Black Toes and Running

Ok. I know. My feet are ugly. But those black toes are PROOF that I'm actually doing something that's supposedly good for my health. I'm told they're the sign of a RUNNER. yes... a runner... those creatures I've always associated with being 80% physically fit and 20% absolutely nutts.

For so many years I've said I HATE RUNNING. It's pretty much been torture to me. It probably goes back to those days from high school basketball practices when I'd do something to tick the coach off so she'd yell, "run a lap". Or, it could be all the pressure Coach Stroud put on us to run the 1.1 mile loop around CSI in under 7 minutes. I never made it... 7:13 was my best and it just wasn't good enough. I tried soooo hard and wanted it soooo badly! There were also those basketball practices in college Coach would get pissed off at us for one thing or another and hollar at us to "get on the line." Haha.. one time it was pretty funny, actually. He was really pissed at me for not having any arch on my shot ... (why he actually cared that I had no arch was funny in itself because I never saw the court until the last two minutes of the game when we were up by 40!)... so he paced up and down the court for what must've been 20 minutes just talking (loudly) to himself about Smitty's shitty shot! At first I was kind of bothered by it - you know, I kind of got my feelings hurt. But then some of the other girls on the team started laughing about how Coach was so obsessed with the fact that I had no arch... and really I think they were laughing at Coach because he was so animated about the whole deal and just couldn't let it go. So after about the first ten minutes I started laughing about it too. Coach didn't laugh. "LINE UP!!!!" crap. the next 40 minutes was spent doing one set of lines ("suicides") after another. It wasn't funny that night... but the next day and these twenty years later it was DAMN funny! Hahaha. Thanks for the memories Coach!

So...I've come to a realization.

I LIKE running.
I like running in the cold... and the snow... and even the ice.
I like running when it's 10 degrees outside.
I think I even like running up hills.
I like my new Nike + iPod shoes and sensor - even though it's not calibrated correctly.
I like running on the uneven icy trails - like the ISU cross country trail I ran on today.
I still don't like getting off the couch to go run... but once I'm out there I like that biting-fresh feeling.
I like my new UnderArmour pullover - with the iPod pocket on the sleeve.
I like it when I take my winter fleece headband off when I get done and I'm completely sweaty.
I like the fact that my ass - with all that fat - is downright chilly to the touch.
I like it when my nose drips.
I like it when my upper left molar stings from the cold breeze (although I'm gonna get that fixed!).
I like it when my sunglasses fog up.
I like my $2 girly purple fuzzy running gloves I bought at the Ashton Hill truck stop.
I especially like it when my hands and fingers (the same ones that start out sooooo cold) get so damn sweaty they're hot.
I like it that the minus 5 degree windchill does nothing to cool those same hands and fingers off.
I like running with my friend Vicki. She keeps me honest.
I like feeling sticky for an hour after I run.
I like it when it's snowing when I run and even my eyelashes get a little frosty.
I like the rutts on the Hiline Canal bank - they make me pay attention.
I like the fact that my TOES are BLACK.

I LIKE RUNNING!

(i'm crazy, I know).

And by the way, I like the fact that I'm completely exhausted tonight. I like it that I couldn't run the whole 6 mile hilly loop today over American Road because I was dead from the pool 5 hours earlier. I like it that I didn't turn around and just quit - that I kept on going... and just walked a little to come back around.

I'm excited about tomorrow. Another run - and it's not even on Kris' workout plan for me. I'm running because I WANT TO RUN.

And when I'm done... I have an hour and a half on the bike.

Now... I DON'T like the bike - especially on the trainer.

Goodnite.