Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Sure Sign of Obsession (Or Maybe Mental Illness?)

Oh my God, people. I need help. SRSLY, as the kids say. Or would that be text? Anyway.

I had a running dream this morning. It was...highly entertaining? curiously detailed? frustration-provoking?

I decided I would run a marathon AS PRACTICE FOR THE DETROIT MARATHON. My "warmup" marathon was called "The Motor City Marathon" (which, incidentally, was the ancestor of the current Detroit Marathon). It started inside a parking garage. The elite runners started first. I was standing in the next starting wave and I realized I was wearing flip-flops. "OH MY GOD!" I screamed. "I FORGOT TO PUT ON MY RUNNING SHOES!" I flip-flopped as fast as I could back to the gear area and jammed my shoes on my feet and made it back just in time. And we're off! OK, I thought, I'm just going to cruise along at around an 8:45/mile pace. Things are good. I'm settling into my groove. And then...things got a little...weird. First of all, the race route went into some kind of...mall?...or something, and to get inside you had to pay a fee and go through a turnstile like the ones in NYC subway stations, except you couldn't just get a MetroCard, no, you had to swipe your plastic and sign a receipt and the person punching buttons was so unhelpful, and the system was down (aren't they always) and I was looking at my Garmin and muttering, "Come on, come on, come ON, this is totally runing my time!" since the race was chip-timed and every second's delay was COSTING ME. FINALLY I was able to scribble my name on the credit card slip and passed through the gate.

The weirdness continued as the race route went through several buildings, including college clasrooms (in session!), a restaurant (sushi...or maybe Mongolian?) and what looked like the street my grandparents lived on in my hometown in California. The route was marked on the ground in pink chalk which was barely visible and I was certain I was going to get lost. At some point I remember looking at Garmy and seeing I had gone 11 miles. Only 15 more to go!

After that things get a little hazy and I really can't remember anything else. However, the best detail of all was that my bib was green, which is the bib color used for Detroit to indicate the wearer is a first-time marathoner. In my dream I was worried because if I ran my "practice" marathon, would that mean I couldn't wear the green bib for the "real" marathon? I'm looking forward to proudly wearing that green bib come race day and if I can't...well...*cry*.

I can't even remember to bring to work the vase of flowers I cut out at the farm yesterday but my subconscious is "with it" enough to make sure my race bib is green in the silliest running dream ever.

10 comments:

Spike said...

That was just a strange dream, you're not obsessing at all. But, if you have another one in the next week, you may want to check yourself in.

Razz said...

I'd lay off of the happy juice and/or other substances before bedtime.

Zoomy said...

Ha...11 more days until my race. How is it I have avoided dreams like this?

(perhaps I just jinxed myself...)

tfh said...

That's a great dream and I think it's good marathon preparation. Mentally, you've just run your practice marathon and a lot of things went wrong and then even if things got hazy (as I assume they do during non-dream marathons as well) you certainly still finished, biding well for your first non-dream marathon.

Unknown said...

Dreams are so weird!!! Things happen that you're just like, "What?!!!"

Frayed Laces said...

Wow that is certainly bizarre! I've had similar dreams; I think it is normal as you get closer to your marathon. Don't worry, you're gonna rock it!

BeachRunner said...

As I abruptly de-lurk (I am a fellow Frayed Laces blog reader) I must confess I love your crazy cool dream.

Here is my worthless dream analysis: 1. You have become a serious runner and are prepared well for your marathon. 2. You are stressed out but haven't lost your mellow, flip floppy sensibility. 3. Your life is filled with frustrating obstacles that can be navigated with pink chalk and overcome by having good credit.

You have a great blog. And I warned you my analysis was worthless.

Steve Stenzel said...

I HATE those dreams! We can't escape them!!

Anonymous said...

I have had similar dreams! Races through restaurants, back and forth on a bus, etc. Just anxiety working its way around our brains I think.

Here a few of mine if you want to feel better about your own dream:

http://princessrunner.com/2007/11/02/just-like-the-dream-where-i-didnt-study/

http://princessrunner.com/2008/03/04/and-the-anxiety-has-begun/

http://simbasmom.vox.com/library/post/running-on-wheels.html

Spike said...

Great mile splits. Even since you ran 18 miles as a warm up to a sub 7 mile, I knew you were fast. Getting close to taper time.