Friday, May 31, 2013
Spencer Waller Photobombed by Fake Gondolier
So, Spencer and I went out for a short (3.5 mile), slow (really slow), hot (really hot) run along the Charles River in Boston. It was spectacular. I haven't run in three weeks, and it was just great to get out on the road. Spencer was, as usual, exceptionally good company. We ran down to the Harvard Bridge (on the Boston side) ran to and through the Esplanade, then crossed the Charles by Mass General, and looped back to the hotel. It was 94 degrees, but the water fountains were working, and we took it nice and slow. My heel is still sore, but seemed to tolerate the punishment. I'm feeling it a bit now, but it was definitely worth it. The best moment was definitely when Spencer was photobombed by a fake gondolier (below)
Law, Society and Spencer
So I'm on the train, traveling to Boston. Most of the world thinks I am going to the Law and Society Conference to present a paper on comparative enforcement of consumer financial protection law (more about that in a minute), but as you all know, the purpose of all of my business travel these days is to go running with Spencer. We are meeting at 4:15, and with any luck, my tender heel will allow me to shuffle along for a bit.
I haven't really run in three weeks, since an abortive attempt the Saturday before Mother's Day (Hi B__). I've been resting it, stretching it, rubbing topical gel on it, biking and swimming. I have tested it with a few short 1/2 mile runs to the gym, and, while it is still sore, so long as I (1) wear regular non-minimal shoes; (2) land midfoot; (3) keep my stride short and symmetric; and (4) go really slowly, I seem to be fine. I hope that Spencer thinks this sounds like fun. Hopefully this will be two steps forward rather than two steps back.
On to the law part. I'm presenting on Saturday morning (8:15). The paper is a joint project with my frequent co-author Susan Block-Lieb. After describing the different enforcement architectures in the US and EU, the thrust of our presentation is as follows:
1) A common complaint about consumer protection in the financial services area is that it subjects firms to multiple conflicting layers of regulation and multiple conflicting enforcement regimes. This imposes costs, and the pass along increases the cost of credit.
2) This point is fair enough, but it is also a generic, non-substantive, overbroad attack on regulation generally.
3) On the "substance" side, regulations can be broken into a number of categories where lack of harmonization and multiple regimes are more or less costly. To the extent that various regulators at various levels and in various jurisdictions are seeking to articulate fairly basic norms of good behavior, competing formulations should not be particularly problematic. One should not engage in "negligent promising," or make statements in "bad faith," for example, regardless of how the obligation is formulated verbally. By contrast, rules about firm structure or transaction structure can impose significant costs, or limit the geographic scope of a firms operation. In between, there are various forms of safe harbors, mandatory notices, and so on, where complying in one jurisdiction may lead to non-compliance in another. Depending on the type of regulation, the argument for centralization of regulatory authority and/or harmonization has more or less force.
4) on the "enforcement" side, there are costs to centralization of enforcement. First, it reduces the number of people available to do the work. Second, it increases the likelihood and effectiveness of capture. For these reasons, decentralized and concurrent enforcement regimes seem preferable. The problem is that some form of coordination is necessary to ensure that the cumulative effect does not lead to overdeterence. This can be accomplished either through a res judicata approach or a coordination approach.
5) A res judicata approach is problematic, as it creates a incentive to forum shop for and settle with the most permissive regulator, or to litigate before the authority with the least intrusive remedies.
6) Better is a soft-law mechanism for coordinating enforcement and deciding who will take the lead. I understand that this is the approach followed in the EU (Philip et al correct me if I'm wrong). Some of this coordination is built into the allocation of enforcement power in the US (CFP v. prudential regulators). I need to learn more about how/if this would work for consumer financial protection in the EU.
Thoughts?
I haven't really run in three weeks, since an abortive attempt the Saturday before Mother's Day (Hi B__). I've been resting it, stretching it, rubbing topical gel on it, biking and swimming. I have tested it with a few short 1/2 mile runs to the gym, and, while it is still sore, so long as I (1) wear regular non-minimal shoes; (2) land midfoot; (3) keep my stride short and symmetric; and (4) go really slowly, I seem to be fine. I hope that Spencer thinks this sounds like fun. Hopefully this will be two steps forward rather than two steps back.
On to the law part. I'm presenting on Saturday morning (8:15). The paper is a joint project with my frequent co-author Susan Block-Lieb. After describing the different enforcement architectures in the US and EU, the thrust of our presentation is as follows:
1) A common complaint about consumer protection in the financial services area is that it subjects firms to multiple conflicting layers of regulation and multiple conflicting enforcement regimes. This imposes costs, and the pass along increases the cost of credit.
2) This point is fair enough, but it is also a generic, non-substantive, overbroad attack on regulation generally.
3) On the "substance" side, regulations can be broken into a number of categories where lack of harmonization and multiple regimes are more or less costly. To the extent that various regulators at various levels and in various jurisdictions are seeking to articulate fairly basic norms of good behavior, competing formulations should not be particularly problematic. One should not engage in "negligent promising," or make statements in "bad faith," for example, regardless of how the obligation is formulated verbally. By contrast, rules about firm structure or transaction structure can impose significant costs, or limit the geographic scope of a firms operation. In between, there are various forms of safe harbors, mandatory notices, and so on, where complying in one jurisdiction may lead to non-compliance in another. Depending on the type of regulation, the argument for centralization of regulatory authority and/or harmonization has more or less force.
4) on the "enforcement" side, there are costs to centralization of enforcement. First, it reduces the number of people available to do the work. Second, it increases the likelihood and effectiveness of capture. For these reasons, decentralized and concurrent enforcement regimes seem preferable. The problem is that some form of coordination is necessary to ensure that the cumulative effect does not lead to overdeterence. This can be accomplished either through a res judicata approach or a coordination approach.
