Perspective is everything

Like the sign post above. I noticed it on my morning run today.

I started thinking about how often I’ve come down this path, not just running, but on my rollerblades or bicycle.

I run about 7-12 mph, depending on whether I have one of my sons pacing me on their bike or blades, (they are ruthless taskmasters). When I run alone, I’m probably pacing around 6-9 mph because I’m usually deep in thought or enjoying the scenery.

I have no problem obeying the speed limit as long as I’m running.

Not so if I’m riding my bicycle. There is something deep inside me that loves speed and I’m not really enjoying myself on my road bike if I’m not cruising along somewhere between 23-27 mph, especially on the flats. This is when I find the speed limit extremely irritating and difficult to obey. (Hence, I don’t ride on the public pathways very often for this reason.)

Relate the speed limit to the software economy and where we are today technology-wise. (Yeah sadly, this is what I was thinking about on my morning run…. Pretty lame.)

Those that are running, walking, or are moving on foot power alone can be likened to those shops that build everything from the ground up. It may take them the longest to achieve the finish line, but they are the smartest and the strongest. Yet are they really the most physically fit?

Those that are on rollerblades or other mechanical means without large round wheels can be likened to those building with software tools based on Virtual Machine technology, i.e. Java and .NET. They are still smart, (Why do I feel the urge to be so politically correct? Oh yeah, I’m one of them….), yet you get to the finish line almost twice as fast and expend much less effort in the process. You are building on top of the efforts of others. Is this group the most physically fit?

Finally, for those on bicycles, they are able to race to the finish line in the fastest time possible because of the inventions of wheels and gears. This one presents a paradox, while being the fastest to the finish line this group of athletes is also very prone to low bone density meaning their skeletal structures become brittle. Even given the brittle bones, is this group the most physically fit?

Now let’s bring the thought full circle. Why have a speed limit and why is perspective important?