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Just curious, what point of view makes daily running seem sad? Is the premise that he missed out on ‘better’ things? Thought I’d ask since hearing these storie

Just curious, what point of view makes daily running seem sad? Is the premise that he missed out on ‘better’ things? Thought I’d ask since hearing these stories of old healthy people brings me so much happiness.

irjustin 3y ago
> Just curious, what point of view makes daily running seem sad? If I was to guess, it's similar to the tone of the article. You can't beat time. Eventually they'll be forced to stop and there's a particular sadness in watching those who used to be able to do great feats no longer do them. For me, it's the same sadness as watching a sharp mind like my grandfather's succumb to alzheimer's. It's not quick, and it's not painless for everyone involved. For me, it was years watching him forget me, his daughter (my mother), and eventually language all together. Better to have loved and lost than never have loved at all?
- saiya-jin 3y ago
  > Better to have loved and lost than never have loved at all? Absolutely, otherwise what's the point of living if not experiencing life in its more intensive (more rewarding but also more hurting) aspects? Similar to ie mountaineers and various other extreme sports folks, they all love the life more than average Joe since they experienced how much it can give if you push it further. Despite what some think they are not suicidal, in contrary, they keep doing what they love despite the increased risk of losing it all prematurely. No adventurer regrets doing adventures when looking back.
  - probably_wrong 3y ago
    > No adventurer regrets doing adventures when looking back. That's literally survivorship bias. I wonder how many (say) climbers died in the Himalayas thinking "I wish I hadn't done this".
brailsafe 3y ago
I agree, but I can also view such strident commitment to a fixed set of ideas to be pretty unimaginative, or lacking in categorical ambition, lacking in exploration perhaps depending on the person. My father for example has not been on a plane in 34 years. Not for any legitimate practical reason, though he'd come up with something if prompted; almost like he's archived his exposure to the world in 1989. He has no idea what it's like to even book a flight, how much it really costs, how security procedures have changed over time, and has no ambition to ever leave the continent.
- throwaway1777 3y ago
  I respect that though. Like what is the point in leaving if you’re happy?
  - brailsafe 3y ago
    I suppose that's a deeper question of why do anything different at all if your current set of things results in your happiness? Aside from practical limitations, health, economic prosperity, I'm of the opinion that there's value in staying compelling by exploring your curiosities instead of dismissing them in favour of protecting your current happiness. In order to have resilient connections with others, you need to find ways to stay attractive over time, and it's a consequence of doing new things from time to time, travel maybe being one of them.
- pbourke 3y ago
  > has no ambition to ever leave the continent. There’s a lot to do on most continents.
  - zimpenfish 3y ago
    > There’s a lot to do on most continents. There's a lot to do in most cities, even. I think you could spend all your free time exploring, e.g., London and you'd be good for a few years worth.
  - brailsafe 3y ago
13of40 3y ago
I don't know if it's necessarily the activity as much as the adherence to the same route that feels sad. At the same time, it's not that I feel sad for the guy, but I think it would drive me nuts if I did that. Reading about Emmanuel Kant's daily walking routine makes me feel a little bit of despair in my soul, even though I understand he probably had a much deeper internal experience going on than I can relate to.
- paulcole 3y ago
  I did the same 1.5 mile trail (Council Crest in Portland, OR w/ 750’ of elevation gain) 110 times in 2019 (part of a 10 mile round trip route from my apartment). I learned every step of the trail and named the more notable trees. I could do the whole trail in my mind and feel like I was there. I did it in 100 degree summer weather, many times in pouring rain, and even ice and snow. I felt like it was a privilege to get to know something that deeply. But I’m also somebody who doesn’t ever plan to leave the US or even get on a plane again because there’s so much worth seeing right outside my front door!
  - etse 3y ago
    Thanks for sharing that. I liked your note on doing the trail in your mind because it reminds me of when I stumble through a piano piece that I learned decades ago as a kid. It somehow brings me back in time, so that I feel like I could guess what was cooking for dinner or what was stressing me out at school/home.
    - paulcole 3y ago
      I learned I could do it at the dentist office while getting a cavity filled! It’s been a helpful de-stressing tool.
      - jamiek88 3y ago
        You know you are half way to a memory palace already?! If you wanted to you could fairly easily use that memorized route to memorize anything else you wish to.
lynx23 3y ago
The compulsion is whats sad about it. Like with every serious addict.
- brutusborn 3y ago
  Ah I see, maybe I interpret it differently because I don’t think all compulsions are bad. Compulsions only become addictions when they seriously negatively affect your life.
roflyear 3y ago
Well yeah. The sacrifice must be crazy. He couldn't travel I imagine?
jeff_d_miller 3y ago
> these stories of old healthy people Have you read the article? That gentlement is not actually healthy and some other activities could contribute to a better health.
- brutusborn 3y ago
  I must admit I skimmed it but I got no suggestion of bad health, only a description of graceful ageing. What activities would be better? He eats well, exercises and has a social life; sounds pretty good to me?
  - jeff_d_miller 3y ago
    Directly in the beginning, without even scrolling, it says: > Raven has chronic back pain, spinal stenosis and vertigo. His feet hurt so much — from bone spurs and calluses — that he runs with his New Balance sneakers untied. "Running" for 3 hours a day likely contributes to all that. Mixing it up would be an idea. Biking, swimming, kayaking, rowing, tennis, badminton, taking walks, there is so much you can do. Being stubborn is not a healthy character trait, even though sometimes people hail it as "inspiring". What this guy inspires me to be is to ensure I never turn into him.
brianbreslin 3y ago
So its a combo of them wrapping their identity into this one thing (running here), eventually not being able to keep doing it, but also there is an aspect that I am purely assuming which is they could have done more variety of stuff with their life. This last point being super biased as its based in my own desires, and who knows, maybe they LOVE this one thing and that's all they want for fulfillment. But to your point, i also love hearing stories of old people defying our expectations of what an old person should be able to do.
foxyv 3y ago
For some people, the concept of just existing without experiencing something grand or new, is a waste of life. Imagine, doing the same thing every day until you die. For some people it is peaceful and wonderful. The joy of existing. For others it is a horror. Stagnation and rot. I used to be the former, with a great fear of missing out on all life has to offer. Lately though I'm the latter, realizing the immense joy in existing.

