In my dreams, I'm a Kenyan

You know you're a runner if.... pedicures never last, if you have granola at the bottom of your gym bag, if you constantly check your heart rate, if you buy advil in bulk, if your lips are constantly chapped, if you have to buy new shoes every 6 months, or if you get up early on a Saturday morning to voluntarily pay to run with a bunch of other crazies with numbers pinned to their chest. Runners are a different breed of persona.... I discovered this on my first 10k I ever did back in 2009. There is a level of seriousness mixed with silliness that is hard to describe. Almost every road race has either an iconic or a cutesy name.... The Cowtown and The White Rock and The Boston...all are popular races with a level of prestige to them. Then there's the Snowman Shuffle, the Cupid's Couple Run, the Shamrock Shuffle, The Hot Chocolate Run...... and each of them has a t-shirt reflecting the title. Now that I've become a runner and have accumulated the t-shirts and metals...... I've also accumulated the gear. Runners are gear snobs... and it's because we subscribe to Runner's World emails and fitness magazines... and they make the stuff look so cool. I've since gotten assorted hats that are a breathe-able material, pants and shorts that have a pocket for your keys... over 5 different type of head phones.... a heart rate monitor, ipod holder, stop watch, and regular watch....assorted jackets and vests for proper layering in the cold...a toboggan with a hole for your ponytail (genius!!!) I'm still on the look out for the perfect chap stick if any runners know of any! Getting ready to run, sometimes looks like I'm going to war- by the time I strap everything on, grab a gallon of water and assorted granola bars just in case. Runners are called crazy most of the time- and it's partially true- some are crazier than others whether it's the gear-snob with the water bottles strapped to their chest- or the Kenyan that wears shorts when the windchill factor is 2.... we all have the same goals- to reach the finish line.

A company called One More Mile has a series of tshirts, key chains and bags with awesome runner sayings..... here's a few of my favorites:

In my dreams, I'm a Kenyan

Will run for ice-cream.

Running is cheaper than therapy.

You think I run funny? Wait 'til you see me walk tomorrow.