You Know You're Crazy, I mean, a Runner, when...

So, I'm back.  After a loooong hiatus, of both running and writing, I am back.  Why?  Because I just can't stay away.  From either.

Now, I know a lot of people out there hate running.  It's hot.  Boring.  Time consuming.  Sweaty.  Mindless.  Mundane.  Something to avoid at all costs.  

But I have a secret.  A shameful secret.  One that will shock many of you, cause others to roll their eyes, and just plain annoy some.

I LOVE RUNNING!

I'm talking full blown, no-holds-barred, unashamed, heart-body-and-soul, with every fiber of my being LOVE running.  Imagine hearing elementary school yard sing-song kids saying, "If you love running so much, why don't you marry it???"  Let me tell you, if could marry running, I WOULD!  Why?  Because nothing shy of my testimony of my Savior Jesus Christ brings me the level of inner peace, serenity, mental clarity, emotional stability and just pure happiness as running does.

So, my family, friends, and former roommates can all attest to the fact that I am in no way, shape, or form, a morning person.  I hate waking up--don't even think about trying to talk to me until I've brushed my teeth and been awake for at least an hour.  Yet, lately I have found myself waking up at the unearthly hour of 4:50 am with a SMILE on my face.  

Literally.  

I.  Wake.  Up.  Smiling!  

Who does that?  I mean, besides mentally unstable people, or folks who live in specials institutions where the walls are padded and they have special jackets that zip up in the back.

I do.  Why?  Because I'm so excited to go running.  Because my body can't wait to be physically pushed and my mind can't wait for time to process my thoughts, feelings and ideas.  I crave it.  I wake up 10 minutes before my alarm is set to go off.  My body absolutely cannot wait to get moving.  

It's INSANE, I know!

But instead of trying to fight it, to roll over and try and go back to sleep, to force the feeling away, to lose myself in other things, I have decided to EMBRACE MY CRAZY and own it.  

I am a RUNNER.

I don't run fast.  I walk and run, and sometimes my "runs" consists of far more walking than running.  I don't run every single day, every single week, or even every single month.  I've gone through periods of running and periods of not running.  But, though it may take days, weeks or even months, I always come back to RUNNING.  Why?

Because I am crazy a RUNNER.   

  

And that's just how I roll.