Wednesday, July 29, 2009

There Are Two Errors in the the Title of This Post*

Oh, I’m not just an attorney and a blogger, I’m also a poet and a philosopher. Running my speed workout yesterday I came upon one of the great philosophical questions all runners face: If you blackout while running repeats in the hot and angry sun, does it count against your rest interval?

And if I my wax philosophically (and I shall, it is my blog), having the FIRST speed workouts repeatedly humiliate me—week after week after week—I keep thinking about ‘why.’ Why does this hurt so much? Why do I keep doing this?

But the answer is simple. Because there is nothing better in the world. If it was just easy, if we didn’t find ourselves dripping in sweat, breathing hard, muscles aching, feeling used but strangely satisfied, we wouldn’t do it. And I was describing running sickos.

We all complain about the aches and pains, but we know this is the cost going in. And we all dream of PRs and Boston, but we know these things don’t come without effort and pain. Sometimes, after a particularly taxing workout the ‘Why’ seems like an albatross around our necks.

But after marking days off, tallying miles, and earning it; and as we prepare for the starting gun to fire, the ‘Why’ isn’t a question at all.

___________

* This is a reference to this awesome book; something I used when teaching undergrads philosophy while also making it fun.

8 comments:

Jen Feeny said...

Loved "We Shall" but couldn't comment on it... ???

I'm sure you're doing great on FIRST, don't be so hard on yourself!

Running and living said...

I am begining to think that running hard is the new age form of autoflagelation. It seriously feels that like during my tempos and track workouts - dripping sweat, vomit, nausea, pain, all self-induced! Ana-Maria

Sun Runner said...

"If you black out..."

Is that why you haven't called me back? ;)

Two words, my friend:

Morning.

Runs.

Unknown said...

First time to your blog! I like your thinking!! "WHY?" I ask myself that every time I do speed work...not so much the long runs. I want to get to the point where I say, "YES!"

Thanks so much!

Unknown said...

Hey! I was wondering where you would recommend I stay the night before the CCRR? It doesn't have to be fancy, just clean!

Thanks!!
~ Katie
xanga.com/firewillconsume

Unknown said...

Or you can email me: katie_mae1985@yahoo.com

Irish Cream said...

I actually just like pain. A lot. Who cares about Boston or PRs or race tees? MAKE IT HURT!

Ha, kidding. I think . . . ;)

Jen Feeny said...

Where oh where has Spike gone? Oh where or where can he be??!??!