The '2' '6' - whats in a number?

What's in a number? One may be tempted to ask. I will shall give you a few clues though. I went out of my way with a simple question - "What does '2' and '6' mean?". The responses were as many as they were diverse, sample these:

1. The academic: what does '2' and '6' mean? That is a good question. '2' is a multiple of '6', so '2' and '6' would mean that one is a multiple of the other. However, you can make the reciprocal of '6' so that this new number becomes a multiple of '2'.

2. The streetwalker: simple, its '8'

3. The ICT guy: you can not 'and' the two numbers since they are not binary!

4. The kindergarten kid: (writes on paper), it is '26'.

5. Name-withheld: That is a trick question, whats the catch? Are you selling insurance?

And the winner is....

The kid from the 'children's garden'!

'2' and '6' turns out to be 26 or technically 26th. That is the day that all roads shall converge at the Kenyan city of Nairobi, at the Nyayo National Stadium for the Nairobi International Marathon 2008. This is one of the four events dubbed the 'greatest race on earth'.

Participants have the privilege of being among the few to participate in this 'greatest race'.

On such a date next month, we shall be assembled at the starting line at around 8.00am in the morning to participate with tens of thousands of other athletes in conquering this event.

There shall be three race categories on that day - the 10km, the 21km and the 42km runs. The route maps have just been released and there are many twists in this newly invented route, which breaks the traditional route maintained for the last few years. The previous route was single or double circuit on a 10km stretch of tarmac. The new route has a 10km 'tour of the city' where the run shall traverse at least 4 major streets, followed by the 10km circuit on straight tarmac. A variation of this basic formation shall result into the three race categories.

So mark your calendars on the '2' and '6' of October 2008 and watch out - yours truely shall be on the 42km event with a time of 'winner + 75% winner's time'. Tall order but it shall be a tall race so bring it now!

(The author is doing his first full marathon. Any suggestions are highly welcome - just post a comment below)

WWB Online - really?

I have decided to surprise myself by having my online side available for all to see. This has not been as easy as I had envisaged. Several postponements later, I have finally put keyboard to blog pad and keyed this in. Feels strange but the urge to be online is too strong to resist. I would like to basically pass information (and get feedback) from all and sundry, with a view of being more in touch with my buddies.

Watch this space for:
- The '2' '6'
- Halted
- Down and almost out
- Proprietor
- Impossible but possible
etc...

Since there is no better time to do anything but now, I hereby officially declare this blogspot open.