Running Blues

I'm not going to lie to you: these past few weeks of training have been ... kinda sucky.  I've been cranky as all get-out just thinking about running, let alone running for 3 hours straight.  I've wondered WHY?!  Why am I putting myself through this?  I'd much rather be sitting at home on my bum eating Reese's - but I've kept on pushing through.

So back to the why?  What is keeping me going?  First of all, I've made a commitment.  I've signed up to run the 2011 Flying Pig Marathon and, by God, I'm going to do it.  I'm all talk when it comes to quitting, anyway.  I threaten (to myself - yeah, so I talk to myself on my long runs - don't judge) to cut my long runs short by a couple of miles nearly every week, but I always end up finishing them out.  By the time I've convinced myself that yes, it is okay to stop running early, I'm nearly finished and figure I had better just finish up.  See?  All talk.

I think the turning point for me came a couple of weeks ago.  It was Friday afternoon, and a co-worker was chatting me up about weekend plans.  She was heading to a local casino with a 70s/80s themed nightclub, and I was heading to bed to prepare for the next day's 15-miler.  She casually asked how long that would take me, and I cringed at my own response: "Um, a little under 3 hours."  THREE HOURS?!  What am I doing to myself?  What kind of torture plan is this?

But you know what?  I got up the next morning and ran those 15 miles - cranky or not, I've made a promise to myself.  And when I was finished, I limped around the house with a smile.  Because I know that the feeling crossing that finish line is what I'm chasing, why I'm torturing myself week after week.  I am running to earn another one of these:

... not to mention bragging rights.  Oh, and those delicious Reese's eggs - thank you, Easter.  I'm telling you, this girl knows what she is talking about.