Until I Run New York...

alright folks, sunday i'll be in cincinnati attempting to run my second half marathon. yeah, i know it's not a marathon... yet, but its still 13.1 miles. a little over 21km. a bloody long run, whether you are metric or not. and this morning as i laboured through my 5km run, i had ample time to ruminate over the still unanswered question. why the heck am i doing this i want to run a marathon thing? possible answers:

1. i am teaching my knees a lesson. they thought they were clever giving out on me during my basketball days, but i'll show them clever!
2. i believe that the running will strengthen my knees. the old adage is what doesn't kill you makes you stronger so... yeah, they'll die or get stronger as i pound them against pavement, tarmac or beaten dirt path.
3. i love trying to figure out what i have forgotten to do when 3 long blocks away from my house - sunscreen? asthma inhaler? hydrocortisone for the hives?
4. i dream of being that person that overtakes me just when i think i have hit a pretty good pace. well usually i dream of tripping up that person but i am sure i want to be him/her underneath it all.
5. i want to find out if the horror stories are true - will i really lose a toenail or two during a particularly long run? will my feet bleed from the friction?
6. is there such a thing as a runner's high and if i am on it will i not feel the pain of bleeding or lost extremities?
7. this is like therapy - after the run all tension, anger and stress will have melted from my body.
8. the medals make me feel like i am at the olympics.
9. what better way to see new cities than limping and dehydrated?
10. i live for the day where they take a post race photo that i can actually share proudly with the world

i figured it was easier to spend my time psyching myself up for the long trek up the stairs in my building. flying pig.... here i come!