Does Anybody Blog Anymore -- Race(s) Report

 So Facebook reminded me today that 9 years ago, we all ran the Rome Marathon, and posted pictures and congratulations here.   It has been four years since any of us have posted, and, as we emerge (hopefully) from the pandemic, I find myself feeling wistful and nostalgic for the old (and indeed older) normal.  So here goes!!

One of the few gifts of the pandemic has been that it gave me a long window of time to work myself back into shape after a relatively long period where life got in the way.  I went three years without running a race, or feeling like I was remotely in shape to run a race.  Last year, I found myself with a club spot for the NYC Marathon, and, well, I ran it.  Not my best.  I seem to have lost a step (or two), but I enjoyed myself, and it now feels like my running has entered a new -- post-60 --  phase. I might post more about the run up to the Marathon, and the pandemic, but today, I thought I'd just do a more modest, old style race report on yesterday's NYC Half.

After running the Marathon, in a fit of optimism, I signed up for both the Fred Lebow Half, and the NYC Half.  I was inspired by the (barely) sub-2:00 half marathon I ran in the first half of the Marathon (forget about the second half). It felt like I might be able to push myself back into sub 1:55 shape.  I still think I'll be able to do that, but not today.

I completely underestimated the effect that winter and holiday food would have.  My fitness took a nosedive.  I ended up skipping the Lebow 1/2, and, even as recently as Wednesday, I was planning to skip the NYC 1/2.  My midweek training runs were super slow.  My long runs were short and slow.  It just didn't feel like I had it.  Friday, though, my morning run went well, so I decided to go for it on Sunday.  My thought was to treat it as a regular weekend long run, have a good time, and not "race."  With that as the baseline, I succeeded!

Getting back to the race: woke up to a beautiful morning, clear, temp in the low 50s; decided to just put on some extra disposable cotton t-shirts and avoid necessity of bag drop; and hopped on the subway to Prospect Park.  I thought I was leaving lots of time, but instead of allowing us to walk up the transverse to the start, runners were forced to walk the very long way around to the lake, then back up to the start village, and finally, through a surprisingly (I suppose I shouldn't be surprised) security line:  

I got through just in time for the second wave corrals to open.  Based on a strong 10 miler back in October, I was seeded way over my head in the Wave 2 B corral.  I could even see the start from the start: 

I wasn't entirely sure about the entire enterprise, but the pre race energy was great: 

The race itself was really fun.  I ran a slow, mostly consistent race.  My goal was to keep it close to 2 hours, but I wasn't trying to go under it.  So, I just watched my heart rate, and kept it within a 2-3 beat (low tempo) range.  I felt fine the whole way.  High points were: (1) the South Brooklyn Running Club cheer zone on Flatbush; (2) just before the Manhattan Bridge spotting favorite Peloton instructor Hannah Corbin and giving a reverse shout out; (3) getting passed by my neighbor and colleague Judge Elizabeth Stong; and (3) getting passed, catching up to, and then getting dusted by Ros Scaff.  Then I went to find Caroline Hoyt (speedy runner) and daughter (Gabrielle) who took this picture of me, nearing the finish: 

Anyway, there aren't too many things that will put this smile on my face: 

So, all in all, a great day. 

We've gone quiet...not enough running, too much thinking?

Last year introduced many to the Danish concept of hygge - which is lovely but doesn’t really get you out of the house. I’d like to offer something less well-known but which I’ve followed for thirty years:  ikigai.   Professionally, it has helped me pursue a ‘path less travelled’ that has worked out fine for me. It has not all been ‘rainbows and unicorns’ to be sure – but I’ve been honoured to do some interesting work, which can resonate personally, be energising rather than exhausting or irritating, and make for a more positive home life as well. (Neither of my kids are studying law or economics in university though so maybe I’m more ‘horrible warning’ than shining example.) At least I seem a lot happier and healthier than my practitioner friends with their houses in France and off-shore accounts.


The long and very winding road: I started out as a barrister in Toronto in the late 80s, worked as a solicitor in Tokyo for a few years, as a competition official in Ottawa, then did a D.Phil. at Oxford, then worked in private practice for a few years in London, then 15 years ago moved to a portfolio approach. This includes teaching LL.M economists and lawyers ‘In Bruges’, advising smaller competition agencies, and a mixture of OFT and CMA roles, including Board, Inquiry chair and now Senior Director for Case Decision Groups. I’m also a decision-maker at the Financial Conduct Authority and Payment Systems Regulator, edit a law and econ journal with Simon Bishop and retain some consultancy abroad.    There is also ALL THE RUNNING, all the rowing, and ALL the coffee and puddings.     Much of this makes for a highly compartmentalised mind, or a rich and full life, with minor split personality issues.   Probably all of that.


In job interviews, of course, I draw a straight line of progression through all this… it’s better than just admitting to being a competition flaneur.   But between you and me, all I’ve really been doing for thirty years is following my passion, doing what I love, and moving away from toxic people or situations, things that get boring, or what aren’t my comparative advantage. To help do that I’ve often reflected on the following image – which I came upon in my work in Japan.     

Just stare at it for a bit. Take a pause and think about your work. Think about what you love and are good at and your contribution, all the bits in the diagram.  And what you don’t like as well. Then act: if you can get most of what you do – work, play, whatever – into the central segment – or as close as possible, you will have a greater sense of well-being and be very lucky as well. But it will be luck you created. So, try it. Even just thinking about ikigai will reveal some insights. Make some time and space this month to do that if you can.  Ideally, during a run.