I can avoid or ignore posts that are just mean-spirited, as you say, or stupid ones, etc. But I have an extraordinarily low tolerance for what I believe is the lack of civility that seems to be rampant in America (at least). Some people just can let this "roll off their back" -- even when the mud slinging is slung in their direction. That is not a society in which I would ~choose~ to participate -- as I said in my post, sling mud at me one time, shame on you....but sling again, and shame on me for remaining "in the way" of the mud.

I think this is really sad. But I feel like I have been open, friendly, honest, trying really hard to do something that seemed unattainable to me, etc. As you say, Delirium, I felt really excited about our "First Timer Reports" and was so TOTALLY rooting for you -- and will "root for" people in their marathons (hence my "Summary" of who is doing what when). However, now, I feel enormously hurt and "betrayed" -- which is my fault. It's like walking blithely into the ocean and then not paying attention that there are sharks in the water. Well, I can choose to be more careful, but my very presence in the water seems to be an attractant, at least to one (if not more) sharks.

So, no more swimming for me, at least that seems like the only solution that will keep me from getting chomped on. I believe that I was pretty stupid -- I did not even REALIZE until FrontRunner's first post that there were people out there who "felt this way." Duh. Then after the second "hit", I ~got~ it.

As for my 20 miler -- it went GREAT. I am just beyond pleased. I so agree with you, Delirium, re "I feel I can do a marathon now." It was hilarious in that we wound up completely missing our timing and running in the pitch dark back to the car. At about mile 12 or so tho I got North's "Doo Wa Diddy" going in my head and I was cursing him and laughing for the rest of the run. We took a couple breaks (one about 10 minutes b/c the figure "8" crossed at my house, which meant we went home, filled all the bottles, let the dog out of his harness for a little bit, etc.), and the time was 4:20. Since the last 1/2 hour or so was in the pitch black, I think that we really could have done this in less than 4:00 (as the breaks were probably about 15 mins total, plus we had to slow down at the end). I do not want to predict, but I think that, with a good taper, etc., there is a pretty good chance that I will make it in in my "goal" time. :-)

Take care, you guys.

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To:	Voodoo
From: (your email)
Subject:	Re: Hi guys -- I don't know...
Message:	-------------------- Voodoo's original posting: Hey Dave/Delirium: I hear you guys -- but in re "just avoiding" "mean spirited posts", etc., I have an enormously hard time doing that when posts are actually aimed at ME. I get so much "flak" during my job, I don't need to be a target here, too. I also don't want to be in a community (that I am volitionally entering) in which someone is denigrating what I am working really hard for. FrontRunner's post on the thread on the other board (which I will agree was a very "good thread" -- if it hadn't been such a dis on me specifically, tho "prompted" by I guess it was a boxing post), was SPECIFICALLY aimed at me. It was aimed at my trying to see how Debora was doing (who I do not know, so ~can't~ write an email to, etc. etc.), and also making a specific slap at the "over 5 hour runners." The previous time FrontRunner very specifically dissed me was when I put up a posting about the run I'm doing this weekend (the Golden Gate Bridge 12K run -- which we are going to run and then run BACK to get our mileage in, which I find pretty funny). He said some specifically mean things, again, pointedly AT me. So I just "disappeared for a while." I can avoid or ignore posts that are just mean-spirited, as you say, or stupid ones, etc. But I have an extraordinarily low tolerance for what I believe is the lack of civility that seems to be rampant in America (at least). Some people just can let this "roll off their back" -- even when the mud slinging is slung in their direction. That is not a society in which I would ~choose~ to participate -- as I said in my post, sling mud at me one time, shame on you....but sling again, and shame on me for remaining "in the way" of the mud. I think this is really sad. But I feel like I have been open, friendly, honest, trying really hard to do something that seemed unattainable to me, etc. As you say, Delirium, I felt really excited about our "First Timer Reports" and was so TOTALLY rooting for you -- and will "root for" people in their marathons (hence my "Summary" of who is doing what when). However, now, I feel enormously hurt and "betrayed" -- which is my fault. It's like walking blithely into the ocean and then not paying attention that there are sharks in the water. Well, I can choose to be more careful, but my very presence in the water seems to be an attractant, at least to one (if not more) sharks. So, no more swimming for me, at least that seems like the only solution that will keep me from getting chomped on. I believe that I was pretty stupid -- I did not even REALIZE until FrontRunner's first post that there were people out there who "felt this way." Duh. Then after the second "hit", I ~got~ it. As for my 20 miler -- it went GREAT. I am just beyond pleased. I so agree with you, Delirium, re "I feel I can do a marathon now." It was hilarious in that we wound up completely missing our timing and running in the pitch dark back to the car. At about mile 12 or so tho I got North's "Doo Wa Diddy" going in my head and I was cursing him and laughing for the rest of the run. We took a couple breaks (one about 10 minutes b/c the figure "8" crossed at my house, which meant we went home, filled all the bottles, let the dog out of his harness for a little bit, etc.), and the time was 4:20. Since the last 1/2 hour or so was in the pitch black, I think that we really could have done this in less than 4:00 (as the breaks were probably about 15 mins total, plus we had to slow down at the end). I do not want to predict, but I think that, with a good taper, etc., there is a pretty good chance that I will make it in in my "goal" time. :-) Take care, you guys.