Posting
Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 10:29AM As many of you have noticed, I've been in the habit of either not writing or taking down each post one day later. The reasons are twofold. First, Winter Olympics notwithstanding, this time of year is slow in the endurance sports world. I thought it would be a good idea to keep in writing shape by starting each day with a new essay, so back in mid-December I made a list of thirty running-related ideas. They were all thoughts I'd had on running, or just life in general. These are the sorts of things that ramble around one's head during a workout. Some of them have taken up space for years. It seemed like a good time to put them out there, if only as rough drafts and half-complete thoughts. I had spent some time trying to put these into simple Word documents, but I found that by writing "live" so to speak, knowing that my words were headed straight toward a reading audience, I was less ponderous and more willing to take a few risks. I have to think that it is as close as a writer comes to performing a one-man show without actually taking the stage. It's fun.
So much fun, in fact, that I actually started to take ownership of what I've been writing. The web is a curious place and the words I write from my little office in Southern California go all over the world, to all sorts of people. I wondered if someone might be of a mind to take an essay or two, then rewrite it with their name on it. Paranoid as that sounds, anything seems possible in this day and age. So I'd write a draft, post it for a day, then pull it back down and slip it into a Word document. The idea is that one of these days some of those essays might get some fine-tuning and become publishable.
What struck me, however, is a curiosity about the web. My stats page shows me that readership is as strong as ever, but there's been little to no feedback on these pieces. The most comments I get on a daily basis, by the way, tend to be more controversial. If I say something snarky or praise the wrong person, more folks tend to weigh in. I think the nature of the web is that most of us don't post a comment unless we get really fired up. It's just the nature of the beast. In the world of the web, it's all about having an opinion.
I digress.
The lack of comments made me think that these essays, by and large, were either execrable or just plain mild. I am not sure which one I found more discouraging. And so while I knew that people were poking around on the site every day, I also had the feeling most of you were disappointed not to be getting a daily dose of Lance or the Tour or my feelings on the more boneheaded mediocrity in the running, riding and writing world. (Here's one for you: a prominent running magazine has a cover proclaiming something to the effect of: "Run Less, Train Slower, Race Faster." Could things be any more Lowest Common Denominator? Why bother running at all?).
I never planned to stop posting, it just happened. The holidays ended, an intensive research period for a new project is upon me, and I sort of got in the habit of waving to my website every morning as I surfed past. Now, thanks to a great weekend of reading and outdoor fun in Mammoth, and that slap-in-the-mouth Susie B. so often delivers, I am back. I'm planning to start my day with a web warm-up at least three times a week. What I'd like to hear is some feedback on those essays. If you were reading, and maybe they struck a chord, I'd like to hear. See, I want to write more of them. They're fun. I think there's room in this world for running essays that don't have a breathy voice or start each sentence with a scientific training stat. Maybe I'm wrong. Let me know.
And thanks for reading.
Keep Pushing... Always
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Reader Comments (18)
MD
I hope the words you wrote are true as I have missed the snarky side of you. Although the running essays were well written and could make a good book, I like a bit of variety on-line.
Here's to 3 days a week
RK
I must have missed the essays if you were taking them down after one day. I don't always get to check each day but try to get over here once or twice a week. I just thought you were busy and not posting at all. I'm glad you are back and I look forward to essays, postings or whatever thoughts you want to share.
Marty,
First, I second Nan's remark about not noticing the briefly-posted essays. Second, I second whatever SusieB's been up to mouth-slaps, up-in-your-grill challenges, etc. She's the most fearless and prolific sounding board you may ever have in this web world.
Finally, your morning missives have become far too infrequent. Looking forward to seeing new posts more regularly.
Note: Not sure what the technical issues are with text frequently running off wild into the nothingness of the right margin, but it's a hassle to copy and paste into another application to read.
Marty,
First, I second Nan's remark about not noticing the briefly-posted essays. Second, I second whatever SusieB's been up to mouth-slaps, up-in-your-grill challenges, etc. She's the most fearless and prolific sounding board you may ever have in this web world.
Finally, your morning missives have become far too infrequent. Looking forward to seeing new posts more regularly.
Note: Not sure what the technical issues are with text frequently running off wild into the nothingness of the right margin, but it's a hassle to copy and paste into another application to read.
Marty,
First, I second Nan's remark about not noticing the briefly-posted essays. Second, I second whatever SusieB's been up to mouth-slaps, up-in-your-grill challenges, etc. She's the most fearless and prolific sounding board you may ever have in this web world.
Finally, your morning missives have become far too infrequent. Looking forward to seeing new posts more regularly.
Note: Not sure what the technical issues are with text frequently running off wild into the nothingness of the right margin, but it's a hassle to copy and paste into another application to read.
ooops - double post
I've loved the essays, and fortunately Google Reader does a good enough job of caching them that I can go back and read them at my leisure. "Beyond..." really spoke to me and some of the personal challenges I face, and "Fore" was great just because I've also run the course at Turtle Bay. Please keep these short essays coming!
