Run!

This is amazing. I saw this photo on chinatimes.com's photo section. The top three runners in the hundred meter men's race in the 2004 Olympics differed by just 0.01 sec!

What do you think is the most prestigious competition at the Olympics? I personally think it's the 100 meter for running. The way I see it, running is something most everyone can do by virtue of their being human. Those of us who were born with the capability to walk can naturally quicken the pace to running. Even swimming is not necessarily as instinctive as running. The reason for 100 meters and not something longer has also to do with what I call "the capabilities of the norm." Long distance running requires years of training and preferably, one should be born with the right type of muscle. Not everyone can necessarily do long distance running. But everyone can certainly attempt to sprint 100 meters (whether we do it in less than 10 sec is another issue)!

The results of this year's hundred meter race reveals several things. At least five of the runners were under 10 secs. Certainly humans are pushing more and more the limits of what our bodies can do. It is encouraging to see that the human body carries so much potential. But I worry that such advances could come with a cost, such as earlier breakdown and overuse of the body, perhaps resulting in premature deaths or permanent health damage. Also, digital technology, or just technology in general, is so important! Just look at this blog. Many of us can no longer live without access to digital cameras, the internet, email. And this also comes with its good and bads. We rely more on digital technology as alternatives when our senses are not as acute, such as in the case of calling who made it to the finish line first. But I wonder whether in the long run this will force us to use less of what we were born with, and more of what we have created, thus, making us more materialistic, and lose a sense of the natural?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a pessimist. But these are tough and interesting questions.