Most NORMAL letsrun.com poster

16x,

247 toothpicks on the floor and 3 left in the box. Either that or 246 toothpicks on the floor and 4 left in the box. Actually now that I think about it I think it is the latter.

Flagpole:

I can always count on you to verify totally insignificant information. Thanks Rainman.

Awwww....come on guys! I'm normal, you just don't know me well.

Phew!

You miss a week, you miss a lot! What a neat surprise to check back in and find a thread started in honour of my normalcy. But then the thread strayed away from me. A dastardly tangent thread. Wassup with that?

I agree that I'm a pretty normal guy, but it's actually me, not Willy, who claims to be unable to remember a bad run. Looking at that from the outside, I guess that's probably not normal. But it's true. Abnormal, but very true.

Sorry Pete. You're about as normal as me.

And you, JEH, are substantially more normal than me, which isn't saying a whole lot, mind you, given I'm way, way abnormal.

Pete- That "I've never had a bad run" claim strips you of any prerogative to claim normalcy. You're a freak! (j/k)

But, ah,?Portland Runner. He?s hilarious... but I think he may still be risking normalcy. I've never heard anything wildly outlandish from him; just good humor and solid views. I think he's the Letsrunner that should be pegged as "most normal".... I hope he does something to prove me wrong. Normal isn't something you want to be. (If you've watched that stupid movie "American Beauty" you would know all about this...)

am i normal

Tara, I thought I was the only one that thought American Beauty was terrible. Does that make me normal or abnormal?

i wish i had gotten on here a long time ago. i know i would have fit on that list somewhere. wait until you get to know me. i'm very abnormal.

Most NORMAL letsrun.com poster

does not compute

tara,

just what exactly do you mean by normal when you say normal isn't something you want to be? I presume what you really mean is "bland" or "uncomplicated," not "normal."

There's nothing wrong with being normal. Nearly everyone is mostly normal, while at the same time in many ways abnormal. I use "normal" to mean close to the norm, or average. When you throw all of an individual's traits (many of which may be abnormal) into a blender and push the red button, you get something very average, or normal, for mostly anyone. The range of variation among all those various traits certainly varies from person to person, giving some people maybe more or less depth or complexity.

In my case, I:

- have above average running ability (for the whole population - well below the average of elite runners)

- have well above average intellectual ability ;-)

- have well below average emotional intelligence/awareness :-(

- am of below average height

- in spite of my - um - smaller stature - I have a very healthy self esteem

- am of average (for the population as a whole) weight/build for my height, which is well above average for the faster running community

- am mostly sane nearly all of the time

- have a less common thinking style, in that I understand concepts better in pictures than words, and the written word much better than the spoken word (this relates to my below average emotional awareness), and am able to grasp the bigger picture while still enjoying delving into the gory details

- have an unusually elevated addiction to running (which relates to my being mostly sane almost all of the time)

- am unusually addicted of good music, particularly guitar playing, yet have absolutely no aptitude for playing an instrument or singing (although I appreciate my own singing when I'm alone in my car with the stereo on)

- have an unusually large number of place names recorded in my running journal (most recently added Barbados)

- have lived in an unusually large number of places scattered across Canada

When you mix me all together, you come up with somebody who's pretty normal. But I don't think I'm bland. More like maybe an eight year old single malt scotch, as compared with either an unaged white rum, or a really fine red wine that's been in the cellar a few dacades. And I think someone even told me once that I was "exotic" because I'm Canadian. That's pretty cool.

JEH,

I do think I'm more normal than you, because at least I know who my wife is. That's because I married her twice (once by a judge for us, again by a priest for the family), and we were both there both times (according to the photos, anyway). Then again, maybe that's not so normal, either...

Pete- My objection to normalcy stems from my dislike of the prevailing societal sentiment that it's important to fit in, be like everyone else and therefore gain acceptance. I think it's better to go in search of what truly fits you, to use all creativity and depart from the standard path, rather than try to do what everyone else is doing. Difference should be encouraged. "Normal" whatever the hell "normal" is shouldn't be something you make an attempt to be.

Besides, normal is a very indefinable term. Who's to say what normal is? Is normal just statistical averages? But you can?t statistically average most human characteristics... So there is no normal. The concept of normal is totally subjective. It's a ridiculous notion that there is such a thing as normal. A humorist must have made up the term.

Anyways, I have no idea how normal you are because that depends on what you think normal is, but you sound like an interesting guy that enjoys plenty of non materialistic things... you get points for that. But you have also shared with me that you're an emotionally inept, nonelite runner with a napoleon complex who likes to talk about himself quite a lot. Sorry, no really, you sound like you lead an interesting life...

Pete, you're a tool.

How many people do see defending their normalcy? The fact that you are is yet another reason why you are NOT normal.

Don't get me wrong, you have your... traits, but quit trying to pass yourself as normal.

JEH, right back at ya!

And thank you. The casual observer might not recognize your designating me a tool as the equivalent of high praise. I was slightly offended by being left off your earlier list of tools, and so appreciate my newly elevated status.

btw, making any headway in your training towards earning the statman challenge beer? I've gradually worked my way out of injuries (picture me knocking on my wooden forehead), and gently ratcheting up the mileage, as close to Hadd's instructions as I can manage, so watch out come the fall!

Sorry Pete, after reading your replies and comments I take back my "most normal" nomination that I awarded you.

It's back to the drawing board I guess.

-Spidy

hmmm......Tara doesn't want to be normal. I'd say that's a sign of normalcy. Until someone else steps up I nominate Tara for most normal....................sorry Tara.

:-p

-Spidy

how do you prove normalcy?

if you do mean boring, that would be me.

Spiddy- If I'm the most normal person on here... we have pretty skewed audience base; everyone must way to the abnormal side to give me the appearance of normalcy ;)

"I'm thirsy"- give it up, you're not very normal.

a) You have the weirdest screename... possibly ever. ?I?m thirsty?? well, are you waiting for me to hand you some 'propel fitness water' or something?

b) You mentioned you raced Clara H., but I think you're a guy... what are you doing racing girls?

c) You consider yourself boring; while most normal people are under the impression that they are fascinating... So again making you not the norm.

d) lastly, you accused wejo of sniffing Cinnamon? Although I know it?s frowned upon to make accusations of such levity, I think you were probably on to something. And people being on target on this board is rare, not normal if you will.

So, I'm sorry... you're abnormal like the rest of us, just accept it.

tara,

give it up - you're spidey, the writing style gave it away.