Quoted message said:Where do you do this work With disabled runners? I've run with the Achiles
Track Club.
___
it's not fair to say "i do this work", etc. i don't intentionally volunteer.
it seems a couple a times a year i'll get flagged down and asked to help out an
overwhelmed running guide (i run a popular circuit). i tried to make that clear
and speaking of clarity w/respect to david in hamilton, i did intend to suggest
his disdain was for visually impaired runners. in my poor & hurried writing i
can see how he interpreted it in that manner. i apologize to him for that,
sorry. the object of his transparent disdain which i felt came through his
cumulative responses was toward me personally. that's what i meant to suggest.
i don't take this ng stuff too seriously, ignored what i sensed in his
writing. i wanted to focus on topic in hopes that through the discourse...we
can collectively extrude some insightful views through the lens of the blind
runner. (focus, sight, view, lens all in one sentence & in context of the
blind.....can you top that virginiaz?...hee hee).
i've come to learn people can make excuses & justify what they want....and i
tried to get you all to think a bit outside "your" box (which should not be
hard for david since he'll be celebrating boxing day shortly). people seek
various means to alter the state they find themeselves in.....then refuse to
acknowledge the behavior or feverishly defend/justify it. ready to think
outside the box?
"i need a cigarette or a drink to calm my nerves". people turn to drugs,
perscription and hard, to alter their state and enter another. running
w/headphones is a similar behavior. it's a "crutch". these people are making
an effort to escape the natural state they find themselves in whilst
running.....and in fact do....and many actually condition themselves to where
they are reliant on that "crutch" to indeed go for a run. my girlfriend is
addicted to ipod'ing it while running and having a very difficult time "kicking
it". i know many like her.
so what's so bad and wrong with this "crutch" that helps you make it through
your run? well beyond the conditioning you're imposing on yourself...you're
missing out on a large aspect of the endeavor of running...the auditory journey
(and as i mentioned the blind can tell you all about that better than us
sighted folks)....and you're reducing the dynamism of the mental side of
running (the unnatural auditory interference) relative to where you are and
what you're doing. again, it depends on how you choose to purpsue life. i
try to make the most out of things....and imo w/you're wearing headphones while
running...that would be contrary to my posture toward things.
i understand "different strokes for different folks". there is room for that.
but there's no room for denial and diminishing what you are indeed doing when
you are ipod'ing it. it's easy to diminish the behavior...it's harder to run
this behavior through the ringer & under the scope. i drink a glass of wine
every night with dinner... knowing the purpose, motivation, and conditioning i
am imposing on self. it's not comforting to view behavior through the context
of "conditioning"...and our motivation to alter our natural state...I am just
putting out there for your consideration this view of running with headphones
on.
....and david...i don't view this ng stuff in the context of "winning" and
"losing" positions....i found that point by you quite illuminating of self.
there are interesting and provocative points made...and then there are the
zzzzzzzzzz.
