Uphill both ways...I swear

I had this crazy idea, late one night, probably coming off a runners high (legal and free, FYI), that I should run a 1/2 in every state. Now keep in mind that at the time, I had, and still have, only run 2 half's in two states, though I have signed up for five more with at least two more left to be paid for that will add two more states, possibly four. It must not have been a day when I had a long run. During the week when runs are only 4-6 miles its seems like a wonderful achievable goal. Saturday or Sunday, after 10-15 in 90/90 heat, not so much. Then there is the money. At least 65-100 for race fees plus travel, for each race. How the heck do all those other people do it? I will wear Reebok, Nike, even Sketchers if they will pay my expenses. Heck, I will even wear Hello Kitty! Then there is the training. The voice in my head is pretty insistent that I get my butt out of bed and the butt crack o drawn or zero dark thirty when I have to meet someone somewhere, and into running shoes to go be bedazzled with sweaty humidity. All I can think 5 miles into it, with my visor dripping sweat, is that the devilish voice must have beat the sane one into mute submission.

Now, summer training sucks. Anyone who runs regularly knows that, except for the crazy few who have both voices beat in submission and actually like hot sweaty, furnace like conditions to run in. BUT there is a down hill to the up hill. Fall and winter races, that you just spent all summer training for are the chance to enjoy the efforts because, hello, beer at the end! and bling, and good BRF's to race with. So its not really up bill both ways, though it seems like it on a morning like today. Better yet, summer is almost over and the down hill is literally days away.

This fall its the Rock N Roll Virginia Beach, Diva Washington DC (really in VA), Crawling Crab in Virginia, Outer Banks Half in North Carolina, Santa Hustle in Tennessee, Disani Half in Myrtle Beach, maybe the Richmond, Virginia half, and if I can swing it, something in Maryland and maybe Delaware. Oh, and the Race for the Dream and Flying Pirate because they were the first two I ever did and they were beautiful. I will then again be raceless until summer is over. The best part is that for the most part I can sucker my BRF into almost all of that craziness. (BRF is best running friend for those not in the know.) And it does sound crazy when I write it down. Yet, I am excited too. I don't want to keep training,

but I can't wait to run each and every one of those races.