5) A res judicata approach is problematic, as it creates a incentive to forum shop for and settle with the most permissive regulator, or to litigate before the authority with the least intrusive remedies.
6) Better is a soft-law mechanism for coordinating enforcement and deciding who will take the lead. I understand that this is the approach followed in the EU (Philip et al correct me if I'm wrong). Some of this coordination is built into the allocation of enforcement power in the US (CFP v. prudential regulators). I need to learn more about how/if this would work for consumer financial protection in the EU.
Thoughts?
Addis is altitude without attitude
What a week in Ethiopia. I was there for OFT in a DFID funded programme to support their nascent competition and consumer authority. What a place, 3 millions souls in Addis, 80 million country wide, a benevolent gentle demeanor, no fundamental public awareness of consumer rights let alone the luxury of competition law but the authority is strongly supported politically and getting started. Needless to say I tried the odd jog (at 2000ms above sea level I could not run). Many runners meet at Meskel Square at 545 am.
There they do laps of these levels, some at 10k pace, others at 5k. Look at this beautiful form, which I could not emulate!!
(The chap on the right is about to stop and turn or he would be leaning forward all the time.)
I also went up to Entoto, far up the mountain above Addis, and did not even try to plod...walking upstairs to the palace there was workout enough!
What a place to train though, up out of the dust and smog of the city.
Just don't try this heartbreaking cross-training...
And in all things...help when you can.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
So Quiet
Not like us to let several days go by without a peep. Is it
1. grading?
2. running doldrums (heat is coming and fall races are far away)?
3. edits?
4. other?
For me, 1 and 2. Had some nice runs last week but it's getting unpleasant here and I'm depressed in anticipation. And if I don't get these essays turned around this week . . .
1. grading?
2. running doldrums (heat is coming and fall races are far away)?
3. edits?
4. other?
For me, 1 and 2. Had some nice runs last week but it's getting unpleasant here and I'm depressed in anticipation. And if I don't get these essays turned around this week . . .
Friday, May 24, 2013
5X
Every so often something so ridiculous comes across my screen that it must be shared -- and mocked. D__ got me thinking today about the notorious double and triple ironman races. When I searched for one, I found this: the quintuple ironman.
We now have a rejoinder for anytime somebody says "gee, you seem to run more marathons than is healthy."
We now have a rejoinder for anytime somebody says "gee, you seem to run more marathons than is healthy."
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Flood v. Kuhn Reenactment
P__ and I went yesterday evening to a Supreme Court Historical Society reenactment of the argument in Flood v. Kuhn. Pam Karlan (Stanford) represented Curt Flood, arguing for the elimination of the non-statutory baseball exception and against application of the labor exemption. Roy Englert (Robbins Russell), for whom I used to work, represented Major League Baseball and its commissioner, Bowie Kuhn. Justice Sotomayor presided.
Before going I wondered whether the reenactment was supposed to be historically accurate? Would the participants have memorized the transcript and be acting out the argument? If so, it would be a waste of great litigating and judging talent. One would think trained actors would be better suited to the task.
In fact, they had much fun with it. Pam Karlan was legitimately funny. A paraphrase of one line: "If the Court upholds the rule in Toolson, which refused to overrule Federal Baseball, the Court will be following in the footsteps of Tommy John and committing three errors on one play." Justice Sotomayor is a famous lover of baseball. Referring to Part I of Justice Blackmun's opinion in Flood v. Kuhn, in which he listed the 88 greatest baseball players: "Ms. Karlan, if you were to make a list of the top 88 baseball players, would Joe DiMaggio be on it?" "Yes, as would Mel Ott."
Roy Englert cited in favor of Major League Baseball the 1955 Report of the Attorney General's National Committee to Study the Antitrust Laws and John Paul Stevens' involvement in that report. "This staffer has just recently been appointed to the court of appeals, and I just have a feeling we'll be hearing more from him."
The ruling: Justice Sotomayor would have joined Part I of the Blackmun opinion, with the caveat that Joe DiMaggio must be on the list of the 88 all time great ballplayers. She would have dissented from the holding, however, believing that stare decisis was not a sufficient ground for upholding a rule -- the nonstatutory baseball exemption -- that was based on a long-since overturned view of the meaning of "interstate commerce."
Before going I wondered whether the reenactment was supposed to be historically accurate? Would the participants have memorized the transcript and be acting out the argument? If so, it would be a waste of great litigating and judging talent. One would think trained actors would be better suited to the task.
In fact, they had much fun with it. Pam Karlan was legitimately funny. A paraphrase of one line: "If the Court upholds the rule in Toolson, which refused to overrule Federal Baseball, the Court will be following in the footsteps of Tommy John and committing three errors on one play." Justice Sotomayor is a famous lover of baseball. Referring to Part I of Justice Blackmun's opinion in Flood v. Kuhn, in which he listed the 88 greatest baseball players: "Ms. Karlan, if you were to make a list of the top 88 baseball players, would Joe DiMaggio be on it?" "Yes, as would Mel Ott."
Roy Englert cited in favor of Major League Baseball the 1955 Report of the Attorney General's National Committee to Study the Antitrust Laws and John Paul Stevens' involvement in that report. "This staffer has just recently been appointed to the court of appeals, and I just have a feeling we'll be hearing more from him."
