Actual Conversation I Had With Myself This Morning While Running

Well, how far are we going to go today?

I thought we decided on the four mile loop.

Yeah, but I could also do the five mile loop.

What time is it? You don't want to get back to the house too late because you still have to get both of your meals ready for today. Remember, you're going straight to the opera after work and you need to eat dinner.

So? I can be a little late, since I'm staying later at work and all.

OK, forget that. What about that groin pain that's been bothering you?

It's manageable.

Consider this, then. You aren't running tomorrow because it's rest day plus you have to be at work at 7:00. It would be better to do the five mile loop today for the extra miles.

Plus I should do the five miles as penance for that beer I had at 10:00 last night.

There you go. Penance. Drinking beer at 10:00 pm, what were you thinking?

I wasn't, I guess...

Decision time. The end of the cemetery drive is coming up. Which will it be? Straight for four miles, turn right for five. It's coming up. No time to dawdle.

OK, shut up already. Status check. Legs: good. Breathing: good. Overall feeling of badassery for running at least four miles at dawn: very good. Potential for even more badassery for running five miles before work: even better. Let's do it. Five miles it is.

Five miles it is. Turn right, please.

Final stats: 5.11 miles, 45:27, 8:53/mile.