Why I Run...

Good Morning and Happy Friday! The calendar says it is July 17th, but my outfit says it is December 24th. I am wearing a red sweater and jeans. It was in the 50s today, which would have felt like a heatwave back in April, but feels pretty chilly when you are used to 70-90 degree temps.

So the weather is a bit cooler than we'd like around here in July, but it's fantastic running weather! I haven't ran as much this week since I had some celebrations in the evening and my cousin came and stayed with me one night this week. But I did go for a run last night and it was wonderful! I entered a lottery for the Twin Cities 10 Mile that's held on the same day as the marathon and found out I got a spot in the race! Yippee!! I figure that will be a good training run for the 1/2 marathon that I will run at the end of October. Now if only I could win the REAL lottery... but that would require me to buy a ticket, and knowing the mathematical odds of winning keeps me from doing that. I can't tell you how many times we used the lottery in my math classes in college... So the flashbacks of the problems on the blackboards at UND prevent me from buying tickets... most of the time! Hey, I don't want to be the only person left in my office if our office pool wins the lottery!

Anyways, since I always run alone, it leaves alot of time for self-reflection and self-examination. I think back to when I started running in 2004 and try to remember what it was that got me into this sport. I don't come from a family of runners, I never really participated in sports in school since I don't have an athletic bone in my body, yet I somehow managed to become addicted to this sport. It probably has to do with the addictive personality that I have. I don't really do anything in moderation... And when it comes to running, that is kind of a good thing.

The reason I have taken to running so much can be best explained by the mock Nike Ad on the movie "What Women Want." I'm pretty sure everyone and their mom has seen it since it's always on TBS or some other channel like that. But in case you are not familiar with that movie, here is the text of the voice over, done by Mel Gibson:

You don't stand in front of a mirror before a run
wondering what the road will think of your outfit.

You don't have to listen to its jokes and
pretend they're funny in order to run on it.

It would not be easier to run if
you dressed sexier.

The road doesn't notice if you're not
wearing lipstick.

Does not care how old you are.

You do not feel uncomfortable because you
make more money than the road.

And you can call on the road whenever you feel like it. Whether it's been a day or even a couple of hours since your last date.

The only thing the road cares about is that you
pay it a visit once in awhile.

Nike. No games... just sports.

There are of course other reasons, but this sums it up pretty well. The politics of life, especially at work, and the game playing that seems to be inevitable in dating get old so I love participating in a sport that is so simple and straight-forward. A sport where my success is solely determined by the work I put into it. And even though it's a solo sport, there is still a fantastic running community to support you and guide, if you want/need that. Like last night - I was running and met a girl on the path, she gave me a fist pump and said, 'way to go!' I love that the running community is like that!

So there you have it. A sort of unconventional way of describing why I run!

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I am heading up to my parents' cabin tonight. Tomorrow I am driving to my hometown to have lunch with my Grandma. Other than that, I have no plans for the weekend - which is fabulous since I had a very scheduled week!

Happy Friday everyone!!

* PS - don't forget to comment on my blogoversary post!! Your chances of winning that fantastics book are exponentially better than winning the lottery! :) *