the masochism of the long-distance runner

[inlovewithnight]

The thing about running distance is that you are explicitly, on purpose, and with malice aforethought putting your body under intense stress, and then stepping back and going "bro, why are you freaking out?" When my brother was on the cross-country team in high school, he and the guys considered it a "good race" if you threw up at the end. That

Comments

[hjcallipygian]

There's one thing you neglected on here, which -- if this is your first half marathon coming up, makes sense. You neglected RACE DAY ADRENALINE. I have never run more than ten miles at a time, except on the three half marathons I've done. I rarely run faster than a 10 minute mile, except the two times I averaged 9:15 pace over two races. It's just awesome, hanging out at the start line with all the other runners, checking your shoes and your watch and everything, wondering who's faster and slower, looking at everyone (runners are usually in an aesthetically pleasing shape), and then it starts, and the crowd shifts forward, and you bounce a bit to get that last bit of blood flowing to the extremities... Good times.

I think I'm gonna have to go sign up for a race soon.