It's harder than you think / It's not as hard as it sounds

March 8, 2009

> I told him that he couldn't; he replied that he KNOWS that he can walk a 15
> minute mile for an "indefinite" period of time.

I have two canned spiels I deliver to people on the topic
of running or walking long distances. The essence of
spiel one is:

It's harder than you think.

The essence of spiel two is:

It's not as hard as it sounds.

Both are equally true statements for most non ultrarunning
people I talk to.

Which one I deliver depends on who it is I'm talking to, and
what their initial reaction to the news is.

Those who react as the person Ollie describes does get
spiel one, followed by appropriate elucidation.

Others who are completely nonplussed by the idea of running
or walking some long distance or time, so much so that they
conclude that either I'm lying or that I must be some kind of
superathlete (or possibly a nut case), when I am in reality one
of the lowliest of the low, get spiel two.

I don't believe I need to explain to members of this group why
both statements are true.