lame-o abortive track workout

I felt like crap today -- gave up on a track workout after one 400.  I have been running a lot.  And sometimes you just break down.  It's all part of the game.  Things will work better tomorrow.  Hitting the breaking point is an important part of training, and so is knowing when to back off.

Europeans seem to (hmm...how to put this gently), um, lack some of the sensitivities to different cultures that we value in the U.S.  This requires a far longer and more thoughtful post than I have time for here but just as an example, take this newspaper article about the marathon Tammi ran in (Tammi's translation):  "When do you recall having seen two Leghisti that applaud the arrival...of two sweaty North Africans in underpants?"  He's talking about the two North Africans who won the marathon...but I saw them pass, and they were wearing split racing shorts and a singlet: standard, modest running attire much less offensive than the spandex salume outlining tights that the native Italians seem to wear in all weather.

Even when it's sunny and in the 60s, the Italians love their spandex--long tights, long sleeve shirts.  I agree with Tammi that this is a cultural phenomenon, but its roots remain obscure.  Perhaps it's considered stylish, and style is important to the Italians, even the runners.  Often, I'm the only one out running in a plain cotton T-shirt.