you are thinking of the number 12.

Have you ever had one of those wierd dreams that something was going to happen and then the next day, that even actually occurs? Today marks the second time in as many weeks that this has happened to me. In my dream, I was having lunch with one of the very senior corporate guys and I was in a panic because I could remember his name but not his face. Yea, I was having lunch with him but i couldn't see his face....it was a dream. work with me here. funny side note, I can distinctly remember what i was eating (spinach wrap club sandwich in case you were curious). anyways, guess who walked into my store this afternoon? yup, same senior exec. my jaw hit the floor.

yes, i'm psychic. this proves it. all bow before my greatness. and quit thinking dirty thoughts about me. it's embarassing that you think i'm that well endowed. honestly! quit it! i'm turning red over here!


Topic change!
I just got finished reading Freakonomics last night. Great book. Makes me wish I would have paid more attention in Econ 101 and 102 (and left the sprite can filled with whiskey at home). It's basically about how one guy takes a stastical look at the world and goes about making really wierd yet valid comparisons that challenge "conventional wisdom". You don't even have to be a math geek to enjoy it (until he gets to the part about baby names...that drags a bit). Next book on the shelf is "The Tipping Point" by Malcom Gladwell. Looks interesting.

This morning was the Shamrock Shuffle. It's probably one of the most fun races I run every year mainly because a bunch of my friends and I end up going out afterwards to get shnockered. This year I was beset with worry the night before the race wondering if I would keep my competitve start. I could bore you with the details that only I really care about, but I ended up running the best race of my life finishing in 31:38 (6:19/mile) and beating my personal best by a minute and a half. Despite comments of sandbagging which I'm sure will appear over here, i was truly concerned that I would not run well today. I still can't figure out why I was so much faster even though I run much less these days. I wonder if the swimming has anything to do with it. Supposedly it has an enormous effect on your VO2 max. Hmmm....

Because I have a huge running ego, I'm going to share one story that makes me feel good. If you don't like it, tough cookies. =)

About 1 kilometer left in the race, my 'hunt and kill' mental state took over. I pick out my first target and start making my move. Passed, done. Next target. Done. We round the final corner and I can see the finish line a little more than a quarter mile away. I start trucking. I start passing lots of people. Every person I pass makes me want another one and I kick a little bit harder each time. Mind you, I'm not passing them in a pretty fashion. My breathing sounds more like gasping. Every breath I take is so hard that spit is flying out of my mouth (gross, but true). I'm loving every second of it. Tenth of a mile to go. I spot a guy 50 yards ahead of me all by himself. "mine." I let the legs go to town.
30 yards to the finish line. He's 15 yards ahead of me. "shit...".
Apparently it was obvious who i was hunting for, because some random guy in the crowd yells out "you can still catch him!!! Go get him!"
"Here i come motherfucker".
I've run hard at the end of a lot of races but I've never had an adrenaline rush with it. Wow did my feet get a case of the nasties in 'em. With no more than a foot remaining in the race, I passed the dude, crossed the finish line, bent over with my hands on my knees, and sucked wind through a stupid grin. I wonder if that random guy has any idea how much power that one comment carried. I'm awfully grateful for it.