I Run

I did a half-marathon run last week.  Without lying, it was hard, and a few times I felt like giving up, citing everything from my sore feet, to tired legs, to being cold and hot at the same time.  There were lots of reasons to throw in the towel.

But I didn't give up, I finished it. Not in a record time, and certainly not my best time, but I finished it.  I even sprinted for the last kilometer (or as much as I could anyway at that point) because I told myself - "What are you going to do when you're done? - Relax, take it easy and calm down."  What was I going to save any reserves for...I knew myself enough that If I hadn't pushed hard, I wouldn't have felt satisfied with my own race.

Running is a real head-game for many of us, me included. There's rarely a time when I think, gosh I really want to run today - of course it does happen, but often it feels like a chore.  Until you're out there, and every few runs, you get this wonderful feeling of everything working in synch.  You've got speed, no pain and are unstoppable.  You're fluid.  

Again..not every time but enough that I keep doing it.  I'm actually not aware of another activity where on an amateur or personal level you get such a lovely little reward.  Call it runner's high, or the satisfaction of not sitting on the couch eating Dorito's in front of the TV, whatever it is, it's the reason I run.  It's the reason, why I've signed up already for the next half marathon, and it's the reason I'll get my kit on and venture into the cold dark morning today.  I run because I can run.  

The Most Important Picture Ever Created

It gave us perspective and made clear we are all on the little blue marble together.

My 9 Most Influential Cars

I'm a car guy. Always loved them.  So I offer my subjective list here so you too can look at cool pictures of cars- and tell me what I've missed. (They are in no order)

1. 1984 BMW 635

As close to design perfection as any car out there, it stands the test of time (it's 40 years old).  The glass cockpit remains unrivalled in visibility terms and the lines seem just perfect.  I'd buy one tomorrow if I could find one in good shape.



2. 1985 Porsche Turbo

It's iconic, it's definitive and it was called at the time the "doctor killer" for it's tendencies when driven hard (The back was a tad heavy it seems).  Nonetheless, it defined the brand, and the space of supercars joined by a rarified few like the Countach and the Lotus Esprit used in 007 films.  Yes it's still around today, but it's been tamed.



3. Land Rover 110

Perhaps the off-road equivalent of the Porsche, the Land Rover 110 (or later the Defender) is what we saw growing up as the truck you had to use when you were off the road.  In Africa, or anywhere else. The spare tire on the hood, the roof racks and snorkel, and the ability to go through anything.  It remains the quintessential Land Rover and where they earned their credibility. Until this year, you could still buy these new in some parts of the word, and I guarantee they will remain on the road after we're all gone.  Just cockroaches driving 110's.


4. Puegeot 406

It's the inheritance of perfect coupe design from the BMW, 20 years later.  Sleek, aerodynamic and lovely.  Unfortunately French (great wine, cheese and romance, not such hot cars), but overlook that to enjoy it's grace and lines.  Widely exported though not to North America, the Puegeot's of the era were a renaissance for the French car maker until they lost their way once more.



5.  2009 Audi A8L

This was a tricky one, the big sedan grouping, as their are many good options to select from.  The Audi just seemed to have it all - a stunning aesthetic, combined with a muscularity that BMW, Mercedes and all the Japanese brands lacked.  Audi was close for a few years before this, but their 'big grill' and sportier wheels made the car that much more special.  Get the optional B&O tweeters rising from the dash, and the car is complete.

6.  Fiat Spider

It is the convertible.  There are many pretenders, but this is the one we think of when the term is used. Designed by the masters at Pininfarina in 1966, this car is timeless.  It seems like the direct father of other classics such as the Honda S2000 and Miata, only it's simpler, clearer of purpose and more fun.  Two seats, no more.  It's not a rocket, it's meant to enjoy the day, just as convertibles should.


7.  Toyota Previa - Generation 1

A minvan...am I bonkers ?  But look at it.  It's not square, it's fluid, and if you find yourself needing to drive a people mover, why not do it in something that didn't assault the eye. Sure in later life it's morphed back to the square-ish mold, but if not for the early Previa, we'd all be looking at Caravans thinking that was the future.

8.  1972 Firebird Formula 400.

It's the hood scoops.  It was when the muscle car was cool still as well, before KnightRider and the plastic body panels.  A real car, not the flashy Vette's or Cuda's that were also around then.  And it was this model - the Formula 400 with the big noise and no-nonsense approach to straight line speed.  It was true guy's car.



9.  Porsche 928 GTS

Ever since 'Risky Business', I've loved this car. In fact I liked water cooled, front engined Porsches  before their rear engine brethren.   I almost bought one, a beat up 25 year-old '84 model - it was a lovely beast to drive, but the maintenance costs scared me off.  The car is fast, super comfortable and in it's day reflected the utmost in what "GT Driving" meant.  This 'shark' still turns heads today, and that says something.



Why 9 by the way ?  Because I was struggling amongst many fine choices for #10.

Honourable Mentions...

There have been many cars that defined their era, and these include the Volvo P1800, the Triumph TR7/8 and the de-facto current 'best of' the convertible - the Boxster.  Or stunning wagons like the Audi S4 Avant. Notably there's not a Ferrari on this list, though the current 458 came close.  Likewise no Mercedes, Maserati's Pagonda's or Lambourghini's.  I'm also not a big Jag fan, but appreciate them, having spent some quality time in E-Types.  But - that's just me.  As I said at the outset, the list is subjective.

What's on your list..?

Cinderella & Superman or How Pop Culture has Ruined Lives

In our society, it's trendy to blame others and other things for our behaviour.  I'm generally not a fan of this approach, preferring instead to suggest we might take responsibility for our actions and situations.  However there's one area that I'll admit discomfort with - and that's the popularization and pushing of archetypes that we might/should aspire to.

For a few years now, I've been vocal about how Disney (and others in the genre)  have seemed to create unrealistic princess expectations amongst young girls.  Name the animated film since 1980 - all feature some young heroine getting their prince charming. Fade out at that point, and don't cover getting to know one another or actually living together successfully.  True love becomes apparent through fate, or first glance.  Yeah, because that happens all the time.  As a real person in the world if you been weaned on these fables, that's what we may unconsciously hope for. (Heck, I woud too)

I think the same mythology applies to young men.  The rise of Marvel studios - The batman, spiderman, any of the avengers and for those with a real taste for green, your Hulks..it means that the message sent to young men is that you can also be a hero.  You should be able to do extraordinary things, in fact it might be that you should expect to.  If you don't, you're not only not a hero, you're perhaps not trying hard enough.

If the mate selection gets messed with for young ladies, the ideas of what it means to be a man gets twisted for young men.  I think there's a fine line that got crossed somewhere in the push to sell T-Shirts and DVDs. And at the time it wasn't noted as it was too easy to daydream about some kind of utopian personal future.   But we should each work to understand the fairy tale ending for yourself doesn't ride a white horse (or lift one around).  Be your own best version of you, and that's hero enough.