WEEK 10: It's Good to Pretend

Miles This Week: 25 (Sunday's long run: 14 miles)
Miles To Date: 134.5


It's helpful, at the beginning, to pretend you're just going out for a little jog, or for a run of some distance you have already achieved.

It's helpful to continue pretending this throughout the run, especially when you are tired.

When you are too tired to pretend anymore, it's helpful to admire the flowers, or to notice the spectacular view of the Golden Gate bridge, or to eavesdrop on your companions' conversations about their kid's upcoming birthday party or their recent trip to Boston or the price of gas.

When you are finally too tired to even think, it's helpful then to just plod forward until the next one-minute walk break.

And two hours later, at the end, you don't have to pretend any longer, or think, because then it really is just two more miles, one more mile, three-quarters of a mile, half a mile - and then you SEE THE END AHEAD, the table laden with bananas, apples, oranges, popcorn, bagels, and PB&J which you normally wouldn't care for but which, after 14 miles, is absolutely THE MOST DELICIOUS and satisfying thing you've ever put in your mouth.

And then you've done it.

And then it's good to take three ibuprofen and go about your day and pretend you haven't done it, because otherwise you'll spend the rest of the day in bed.

Moaning.

And not in a good way.