No running for me (today)

It's really hard to follow Jana's life lesson post...partly because I'm not near as funny and partly because I'm trying to clean up the water I spewed across the keyboard as I read it.  Here in a little bit I'll call to ask her if she vaguely remembers the little conversation we had on the way up to Aunt Jones' house about training schedules. But I'll wait until her toes stop cramping. 

I REALLY want to go for a run tonight, but instead I'm going to sit here and think about running.  I started a new school year today.  I'm in a new district, at a new school, and I don't know a soul.  I sat there at the table feeling sorry for myself, slightly overwhelmed and a little out of place.  Where did my thoughts drift?  To the last time I just ran for the sake of running...as far as I could go...in the rain...not tethered by a heart monitor or Runkeeper...no music...just me with the rain drops stinging my face and the sound of my shoes hitting the wet pavement. 

And there you have it, the #1 reason why I run: it's my therapy.  I don't run to look cool because if you've seen me run, there's nothing cool about it.  I don't run to win a race.  I don't run in order to be able to eat whatever I want whenever I want (although that is a nice added bonus).  I run to clear my mind both at the time and then later when I need a little escape.  Some people turn to chocolate, alcohol, drugs or food to escape.  I run.

Although it would really help me to calm down tonight, I think I'll just settle for the run I took today...sitting at the school...listening to the presentation...feeling the calming therapy of the memory of that run in the rain.

And I'll run tomorrow night because I'm an idiot training for a half-marathon!