Thundersez: 06 in '07

The problem: BT is out of shape. Badly out of shape. As in, worse than usual.

The solution: BT gets off his butt and runs. Runs like the wind!

The problem with that solution: BT is lazy, and will likely abandon such a plan within weeks, if not days.

The solution to the problem with that solution: Peer pressure!

Therefore, consider this an official, Golden Spike-endorsed announcement:

BT will successfully train for and complete six half-marathons during 2007.

There. It has been said. It can't be removed (well, except for blogger's editing function, with which I technically could remove it). Everyone (well, both of you) who reads this blog will know this and hold me to it. The goal is to get to the point where I am in consistently good enough shape to be able to just go out some random day and take a long (8+ mile) run without too much difficulty. That conditioning would certainly mean that I'm much healthier than I am currently.

This is the first in a series of "06 in '07" posts, where I will keep the Spikeheads up to date on the latest training and results. To start with, some background - despite my considerable girth, I have actually run two half-marathons (my college motto? "Run like an antelope, shaped like a cantaloupe"). The first was in from Napa to Sonoma, and the second was around Monterey, CA. For neither did I properly train (and in fact, I walked about half of the 12th mile of the Monterey race). Though I don't recall the exact numbers, I know I finished each around the 2:15 mark, which is very slow.

So in the coming year, I will run one race every 2 months or so. The first is on February 7 in San Francisco, around the Golden Gate park area. The goal for the first? To complete it without any breaks. That should be easily attainable. In subsequent races, I'm going to start developing time goals, to ensure that I improve my performance from race to race.

Since making the 06 in '07 decision, I've gone on a few basic 3-milers , and in just the 3 or 4 times out, can already feel significant improvement. I need to get consistent in my scheduling, though, to be sure that I get at least 3 runs in per week, with one of them being a long run.

That's it for the first 06 in '07 report. More to come, likely next month.


Now back to your regularly-scheduled Spike

Say you're a lawyer. Perhaps even an Ivy League-edumacated lawyer like Dave Law and myself. You're representing a crook. Wouldn't it be best if you choose not to dress him like a bad guy in a cartoon? Especially a character who's last name isn't too far from your client's last name? Don't get me wrong, I understand that he's completely guilty, but its like he is advertising his guilt.

Say what you will about the adult film industry (and really, there is a lot to say), but the bottom line is that there are some very talented writers in the industry that come up with hilarious movie titles as plays on "legit" movie names. We all fondly recall "Shaving Ryan's Privates," "Sorest Rump," "Sperms of Endearment," and "White Men Can't Hump." Well, the other day, while listening to Loveline on my drive home from work, I heard my new favorite: "If These Balls Could Talk." For whatever reason, I laugh every time I think of it. Brilliant! Incidentally, while doing some "research" for this post, I came across a funny site that lists all of these names.

Finally, time to do a complete 180 and bring up a serious - and very interesting - story. At a UVA frat party in 1984, a little too much booze was flowing. One of the frat brothers took a freshman girl back to his room, and, while the details of what happened are in dispute, he raped her. Fast forward to 2005, when the guy is in Alcoholics Anonymous. When he reaches Step 9 - making amends with the people you've hurt - he contacts his victim of 21 years earlier. Now he's going to prison for the crime. The article is compelling and thought-provoking. I'm interesting to hear reactions from our loyal readers. I'll give mine in the comments section a little later.