The ruling: Justice Sotomayor would have joined Part I of the Blackmun opinion, with the caveat that Joe DiMaggio must be on the list of the 88 all time great ballplayers. She would have dissented from the holding, however, believing that stare decisis was not a sufficient ground for upholding a rule -- the nonstatutory baseball exemption -- that was based on a long-since overturned view of the meaning of "interstate commerce."
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
To the Max (without Max)
I love running in DC but its hard work because I am not used to either hills or trails. Unfortunately, I was not able to coordinate with Max so I tackled two very different routes on my own before and after my conference at George Mason (imagine a series of reasonably balanced panel speaking to an audience chanting "Markets are magic.").
My first run was on the Potomac Heritage Trail on the Virginia heading north from the parking lot with the bridge to Roosevelt Island. Its a narrow trail littered with rocks, roots, fallen trees, and lots of ups and downs. I ran most of the way to the Chain Bridge but got tired of picking my way over and around the various obstacles so I headed back and did a partial loop of Roosevelt Island and called it a day.
After the conference, I had a day off where I met with various FTC folks. The next morning I meandered mostly uphill from Thomas Circle through the streets of Georgetown and beyond (Glover Park?). I turned around somewhere around 40th and Garfield and headed back mostly down hill back to the hotel.
I think both runs were in the 8-9 mile range but I am going mostly on time. Challengingg because of the heat, humidity, hills, and the trails and a great break from the flats of the Chicago lakefront. But missed the chance to catch up in person with Max and try to Mt Vernon trail that we had originally planned.
My first run was on the Potomac Heritage Trail on the Virginia heading north from the parking lot with the bridge to Roosevelt Island. Its a narrow trail littered with rocks, roots, fallen trees, and lots of ups and downs. I ran most of the way to the Chain Bridge but got tired of picking my way over and around the various obstacles so I headed back and did a partial loop of Roosevelt Island and called it a day.
After the conference, I had a day off where I met with various FTC folks. The next morning I meandered mostly uphill from Thomas Circle through the streets of Georgetown and beyond (Glover Park?). I turned around somewhere around 40th and Garfield and headed back mostly down hill back to the hotel.
I think both runs were in the 8-9 mile range but I am going mostly on time. Challengingg because of the heat, humidity, hills, and the trails and a great break from the flats of the Chicago lakefront. But missed the chance to catch up in person with Max and try to Mt Vernon trail that we had originally planned.
Why I feel like Rocky (VI)
Duke:
You know all there is to know about fighting, so there's no sense us
going down that same old road again. To beat this guy, you need speed -
you don't have it. And your knees can't take the pounding, so hard
running is out. And you got arthritis in your neck, and you've got
calcium deposits on most of your joints, so sparring is out.
Paulie: I had that problem.
Duke: So, what we'll be calling on is good ol' fashion blunt force trauma. Horsepower. Heavy-duty, cast-iron, piledriving punches that will have to hurt so much they'll rattle his ancestors. Every time you hit him with a shot, it's gotta feel like he tried kissing the express train. Yeah! Let's start building some hurtin' bombs!
Paulie: I had that problem.
Duke: So, what we'll be calling on is good ol' fashion blunt force trauma. Horsepower. Heavy-duty, cast-iron, piledriving punches that will have to hurt so much they'll rattle his ancestors. Every time you hit him with a shot, it's gotta feel like he tried kissing the express train. Yeah! Let's start building some hurtin' bombs!
Monday, May 20, 2013
Ten Reasons Why Running is Better than Triathlon
10. It's uncomplicated. Shoes, shorts, iPod if you want it. Just go run.
9. Triathlon includes running. So it's running plus other stuff. The only "other stuff" I like with my runs is beer.
8. One word: spandex.
7. Not so long ago we had a post here at runningprofs about race entry fees. New York had gone over the top with well over $200 to run the marathon. Have you seen Ironman prices?
6. You can run on the beach. You even should run on the beach. You can't really triathlon on the beach.
5. Marathons are the last bastion of great arena rock. Before the start in California last month I actually heard Def Leppard. At the start-line festival yesterday I was subjected to "get your heart racing in my skin tight jeans/be your teenage dream tonight." I do not get pumped up for a race wondering why our society has not progressed beyond Lolita.
4. 5 races within 25 miles. Any given weekend day. That's a market lacking allocation problems.
3. When I'm being really profligate I spend $112 on a new pair of Newtons. I spent that much on the pedals on my stupid bicycle.
2. How many great running songs do you know? How many great triathlon songs?
1. Phidippides didn't swim, bike, then run his way to Athens.
9. Triathlon includes running. So it's running plus other stuff. The only "other stuff" I like with my runs is beer.
8. One word: spandex.
7. Not so long ago we had a post here at runningprofs about race entry fees. New York had gone over the top with well over $200 to run the marathon. Have you seen Ironman prices?
6. You can run on the beach. You even should run on the beach. You can't really triathlon on the beach.
5. Marathons are the last bastion of great arena rock. Before the start in California last month I actually heard Def Leppard. At the start-line festival yesterday I was subjected to "get your heart racing in my skin tight jeans/be your teenage dream tonight." I do not get pumped up for a race wondering why our society has not progressed beyond Lolita.
4. 5 races within 25 miles. Any given weekend day. That's a market lacking allocation problems.
3. When I'm being really profligate I spend $112 on a new pair of Newtons. I spent that much on the pedals on my stupid bicycle.
2. How many great running songs do you know? How many great triathlon songs?
1. Phidippides didn't swim, bike, then run his way to Athens.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
The Final Four
So I have finally narrowed down my race choices for 2013. Not counting local stuff, I am most interested in running:
1) Portland, Oregon October 6th
2) Newport, Rhode Island October 12th
3) Portland, Maine October 6th
4) Baltimore, Maryland October 12th
All are small with left coast Portland the largest at 10,000. All have pretty courses that involve water in some way. Most importantly, all have reasonable non-stop flights from Chicago. But only Newport has mansions!
