What Kind of Champion are You? Sprint, Middle or Long Distance?

English: The lonliness of the long-distance runner(s) These two runners had just finished running along the foot/cycle path that runs along the side of the A14 here – which can’t have been too nice for them. I passed them again about 40 minutes later in the heart of Felixstowe, still running – I hope they were nearly home! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Misty May-Treanor Wheaties (Photo credit: GeneralMills)

I have wakened between four and five each morning for a while now. Usually I lie and consider the warmth of my bed, snuggling in a little deeper and give thanks for my comfort, and then, turn over for another couple of hours of comfort. Always a quick little thought intervenes that says, rise, spring up, start the day with vigor and through much self-discipline I stay abed. Simply because I can. This morning was a little different as a softer thought gently wafted into my brain. How about getting up just to see what the day might hold for you? No rush, no fuss, no muss. So here it is, 6:18 am, showered, sipping a cup of tea, and considering some very Important Thoughts. (I have mentioned before that my early early morning thoughts seem to carry concepts and originality the rest of the day never sees.)
So what wonderous pervasive notion has captured my mind today?

Champions or perhaps non-Champions or perhaps some kinds of Champions.  (No I have not been eating ‘Wheaties – The Breakfast of Champions lately’)  What has been on my mind of course is NaNoWriMo as it is for many in this magical month.  And that got me to thinking – great thoughts (depending on the time of day of course).

Now you won’t find any whining and snivelling oh poor me here.  This is a journey of discovery.  Yep,  I have the concept, the plot, story, beginning, and ending.  Like all people, many of whom have full-time jobs in addition to this commitment, time is a challenge and my life much like yours is going through a period where the fates have increased the drama quotient by whirling up a stew of deaths, heartaches, illnesses, more illnesses, strife between people, stressors (none of which are mine personally, but family and friends) all  in the last ten days, stirred it all with the mighty universal spoon, thrown in our bowls and said, “Now deal with it.”

Now the scene is set.  No excuses to be had as life tends to do that to all of us sometimes, and while we look at our own set of problems there are way too many dealing with much much more.  Now setting all this in its place comes the crux of the matter.

I like to write.  I will finish this story because it deserves to be told.  I will  finish it on time.

It did get me thinking about different kinds of Champions though and my mind turned to running and races.

There are for instance Sprints, 100, 200, 300 meters which require a quick and large output of speed and focus on the athlete’s maximum attainment of speed.  Whew even the thought leaves me breathless and my heart feels like it should start pounding explosively. ( I won’t let it of course – much too old for such nonsense).  But the Sprint is pretty much what we bloggers do on a daily basis.

Then there are the Middle Distance Runners at 800 or 1500 meters.  This takes a little more strategy in accomplishing a win without blowing all your energy in the first quarter or half.  Different mind set.

Then, aha!  The Long Distance Runner.  Now that’s what I am talking about.  Going the distance.  The Novel.

My ever trustworthy and sharing friends at Wikipedia  have this interesting tidbit of information.

Stride rate and types

Exercise physiologists have found that the stride rates are extremely consistent across professional runners, between 185 and 200 steps per minute. The main difference between long- and short-distance runners is the length of stride rather than the rate of stride.^[15][16]

During running, the speed at which the runner moves may be calculated by multiplying the cadence (steps per second) by the stride length. Running is often measured in terms of pace^[17] in minutes per mile or kilometer. Fast stride rates coincide with the rate one pumps one’s arms. The faster one’s arms move up and down, parallel with the body, the faster the rate of stride. Different types of stride are necessary for different types of running. When sprinting, runners stay on their toes bringing their legs up, using shorter and faster strides. Long distance runners tend to have more relaxed strides that vary.

Reaching the finish line.

It’s wonderful to have dallied all these many many years thinking what a wonderful novelist I would be.  The thought first arrived on a sunny June afternoon about fifty years ago (oops a little of my procrastination side showing here).  I think it is pretty much time to find out and the ‘have to’ of a deadline makes it exciting.  Push come to shove I may just find out I am a Sprinter, in which case I shall devote all energy there.  Lord knows I am in exemplary company there.

English: Kensuke Takezawa is a Japanese long-distance runner. 日本語: 竹澤健介は日本の長距離走選手。 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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