Lengthy Response - I'm Not Crazy

A former co-worker (friend, and ironically, as we found out later, cousin) of mine, read my article  "I'm Not Crazy" and sent me this response.  I told him that so much time was put into it that it had to be shared as my eyes only seeing it would not do it justice.

His reply?  "Glad you liked it.  Of course, you do know I can argue the other side too!  ; - )"

The email is below:


I read your recent article and was intrigued about why people often refer to you as being  "crazy".  I've always found you to be a fairly rational person, but then again I'm not a professional psychologist or  psychiatrist.  However, as you know, I have received formal legal training and, as such, really enjoy working with the  definitions of terms and phrases and applying them to factual circumstances.  To that end, I attempted to apply the  definition of the term "crazy" to you and your running endeavors.                                                     
                                                                                                                       
The Merriam-Webster On-line Dictionary defines "crazy" as follows:
Main Entry: 1cra·zy
Pronunciation: \ˈkrā-zē\
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): cra·zi·er; cra·zi·est
Date: 1566                                                                                                                       
1 a : full of cracks or flaws : unsound b : crooked, askew   
2 a : mad, insane b (1) : impractical  (a crazy plan) (2) : erratic c : being out of the ordinary : unusual (a taste for crazy hats)
3 a : distracted with desire or excitement (a thrill-crazy mob) b : absurdly fond : infatuated c : passionately preoccupied : obsessed (crazy about boats)                                                                                                                       
Using this definition, I do not believe running 202 miles in 2 days is "crazy" for you.  It is not "full of cracks or flaws" because you have adequately researched, trained & prepared for this specific race.

Many people may think it is "not healthy" (e.g. unsound) for you.  However, based upon your past experience, running this distance should not be unhealthy for you, especially in light of your aforementioned training & preparation for this race.

Based upon my experience, you have always been "straight" with me and have not been "dishonest" (e.g. crooked) or "out of line" (e.g. askew).

The fact you were capable of successfully conceiving, planning and executing "Fiddy2" & preparing for this race indicate you do not appear to be "completely unrestrained by reason and judgment", or "furious", or your actions are "incapable of being explained and accounted for" (e.g. mad), or you have a "disordered mind" (e.g. insane).

Many people may think the race is "not wise for you to put into effect" (e.g. impractical).  However, since your life's vocation is running & motivational speaking, it would be "unwise" for you not to attempt to run races that are capable of inspiring people, and thus providing you with practical advice & insights on achieving goals to share with others.

Again, successfully conceiving, planning and executing "Fiddy2" indicates you are not "characterized by lack of consistency, regularity or uniformity" (e.g. erratic).

Running this race as a solo effort is "out of the ordinary" and "unusual". However, in order to be an effective motivational speaker you need to be able to inspire people, and successfully completing things that are "ordinary" and "usual" does not inspire others.

Lastly, you are not "distracted with desire or excitement", or "absurdly fond" of, or "infatuated" with, or passionately preoccupied" with, or "obsessed" with running.  Again, this is your chosen vocation and you call attention to it in order to be successful at it.

I know I'd be "crazy" to attempt to do what you're doing since I haven't planned, trained or tested myself.  I think the same is true for those who refer to you as being "crazy".  

So, there you have it. Thought you would enjoy.