Maddenation
Endurance Predator
Enurance Predator is an article I just read from “The Best American Science and Nature Writing - 2001” (while proctoring an exam here at Ignatius during finals). It’s a great article, originally published in Outside magazine, about our inherent drive to run/improve/fight/compete. It throws in a good bit about evolution of our species and evolution in general. It talks about the Olympics and world records and the connection back to our early hominid, bipedal, ancestors, while wondering where the limits of our physical abilities lie. It relates competition to warfare compares the spirits that motivate man (and woman). It’s pretty good, have a read. Here’s an excerpt I particularly liked.
“At our core we are endurance predators driven by dreams, spurred on by the antelope that we can’t see but know is out there, somewhere, up ahead. To continue pushing, though, we must believe it’s catchable—if only we apply ourselves.” - A little cheesy, and perhaps too much like a Successories quote, but I likes it.
David • Stories • 06/03/04 • 2 comments
Comments
Dad • 06/04/04 • 8:43 PM:The first time I read about humans being able to run down faster animals, like mustangs, was in a book called The Horsecatcher that I read as a boy. It was one of several Readers Digest condensed books published in a single volume that I found one day looking through our living room bookcase. It was magical. An Indian boy, probably a Sioux, found his true calling was not as a warrior, but as a catcher of horses to supply the tribe. It was a book written for younger readers, but I found it quite powerful. Many years later, Mom and I were dining out at a place on Horesehill road called, appropriately enough The Library. It was filled with bookshelves. Next to our table, about at my eye level, was the same Readers Digest book I had read in my youth. I mentioned it to the waitress and she told me to take it. They often “lent out” books to their patrons. For the life of me, I can’t remember what happened to that book. I don’t think I finished rereading it, and don’t remember returning it to the restaurant. Maybe it’s still around somewhere. Anyway, I recommend it to you.
Patrick • 06/07/04 • 4:16 PM:So are you trying to drop me a hint about what to get you for Christmas this year (to go along with Banjo the Crow)?
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