I love these articles!

likitisplit

Before I started running, my relationship with pain was simple. I didn't like it. So unusual, I know. Candy, good. Pain, bad. Marshmallows so sweet and squishy you want to eat them every day. Pain, bad. The world was simple at its core, and pain was bad there. Pain was not deep or ironic or character-building. Pain wrecked everything. If you did something and you got hurt, it made the whole thing bad. That saying—"it's all fun and games until someone gets hurt"? True. The saying—"a life without pain is a life without fullness"? Not true and might not even be a real saying.

Of the many things I pointed to as proof that runners were lunatics, top on the list was their willingness to find pain on a regular basis, invite it into their bodies, and have meaningful interactions with it. You don't have to hold that position long before you conclude that running itself is a latent manifestation of an as-yet-to-be-identified personality disorder. The new runner is in pain if the new runner is in anything. Purposely hurting yourself over and over? That's what you call hair-ball crazy.

http://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/running-pains-hurt-so-good

timeasterday

Loved that one!!

bttrthanevr

Too funny!!! And sadly true!

"...pain (is the) feeling of improvement...comfort (is a) steady-state that brings nothing to the party and eats all the Cheetos." LOL!!!!

likitisplit

I loved that quote too. Especially since it was his "friend" who feels that way.

romyhorse

I know exactly how he feels, literally!

likitisplit

He really says it well.

This piece was incredibly inspiring...maybe I won't do the Callaway Half Marathon in January. Maybe I'll do the Silver Comet one in...October?

"With Susan and the boys beginning to stir, I ate the first half of a white bagel with peanut butter that I'd brought from home. I'd finally attributed my disastrous 12th mile to improper fueling, and didn't want to take a chance that the city of Bethlehem had never heard of things like bagels and peanut butter. I emptied half a Gatorade into the sink and filled it back up with water. Man, that felt pro. "What are you doing?!" the kids screamed as perfectly good Gatorade spun down the drain. "I'm getting my race on, boys," I growled, only half-joking. "I got some high-tech slippery socks on my feet here, and I'm gonna put on those bright orange shoes over there. I'm gonna pin a number to my chest and snug down my cap and start acting strange, y'all." They stared back at me. Willem asked if I'd ever run 13 miles before. I took a shot of the watered-down drink and bit into a banana and wiped my mouth across my arm. "No, I haven't," I said."

http://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/running-my-first-half-marathon?page=2

likitisplit

This one is great. It's a six point list on how to go from a newbie to an experienced runner. My favorite is point #3:

*Quit. They say new runners often quit, and that's fine as long as you quit often. In the first year of running, I quit loads of times. You can quit running every day if you want to. You should, actually. Do it right after the run when you're still tired and sweaty and disgusted—TSD, let's call it. Tell anyone who will listen how TSD running makes you, and how you're quitting. Rip off your shirt and throw it into the hamper and say something like, "This bites, I'm quitting!" Throw a little tantrum, break something, have some fun. Then do it again tomorrow.

http://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/always-stay-a-beginner-runner-at-heart

KathleenKP

must. go. read.