Oct. 1, Week 4: Fantasy Football 2004

This weekend is week #4 in the 2004 NFL season. I am quite excited as I have the chance to improve to 3-1 in my Fantasy Football League, which is comprised of a bunch of sports fanatics/friends who are based all over the world. Half of us are in the U.S. and the other half is in Asia, primarily Taiwan and China.

Lately, it's been rather contentious as a few of the guys have been ragging on one another for picking up and dropping players like it's a game of Jacks. The problem is that there's a paucity of good backs in our league, due to the unusual size of our league, 14 teams. So you can see how a bunch of Type A's would get a little testy about this kind of stuff. Perfectly legal to do but it can create some tension nonetheless, especially when there's a ton of smack talk going around (i.e. your team is a pile of foul-smelling fecal matter as opposed to rosy-smelling). You get the point.

Anyway, I am happy to say that my boy and #1 back Michael Bennett will make his way into the lineup next week after the Vikes bye this week. I drafted the speedster #2 after all-world Peyton Manning and he has yet to produce points for me. Problem is that Onterrio Smith has been filling in nicely for him but fortunately for me, he looks to be serving a 4 game suspension for his reefer propensities. We'll see how this soap opera pans out.

My buddy Tim is flying in town this weekend and me and the little lady are having dinner with him and his little lady in Beacon Hill. The restaurant, called Lala Rokh, serves Persian/mediteranean (sp?) food and was highly rated by Zah-gawt's. I love to eat and am always open to new cuisines.

Well, back in a few.

Marathons

So my 18 weeks of marathon training is coming to an end, 11 days till the big day. I did my 20-miler 2 weeks ago and the pain involved in that run still lingers in my memory. I am seriously wondering how many times that will be amplified after 26.2 miles. I mean, I think I'm kind of a tough guy. I sacrificed my body through years of organized football (high school and college) and rugby at business school (broken nose, finger). But this type of athletic threshold is a bit unique, it takes over your entire body and grows over time, kind of like a fungus. I can try to describe the state of one's mind and body but I would only do a disservice to myself and marathoners.

Before I began training, I thought running a marathon would be a cool thing to do (kind of like bunjee jumping or being able to put it on your resume like every b-schooler), good for my body, and challenging. What I've discovered is that it is certainly challenging. The other two I am still questioning. We shall find out in a few years when I develop chronic pain and arthritis in my knees. But seriously, it has been an exercise of serious discipline and time management. I quickly found out that one must truly organize/integrate your work schedule and social life into the training program. I have a new-found respect for elite long distance runners. Props to you ladies and gents for that kind of dedication.

With the race next weekend, my tapering continues. Thank God. Tonight I do 4 miles ....