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Piquen' your interest

There’s no time like… later

About a year ago I bought a book called The Procrastinator's Handbook: Mastering the Art of Doing It Now.

One particular quote in there caught my eye and I decided to drop $16 on my first and only self-help book.

The quote, by William James, read: "Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task."

To this date, I still haven't read the book.

I've thought about reading it, especially after this particular habit seemed to be getting in the way of a stress-free and unfettered life.

I've even flipped through it and some of the suggestions seemed like really good ideas. Things like:

• Make lists;

• Tackle time-consuming projects in stages;

• Establish a place for everything;

• Get rid of clutter;

• Plan ahead.

I thought to myself, as I saw these big bold headlines, that these are things I could really use in my life to conquer this habit.

Still, the book is lying at the bottom of my closet, dusty with an unbroken spine, destined for a garage sale, priced at a measly 25 cents.

Perhaps then the book can find a home with someone who is serious about getting his or her bad habits in check.

For me, I think I'm beyond hope.

Even the threat of potentially injuring myself, or at the very least horribly embarrassing myself, couldn't induce me to train for the Vancouver Sun Run.

Eight weeks ago the run seemed like a really good idea.

Pique was entering a team, about half a dozen co-workers were signing up and I somehow was convinced that running 10 kilometres was "no big deal."

We happen to have a couple of runners in the office and they weren't lying – to them 10 kilometres is no big deal.

But I've never been a runner.

Nonetheless it was an exciting prospect, a great challenge and good way to whip myself into shape before the summer.

I had two months to follow the training program, slowly building up muscle and stamina for the run.

The day after registering I was at Meadow Park with a co-worker. I dragged myself out of bed at 6:30 a.m. to spend an hour on the treadmill. I even bought a month-long early bird pass.

The next day I went back for more of the same.

But those two visits marked the end of my time at Meadow Park.

I lost enthusiasm for the early wintry start and the treadmill's appeal didn't last long either.

That was the extent of my Sun Run training. I might add that my co-worker managed to train for most of the eight-week period leading up to the run.

And so I waited and waited, knowing I would regret it in the end. I put the date out of my head; there seemed to be so many other important things to be doing each day rather than training for that run.

Pretty soon the two months were up, I was none the fitter and all of a sudden I was in the car to Vancouver, filled with dread at the prospect of the next day's event.

As it turned out I had a great time.

Sure, it might have been a little bit better if that 80-year-old woman hadn't blown past us, commenting at the same time on our walking break.

That was the low point of the run.

A close second was when the guy with the toddler on his back overtook us near the eighth kilometre.

And there's no need to disclose here my actual running time.

Still I can't help but think what my time may have been had I not left things to the last minute, had I actually trained properly.

The self-help book lists some of the reasons why people procrastinate.

Is it the fear of success that stops us from doing things? Or perhaps it's the fear of failing. It might even be sheer laziness.

The book highlights a dozen potential reasons why humans put off doing things until the absolute last minute.

I think my particular problem might be genetic.

I like stress and last minute hassles, and making things worse by putting off today what I can do tomorrow.

I've paid extra cash for plane tickets by not calling in advance. I've lost 10 per cent on university papers by leaving them to the last minute and not getting them in on time. I've been stuck with ugly clothes as Christmas presents because I haven't returned them on time.

Maybe that's why I'm a reporter.

In fact, it might actually be a requirement for this job. (Ed's note: procrastination wasn't one of posted job requirements for the position at Pique.)

Reporters thrive under deadline pressure and some of the best stuff can come under a ridiculously tight deadline. (Note to Ed: I haven't given up on this particular aspect of my procrastinating habit, I promise.)

Well, I've reached the first step in recognizing the problem. Now I just have to find the time to tackle that book, start making lists and getting rid of clutter.

As for the Sun Run – although it was fun, I still hurt like hell the next day. It might have been more fun had I been a little more prepared.

Next year will be a different story.

I intend to start training for the 2003 Sun Run some time in the next week, or at least in the next month or at the very least, just after Christmas.