Gabe Jennings - Quote and article

Well, you think that he should work hard on his homework; now you do the same. Yes, he is smart; yest, music is not all playing an instrument (music theory, composing); yes, math and music are actually often interrelated in a surprisingly large number of people (for instance the one of the two best students in HS from my town was valedictorian from both HS and Pomona College and an astronomer (PhD UC Berkeley, I think), and a specialist in music theory (and a MUCH better instrumentalist than me) and was teaching at Pomona.

He was in Madison, WI because his counter-culture dad was getting a PhD. He is a non-standard guy; not out of place at Stanford.

Now, do some more homework before writing stuff tinged with doubt/sarcasim.

letsrun's motto should really be called "where your jealousy becomes a reality" because this message board is just one big forum to vent their frustrations or jealousies towards individuals, in an anonymous fashion. it's like the emotional sinkhole of the running world.

i'd love to see that hairy sucker blow out a 3.35 by summer's end. i think this breakthrough is just what he needed. he's surrounded by great athletes and advisors. all he has to do is put his head down and get it done.

I found it to be the most humane article he's ever been in. He's definitely matured a lot over his several year hiatus.

He's interesting. In a sport where almost everyone at the top runs twice a day, makes sure to stretch and have their naps, is careful about their diet, gets massages and talks about taking a professional appriach to the sport, it's fun to find a guy who does other stuff.

That's not to knock anyone who takes that professional approach. It's Jennings' life to live and his career to manage. The number of people in the sport who've accomplished what he has is tiny. Maybe he could be even faster if he took that professional approach. Maybe he's cost humself an Olympic medal. It's his business. He's not hurting anyone by changing majors.

Does Jennings realize that Lukezic has run two consecutive 3:34 1500s. Jennings is no Lagat, in fact he is no Lukezic.

A 3:39 is not even the Olympic B standard. First run 3:35 then brag.

The best way to look at this is that he is a passionate, spirited quirkky guy who is also in many ways immature and now appears to be maturing. Getting the degree done is one sign of that. The most significant value of a degree is not the employment credential - or anything of that sort - but the sense of accomplishment that comes with it.

The math ephiphany thing is a little ridiculous - again demonstrates how he just didn't have a good sense of self and maturational level. One doesn't just discover math at the college level (or at least not at the Stanford level), where math major colleagues will have more mathematical background out of high school than most students will ever obtain in four years of college, and who, for the most part, really grasp just how theoretical and intellectually challenging math can be. Be hard on the guy because of judgments like these? I don't think that is fair. But to point to it as a cause of depression? I am sure he thinks it is real but heck, I would love to play the guitar like Eric Clapton, but have no musical talent - but if I tried and failed I certainly wouldn't be depressed about it. Again, a mature person would take their strengths and weaknesses in stride. Lets hope he continues to mature, be happy - and if he runs fast, great.

He got 2nd, how did everyone else do besides Lagat? Oh yeah, they got 3rd or worse.

When you are second in the nation, nobody but that first place guy can tel you what to do.

Music and math were thought to be close cousins in classical learning.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadrivium

Goo Bird wrote:

A 3:39 is not even the Olympic B standard. First run 3:35 then brag.

"I am trying to be circumspect. I feel there aren't people willing to take a risk on a comeback kid. Three-thirty-nine is not that fast yet, and I'm getting old. But by the end of the summer, my stock will go up."

Uhh, how the heck is this bragging!?

Lorenzo the Magnificent wrote:

Music and math were thought to be close cousins in classical learning.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadrivium

Well good, maybe that is why he failed at both.