2nd day travel blues and I could not get it going this AM. Slept in. When I got up, I banged away some work stuff. This is certainly a change over years past. My wife has noticed it as well: “why don’t you get up for morning runs anymore?” And when on work trips I am not completely hell bent to get the morning run in. I am not sure if this is a decline in desire (probably is to some degree), enjoying AM sleep more (probably is to some degree), aging (probably is to some degree), or something else (probably is to some degree).
This is the stuff I read at work.
“Caught my eye” stuff: I guess we all need a creative art outlet but this one with GPS tracks is a bit nutty. I love this break down of how this guy is going after Leadville. After nearly a year of doing G&Ts (that is Gray and Torres) every week, Peter is going to give the Nolans a shot. Another video conference call of the USMRT. And then there is this:
I guess I am not the only parent who is having this discussion with their kid.
There is clearly a social pressure within kids in the ‘burbs to go to college. You have to go to college because you are going to be the next … I dunno, whatever … when you go there. And it comes across as if you are giving up on that if you don’t go to college. Of course if you are in pursuit of some particularly licensed position – doctor, lawyer, teacher – that is probably true. And college is cool, right? I mean a big party while stretching your limits academically. Football games and engineering projects and ultimate frisbee and all nighters.
But I am not sure it is worth it given its costs these days. I have asked my kids why they want to go to college and they struggle for an answer. I am not surprised because I think a lot of people have no idea what they want to do when they are 26 or 36 or 46, never mind when they are 16. So is it worth, oh, let’s say 200k down the tubes when you are not sure that is what you want to do? I have posed the question to my kids, what if it was 200k to starting your own business instead?
It is not a comfortable question for them of course because it puts them in a cross hairs of what society is programming them to do, and their individual choices about the rest of their life. I think for some kids it is a no brainer (my father for example knew he wanted to be a fire fighter from when he was a little kid, and then he was), but for most … I think it is a pretty big question.
Add on to it the fun social mumbo jumbo that is dumped into kids heads these days about “follow your dream and you will never a work a day in your life” and you create a fair amount of unnecessary angst. My take is those who are really following their dream are probably busting their arse doing it (if they are are really following it).
Evening run. I will call it hot but given the bug I am seeing in the weatherunderground screen, it could be wrong.
Yeah, not quite that hot. Maybe F but not C. Pressed for time did the quarter workout along the ditch (8 quarters on 90 seconds rest). 77, carved down to 74. Not sure if the altitude drop was offset by the heat or if that is just what I got. I am thinking of calling this the you can fake it but it wont make it workout. 5.5 miles.
Great challenge you've given your kids... I'll be interested to hear how they sort it all out. There's so much noise from so many sources these days. Good for you for throwing a new option in the mix.
ReplyDeleteLis
Lisa! Good to hear from you. I thought your blog had succumbed to the internet trolls advertising their web sites.
DeleteTo be fair, I did not tell my kids that I WOULD give them 200k. I think they have some sort of assumption that we will pay for college. I look the whole thing as a prop by a person I care about and a consideration as to whether we will fund that.
I am not sure where it will go yet though.
You are a very wise dad. :-)
ReplyDeleteNo, I ain't. I am cheap.
Deletethe college thing is interesting to me. i only went to college for 2 years while playing baseball. i had a half scholarship and was paying the rest via student loans. i was over baseball and felt like i was wasting time and money because i didn't know what I wanted to do.... so i left. A year later a i joined the coast guard and never looked back.
ReplyDeleteit's definitely worked out for me in the long run even though i do not have degree. the coast guard got me started in the direction and i worked hard to get certifications while I was in and didn't stop once i got out. in comparison I am doing better financially than 95% of my friends that got college degrees.
i know i am just one case but it's just proof that there are many options out there. i feel like kids are rarely presented with any alternatives other than going to college and getting a degree. it's like if they're a loser or will never amount to anything if they don't. just my thoughts.
I think of a LOT of folks I respect who are doing great without college degrees. You are one. Lucho another. Timko another. The list goes on. You'd probably never know any of these folks don't have degrees unless you asked about it (although now sometimes it is a point of pride with some folks that they made it without one).
DeleteI am hearing birds aflutter you may be in a nearby zip code soon?
yes sir. at the latest next spring. it all depends on some work projects i have going right now that will last through the end of the year. just need to get them wrapped up. i should know more about a specific date in the next month or so. counting the days!
DeleteJW - keep us in the loop and let us know how we can help when you are getting close.
DeleteHey Geo,
ReplyDeleteIf you have time to drive west of PHX for a longer run, go out to White Tanks park. There is a nice 17-ish miler up a pretty big mountain with some cool desert canyon/rock/wash running. I visit family in Glendale most years around Thanksgiving and I always do this run. I also run the Thunderbird park- pretty similar to Camelback. BTW- speaking of faster running at lower altitude vs higher heat. I am faster with less PE the higher I get because of the cooler temps (comparing 5,000' to 9,000'). Heat is runner Kryptonite. At least for this runner. jer
Thanks for the tip but heading out today.
DeleteYeah, the heat is different. I partly opted for the shorter reps because of the heat. It was hot enough that I could feel how it was impacting breathing.
Still - while it was hot, it was not nearly as oppressive as Tel Aviv or Dubuque. While those places post lower temps, their humidity is a killer.
As you point out, for certain things you have to go to school. I don't think that is going to change for a while. That is certainly something that is important to consider in the college vs. no college debate. I know I could not do what I do now without a formal degree.
ReplyDeleteThat guys Leadville analysis makes my head hurt...
Your kind of stuff absolutely requires higher education ...
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