It is only crazy if you don't do it.

Bob -

I think what I was trying to say yesterday is this.  I like to run.  I don't think that I love to run.  I love what running does for me.  I love the feeling of accomplishment.  The feeling that I can break through certain barriers.  The fact that I have gotten faster as I get older and not slower.  That I can work through aches and pains that just keep cropping up.  The fact that it so therapeutic, both mentally and physically.  That I can set a goal and pretty much know that I can achieve it if I work hard enough.  The fact that I am surrounded by people who get it.  The fact that most people are going through some kind of shit in their life, yet they can find peace and comfort in the run.  The fact that running is so hard, yet it is so simple.  The fact that I can do it for the rest of my life.

It also drives me crazy, because I always want to do better.  It bothers me when I stagnate or go backwards.  It bothers me that I can't push myself harder.  It bothers me when I hear people say they can't do something.  It bothers me when I hear people say that others can do things they can't do.  Everyone has their limitations, but very few reach them.  I want to reach mine, but I have not been able to push myself hard enough to get there.  It bothers me when people are jealous of other people's accomplishments.  It bothers me when people say they don't train and they really are.  It bothers me when people say look at me, look at how far I run.  Then they get hurt and say please feel sorry for me because I ran so far and I hurt myself.  It bothers me when I do that.

Running is simple.  The training can be hard.  The pure act of going out the door and running is a matter of putting some shoes on and going.  No fancy gear is needed.  A good pair of shoes and some clothes.  Training for something is different.  If you have a goal, you need to train.  The right training is what is important.  What is good for one, is not for another.  What I do may really hurt someone else, but I know what is good for me.  I don't know exactly what is good for someone else.  That is one reason I don't give advice very much.  I say what is good and works for me, but it may be harmful to someone else.  I run to get faster.  I don't run for my health, although that is a great side benefit.  I run to clear my mind, to push myself and to get to places I never thought I would go.  Along the way, I have been blessed to be surrounded and in contact with like minded people.  They get it.  They get it all.  Runners problem solving 101.  "You okay?" "Yep.  Fuck it, let's run." Therapy for the day.  And there comes a point when running in snow, rain, blizzards, 0 degrees, 100 degrees,   at times with the world seemingly crashing around you... doesn't seem crazy.  It is what you do, and if you don't or can't, things just don't seem right.

The picture above is one of me gearing up for my last race.  I usually just wear sweatpants and a hoodie, but I wanted to look good for this one.