Day 45: Time Constraints

A few posts ago, I discussed constraint satisfaction. I talked about performance and distance; all the constraints that we set for ourselves. For some reason though, I neglected to mention an important one: time constraints. Time constraints as in, I have to be done by 7:30 so that I can clean up and eat breakfast before our family hike that leaves at 8:00.

This means that in order to get my planned eleven miles in, I have to leave by a certain time, and maintain a certain pace. Most of us don't like constraints such as these. We don't like deadlines; they make us feel too... constrained.

But deadlines and requirements also cause, or force, us to be more successful, as defined by getting done what's needed. I suppose I understand this as well as most folks. So I wasn't overly concerned about getting my eleven in within the timeframe I had today. I just had to do it. Guess what? I did.

It was a pretty decent run, especially coming after yesterday's stinker. You know. The one where I had plenty of time.

I am still hoping to be done with the west-east crossing of Tennessee by the end of this upcoming week. It's a constraint I'm placing upon myself, and one that I'm thinking about.

Day 35: Constraint Satisfaction

Back in grad school, I took artificial intelligence courses, one of which specialized in constraint satisfaction. Much of our lives are spent satisfying constraints, whether we think about this or not. I do, sometimes related to my running. Once identified, there are many aspects of the constraints that need to be considered: their priority, wiggle-room, relationships with other constraints, etc. But the first chore is to simply identify them.

A few running constraints that sometimes appear:

1) Distance. Getting those GVRAT miles in often means ten or more per day.
2) Speed 1. There's overall speed, usually manifesting itself in average overall pace.
3) Speed 2. Sometimes it's good to get down to tempo pace for 3 or more of the miles.
4) Speed 3. Sometimes I do intervals. Usually one-half to one-mile in length. Usually on the track or treadmill.
5) Surface. I try to avoid concrete for extended miles. Asphalt is better, rubberized tracks are better (but mind those turns), dirt is best.
6) Trail or road. I'm not much of a trail runner, but roads aren't always the greatest either. Rail-trail or towpath venues work well for me. See also 5.
7) Traffic. I try to avoid it whenever possible, but see also 6.

And so on.

Eleven today. Still moving forward, in terms of GVRAT. But I'm in 684th place - that means there are 683 people ahead of me. How is that possible? OTOH I could take solace in the fact that there are on the order of 18,000 people behind me as well.