one lap around the clock for the big hand!  (translation: I completed a 5 mile run today in 1 hour!)

I was dreading this run all day.  My shoulder felt crampy and I was starting to talk myself into that being an acceptable reason NOT to run. Yeah, I know.  Lame.

I went to church.  Went to my parents.  Went to the Lake.  Hung out with the K-side for a while.  Went back to my parent’s to drop off some corn.  Went to the gym parking lot.  Sat there for a while and thought about it.

A CBS radio station in our area plays 60 Minutes live on the radio, simulcast with the TV version.

Just a few more minutes.

Realizing how ridiculous it was to sit there in the car, in the parking lot, I finally decided to get out and go into the gym.

The first mile was sort of tough.  The realization that I would have to repeat that experience 4 more times was daunting.

The second mile was full of temptation to quit.  “Emily, 2 miles is respectable.  2 miles is enough.”

The third mile was a little bit more hopeful.  Eh, who am I kidding?  I had a few moments of “holy cow, there is no way I’m going to make it.”  But I also had a few moments of “wow, I’m really running and I haven’t fallen off of the treadmill yet!”

At mile four I realized something embarassing and horrifying: my braid was sweating.  Ew. Gross, gross, gross.

I hoped, with all of my heart, that no one was behind me, watching sweat drip off of the end of my braid.

No such luck.

Oh, and how did I realize it was dripping?  It dripped on my leg.  Yeah – I’m nasty.

And mile 5.  Mile 5 was full of negotiation.  I made deals with myself.  Deals about ice cream, primarily.

Is there some sort of parallel to life in that run?   Maybe.  If heaven is ice cream, then I think the parallel works out.

But man, if heaven is NOT ice cream, I’m going to be annoyed.