Back up plan is something local (two fall marathons in the burbs) or Cal International Marathon in Sacramento in December.
Any recommendations? Any volunteers to join me?
1) Portland, Oregon October 6th
2) Newport, Rhode Island October 12th
3) Portland, Maine October 6th
4) Baltimore, Maryland October 12th
All are small with left coast Portland the largest at 10,000. All have pretty courses that involve water in some way. Most importantly, all have reasonable non-stop flights from Chicago. But only Newport has mansions!
Back up plan is something local (two fall marathons in the burbs) or Cal International Marathon in Sacramento in December.
Any recommendations? Any volunteers to join me?
First of the Year
Triathlon season started today for me. I have in the past run multisport races earlier in the year than this, but in recent years January through April have been running months and triathlon racing starts in late May. Today was the Columbia Triathlon, which I blogged about exactly a year ago.
The race is famously difficult, run on the hills around Columbia, Maryland. It attracts a remarkable professional and international field and is a must-do for serious local racers. Then there are the rest of us. I'm accustomed to finishing in the top 10 or so of my age group in short-course races.* Today, despite my having aged up this year (triathlon counts one's birthday as occurring on January 1), I was 17th. (Some solace that I would have flirted with that top 10 if I was still 39.)
I tried something different. I didn't think about the run while I was biking, with the result that my bike split was my best of the three (which never happens) and I lost ground to the field on the run. I'd be disappointed, but the run was still better than a minute faster than last year's -- in fact, every split was faster than last year's -- and overall I improved by 6 minutes over 2012.
Not all news is good, though. The worst part? The embarrassing 45 second sitting on the ground trying to get my wetsuit off over my timing chip in the first transition.
*This is a misleading statistic. Most short-course races that I run have both a pro wave and an "elite" or "open" wave. Because the latter of those is made up disproportionately of people close in age to me (more so before I turned 40), a top-10 a.g. finish really means "top 10 of the people in my age group who aren't good enough to race at the front of the pack." Or something like that.
The race is famously difficult, run on the hills around Columbia, Maryland. It attracts a remarkable professional and international field and is a must-do for serious local racers. Then there are the rest of us. I'm accustomed to finishing in the top 10 or so of my age group in short-course races.* Today, despite my having aged up this year (triathlon counts one's birthday as occurring on January 1), I was 17th. (Some solace that I would have flirted with that top 10 if I was still 39.)
I tried something different. I didn't think about the run while I was biking, with the result that my bike split was my best of the three (which never happens) and I lost ground to the field on the run. I'd be disappointed, but the run was still better than a minute faster than last year's -- in fact, every split was faster than last year's -- and overall I improved by 6 minutes over 2012.
Not all news is good, though. The worst part? The embarrassing 45 second sitting on the ground trying to get my wetsuit off over my timing chip in the first transition.
*This is a misleading statistic. Most short-course races that I run have both a pro wave and an "elite" or "open" wave. Because the latter of those is made up disproportionately of people close in age to me (more so before I turned 40), a top-10 a.g. finish really means "top 10 of the people in my age group who aren't good enough to race at the front of the pack." Or something like that.
Flats in the Rain
Okay, this is a physics/engineering question. Happily, a friend called last night to see if I wanted to go for a bike ride this morning. Just what I needed, a leisurely few laps of Prospect Park. I woke up bright and early to find out that it was raining. We texted back and forth, but ultimately agreed to give it a go. Bottom line is that it was wet but pleasant, and I'm feeling lots better for it. Only glitch was a flat on the first lap. Again, good that I had a friend along, as my spare tube and CO2 cartridges are on my other bike which is in the shop. I now owe J__ a tube and a cartridge. . .
Here's the question: Why do riders get more flats in the rain?
Oh, and one other thing, if your hands are wet, don't let the CO2 cartridge touch your bare skin when you fill the tire.
Here's the question: Why do riders get more flats in the rain?
Oh, and one other thing, if your hands are wet, don't let the CO2 cartridge touch your bare skin when you fill the tire.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Interesting Choice
The Boston Athletic Association today announced a general invitation to all non-finishers from this year's marathon to return in 2014.
http://www.baa.org/news-and-press/news-listing/2013/may/baa-issues-special-invitation-to-2013-boston-marathon-starters.aspx
I don't think I would have chosen that approach; to my lights, anyone deterred from finishing due to the bombs had as real a marathon experience as those who did cross the line. (Note, perhaps irrelevantly, that the original Boston Marathon route was 25 miles. http://www.boston.com/
zope_homepage/sports/marathon_archive/history/1897.shtml. I do not believe anybody was pulled from the course before making it that far.)
This will have a substantial impact on the registration process next year, too. Either charity slots will not be available or the qualifier slots will be dramatically reduced. Because I doubt many who are offered the chance to run next year will say no. If the marathon in Boston was not iconic before, it surely is now.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Is it Better Yet?
Well, the short answer, of course, is "no." I still feel pain at the base of my left heel when I stretch it out, or when I toe off. The pull in my right calf seems to have resolved, more or less, but I guess I still have a case of achilles tendon/bursitis in my left heel. I've done nothing but swim, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This has been good for my swimming. Yesterday and today, I'm actually taking off, since I have a work crisis that needs my full focus. It is, however, searing my soul that the biggest race in Brooklyn history will go off on Saturday without me. I love the Brooklyn Half. My photo for this blog is a photo from last year's race. This year the "expo" is in a tent just a few blocks from my house in Brooklyn Bridge Park. A big piece of me wants to just pick up my bib and soldier through it. I am counting on my runningprof friends (you) to talk me out of this. Let the injury heal you will tell me, right?? Okay, right. . . Grumble, grumble, ouch, grumble, grumble, ouch . . .
