As a runner, is it better to be a mathematician, a chef or an artist?
Let’s say, for example, that my training plan calls for two miles at 10 mins / mile and I run the first mile in 10 mins and 10 seconds.
With my mathematician’s hat on, I say “I’ll run the second mile at 9 mins 50 seconds, averaging 10 mins per mile.”
With my chef’s hat* on, I say “I’ve undercooked the first mile, but I should still aim for 10 mins for the second, because it’s better to have one perfectly cooked cake than one undercooked and one overcooked.”
With my artist’s hat** on, I say “I think that 10 mins 10 seconds is a personal interpretation of the plan, and I’ll run the second mile in a similar spirit.”
Which is better? I’ve no idea, but thinking about it kept me busy during this evening’s five mile run. I’d probably have been better off paying attention to my garmin instead, as my splits made all three persona weep in despair. Oh well. At least I tried.
*Those of you who know me will need to use your imagination for this bit.
**And for this bit.
abradypus 
I think I would be happy with myself to at least attempt the mathematician. I could cope with the chef approach, and (sadly more likely) I would despair at the artist approach – strange seeing as I am an ‘artist’ 🙂
I considered for a while that I’d take the mathematicians’ route, but upon further consideration, I’m a chef. Though I do like doing mathsy things in my head whilst training. My favourite is swimming when there’s a requirement to do 12 lengths of something – that way you get 6 lengths (1/2), 8 (2/3), 9 (3/4), and 10 (5/6) in quick succession.
definitely the artist for me 🙂
*chef’s hat…No sorry imagination is not that good 😉
Oooh it’s like the is a jaffa cake a cake or a biscuit question! Chefs hat for me as I’m always. Looking for excuse to run slower not faster!
Artist. Definitely artist. Creative spirits, refreshing interpretations…