The Argument

This morning I was lying in bed knowing that I didn't have to go to work and arguing with myself about going for a run. That's never the best time to have an argument, because the bed usually wins.

Through the blinds I could see it was cloudy. I thought to myself it's pretty rare that I go for a morning run, and certainly rare to go for any run at this time of year when it's cool outside. No, that didn't animate me.

I ran 20 miles last week, and I know I'm not going to run Saturday. So if I don't run today that leaves me with only 6 miles for the week, which is coming down too much off my weekly target. I'll lose the ground I've gained over the last month or so. Nope. The sheets were apparently made of glue, because I couldn't loose myself from them.

I need the exercise. Too much food lately and starting to feel it around the middle. I pulled the covers up over my chin.

It's swimsuit season. I don't care.

I have a few extra hours before I leave on a float trip. If I don't run then I'll just putter around and do nothing during that time. Is that a bad thing? I could sleep a little longer.

None of these arguments got me out of bed. In the end, I'm not sure what finally did cause me to rise and throw on my running shorts. Maybe it was the weight of all the pathetic arguments finally pushing me off the nice, comfortable mattress because there wasn't enough room for both them and me.

I talked The Wife into running with me and she did her usually two-miler and I hung on for a good 6 miles total. It was breezy out of the north so the run back was tough, but I made it all the way without having to walk. Amazing what a lower temperature will do.

About a mile from home a group of four young, shirtless guys passed me going the other direction. A few minutes later I heard talking behind me and realized they'd turned around and were passing me. I estimate they were going a couple of minutes faster per mile than I was, which means they were probably running a 5-minute pace. Haha. Really, though, as they blew by me with their young bodies and seeming invincibility, I thought to myself , hey, I'm wearing a Heart of America Marathon finisher's t-shirt, which I bet none of them owns. I dragged myself out of bed this morning after a tough debate concerning whether or not to run. And besides, I have at least 25 years on them. I hope they're still running when they're my age, but what matters to me even more is that I'm running now. And enjoying it, no matter who passes me.