Monday, May 13, 2013
Perspective
Perspective makes all the difference. How can one have a great time, running one's slowest 10k time? This weekend, I rowed all of Saturday away in an Eights regatta in hailstorms, then got up early Sun for a quick outing in our Four, then we all trundled direct to the Oxford Town and Gown 10k...my first in several years, and on no training to speak of. To make myself run at a challenging but dealable pace, I shed the Garmin. The Town and Gown is such a great race, as all the streets are closed to traffic and Oxford gets even more medieval seeming and quiet. I usually have done this course in 42 or so, but this year had my best experience but slowest time...I came in at 46.54 but the perspective was all about being so happy to be running again, and of course being faster than Rome, without injury. My son also ran his first 10k, and that counts as a PB for him then! My rowing crew and son are below (and yes some of us are clearly madder than others!)
Breathing Patterns
No idea how accurate or scientific this is, but it is an interesting article. http://m.runnersworld.com/running-tips/running-air-breathing-technique
Summary: timing of exhale impacts the amount of stress from a foot-strike. If you can adopt a symmetrical breathing pattern, exhaling on alternate foot strikes (left, then right), you can protect against one leg's taking undue punishment.
The technique is to inhale for three counts (footstrikes) and exhale for two. If you have to pant (last mile of a 5K), go 2-to-1.
Maybe it works. The author trained himself from an impressive first marathon at 2:52 to a PR of 2:13, while apparently avoiding nagging industries of his youth. (I find that statistic amazing. It always seems as if elite marathoners were never ordinary. This guy, Bud Coates, was at least only a little awesome before he became way awesome.)
Sunday, May 12, 2013
The Brotherhood Without Banners
There is also a lively series of articles examining the economics of Game of Thrones for those of you looking for even more ways to avoid grading exams.
One of the things that used to annoy me was the amount of time and space that the author devotes to the sigils, banners and mottoes of the major and minor royal houses and their bannermean. (Guess, you can't be a bannerman without a banner). For the House of Stark in the north, their symbol is the wolf and they are constantly reminding us that "Winter is Coming". For the Lannisters, it is the Lion and the vaguely menacing "A Lannister Always Pays His Debts." There is even the Brotherhood without Banner, an egalitarian group of both knights and commoners who have religious and moral scruples, but also a streak of banditry about them.
But the more I think about, the more I am convinced that the banners and symbols define who they are and what we are to think of a world where there are few heroes, but many seeking power.
This has led me to think about our brotherhood of runners. Are we the brotherhood without banners? Do we seek the Iron Man, if not the Iron Throne? Even if we don't seek the throne, for whom do we compete? What are our sigils, banners, and mottoes?
Sometimes I see the banners of the merchant houses of Nike, Reebok, Aasics and more. It is a chaotic array of colors and symbols worthy of King's Landing the Free Islands.
So I propose we spend a few moments thinking of about a symbol, banner and motto. All suggestions both serious and not welcome. Since I have no visual design sense at all, I will leave the symbols to others, except to note that NPR Planet Money now has a teeshirt with a great pun on John Maynard Keynes famous line about "animal spirits" driving the economy. They went with a squirrel holding a martini glass.
But to get the ball rolling on mottoes, how about:
"Competition for the Long Run"?
Saturday, May 11, 2013
First Run Report: Newton MV2s
These are my uber-expensive (in my experience) ultralight running shoes. They have a funky ridge on the sole just under the ball of my foot, so landing anywhere other than fore-footed is really not an option. Not a mid-foot striker's shoe. Definitely not a heel-striker's shoe. Not a walking shoe. And it takes some getting accustomed to stepping on uneven ground, because the sole interacts with the ground in a way I did not anticipate. (A few near ankle twists stepping up and down on curbs and the like.)
I ran 5 miles on Thursday afternoon after a long tough morning workout split between swimming, pool-based leg exercises, and weight-room leg exercises. My legs were toast but I wanted a few miles running. It was not easy.
Some guy pulled up next to me in his SUV, two kids strapped into the bench seat next to him. He said something garbled, which I assumed was "get the f__ off of the road." Keeping my poise (a rare result -- congratulations, me!), I asked "I'm sorry?" He: "You're a really good runner!" Now I'm taken aback. Me: "Thank you!" He: "No, I'm serious."
Forgive my relating what cannot come out humbly. Too, for all I know this guy has never seen anybody run before. He certainly was not wearing Team USA garb!
Today in Indianapolis I had planned a longer (10-ish) run. My legs were still toast, exacerbated by the long drive yesterday. I was dreading it. I thought "just a few miles and I'll loosen up. If I only go 5 that's okay too." Not wearing the Newtons, but remembering the form they caused me to have, I started out -- and felt phenomenal. It made no sense. My quads and calves were killing me standing still, but running felt comfortable, even easy. I could feel the glutes taking all the stress of the stride. I rolled comfortably, even quickly, for 10 miles.
Here's the rub: at the end, my quads and calves still hurt. It is not as if I loosened up and had a good run. It is as if I ran with different muscles entirely.
This is a lot to load on one short run with a new pair of shoes (recall that today's run was back in my trusty Asics Hyper Speeds). But maybe the Newtons were the light-switch I needed?
A note: the catalog says these run 1/2 size small. A full size small is more like it.
