The Think Method

This morning I watched the last part of "The Music Man." For the whole movie, Robert Preston sells his "think method" of learning to play music for the town band. Basically, each band member "thinks" about his band instrument and the song he hopes to play - no teaching of notes or actual practice. At the end of the movie, of course it has worked and the boys in the band play their first song, albeit a little off-key. By the closing credits, the band has transformed into a fully-dressed and outfitted big-time marching band.

Wouldn't it be great if the think system really worked? Like if I could just think that I would lose weight and then when I went to try on a bathing suit, the itsy-bitsy one fits.

Or if I could think about saving money and when I went to pay for a new car, I just wrote a check (that would be covered by my ample checking account).

Or if I could think about running a marathon without walking, and when the starting gun went off, I took off and ran 26.2 miles in less than four hours.

The think method would work great and I would get my desired outcome. But what would be the point? Exactly what would I have achieved? How would my success be measured - just by the outcome?

For me, part of the joy in achievement comes from my efforts it took to get there. I would love to wake up tomorrow and weigh the same as I did at 21. But reaching a goal weight comes after seeing each pound melt away. Each clothing size that I lose into becomes an encouragement to keep going.

It would be fun to have an endless supply of money at my disposal to use at will. But just having money has no real value. By earning the money, it becomes a little more personal as to how it is spent. By spending my time to gain money, I am more cautious about where the money goes, because it is my time that is really being spent.

It would be great to go out tomorrow and run for four hours and find out I had run a marathon. But each mile I manage to walk, then wog, then run fuels me to keep going. Each mile encourages me to go for another. Each mile makes me stronger and healthier.

So while the think method would be quick and easy, I think I'll pass. While it may seem great to do a little to achieve a lot, I know I'll get a longer-lasting satisfaction from taking the long way. The rewards along the way are just too great to pass up.

I would write something profound, but ...

... some days it's just not there. So I will go give my brain a rest. Besides, I got today's SAT Question of the Day correct, so my brain deserves a vacation (no comments from the peanut section)!

Tandem Sleepover

Tonight we had another sleepover. Sort of. Molly had to go to bed early because she has to open Sonic tomorrow. Maribeth came in very late because she had to close Sonic tonight. However, we still wore our matching pjs and watched a movie - in shifts.

We have no pictures because one wasn't here and when she got here, the other was asleep. But we had our sleepover and we had a good time. Sometimes you just have to make do with what you have. We did and it worked for us.

The important thing is to be together, however you have to do it. There's always a way, if you just take the time to find it.

A Non-Training Day

Yesterday I completed a half marathon. Tomorrow I will begin real training (whatever that means). That meant today was a non-half-marathoning and a non-training day. So I ate everything and anything I wanted, sat on the couch a lot, and watched tv. Tomorrow will come soon enough and soon I will be a toned uber-athlete (in some perspective, anyway).

That's all for now - it's time for my mental preparation. Besides, John and Kate Plus Eight is on!

The Miami Half - The Aftermath

"Ouch, ouch, (creak, creak), slow down, you're walking too fast!" That would be me, walking anywhere at this moment. Yes, I finished my twelth half-marathon. I had a decent time of 3:10 (to give you some perspective, the winner of the marathon, twice my distance, had already finished an hour earlier). So maybe wogging 13.1 miles two weeks after wogging 26.2 wasn't the best idea. But apparently 2008 and racing isn't going to be my banner year for good sense.

At any rate, the race wasn't too bad. There were lots of people to observe along the way, interesting sights to see, and pleasant weather for wogging. Tomorrow I will take the day off, then start on Tuesday truly training for my next half in three weeks in Jacksonville. No comments, please.

My goal is to get a little faster each half marathon. Steve says that I said two minutes faster, but I think either he or I were drunk at the time. Wait a minute - we don't drink. Maybe I was just high on life. We'll see what happens.

What is my point for today? I don't have one. Just thought I would exercise my fingers (the few parts of my body that aren't stiff). See you at the races!