents had a date-night, that was the movie we put on. Of course my parents were big fans of his music (our first dog was named Bowie, in fact) so he was a big part of my childhood. His willingness to try new things and test boundaries was always something I admired, and his artistry is unmatched in the musical world.
(Bowie released his final album as a parting gift to the world, and this song is just haunting. Below is a favorite from Labyrinth. Fun fact: the album from Labyrinth was my first CD.)
Likewise, Alan Rickman has always been a favorite of mine. I was in the middle of teaching when I received my sister's text that he had died, and I literally stopped mid-sentence (this is the one con of wearing an Apple watch - I got the text and saw it immediately, rather than waiting to check messages at lunch like usual) and had to check for confirmation.
The nuance in his acting in everything I have ever seen him in was just brilliant; I'd forget I was watching an actor, even though I loved the actor, and that's really the highest compliment I can pay. Of course, he also brought one of my favorite book characters to life as Severus Snape - that's one complex and complicated character, and he portrayed Snape convincingly, honestly, and compassionately. I love watching Rickman play conflicted characters - his role as Harry in Love, Actually is simply gorgeous. He brought a lot of depth to a movie that is, at its heart, just a rom-com.
My biggest gripe about the HP movies is their casting - the older characters (from Harry's parents' years at Hogwarts) should have been in their 30s. But I could forgive the mistake with Rickman, because he was literally the perfect Snape, even if he was twenty years too old.
More importantly, Rickman was an outspoken feminist and activist. As wonderful an actor as he was, I appreciated his character - not those he played - the most.
2. We've been having July weather in January this year, and for us, that means hurricanes (or hurricane-like weather). Florida isn't known for tornadoes, but we've had those, too. Our district announced that Friday would be an excused absence for any students who missed school because the weather looked bad, and sure enough, school was interrupted twice for tornado watches. I guess those drills we practice paid off; our kids were well-prepared and the teachers kept our cool.
One of our most popular half marathons was canceled due to the storms...this is the race course right now; it's completely submerged.
One tornado hit thirty minutes from us, and Sunday morning four hit my parents' city. They're okay, and so are Matt's parents, but there were casualties and our most famous beach was hit pretty hard.
We don't get these kinds of storms in winter. It's disconcerting, to say the least.
3. After the storms cleared, it was still crazy windy all day. No more 60 mph gusts, but doing my long run in 21 mph winds was...challenging. Still, I got it done. My right leg felt like rocks this weekend, so I'm trying to figure out the best way to treat it! (It feels like when you've done a million crunches and your muscles are just super fatigued and you have lactic-acid buildup, but it's been feeling that way within the first mile, and it didn't go away until mile 6 of my long-run Sunday.)
Midway through my run, I tried to figure out where my mind is on A1A. I know I don't have to decide yet, but next weekend is my 20-miler, so I need to at least decide if I'm interested enough in possibly running the full to do 20. If my leg feels like it did today, I don't think I will; it was not good. But if I can rest and recover nicely this week and nail my 20, then the full is still a possiblity.
Why do hats make me look so weird?! Anyway, Elizabeth conquered her longest run ever: 9.1 miles! It was weird to start this run at 3pm. I'm definitely not a fan of evening long runs.
4. I've been binge-watching The West Wing this weekend. I was going to watch Labyrinth but Matt wanted me to wait until he can watch, too, so instead I chose another old favorite. TWW reminds me of my dad; watching it with him was what introduced me to politics, and I always liked that it was something we shared.
I love that, despite being 10 years old, this show was so on-point! It covers abortion rights, Islamophobia, war in the Middle East, gay rights, mandatory minimums, assisted suicide...you name it...and it's funny! I guess it just goes to show that politics is always the same old argument rehashed over and over again.
Another timeless, perfect moment.
5. It's been cold. Finally! I hope it lasts!
What's on your mind this week? Any tips for my leg situation? Are you a Bowie fan? ABK
