Yup! Great post.

I'm not a long distance runner but I think anyone that works out can relate to the sentiments. I push myself hard because I can. I challenge myself because I can. The first time I ran 5 miles without stopping, that feeling, is a source of pride to this day. This former 'fattie's' "Blerch" is ever present in my mind even though she is no threat anymore: I will remain forever amazed that I conquered her.

She will *never* catch up with me again. I play the game too well now.

I was never terribly large...my heaviest is only about 30 pounds more than I am now (I'm a tick under 160 now, I've been running a LOT) regardless of how much I shovel in, but I have a terribly weak spot for sitting on the couch doing nothing. If I had a million dollars, that's all I'd want to do. It's terrible and awful and it's what I run from...even though it sometimes catches up with me.

And now I'm off to Taco Bell