Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Talk Thursday: The Psychology of Running...

...Demented if you ask me, which you didn’t but there you have it all the same.

Sprint. I ask, "Where is the snake?"

Jog. Have you seen what that does to the gravitational pull of the breast? No, thanks.

Run. By choice? You’re insane.

Marathon. Masochism.

I don’t run, by now you’ve probably figured that out. There was a time once when wanted to run, like the wind, on the beach, fleet of foot. I envied those whom I saw flying across the hard pack sand. I tried it once and ran the mile from the North Jetty to Driftwood Shores and then walked back. It was exhilarating the endorphins must have kicked in fairly fast, because I don’t even remember being winded.

The next morning I wasn’t too sore so I tried to do it again. Had this been in the day of cellphones I might have tried calling 911 it was that terrifying and debilitating. I couldn’t breathe, my leg muscles contorted in agonizing spasms, and I may even have lost consciousness once or twice and that was in the parking lot. On the beach I couldn’t seem to find a rhythm, two left feet plodded - thunk thunk th-thump in the hard pack, or maybe that was my heart pounding in my chest. Whatever. The sea lions heartily laughed in the surf. Sand dabs move faster.

The time has long since past where I’ve acknowledged that once I’m finished with a hobby (sport) – it is for life. I thrived on back packing and hiking all through Girl Scouts. I was the first in our family to water ski. Rollerskating? Remind me to tell you my Roller Derby story sometime. Surfing was a budding passion in high school until we moved to Oregon. I once dreamt of being a dancer and took classes for years. I pumped iron like a religious maniac, six days a week, two hours a day, for several years. I survived parasailing for a whole marriage. Running lasted a whole day and fifty yards. Where’s the psychology in that?

Sith,
Cele

7 comments:

JulieAnn said...

Parasailing? Damn. I'm impressed.

Running on the beach? Silly Rabbit...running's for Sids. :)

JulieAnn said...

Oh and I played.

Anonymous said...

**noogies to JulieAnn**

I have yet to post.

Cele - you had me laughing hard. I snorted. :) It was most impressive.

You commentary about gravity had me rolling. Your "running lasted a whole day and fifty yards" - priceless!

Anonymous said...

You and JA motivated me - posted :)

Anonymous said...

I applaud your willingness to try new things!

Steven said...

I never was a good runner. I was always amazed by the long-distance runners when I would be exhausted by the time I passed the first city block. Very daring of you to try parasailing...one thing I would never do.

Cele said...

JA - I use to crew parasail every weekend, oh so much fun unless your brother in law is at the helm of the boat - or you are parasailing over hard pack sand. "Running is for Sids" hysterical.

Sid(s) - I live to amuse.

Jenn - I am willing to try most things. I want to try reverse bungee jumping, I'm not sure about skydiving... aka jungee jumping without the bungee.

Steve - Parasailing is a breeze as long as you don't fear heights. I recommend it to anyone. Awesome experience. nOn the other hand, running = insanity.