Hell Has Just Experienced its First Frost

Something I can't explain is happening to me. I think it's been a gradual process, and one that is ultimately good, but makes me stop in my tracks and wonder out loud..."What the FUCK?".

I've mentioned before that although I really don't like to run, I've become a part time runner. I will run 5 miles a day 3-5 times per week and 2-4miles on the other days. I bought new running clothes, new sneakers, a new ipod, and even shelled out the 30 bucks for the Nike ipod thingamajig that goes in my sneaker and attaches to my ipod so I can track my workouts. For all you skeptics out there...it DOES keep me motivated.

After I finished my 5 mile run this morning, I found myself at the store purchasing Runners World Magazine. I am far from a professional runner, but am slowly turning into an avid one. So thumbing through the pages I got to thinking that maybe I should get a bike. Let me clarify...a bicycle. I am waging an inner battle right now as to the prudency of such a purchase.

Back in a day when I scoured a different land and had a much different shape (hey, round is a shape) I had decided to buy a bicycle. I worked about 5 miles from my home and the route I traveled every day to get there seemed pretty flat. I bought a bike, gathered some gear, and the next morning set out 30 minutes early for work. I pedaled about a quarter mile from the house, turned around, and went and got the car. I can't remember what the hell happened to that bike...

The bicycle has nothing to do with Hell, however. Over the last year or so I've had some friends who have expressed interest in running and training for marathons and crap. These girls deserve a lot of credit and respect as they have logged many miles and many road races. I have been invited to run a few of these races and mocked them the girls as well as the races. Of course, at that time I could barely run "out to the car" without dyin. Tonight, however, I think I was just persuaded to run my very first adult road race. Granted, it is only a 5k, but I agreed to this race without putting up very much of a fight at all. 5k is only 3.1 miles. Did you see that? ONLY 3.1 miles. As if now I laugh in the face of a mere 3 miles.

What the hell is this healthy kind of kick that's suddenly taken over my life? I don't smoke anymore, I run all the time, I cut back on drinking, I don't eat pretty much ANY junk food, when will this madness end? I'm kinda hoping never cuz I'm starting to feel pretty good.