2007 - March

[Sweder]

I listened to some of the Steverunner podcast the other day, enjoying the Alan 'Stilletto' reference. That got me thinking it was high time to revisit that piece of work when, lo and behold, that very morning The Times ran a special offer:
A copy of The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner for every reader: only 99p with today's Times

Ooer - spooky! Synchronicity run amok.
I splashed the extra semolian for the spindly tome and started thumbing, reading the text as for the first time. Years ago, before I'd given any thought to ripping into the countryside by the dawn's early light, this all seemed like powerful enough stuff but several times removed from my cosy suburban existence. Now though the imagery and emotions evoked by the borstal lad as he tears across frosted farmland, plotting his bitter gift to the Governor, have a more familiar ring. I particularly like his view of each run as an escape to another world, or as he puts it a 'little life'. It reminded me that the literal translation of the Japanese phrase for 'orgasm' is 'little death', and I pondered other possible links between these two selfish human pursuits besides the chemical flooding of the system with endorphins.

Ok, ok, so I've got a warped mind.
Like Robbie going back into rehab that just isn't news, is it?