Friday, February 12, 2016

NBC scheduling kicks US Marathon running in the ding ding

Scheduling the US Marathon Trials in the middle of the day in LA any time of year is TERRIBLE.

To 'accommodate NBC's broadcast schedule'? For $ for them? What?

How about accommodating the internationally flat-lining - but showing newly discovered heartbeats - US marathon effort?

How about accommodating our country's best runners and letting them compete in the best possible conditions?

As far back as the 80's and 90's American born runners were running sub- 2:10  http://running.competitor.com/2015/05/news/top-25-all-time-u-s-marathon-times-men_129010
Today we are choosing among a bevy of 2:11-2:12 pr guys to fill out our top 10 bracket here. We *need* to see some groovy times to get a little fired up, develop more of a national following, and develop some strong mojo (not just wejo).

The trials were (still are?) a chance for a resurgence, some quick times, new names.
It's the Olympic trials. Perhaps our best known and some newer young up and comers, peaking down curiously from their 2:10-2:11 perches, could seize the day, and trials euphoria, and charge and blast something under 2:08! And get people a little fired up!! Maybe within sight of the East African times again!?

No, probably not now. Accommodate NBC schedule.
Now, heat. All runners know marathons are scheduled (even freakishly) early in the day and in the fall to keep core heat down and times low. Not this one. Not the second biggest marathon for US runners every four years i.m.o.

Now the smart race will probably be nobody goes until late in the race. (Some peloton breakers, bless them, notwithstanding).

People will suffer through and probably trudge to 2:12+.... three guys to make our team. Yay. Our best guys will probably go, but I don't think the times are going to be sexy.

Hope nobody gets injured Saturday.

Shame on NBC, and the USATF(!), for scheduling this event too late toward the middle of the day knowing of potential heat. Even the amateurs will go off at 7am the next day.

The tail wagging the dog. #shame #respectathletes #athletesfirst #greedisbad

Still hoping Ritz and Luke and Meb and even Rupp and Estrada etc. go for it smartly and pace themselves and leave their b*lls out there. And whomever gets 1-2-3 for the U.S. gets geeked up to represent the US at the Olympic world stage. Rooting for the gals too - their top 10 bracket pretty open after the top 4-5 or so as well - go for it!!!

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Sunset, Venice 12/20/2012

Sunset, Venice 12/20/2012
I've been thinking some about the Winter Solstice, the Mayan end of the 30,000-year-cycle on 12/21/12.

What if in fact the world did end? Even though this probably will not happen, to live consciously it is honest for us to take a bit of an inventory.

Am I happy with how I've lived my life? (Yesterday, I thought mostly yes, with some areas for improvement, as below.) Are there changes I would make?
Would I have tried to forgive those that were hostile or disappointing to me?
Would I spend more time with those I loved the most, telling them that, feeling that more?
Would I be happier, grateful for what I have, what I've experienced, the joy, the beauty in this world?

Maybe the answer is yes to all of the above.
So this time can serve as a point of rebirth for all of us. If we think about it.

Because somewhere along the line I realized I think maybe mankind deserves it. !
The way we are killing each other, killing the planet.
How selfish we are, and snotty to those around us. Petty, competitive. Why is this? Do we have to behave this way? (I say no, it greatly detracts and misdirects energy from the full-time celebration in which we could engage, the great multi-cultural, multi-rhythmic dance we can sustain here.)

Maybe God or the Great Universe is fed up, and will pull the rug out from under us.
Don't think I can say we could blame Him/Her/It.

But it probably won't happen. (Probably not! This time.)

Still we are finite on this ride.

It is a time to think, am I happy with how I've lived my life?
Hopefully most of us can say yes.

For the part of us that have a little worry, a little sadness....
This is the time to be present.
This is the time to be the person you want to be, that can die at peace, that can hope to every day be able to look yourself and the Universe in the eye and say, how beautiful, smiling, and thank you. Let's do that.

Antidotes to Violence, a.k.a., Take Charge of Where Your Head's At - here

Tell Congress to Strengthen Gun Control Laws NOW - here

Good News & Brain Food News -
Christians & Muslims Gather, for Peace here
Good News - Top RIO+20 Summit Posts here
The 'Busy' Trap - NYTimes.com
here