Words: 305
November 1
Didn't run full speed today. I guess I just didn't feel like
stressing myself. I've run up the stairs at my apartment a few times. My
results seem quite quick. I haven't yet checked the times from last year, but I
think my quickest was 1:18. I achieved 1:17 just today. Possibly there is
flight missing somehow.
There is another potential explanation. It involves psychology—predictably so. Last year, I found that psychology and my attitude
was super-important when I considered my efforts and successes. The thing is
that In my current building, there are no floor numbers in the stairwell. I don't know exactly where I am. My clues come from the graffiti, or a broken
arm chair, or a cup for cigarette ashes.
Last year, I forced myself NOT to look at the floor numbers
so I might get a pleasant surprise now and then. As I climb the stairs more times, I am
beginning to recognize the psychological effect of NOT knowing where I am. Running
up "blindly" may help in some way. Yesterday, I consciously did not
push it. I ran at a moderate pace—or at least as moderate as possible. (When
going up stairs, I am surely overcome by the desire to get it out of the way). Even so, I finished with a very good
time.
November 3
My hands were freezing today. When I returned to the American Embassy, I
had trouble picking up the key off the ground, and I couldn’t turn the key in
the lock very well. The problem must
have been the rain.
November 4
Today, and Saturday, I timed my assent of the
escalator in the metro at the stop closest to my apartment, Marina Roscha. The steps are numbered so I
know that I always ascend close to 150 steps.
This is the second tallest one that I have seen in the city. It has 545 steps. The tallest I've seen is a Marksistskaya with 610 steps.
No comments:
Post a Comment