I ran 5 miles on Thursday afternoon after a long tough morning workout split between swimming, pool-based leg exercises, and weight-room leg exercises. My legs were toast but I wanted a few miles running. It was not easy.
Some guy pulled up next to me in his SUV, two kids strapped into the bench seat next to him. He said something garbled, which I assumed was "get the f__ off of the road." Keeping my poise (a rare result -- congratulations, me!), I asked "I'm sorry?" He: "You're a really good runner!" Now I'm taken aback. Me: "Thank you!" He: "No, I'm serious."
Forgive my relating what cannot come out humbly. Too, for all I know this guy has never seen anybody run before. He certainly was not wearing Team USA garb!
Today in Indianapolis I had planned a longer (10-ish) run. My legs were still toast, exacerbated by the long drive yesterday. I was dreading it. I thought "just a few miles and I'll loosen up. If I only go 5 that's okay too." Not wearing the Newtons, but remembering the form they caused me to have, I started out -- and felt phenomenal. It made no sense. My quads and calves were killing me standing still, but running felt comfortable, even easy. I could feel the glutes taking all the stress of the stride. I rolled comfortably, even quickly, for 10 miles.
Here's the rub: at the end, my quads and calves still hurt. It is not as if I loosened up and had a good run. It is as if I ran with different muscles entirely.
This is a lot to load on one short run with a new pair of shoes (recall that today's run was back in my trusty Asics Hyper Speeds). But maybe the Newtons were the light-switch I needed?
A note: the catalog says these run 1/2 size small. A full size small is more like it.
Graduation
Not much of what I do is this way, but today was graduation, and it's really a nice day for everybody. My hands hurt from nonstop clapping and my cheeks from nonstop smiling. Lots of favorite students moving on, many to better things. I could use a few more days like this each year!
Double Scratch
Okay, now I've reached full post Rome Marathon collapse. I've been flirting with injury since late March, when my Achilles started acting up. Last week my right calf tweaked. I've laid off since last Thursday, sticking to the pool, the bike and rest. I was scheduled to do a Run/Bike duo tomorrow, so I thought I'd take a short run with B__ to test the apparatus. Bad news, while the achilles was okay, so long as I kept the cadence up and the stride short, the calf cramped badly after just two miles. Luckily, I was just running by my house, so I dropped out of the group, grabbed my goggles and went to the pool. This is a bummer I don't think it's wise for me to run a 10k (as part of the duo) tomorrow, so I think I'm a scratch. I also think I'm going to have to skip the Brooklyn Half. This is a major bummer, as the race is shaping up to be a major scene. Everybody I know is doing it, and it's probably the last time it will be run without a lottery . . . Oh well, time to get serious about healing. . .
Thursday, May 9, 2013
This old house
My grandparents had long since moved to the Chatham area on the south side before I was born and then moved again to the Rainbow beach neighborhood a few blocks from the lake. I don't remember the three flat in Chatham but drove by it on the way to a tennis tournament last year with my daughter. That building is pictured below. Just more of the same kind of lower middle class apartments you would expect from an immigrant family running a laundry route, then a butcher counter, and later a corner grocery store.
An Intriguing Development
The American Antitrust Institute is moving into antitrust education for judges. I recall talking with Bert Foer about this project, which I believe to be funded by a cy pres grant, two years or so ago. It is a tremendous project that is too long in coming.
Frankly, why are we all not doing something like this? The publicity would make it worth the cost if every one of the runningprofs (and others in academe) put on a yearly three-day seminar on our area of subject-matter expertise. Presumably we would target local policy-makers and jurists. I do not propose that it would rival the efforts of AAI or the well-funded efforts of GMU, but it would be a form of grass-roots efforts to improve the quality of decision-making and policy-making.
Frankly, why are we all not doing something like this? The publicity would make it worth the cost if every one of the runningprofs (and others in academe) put on a yearly three-day seminar on our area of subject-matter expertise. Presumably we would target local policy-makers and jurists. I do not propose that it would rival the efforts of AAI or the well-funded efforts of GMU, but it would be a form of grass-roots efforts to improve the quality of decision-making and policy-making.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Track
Following Ted's example, I'm back at the track with an eye to getting faster, or at least not getting slower as I approach 40. (In triathlon years I am already 40, but in real life I have a few months to go.) Today was 3 x 1 mile plus 1 x 800m (I couldn't stomach the 4th mile!) at the so-called "tempo pace" -- which is in theory my per-mile pace running a 10K flat out -- with 1 minute rest in between.
This gives the lie to the idea that marathoners are crazy. To my lights it's the short stuff that is really unpleasant!
This gives the lie to the idea that marathoners are crazy. To my lights it's the short stuff that is really unpleasant!
The First Amendment
A book landed in my mailbox in DC titled National Sunday Law: A Shocking Glimpse Behind the Scenes, by A. Jan Marcussen. It was sent to "Resident" at my address. My guess is the author directed this to DC addresses in the hopes of garnering the attention of policy-makers (or did others receive this as well?).
The 70-page monograph (plus a handful of appendices) begins with an impressionistic portrait of a terrorist attack, presumably intended to describe September 11 in New York. It then promises "an incredible journey behind the scenes" and "a shocking glimpse" of something. The next page begins with a quote describing the (naive view of the) Genovese murder in New York -- "[t]hirty-eight people watched . . . and didn't care." What we are to learn from reading this is unclear. The monograph lacks a clear thesis, though reading between the lines on the pages I could stomach before discarding it, I gathered that (1) the United States was predicted in the biblical book of Revelations; (2) a host of evils is befalling the United States, from pornography to murder to neglect of elderly peoples to drugs to "abuse of women and even of babies" to "Prostitutes, homosexuals, and drug addicts," to AIDS; (3) the United States is on the verge of collapse and only christianity can salvage it.
