Monday, October 12, 2009

Time for sprinting

Today on the way to work, we heard the results of some marathon and I thought, "I have absolutely no desire to ever run a marathon." I get the idea of training really hard and consistently for many months, and then having an enormous sense of achievement and personal satisfaction upon finishing the race. Even though I hate running, I can see the appeal. But after doing this stinking phd, I never again need to prove to myself that I can achieve a long-term goal. I know I can cope with delayed gratification. And I know that it kind of sucks.

From now on, I want everything RIGHT NOW!

Well, maybe not everything right now, but I know I never need to run a marathon.

7 comments:

Nina said...

Hahahahaha!
But ... with the PhD, you prove your brains are good. Now you need to prove your legs are good. Next is of course a triathlon.
I should not say this to you, because I went running this morning for the first time in weeks (months?) and no one has ever been further away from a marathon than me ;)

ruchi said...

Hahaha, I so hear you!! I don't understand why everyone and their mom are doing marathons. It so does not sound like fun to me. :)

Mrs Whatsit said...

I've always thought of getting a PhD as an academic marathon.

Fia said...

Nothing to add. Great (rant) post.

ScienceGirl said...

Having worked my way up to half-marathons in under a year, I would have to say I find marathon training a heck of a lot easier than working on my phd. I think getting a phd should at least be equated to finishing an Iron Man.

egf's bff said...

to no surprise...i could not agree more :)

Cath@VWXYNot? said...

A friend who is into marathons and skydiving and bungee etc. asked me recently if I had ever pushed myself. "I mean, really, really, pushed yourself". I said yes. He said I didn't get to count my PhD. I went off on a very long rant about how that was bullshit and if he wanted to argue that point, he had to go and get one of his own before he could continue!