irjustin 3y ago

> Just curious, what point of view makes daily running seem sad? If I was to guess, it's similar to the tone of the article. You can't beat time. Eventually they'll be forced to stop and there's a particular sadness in watching those who used to be able to do great feats no longer do them. For me, it's the same sadness as watching a sharp mind like my grandfather's succumb to alzheimer's. It's not quick, and it's not painless for everyone involved. For me, it was years watching him forget me, his daughter (my mother), and eventually language all together. Better to have loved and lost than never have loved at all?

saiya-jin 3y ago
> Better to have loved and lost than never have loved at all? Absolutely, otherwise what's the point of living if not experiencing life in its more intensive (more rewarding but also more hurting) aspects? Similar to ie mountaineers and various other extreme sports folks, they all love the life more than average Joe since they experienced how much it can give if you push it further. Despite what some think they are not suicidal, in contrary, they keep doing what they love despite the increased risk of losing it all prematurely. No adventurer regrets doing adventures when looking back.
- probably_wrong 3y ago
  > No adventurer regrets doing adventures when looking back. That's literally survivorship bias. I wonder how many (say) climbers died in the Himalayas thinking "I wish I hadn't done this".

brailsafe 3y ago

I agree, but I can also view such strident commitment to a fixed set of ideas to be pretty unimaginative, or lacking in categorical ambition, lacking in exploration perhaps depending on the person. My father for example has not been on a plane in 34 years. Not for any legitimate practical reason, though he'd come up with something if prompted; almost like he's archived his exposure to the world in 1989. He has no idea what it's like to even book a flight, how much it really costs, how security procedures have changed over time, and has no ambition to ever leave the continent.

