Tough Or Stupid?

FOR RUNNERS TAUGHT TO EMBRACE PAIN, THE LINE OFTEN BLURS.

- Mark Remy

POP QUIZ: You’ve agreed to lead a Sunday-morning group run for a buddy, even though you’ve been sick for a week with, erm, ‘GI distress’. You wake up feeling no better, sit on the toilet, and after finishing, stand up to see blood. Hmm.

Do you: (A) text your mate, explain the situation, and apologise for having to bail; (B) drive to the group run, explain the situation, and apologise for not being able to join them; or (C) drink a glass of water, drive to the group run, and do 10km?

This really happened to me recently, and I chose (C). What was I thinking? (Was I thinking?) Did I decide to run because I was in denial? Or because I didn’t want to let my friend down? And what was up with the glass of water?

Looking back, I think my decision to run can be explained by a single word: ‘tough’. As in, I’m a runner. I’m tough. So tough, I’ll go for a run moments after [censored] blood.