After last week's post, which apparently resonated a lot with people, I wanted to go for something more lighthearted this week. While packing up my bag on Monday night for Tuesday's early-morning field day, it occurred to me the sheer number of similarities between fieldwork and racing (for anyone who doesn't know me--if I'm not in the lab, I'm probably running). And there's a definite overlap between people in the marine and environmental sciences, and people who run and race. Maybe it's an outdoorsy thing, or an endurance thing (which you need a lot of for science), or a willingness to get messy thing. Which brings me to: a comparative analysis of race days versus fieldwork.
Race days: can't fall asleep the night before because of excitement and anxiety.
Fieldwork: can't fall asleep the night before because you're wondering whether you remembered to pack that thing that you were worried you were going to forget--or that other thing, or...
Race days: an unpleasantly early wake-up call.
Fieldwork: an unpleasantly early wake-up call.
Race days: start drinking Gatorade as soon as you wake up so that you don't cramp out at mile five.
Fieldwork: start drinking Gatorade as soon as you wake up so that you don't get heatstroke, which can really ruin a day.
Race days: the entire tone of the day is set by whether you get the right caffeine-to-sugar ratio in your 5am coffee.
Fieldwork: the entire tone of the day is set by whether there's a Dunkin stop on the way to the field site.
Race days: get lost in thought during the middle miles. Who designed the streets in Boston? Was this worth $40? I don't really like this iPod playlist I made. WHY IS IT SO HOT?
Fieldwork: get lost in thought while waiting for the tide to move out or the pH meter to calibrate. How old is this equipment, really? Do I have any idea what I'm doing? This looks like a good spot for wind turbines. WHY IS IT SO HOT?
Race days: it's like the pirate code--anyone who falls behind, stays behind.
Fieldwork: anyone who falls behind gets pulled out of the mud or dragged back into the canoe.
Race days: you will probably trip over another runner and land on your face.
Fieldwork: you will probably trip over your equipment/slip on a rock/get a foot stuck in the mud and land on your face.
Race days: you will not look good in the race photos. Don't even try to force a smile.
Fieldwork: you will not look good in the photos taken for the lab website. Smile and wave anyway.
Race days: may involve vomiting into a bush at the finish line.
Fieldwork: seasickness is a real possibility.
Race days: free snacks at the end!
Fieldwork: a sketchy-looking slice of pizza from the only restaurant within walking distance of the commuter rail stop where you'll be waiting for the next two hours. No free snacks.
Race days: if you run fast, you get to stand on a podium and feel awkward while they mispronounce your name!
Fieldwork: there are no prizes.
Race days: strangers on the T judge you on your way home, because you're in spandex with disheveled hair and look terrible.
Fieldwork: strangers on the T judge you on your way home, because you're covered in (mud/sand/dried salt) and smell terrible.
Race days: the culmination of months of training.
Fieldwork: the beginning of months of sitting at your computer.
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