throwaway1777 3y ago
I respect that though. Like what is the point in leaving if you’re happy?
- brailsafe 3y ago
  I suppose that's a deeper question of why do anything different at all if your current set of things results in your happiness? Aside from practical limitations, health, economic prosperity, I'm of the opinion that there's value in staying compelling by exploring your curiosities instead of dismissing them in favour of protecting your current happiness. In order to have resilient connections with others, you need to find ways to stay attractive over time, and it's a consequence of doing new things from time to time, travel maybe being one of them.
pbourke 3y ago
> has no ambition to ever leave the continent. There’s a lot to do on most continents.
- zimpenfish 3y ago
  > There’s a lot to do on most continents. There's a lot to do in most cities, even. I think you could spend all your free time exploring, e.g., London and you'd be good for a few years worth.
- brailsafe 3y ago

13of40 3y ago

I don't know if it's necessarily the activity as much as the adherence to the same route that feels sad. At the same time, it's not that I feel sad for the guy, but I think it would drive me nuts if I did that. Reading about Emmanuel Kant's daily walking routine makes me feel a little bit of despair in my soul, even though I understand he probably had a much deeper internal experience going on than I can relate to.

paulcole 3y ago
I did the same 1.5 mile trail (Council Crest in Portland, OR w/ 750’ of elevation gain) 110 times in 2019 (part of a 10 mile round trip route from my apartment). I learned every step of the trail and named the more notable trees. I could do the whole trail in my mind and feel like I was there. I did it in 100 degree summer weather, many times in pouring rain, and even ice and snow. I felt like it was a privilege to get to know something that deeply. But I’m also somebody who doesn’t ever plan to leave the US or even get on a plane again because there’s so much worth seeing right outside my front door!
- etse 3y ago
  Thanks for sharing that. I liked your note on doing the trail in your mind because it reminds me of when I stumble through a piano piece that I learned decades ago as a kid. It somehow brings me back in time, so that I feel like I could guess what was cooking for dinner or what was stressing me out at school/home.
  - paulcole 3y ago
    I learned I could do it at the dentist office while getting a cavity filled! It’s been a helpful de-stressing tool.
    - jamiek88 3y ago
      You know you are half way to a memory palace already?! If you wanted to you could fairly easily use that memorized route to memorize anything else you wish to.

lynx23 3y ago

The compulsion is whats sad about it. Like with every serious addict.

brutusborn 3y ago
Ah I see, maybe I interpret it differently because I don’t think all compulsions are bad. Compulsions only become addictions when they seriously negatively affect your life.

roflyear 3y ago

Well yeah. The sacrifice must be crazy. He couldn't travel I imagine?

jeff_d_miller 3y ago

> these stories of old healthy people Have you read the article? That gentlement is not actually healthy and some other activities could contribute to a better health.

brutusborn 3y ago
I must admit I skimmed it but I got no suggestion of bad health, only a description of graceful ageing. What activities would be better? He eats well, exercises and has a social life; sounds pretty good to me?
- jeff_d_miller 3y ago
  Directly in the beginning, without even scrolling, it says: > Raven has chronic back pain, spinal stenosis and vertigo. His feet hurt so much — from bone spurs and calluses — that he runs with his New Balance sneakers untied. "Running" for 3 hours a day likely contributes to all that. Mixing it up would be an idea. Biking, swimming, kayaking, rowing, tennis, badminton, taking walks, there is so much you can do. Being stubborn is not a healthy character trait, even though sometimes people hail it as "inspiring". What this guy inspires me to be is to ensure I never turn into him.

brianbreslin 3y ago

So its a combo of them wrapping their identity into this one thing (running here), eventually not being able to keep doing it, but also there is an aspect that I am purely assuming which is they could have done more variety of stuff with their life. This last point being super biased as its based in my own desires, and who knows, maybe they LOVE this one thing and that's all they want for fulfillment. But to your point, i also love hearing stories of old people defying our expectations of what an old person should be able to do.

foxyv 3y ago

For some people, the concept of just existing without experiencing something grand or new, is a waste of life. Imagine, doing the same thing every day until you die. For some people it is peaceful and wonderful. The joy of existing. For others it is a horror. Stagnation and rot. I used to be the former, with a great fear of missing out on all life has to offer. Lately though I'm the latter, realizing the immense joy in existing.