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October 2, 2006
inside the head of a lone runner
"I bet you could write a book with all the thoughts that went through your head.. "
Jeff's comment about my solo 21 miler on Sunday made me think.
What did I think about?
If you are thinking something profound ... hmmm ... not so much ... it went something like this.
Mile 1 - it's dark and foggy. control your pace. slow down. long way to go. Heel hurts, how long till drugs kick in
Mile 2 - traffic lights, should I wait till they change or change my route ... hmmm wait til they change .. oh Tim Hortons, I would love a coffee. First hill, doing okay. Run faster, drunk guy staggering towards me. Oh that's that apartment building of that cute guy, I wonder if he is awake? Spend alot of time thinking about cute guy.
Mile 3 - Drugs still haven't kicked in, heel really hurts. Cute guy is dating wrong girl, should be dating me. do people stay in relationship because they don't want to be alone. Maybe they are happy. Happier with me! Going to stop at the anchor for water, just around the corner. Spend next few minutes thinking only about anchor and stopping.
Mile 4 - Should I take the short route or long route in the park? long route, get miles in now. Reading messages on the path from old races. In three weeks I'll be running a real marathon. wonder what the weather will be like? Toilets coming up, I should stop. toilets closed, where are the next ones? feel groggy, legs are cold.
Mile 5 - gels really work. someone told me about gel blocks or something. almost my longest run alone ... almost. should I get a macbook pro? need new boots, brown boots. cute guy would like sexy brown boots.
Mile 6 - officially my longest run alone. this is a long hill. waterstop at the top, keep going. Maybe I should buy an ipod. would I sing out loud? am I talking out loud?
Mile 7 - when is this hill going to end? If I turn around at the top that would be 16 miles .. no I'm doing 21 ... 16 is good though ... no it's not.
Mile 8 - waterstop. first one at the waterstop ... yeah me. yum jelly beans. maybe I'll pack jelly beans for the marathon. Need a goal. hmmmmm. gonna buy an ipod
Mile 9 - got a goal, I started at 7.15am, the group starts at 8am, they are super fast, okay goal is to not let them catch me before mile 11. Try doing math. Wake me up inside ... Save me ... wake me from the dark ... what's that song
Mile 10 - still doing math. still foggy. oh cows, I wonder what it's like to be a cow? What songs will I put on my ipod. Wake me up inside ... oh yeah that song
Mile 11 - keep looking behind me, can't see anyone yet. more cows
Mile 12 - enough of the hills already, see runner ahead, going to catch him. this surface is nice
Mile 13 - downhill back to the park .... weeee I love downhill .... look at me super fast .... weeeee
Mile 14 - need toilet ... where is toilet .... find toilet
Mile 15 - no thoughts .... get passed by runner who left at 8am
Mile 16 - I'm hungry. what will I have for breakfast?
Mile 17 - guy walking dog, that's nice. can't seem to catch him, how fast is he walking? he must be super human. what power would I have
Mile 18 - Should I stay on path or go onto the road, if I go to road where no runners are I'll walk I know I will, stay on path.
Mile 19 - run it's not far now, shoes are dirty
Mile 20 - can't stop until gizmo says 21, don't stop ... don't
Posted by Ali at October 2, 2006 2:16 PM
Comments
I get all kinds of great ideas when I run and then forget them all when I stop. :(
Mile 14. I understand that one completely!
Posted by: Jon in Michigan at October 3, 2006 6:32 AM
i wish i could remember what i think about. sometimes i can. i think.
obviously i cant remember 2 days later thats for sure. :O)
Posted by: justjunebug at October 3, 2006 8:15 AM
Cute post. It's probably pretty accurate too. Get the iPod; you'll love it.
Posted by: Juls at October 3, 2006 9:40 PM
interesting how the mind wanders while running... it hops from one topic to the next, almost seamlessly. another reason i love running. awesome job on your run!
Posted by: nattie at October 4, 2006 5:22 AM