The best thing about being a runner is... (Read 792 times)

...having to explain your resting heart rate to medical personnel. ...catching up to that mid-60ish old man at mile 9.5 of a ten miler. You know, that guy who's almost old enough to be your grandpa who passed you so effortlessly at mile 3 with his "US Coast Guard Marathon Team" shirt. I mean, for god's sake, he runs/ran marathons competitively for a branch of the military. But dammit, I caught up with him. Sure, that only proves that he's treating this race as a very slow training run, but I still have enough left to sprint to the finish ahead of him. And yes, I realize the only reason I "won" was because I'm sure he had no idea that we were racing, but it felt good dammit. ...getting to hear "Run Forrest, run!" shouted at you from people in cars. Sure, the movie's 14 years old, but that line will always remain such a clever remark. ...never needing to purchase T-shirts, what with all the free ones you get from races.

...The quantity of food you get to eat on long run days ...Being the only one on the kickball (or other sport) field who isn't tired after a game

...The quantity of food you get to eat on long run days

Agreed!

Eating Carbs Your friends being astounded by the fact that you did an easy 6 miles.

x2!!! I love my carbs and my friends are astounded that I can run 6 to 8 miles..."In a row? All at once or is that for the week?" Hee hee, I also play hockey and this 40-yr-old can skate with kids half his age and not be breathing as heavy as they are!

...not going through withdrawal symptoms when I'm running.

Having a killer resting HR in the morning and even in the afternoon when I'm sitting down. I'm much healthier now than I was 4 years ago even though I had already lost a lot of weight by then. My blood pressure has dropped from 140's/80's to the last time it was checked at the Dr office it was 110/70!!!! I feel good about myself Continually improving my pace and my enjoyment of running. Feeliing the pride that I have for my husband who recently took up the sport Going to a race is a good excuse to travel and make up for all those years I didn't travel and whish I did. I like being able to eat a little more than normal and still be losing weight. buying shoes and clothes........also a con for the pocketbook......i've spent way too much money on that this month. The feeling you get when you cross the finish line of just about any race.

...having to explain your resting heart rate to medical personnel.

That's right! Everytime I'm at the doctor's office, the nurse tries to check my pulse again, because she knows it just has to be wrong!

Gotta agree with the very first post! I wound up in the emergency room not long ago and the nurse asked if I was an ATHLETE! She said my resting heart rate was really low, and this was in the emergency room! They also kept asking me if my blood pressure was normal for me since it is so low!