Okay, so that's the thesis. We need to become more religious as an antidote to violence (which is driven in part by religious zealotry). That's not the only irony here. Another: quoting an unidentified "Jesuit priest," the author writes "'[t]o . . . with the American Constitution,'" which he sees as being abused to prevent necessary religiosity. Of course, the very constitutional provision that prevents the establishment of religion (which I gather the author desires) is the provision that enables this monograph to be written and shared without fear of sanction.
P__ finds it a little scary -- a manifesto not unlike Kaczynski's. I find it in equal parts amusing and gratifying. Is this not the classic example of the First Amendment in action? Good old-fashioned pamphleteering?
The 70-page monograph (plus a handful of appendices) begins with an impressionistic portrait of a terrorist attack, presumably intended to describe September 11 in New York. It then promises "an incredible journey behind the scenes" and "a shocking glimpse" of something. The next page begins with a quote describing the (naive view of the) Genovese murder in New York -- "[t]hirty-eight people watched . . . and didn't care." What we are to learn from reading this is unclear. The monograph lacks a clear thesis, though reading between the lines on the pages I could stomach before discarding it, I gathered that (1) the United States was predicted in the biblical book of Revelations; (2) a host of evils is befalling the United States, from pornography to murder to neglect of elderly peoples to drugs to "abuse of women and even of babies" to "Prostitutes, homosexuals, and drug addicts," to AIDS; (3) the United States is on the verge of collapse and only christianity can salvage it.
Okay, so that's the thesis. We need to become more religious as an antidote to violence (which is driven in part by religious zealotry). That's not the only irony here. Another: quoting an unidentified "Jesuit priest," the author writes "'[t]o . . . with the American Constitution,'" which he sees as being abused to prevent necessary religiosity. Of course, the very constitutional provision that prevents the establishment of religion (which I gather the author desires) is the provision that enables this monograph to be written and shared without fear of sanction.
P__ finds it a little scary -- a manifesto not unlike Kaczynski's. I find it in equal parts amusing and gratifying. Is this not the classic example of the First Amendment in action? Good old-fashioned pamphleteering?
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
On the road again
Now that I am finally stretching out the runs a bit, I am getting back to the north and south ends of the lake front path. The next step is to return to my summer time norm of running into the burbs and taking the commuter train back or having Laura drive me various places and then run home.
But for the moment, it is great to get back to the more scenic and less crowded parts of the Lincoln Park and beyond. Here are a few of the sights along the way from recent runs all 7 miles or more. You are looking at the Ohio street beach facing north (Northwestern law is the black building on the left side). The top two are from my long run a week ago. Next is Oak Street facing south toward East Lake Shore Drive, the swankiest block of real estate in the city for many reasons including the unobstructed views). Finally, there is yesterday's run back from the car repair place showing the Hollywood Avenue beach at the very north end of the park facing south with downtown in the far distance. Hoping to go even longer tomorrow before coming into the office for an antitrust review session. If I go about ten (or cheat and run from the health club), I will send some shots of Humboldt Park where my dad grew up.
But for the moment, it is great to get back to the more scenic and less crowded parts of the Lincoln Park and beyond. Here are a few of the sights along the way from recent runs all 7 miles or more. You are looking at the Ohio street beach facing north (Northwestern law is the black building on the left side). The top two are from my long run a week ago. Next is Oak Street facing south toward East Lake Shore Drive, the swankiest block of real estate in the city for many reasons including the unobstructed views). Finally, there is yesterday's run back from the car repair place showing the Hollywood Avenue beach at the very north end of the park facing south with downtown in the far distance. Hoping to go even longer tomorrow before coming into the office for an antitrust review session. If I go about ten (or cheat and run from the health club), I will send some shots of Humboldt Park where my dad grew up.
New Bike -- Report
Okay, so you can buy speed. I've been going to the Brooklyn Tri Club bike workouts for the last couple of weeks, in an attempt to get used to the new ride. I did a brick last week, and today was a 10 mile(ish) time trial simulation. I used to be very pleased with myself when I could hold 20 mph on my road bike without drafting. Today I did three laps of Prospect Park (3.35miles/lap) in 27.18. I think that works out to 22.3 mph. Look out Max, I'm coming for you, at least on the bike leg. . .
Monday, May 6, 2013
New Shoes
My trusty Asics Gel Hyper Speed shoes have now seen me through three good or pretty good marathons (Big Sur 2012, Boston 2013 and Big Sur 2013) as well as a few hundred miles of training. It may be time to put them to pasture. (Maybe not. I'm not being too hasty with this. I also see now at runningwarehouse.com that the Hyper Speeds are on sale for $50. Does foam have a half-life if it sits in a box in my closet?)
That leaves waiting in the wings the newer model Asics DS-Race shoes that I wore in last year's Boston Marathon. I am not pleased with this revision of my previously favorite shoe. (The older DS-Races were my marathon PR shoe until last December.) With the old DS-Races wearing out, the newer DS-Races may become my walking shoes.
I also have the Brooks T-7s that I've been wearing for training shoes. I've never raced these that I can remember. I used to like the T-6s quite a bit, and ran my best ever 10K in them in 2011, but I have never felt the same love for the T-7s. Among other things, their foam seems a little stiff. I have the same complaint about the Saucony Kinvaras, which I know have been the favorite shoes of many of the runningprofs. For some reason each foot strike feels like I am slapping the ground, with the best analogy being a belly-flop off of the diving board. It hurts! The Kinvaras, with next to no real miles on them (though they were there for my 5K PR in fall 2011), are sitting in the mud room in the basement. I should either resurrect them (maybe my stride changes will help) or move them out.
