PinnedMember-onlyMy journey to a sub-3-hour marathonA friend told me that breaking the 3-hour marathon mark can be underwhelming. It’s just a number, he said and once you get there, it’s possible to feel empty. Bullshit! Yesterday, at 41 years of age, I ran a 2.57.04 marathon in Southern California and it felt like an achievement…Running8 min readRunning8 min read
PinnedMember-onlyA decade ago I had the biggest standoff I’ve ever had with my wife. She demanded we leave Russia.I spent most of my teen years away from Russia but Moscow was my home. I was studying abroad — first in the US, then England — but would be back In Moscow for every school break. I missed Moscow during my boarding school years and missed it even more…Life5 min readLife5 min read
PinnedMember-onlyMy son and I have been playing this silly game and it’s hilariousI don’t know if this game has a name. We started last night and it escalated quickly. I arrived in Florida from California, my wife met me at the airport Fort in Lauderdale, we drove home and went straight to dinner — it was my Mom’s sixty third birthday. On…Humor3 min readHumor3 min read
8 hours agoMember-onlyI don’t shower every day.Don’t thank me. I know you really wanted to hear a story about my hygiene. Medium founders should feel like their life’s mission is accomplished if they see some stories as profound as this one. I came across a story on Medium, “My 12 rules for Life”. …Health2 min readHealth2 min read
10 hours agoMember-onlyI don’t understand how some grown-up, intelligent, self-aware people do not struggle with religion.This story is not meant to mock the faithful folks. I have religious friends and relatives, and I have nothing but respect for them. How they are keeping their faith is a mystery to me. I struggle. I don’t even know where to start discussing this topic. One way is…God2 min readGod2 min read
1 day agoMember-onlyWatching kids play sports is one of life’s most beautiful sights.I’m not talking about serious pursuits with which I am intimately familiar. Serious pursuits can be an amazing experience, but they are too intense, expensive, and often too exotic. My daughter is a tennis player, my teenage son is also a tennis player, recovering from an injury, and my oldest…Sports2 min readSports2 min read
3 days agoMember-onlyThe problem with Andrew TateI said it many times: I’m against censorship, “canceling,” or mass hysteria directed at certain individuals of influence. “Of influence” is an important clause. Influence de facto. Influence is already in place. Maybe it’s an underground kind of influence. Maybe someone has conquered the hearts of tens of millions. The…Culture3 min readCulture3 min read
5 days agoMember-onlyThe problem with “content” on all modern platforms, including MediumI recently started drafting a book and am finding it helpful to look up my “content” on Medium. I’ve written over five hundred stories on Medium since I started in October 2021. I usually know what story I want to look up, but it’s often a struggle to locate it…Creativity3 min readCreativity3 min read
Mar 10Member-onlyMy teenage son driving is the most awesome thing.If I become ultra-rich… I mean, when I become ultra-rich, my lifestyle won’t change much. I’ll keep running every day, and I won’t be spending money on clothing, expensive watches, fine food, cars, or women. I’ll increase my collection of running shoes. I’ll probably travel. I’ll get a place in…Kids2 min readKids2 min read
Mar 9Member-onlyWhat is “woke”?I see and read a lot about this topic. Let me list some characteristics of “woke” as I understand it without looking up the definition. Virtue signaling about the current social and political trends in a light-minded way — without thoroughly assessing their complexities. Virtue signaling, period. Announcing to the…Politics2 min readPolitics2 min read