Glad you're back..... I am delighted to hear there could be 3 postings per week....that sure put a smile on my face. By the way, it is almost the end of January, have I missed an update about your movie Warrior....is there a release date in the near future?
Glad you're back. I"ve certainly missed my daily dose. I have the page bookmarked and follow on Twitter as well. Please keep up the good work.
Dear Martin,
I am one of those readers you mentioned who doesn't normally comment, but I was fired up enough about your essays to click through from Google reader only to find that the essays had been removed. I thought they were great - I only wish I could share them with others by referencing your blog. I hope you can let go of some of your paranoia and put them back up - the web also makes it easier to identify the original source when its also available on-line, and generally I would think that those who appreciate your work are also going to care about who really wrote it and will have the guile to find out.
Thanks for your posts, no matter how infrequent or briefly they are available.
Daniel
Like some of the others, I don't get on every day and must have missed a bunch of posts. I used to get a Facebook update (which sadly, I am on everyday!) but I haven't seen one in a long time.
Even though I don't comment much I typically enjoy what you have to say!
Lani
Marty,
I enjoy your posts! I, too, wondered where the posts went from late December. I laughed out loud to "Fore" as the "golf marshall" leapt from his cart to try and catch you. I like the introspective posts best.
Marty
As a high school track and cross country coach we're "supposed" to be a little weird and it's nice to see someone posting their crazy thoughts, feelings, and observations! All kidding aside, I really enjoy your essays and look forward to your posts every morning with breakfast. While I rarely comment, links to your essays usually get forwarded to my coaching staff or athletes. Thank you for what you do.
I too have been tracking the essays and enjoying them, but I'm sure I missed some of them when you pulled them down. I also tried to send folks here to read a post and they were already gone. So I would second the vote for you to leave them up in your archives, at least for more than a day.
Also, I too have to often cut and past your posts into Word in order to read them (like today's post), so there is some formatting issue either on your end or with IE.
Keep posting, always...
BTW - what's the status of the Movie? Doesn't it debut this month?
Even though your elitist attitude about running irks the hell out of me, I do look forward to your musings. I started following you years ago, through your dispatches from France during the heyday of Lance and have kep up ever since. I'm not a big fan of your current site (why can't it show your entire post?) which is almost as annoying as your "Paper Kenyan" site with the line running down the middle of it.
Keep writing and I'll keep pushing.
Marty, I do read but I'm not good about commenting simply because I usually read via a reader, not the website. That's the downside of readers, it takes an extra step to click through and comment, and most folks are simply too lazy, myself included. But I've found that using a reader makes it easier for me to keep up with all the things I like to read and keep an eye on.
Having said that, I'm not bored by your writing now, or ever. I love it. I love hearing about Lance and the Tour, of course, but even more than that I love it when you write about your own running, or your kids, or the team. Your writing is vivid, and personal, and your passion for stuff bleeds off the page into the mind of the reader, no matter what the subject.
So keep writing, and I promise to be more diligent about responding, even if it's only to say hello!
Please keep those running posts coming! I too laughed out loud at 'Fore' and enjoyed the one (can't remember the title) where you were running on a trail that was supposed to become a subdivision and you helped a farmer with his cow, I think? Maybe that was the same one; I can't tell since they're not in the archive!
I don't make it a habit to comment on any blogs I read, but I do check here regularly and have missed the regular missives. Your writing first hooked me in the Tour de France days, but your 'keep pushing, always' attitude keeps me coming.
I think I'd prefer to characterize my previous comment as a "nudge-hug" rather than a "slap in the mouth", but, hey, if it helped spur you to once again post 3 (or more!) times a week, I'll own it.
And for what it's worth, my own 2 month absence from Commentland was not due to any dissatisfaction with your running posts. Far from it, I enjoyed the ones I got to see very much. Unfortunately, as I was dealing with some of that "life rain" you hear sung about, I wasn't even able to get here every day let alone convey my enjoyment in the much-cherished style to which you've become accustomed. (Well, a girl can dream... ;)
Anyway, I liked all the posts but especially the ones with the self-deprecation. You've written humorously before but these had me re-reading & laughing even more the 2nd & 3rd time thru. (Partly because we can all relate). Beyond the funny though, I enjoyed your passion for your topic. It was so infectious I actually even thought about maybe straping on some sneakers (er, "running shoes"), & heading out the door. Well, almost. 'Keep Writing' & who knows what wonders will occur.
I would like to add my two cents to the criticism of this blog site's IRRITATING habit of chopping off the posts on-screen and that we can't print out the posts AND the comments like on the old site with just a single click. If any computer-savy person here knows why this keeps occuring & how MD can fix it, please speak up.
And thanks Rip, you're a peach. :)