2011 Streak Day 147: Walk - 4.7 miles, Time - 1hr 35min, Weather - overcast
A couple of days ago I showed a fun fare beginning its set-up but this shows the beginning of something nearer to my heart: a canal boat festival.
It's in aid of the restoration of the Wendover Arm of the Grand Union and involves boat owners gathering together, decorating their boats, near a field full of marquees. Obviously, this being canals, one of the tents will be selling real ales. And obviously, this being an event on my bit of the canal I will be there.
Renovating a canal is an act of practical history - an attempt to recreate something that once was. We all need to be reminded of where we come from and how our society was formed; and travelling the paths once trod by the horses and boats that facilitated the industrial revolution is a good way to connect with the past (as well as having a nice day in the countryside).
A sense of history is not necessary for participation in any activity but I think it gives a sense of depth - a perspective on where you fit-in, in the grand scheme of things. Obviously it does not affect performance as is proved by Usain Bolt, who knows he is the best ever, and that is all he needs to know.
This article from the Athletics Weekly Blog recalls his lack of interest in Harold Abrahams. In some ways this is unsurprising as a Cambridge graduate born 112 years ago would be a remarkably remote figure but I find it a bit sad that he has no sense of Olympic history.
It is interesting how in other sports the history is a much more active currency. Cricket is bathed in nostalgia, a lot of the talk about the upcoming European Cup Final has been about Manchester United's victory in 1968, and Mike Tyson was immersed in the history of the heavyweight division.
As the the article mentions it is a great shame that with all the expenditure on the upcoming Olympic Games something could not have been put aside for the creation of an athletics museum. It would have provided an extra little bit of legacy.
Nevermind and National Library of Athletics is being created. Somehow it is typical of the sport that it is being created in a private school!
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