Oh,the Places You’ll Go: A Runner’s Thought Process

Sometimes when I am running I feel a little bit like Dug, the dog from the Disney movie Up. (If you don’t get that reference – SQUIRREL – immediately go find that movie and watch it. Not only is it a great movie, my family and I may yell out SQUIRREL at the oddest times.)

What I mean by that is this – my thought process is all over the place. I’m not sure there is anything that I haven’t thought about on a run. So today, I thought I would give you a peek into my mind, scary as that may be.

• I don’t want to get up and run. I have to get up and run. But I am tired. But you will feel better when you do.
• Oh, the weather is so (nice, crappy, cold, hot windy) today, and I am up and running to start off the day.
• Wow, am I starting too fast?
• This feels so good. I love running!
• My legs feel like lead? Why am I doing this?
• I should keep a list of all the different kinds of roadkill that I have seen on runs. Squirrels, raccoons, possums, snakes, mice, birds, turkeys, cats, skunks.
• Oh, I hope that isn’t a skunk over there.
• Good, it is just a couple of birds.
• How is my form? Make sure you are hitting mid-foot. Lean a little forward. Good.
• I should pray, that would pass the time. (Start praying – two minutes later – SQUIRREL!)
• Wow, I am really going at a good pace. (Check watch and see I am going slower than normal).
• I wonder what these people are doing up so early and driving around town. They are probably wondering why I am running this early.
• What is my schedule today? Oh, yeah. How am I going to make that work?
• Work. What is my plan for work today?
• I hate this hill. No, I love this hill. This hill is my friend and we will make it to the top together.
• I love being able to run with my friends. Oh, I need to tell them __________.
• Is that lightning?
• I need to talk to so-and-so about such-and-such. (Then completely plan out said conversation in my head.)
• Only ___________ to go.
• There was that article in Runner’s World last month about breathing. I should try that. (I try that).
• Random song pops in my head – I run to that beat.
• Is my leg hurting or am I just imagining things.
• Don’t look at your watch. You are just on a nice leisurely run. Don’t look at your watch. Don’t do it. Don’t!
• I want to stop and walk. Ok. You can walk when you get to that corner. (Get to that corner). Eh, you can keep running, don’t stop.
• What should I say about this run when I put it on DailyMile later? (Then plan out clever wording that I promptly forget.)
• That sunrise is beautiful! Thank you, Lord!
• Oh my gosh! I am sweating like a pig!
• This Spi-belt is supposed to not bounce, why is it bouncing? (Move Spi-belt to a different location on my hips.)
• This shirt and these shorts don’t work together, the shirt keeps sliding up. I have to remember not to wear this together again.
• What the heck is that driver thinking? I’m wearing a headlight and flashing armband, surely they can see me!
• I can’t hear my feet hitting the ground. Good job, you are running lightly.
• Man I am breathing hard, is it the weather? Am I running too fast? Am I going to have an asthma attack? (Look at watch.) Oh, that’s my pace, no wonder I’m breathing hard.
• I wonder if the girls turned at this corner. This is where we usually turn, but I don’t see them.
• My leg is hurting, should I stop or push through. Push through.
• This town really needs some running paths. And lights. Definitely more streetlights. I could help the city plan that out. (And proceed to make a plan in my mind.)
• I wonder how many miles I have run in these shoes. I will have to remember to check that later. (Again, I promptly forget to do that.)
• Almost there, just _______ to go. Why don’t you push it a little for this last _______.
• Yay! I did it! I finished the run!. Wow, that felt good (or terrible). So glad that is done and I can say I got my run in today.

See what I mean? And that’s just a smattering of the types of things I am thinking on my runs. Sometimes my thoughts are productive – I problem-solve, plan, pray – and sometimes they are completely random and pointless.

But I guess the important thing is that I am running. And I’ll take that, even if my thoughts cover more ground than my run does.

Does your mind work like this or is it just me?