Chocolates and running

hi everyone (or no one!!)

Poor me today, I had to taste chocolates all day...I guess this is the price to pay to work in chocolate...but hey before you hate me, the sugar rush also brings a sugar crush! Given the drive to Reading and back I did my run on my own. It had been a really long time since I ran on my own. I was a little nervous and anxiously left in a hurry. No need to proscrastinate any further. I bolted out and started on the east river drive...

The battle is internal: "you can do it!", "oh come on a little faster" "why is everyone running faster than me?" "how far can this straight line go on for?" "when am I allowed to stop and still call it running?"...etc

This brought me back to my first run on the east side river. I think this must have been some 2 years ago. I had just decided to get back into shape. That run was hell, my feet were dragging, I had no breath, I hurt all over the place. I remember asking/telling my roommate "how many miles was that?" I think I must have run for no more than 1 mile!!! A couple months later, in better shape, I tried that route again. Those long straight lines were still painful, but I could at least run for more than 1 mile!

Tonight started painfully (hey, this place just doesn't like me!!). But then I got into my groove. I started looking at my fellow running buddies. Yes of course they don't know me, they won't tell me about their life like my TFK buddies, but like me they are out there hitting the pavement.

Some are there for their first/daily 1/2 miles. They look all cute with usually matching clothes and I presume endorphines don't even have time to hit them!

Then there are what I like to call the "braggers" - they are showing off all their latest running T-Shirts. I always wonder if they think this will impress runners "good job, you just finished the NYC half marathon" or just be a communication starter "wasn't running times square the time of your life??". What differentiates them for the last group is something in their total look that lacks complete and utter addiction to running: old shoes, not the latest and greatest shorts (the ones with the built in underwear) or even the watch, etc.

Final group - those that will always run past me, no matter how long I run :-) Those I want to smile at but who will never smile back because then they are doing their thing, talking to the pavement, that best friend of theirs.

So you wonder (or just moved on to another site already...) - which group do I fit into??
Well I am still wearing cotton t-shirts (big running no no I hear). I don't have a watch (my bday is coming up if you want to donate to the EMILY foundation!). I don't have an opinion on gu. Sometimes, I am tempted to think that beer could be considered carb loading...

Bottom line, as everything I have done in my life: I have committed to it, so I will do it. But I'll do it the "Emily-way": natural, uncaring of rules, encouraging, bitter sweet...I still don't think I am a runner, but I guess doing the NYC marathon says otherwise :-)

For those in NYC, Pat o Brian tomorrow, Sept 1st at 7PM. $10 entry and we have a keg and beer pong tables all to ourselves :-)
No movement on the battle between french and american...to be followed.

Cheers,