So I’ve been running. Jogging, really, but it’s the thought
that counts. Tonight at the beginning of our run, I commented to my running
partner, “When we get right here, every single time, my legs start screaming at
me to ‘STOP!!!!!’” “Me too!” she said, to which I admitted, “I actually have a
running (pun totally intended) dialogue in my head the entire time I’m running.” “Me
too!” She said. So, I wrote it down so that you can
share in my pain.
Start of typical 4-mile run
Good self: “Yay, I get to go run today/tonight! Nature!
Birds Singing! Lake view! Yay!
Bad Self: “AGAIN?!?! I hate you. This sucks already. “
2/10 of a mile down the road (AKA Not-very-far)
Bad Self: “Legs hurt from knees to ankles. Quit now and you
won’t even break a sweat. Then you won’t have to wash your hair before work
tomorrow.”
Good Self: “It’s gonna be great. Set your pace and get your
breathing under control and GO! Let’s do this!”
Bottom of first hill
Good self: “That was fun! Wind! Speed! Woohoo!”
Bad Self:” Uhhhh, how bout that hill you have to climb now!”
Top of first hill
Good self: “Woohoo! That was great! Broke a sweat, right on schedule!”
Bad self: “I’m still alive and I didn’t die. Yet.”
Mile 1
Good self: “Feeling good, getting my pace set”
Bad Self: “One mile is good. Stop now.”
Mile 2
Good Self: “Yeehaw! I saw a deer and family of cute little
foxes! And a weenie dog! And a bunny! I shall turn left and take the longer scenic route.”
Bad Self: “You can try, but you know you won’t last..”
Mile 2.5
Good Self: “Push through! Breathe deep! Keep going!”
Bad Self: “Seeeeeeeeee, I told you….”
Mile 3
Good: “Okay! One mile to go! You can do this! Keep going!
Bad: “Just stop already. It hurts. Legs. Stomach. Feet. The
sweat!!!! Is dripping down your face!!!!! So Gross!!!!!
Mile 3.5
Good: “Almost there. Half a mile left. Push! Breathe!
Bad: “HALF A MILE LEFT?! Chest -- tightening….. breath -- gone…..
gag reflex--standing by…….
Mile 3.75
Good: “I can see the end point! I can do this! In fact, I
think I’ll sprint to the end! Wheeeeeeeeeeee!”
Bad: “Oh no you don’t.
I WILL make you puke. Don’t think I won’t do it!”
Mile 4
Good: “I DID IT!!!! I LOVE RUNNING!!!!!”
Bad: “Yeah, you did it. Big stinky deal. I still hate this
and it still sucks. And now you smell.
All this happens with music playing in the earbuds. It's a complicated place, the inside of my brain.
