I Just Felt Like Running

That day, for no particular reason, I decided to go for a little run
So, I ran to the end of the road
And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd run to the end of town
And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd just run across Greenbow County
And then I figured since I run this far, maybe I'd just run across the great state of Alabama
And thats what I did
I ran clear 'cross Alabama

For no particular reason, I just kept on going
I ran clear to the ocean
And when I got there, I figured since I gone this far, might as well turn around, and just keep on going
When I got to another ocean
I figured since I gone this far, might as well just turn back, and keep right on going

When I got tired, I slept
When I got hungry, I ate
When I had to go, you know, I went

"And so, you just ran?"
Ya

I'd think a lot
About mama, and buba, and lieutenant Dan
But most of all, I thought about Jenny
I thought about her a lot

They just couldn't believe that someone would do all that running, for no particular reason
"Why are you doing this?"
I just felt like running
I just felt like running

Now, for some reason, what I was doing, didn't seem to make sense to people

My mama always said you have to put the past behind you, before you can move on
And I think that's what my running was all about
I had run for three years, two months, fourteen days and sixteen hours

"I'm pretty tired, I think I'll go home now"
And just like that, my running days were over
So I went home to Alabama

Monday, December 17th, 2007

Next Race: January 13th, 2008 Walt Disney World Marathon
5km time: 00.28.35
10km time: 00.59.00
1/2 Marathon time: 02.12.14
This Week: 32km long-run (again), 10 hills (again) and Fartlek (again)

The Top Three Things Yelled At Me While Running:
(1) "hey! it's freaking cold outside!!"
(2) " this is what treadmills are for you retard! get off the road!!"
(3) "running can't save your health, only Jesus can!!"

I'm A Runner

Laura
Nurse, 24
London, Ontario, Canada

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When I was little I didn't know anyone who ran - except maybe the kids who actually took part in track and field and I think my brother ran once, maybe?
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I don't have any "normal" weekly distance - it entirely depends from one week to the other - but usually anywhere between 30 km and 50 km. Normally I run with a team but sometimes I really crave those solo runs where I leave my stopwatch at home.
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When I was studying human physiology I used to run the treadmill at the YMCA and go over everything that was happening in my body while I ran. I would think about how my heart was changing, how my muscles were working and why running could be so darn hard sometimes. Not only did my running improve, my physiology mark was amazing.
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The difference between running and nursing is that nursing - even labor and delivery nursing - can seem so much more reliable and consistent than running - women don't normally give birth outside in extreme weather changes.
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I ran my first race three years after I started running but only a year before my first marathon.
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Before a long run I always have a big glass of orange/grapefruit juice and a bowl of Shreddies (no milk). Before a weekday run sometimes it's all I can do to grab a banana or a granola bar. During runs I am always snacking on jelly-belly beans, sport beans, Gatorade and margarita flavored shot blocks.
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The night before a long run I almost always eat an entire box of Kraft Dinner. It's completely not healthy but it hasn't failed me yet.
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I know I have had a good run when I walk in my front door and I am stress free and feeling relaxed - no matter how bad the run may have seemed while I was doing it.
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If I could run with anyone it would be me as a kid. I was so self-conscious, so lost. I can't imagine how much more I could have accomplished by now if when I was seven someone had held my hand and told me that one day I would be running marathons. I am so thankful that I discovered running and in turn discovered me before it was too late. I'm still young, and now I know that nothing is impossible. That's something I tell myself everyday.*

Thursday, December 13th, 2007

Next Race: January 13th, 2008 Walt Disney World Marathon
5km time: 00.28.35
10km time: 00.59.00
1/2 Marathon time: 02.12.14
This Week: 29km long-run (again), 10 hills and Fartlek

Marathon runners are funny creatures. For 191 days we treat our bodies terribly. We force our muscles to do things they probably shouldn't, we sacrifice eating, sleeping and sanity for just one more run. We will run anytime, anywhere in any bloody condition possible.

But for the last 31 days we treat our bodies like temples. We don't run when its wet, we don't run when its cold. We don't run in the snow, we don't run on uneven pavement and we most certainly to do not run any faster than is absolutely necessary. We sleep more than we thought was humanly possible, we eat incessantly and we eat incessantly good. And we always drink precisely 3L of water a day.

And if we even so much as feel a twinge of pain, discomfort or even think that an injury might be brewing. We stay home.

Now we know we can do it, all we have to do is try to keep it that way.

My Marathon Wish-List

* Honolulu (December)
* Chicago (October)
* New York (November)
* Las Vegas (December)
* San Francisco (August)
* Any marathon in Alaska, the Yukon or Northwest Teritories

Sunday November 2nd, 2007

Next Race: January 13th, 2008 Walt Disney World Marathon
5km time: 00.28.35
10km time: 00.59.00
1/2 Marathon time: 02.12.14
This Week: 23km long-run (again)

When I was 21 I couldn't run around the block.

When I was 24 I could run 32km in a snow and ice storm.

Look at me now. I am not defined by being a nurse, a Big Sister, a daughter, a sister or a best friend. I'm a runner.

I'm my own best inspiration. I'm my own hero.