Why I run. No really, why do I run?

I've been running for 6 yearsish, give or take a pregnancy or two.  I love it and can't ever imagine doing anything else.  Then I hate it and wonder why any fool would ever put themselves through torture like it willingly.  Usually I feel the above and more during every run. There are a few benefits that I've discovered along the way.  Here they are in a completely random order, because after all you shouldn't expect anything less than random around here.

• awesome looking calves
• better math skills:  when you're driving somewhere you automatically calculate how long it would take you to run and what route you would take if you were running
• Saturday doesn't start until you've had your long run, anywhere from 20 miles to 1
• you can start collecting race shirts
• when meeting a new person and discovering they are also a runner, you automatically feel an unbreakable bond especially when you start talking wounds
• all of a sudden the people at the aid stations holding out sticks covered in Vaseline become your new best friends, raise your hand if you know what I mean
• your kids think you won the race because you got a medal, they don't realize they give those to every fool who limps across the finish line
• you get to know your body better, what works and what doesn't
• it's just you and the road/ treadmill/ field/ dirt path
• the injuries and the cool stories like the one about the day I met the troll that lives under the road (there was blood involved)

I love running, I really think I do.

Kristen