Den Haag

Despite having only 48 hours in The Hague (Why the "The" by the way?), I did get in a good 50 minute run before my talk on Tuesday. My body got me up at 5 something and I was out the door by 5:45. I ran around and through a large set of linked parks across from the hotel and conference center. There were many interesting trails, some pavement, some earth, some a little creepy at 6 AM when you don't know where it ends up and how long it will take the police to find your body. But its Holland and apparently nobody actually run here at 6 in the morning or that I didn't find the best running paths which were probably along the beach 2 miles to the east. I did have a map and managed to emerge about where I thought I would. Much to my surprise, I was in front of Miduradam, a kid's attraction that is a miniature city of perfect 1:25 scale of different parts of Holland and Europe. On my only other visit to Holland, I went there when I was 12 or 13 with my folks, but had forgotten about it and that it was in The Hague. I remember it as kind of a Legoland without the rides. Unfortunately, it was 6:30 or so and it wouldn't open for hours. But kind of cool to stumble across it 40 years later. Finished the run through yet a different park and began my day at the pre-ICN research conference which I will blog about later.

Sherlock

There's a fun take on A.C. Doyle available on Netflix. It's got Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock and Martin Freeman (whom I do not know from anything else) as Dr. Watson, and it's set in the present. Watson is recently returned from Afghanistan when the pair meet. Holmes texts Inspector Lestrade when he has something to contribute. The one episode I watched, "A Study in Pink," contains a riff on the dread Pirate Roberts' showdown with the Sicilian Vizzini over Iocane powder.

The Regulars

Because I tend to do most of my runs in one of two directions around the lakefront around the same time in the morning, I tend to see many of the same faces. I don't know who they are, we never talk, half the time we are running opposite directions, but it is comforting to see them back now that running season is in full swing (even if its 42, foggy, windy and running this morning). Since I don't know their actual names, I have nick names for each of them based solely on appearances. There is the Keep on Truckin' Man, a hispanic guy with a mustache and a pony tail who always runs shirtless and looks vaguely like the R.Crumb cartoon figure. There is the Bobble Head guy, an older Phillipino guy who also runs shirtless. He is so skinny, his running gait is so odd, and his head is so large that he looks likes he is going to fall over sometimes. Then there is the beehive lady who has some sort of elaborate hairdo carefully wrapped in gauzy fabric piled high atop her head. There is also an albino guy who power walks while covered from head to toe regardless of the heat. Finally, there is the Joggler, a guy in his late thirties who tuns endless effortless 8 minute miles while doing a perfect three ball weave juggling pattern.

The only folks I actually know who I ever see are Mark, a general counsel of a real estate company, who never sees me because he runs without his glasses and Ellen, a former neighbor, who runs 6 miles a day, seven days a week (which would be considerably more than me) who won't tackle races of any distance.

Interesting and diverse group out there.



Wonder what they wonder call me?

Running the world

Going to be in The Hague on Sunday for about 72 hours to present a paper at a research conference before the ICN and then turning around to come home. Hate to miss the ICN itself but hopefully will able to attend or schnorr my way in in future years. Too many family, school, and other upcoming travel plans to dawdle this time.

Hope to get a quick run in. Turns out the web has an immense number of running routes and maps for virtually any city. Some for the Hague are at http://www.run.com/city.asp?loc=The+Hague+NL. There goes my big money making idea...