First, my new armband arrived in the mail from the Apple store, allowing me to wear my iPhone as I run rather than carrying it like I have the last few days.
This getup replaces my iPod-sized armband, which has served me well over the last few months, but my tiny little app-less iPod is no match for the iPhone and all the magical things it can do ....
... like MapMyRun.
This new app has successfully tracked all my stats in real time and mapped out the route for me as I run. It also gives me a live audio update of my pace, time, distance, etc., during the run every .5 mile.
It automatically integrates your data with the website, so when you go online after your workout, you can see everything you've done on a calendar, a graph or a list.
Using the website, I can see that in the last two weeks, I've run 17.81 miles during 3.82 hours over six workouts. This knowledge is so motivating! As cheesy as it may sound, I find myself anticipating the workout more because I'm excited to log the info when it's over.
I kicked it up a notch this week and went for four runs, if you count Sunday (which I do), Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. I'm getting better at planning ahead to schedule them in around work and other activities. It is something I can count on feeling good about even when the world is at its most depressing.
It was one of those weeks at the newspaper when I had to make one of those phone calls that makes me sick to my stomach.
For the record, I have competently conducted interviews with lunatics, angry people, intoxicated college students, senators, CEOs, homeless people, victims of crimes and people who just escaped from their house before it burned to the ground. But speaking to a grieving parent or family member beats it all.
Writing these stories leaves me (and my liver) wishing, at least temporarily, that I was in another line of work. And yet, as one of my editors (always the optimist), said to me this week, interviewing people in their time of loss 1.) gives them a chance to memorialize their loved ones publicly and 2.) is perhaps even cathartic for them.
As a journalist and someone who is naturally empathetic, I feel humbled to provide service #1, but #2 is sticky territory.
What are your thoughts on the intersection of local media and personal tragedy ?
The closest I've come to that sort of situation is when I had to write that OWN Sorelle Gallery story a couple weeks ago. I had to call a woman who lost her son 20 years ago and ask her how she felt about his artwork being shown in the gallery and on TV. Speaking with his twin brother, who had found out that had a twin after his brother had died, was just as hard. I agree that it helps people cope to talk about their loss to someone and have their story told. If it didn't, I don't think they would bother to talk to you at all.
ReplyDeleteSee you on Tuesday. :-)
I've had to interview people that have lost their homes to fire (twice), interview and photograph the grieving at memorial services and other things. There's nothing that makes it easier, even when you're thanked for bring light to the situation.
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