Then there are the triathlon specific Zoot Ultra Speeds. They slip on one-handed in single-digit seconds. They also offer exactly the (lack of) support such a boast would imply. But they weigh nothing and they shed water. I have enjoyed them in my last several triathlons and ran my marathon PR in them in a monsoon last December. Currently running in my second pair and the third is in a box somewhere in my basement.
Having written all that, I wonder what excuse I thought I had for these recent purchases:
That leaves waiting in the wings the newer model Asics DS-Race shoes that I wore in last year's Boston Marathon. I am not pleased with this revision of my previously favorite shoe. (The older DS-Races were my marathon PR shoe until last December.) With the old DS-Races wearing out, the newer DS-Races may become my walking shoes.
I also have the Brooks T-7s that I've been wearing for training shoes. I've never raced these that I can remember. I used to like the T-6s quite a bit, and ran my best ever 10K in them in 2011, but I have never felt the same love for the T-7s. Among other things, their foam seems a little stiff. I have the same complaint about the Saucony Kinvaras, which I know have been the favorite shoes of many of the runningprofs. For some reason each foot strike feels like I am slapping the ground, with the best analogy being a belly-flop off of the diving board. It hurts! The Kinvaras, with next to no real miles on them (though they were there for my 5K PR in fall 2011), are sitting in the mud room in the basement. I should either resurrect them (maybe my stride changes will help) or move them out.
Then there are the triathlon specific Zoot Ultra Speeds. They slip on one-handed in single-digit seconds. They also offer exactly the (lack of) support such a boast would imply. But they weigh nothing and they shed water. I have enjoyed them in my last several triathlons and ran my marathon PR in them in a monsoon last December. Currently running in my second pair and the third is in a box somewhere in my basement.
Having written all that, I wonder what excuse I thought I had for these recent purchases:
The Asics Gel Noosa-Fast. (No idea how to invert the picture -- sorry!) Asics' triathlon offering has for a few years now been the Noosa, which is a ugly ugly shoe with elastic laces that can be worn without socks. I have avoided it because it is ugly and because at 9 oz. or so it was not that light. The Noosa-Fast solves the weight problem, coming in under 7 oz. It offers elastic laces (though I have to re-lace the shoes myself). It does not solve the ugly problem, as you can see.
And the Newton MV2s, tipping the scales at a mere 5.9 ounces. Until last week, I hadn't spent more than $100 on a pair of running shoes since, well, the Internet revolutionized retailing. These are a Subaru driver's experiment with a Cadillac two-seater. $112 and change after the Roadrunnersports VIP discount.
[Lots of shoes? Yes. I do have a fetish. In my rock climbing days I amassed perhaps a dozen different climbing slippers, ranging from the "all-day trad-climbing shoes" to the "super sensitive slab shoes" to the "ultra stiff steep sport shoes". Those are still hanging around in bins in the basement. And we haven't started on my semi-serious efforts to own every loafer Ecco ever made.]
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
What we have been writing
Thought you all would like to know what our intrepid troop of bloggers has been writing as of late.
My new post on Danny Sokol's antitrust blog (that is not cheating on this blog right?) is part of an on-line symposium on the very fine Hemphill-Wu article in the Yale Law Journal on Parallel Exclusion.
Max has looked carefully on FTC Commissioner Josh Wright's scholarship on behavioral economics in the new issue of The Antitrust Source.
And speaking of the Yale Law Journal, Ted has placed his new bankruptcy piece in Yale but I have forgotten the exact title and topic.
Plus Phil, Ted and I have a combination of issue papers and comments from the Rome Antitrust Marathon eventually appearing in the European Competition Journal.
If I have missed anything, please add in the comments.
Keep writing, keep running!
My new post on Danny Sokol's antitrust blog (that is not cheating on this blog right?) is part of an on-line symposium on the very fine Hemphill-Wu article in the Yale Law Journal on Parallel Exclusion.
Max has looked carefully on FTC Commissioner Josh Wright's scholarship on behavioral economics in the new issue of The Antitrust Source.
And speaking of the Yale Law Journal, Ted has placed his new bankruptcy piece in Yale but I have forgotten the exact title and topic.
Plus Phil, Ted and I have a combination of issue papers and comments from the Rome Antitrust Marathon eventually appearing in the European Competition Journal.
If I have missed anything, please add in the comments.
Keep writing, keep running!
Bruised Achilles -- I think
Okay, I mentioned a few weeks ago, that some reckless speedwork and a fast 5K had irritated my left achilles. My rehab strategy was to use the Strassbourg Sock at night, and otherwise ignore it. Since then I've run another 5K (much slower), and resumed a light/regular running schedule. Bad news, it's been getting worse, not better. Now it feels less like tendonitis, and more like a pretty deep bruise. Any suggestions? For the moment, I've switched to bike and pool, but will try a bric tomorrow because, well, that's what's on the schedule.
I think I am entering the phase known as delayed onset marathon soreness. It's like regular DOMS, but it comes on about a month after you run a marathon. You may recall we were all b*tching and moaning in December about how we'd declined since our Fall marathon peaks. Now I'm feeling it again. This is notwithstanding my 5K PR in late March.
I wonder what's up.
I think I am entering the phase known as delayed onset marathon soreness. It's like regular DOMS, but it comes on about a month after you run a marathon. You may recall we were all b*tching and moaning in December about how we'd declined since our Fall marathon peaks. Now I'm feeling it again. This is notwithstanding my 5K PR in late March.
I wonder what's up.
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