The Running Infection: Spreading and changing lives

Running changes lives. It seeps into every facet of our lives, our being, our personality.

What running grants upon us isn’t purely the physical…but let’s be honest, runners have ROCKING legs!
running changes lives
Legs concrete hard, calloused from all the miles we force upon them. The workouts that toughen our muscles as much as our minds.

A runner’s brain is hard-wired for work and dedication. Numbers as benchmarks, goals we hold steadfast too. A runner’s mind is a powerful weapon. We see obstacles not as impossible but merely as challenges.

It’s fun to watch new runners ‘transform’ into one of us, one of us ‘crazies’. Eventually there comes the day where they scratch their head and say, “I used to dread this stuff, but now I go crazy if I DON’T run!”

Running is infectious.

Confidence. That is the big one. Self-esteem comes from knowing you are STRONGER than most. Stronger than most non-runners even care to bother wondering if they could handle. We push our own limits.

Eventually runners see our own physicality different. We are not just ‘things’ to look at, our bodies, our legs, our arms, our glutes, our core is a vehicle for DOING.

This running infection, it percolates into every pore, oozes into our ‘real life’, makes us more resilient for all of life’s other tests.

Life will test us. But when you’re a runner you’ve been there, been tested plenty. You’re concrete hard and will PERSEVERE through anything.

Bring it.

1) What physical body part are you most proud of?
Legs.
2) What personality trait are you proud of that has grown stronger through running?
Determination.
3) Running seeps into all of life’s other areas, my friends make fun of me when….[finish the sentence]
I do my funny lunges and squats in front of the house after my run. 😛

Three Times a Runner

It’s safe to say I’m probably a runner more than just three times over, but tonight we’re keeping it at just three.
runner

I run because it keeps me sane. If I don’t I get withdrawals and turn into a horrible monster. Does that make me addicted?

run_for_food
I also run because, let’s face it, eating like a runner is SOOOO worth it.

runner_racing

Running will make you smile…but it will also make you grimace. It’s the sick joy us runners get in pushing ourselves. Pain brings rewards: PR’s. And they’re worth it.

We’re runners more than three times over, but see, there are just too many reasons to list why running makes us feel so stinking good.
——–
Find more cartoonage HERE.
Find nutrition tips for runners HERE.
Find racing tips HERE.
——-

1) What’s a caption you could fit to this picture? If you’re a runnerdude, then we’ll pretend there’s no ponytail. 😉
2) What food do you most often dream of during those long runs?
3) If you could describe the face you make heading towards the finish line, what would it be?

Running as a Believer is Better

Every runner should believe in magic. They’ve felt it. It’s there every time you have one of those runs. Everything syncs. Once you’ve felt THAT…you know magic exists.

So we keep chasing that feeling.

unicorn

——–
More MOTIVATION.
Tips for RACING.
More ART.
——–

1) Did you race this weekend?
2) Last time you had one of those days?
3) Last time you were super mentally tough and pushed through one of the opposite of those days?

Bring It: Runners live for a challenge

Runners are tough, we thrive under challenges.
tough runner
—–
Need more reasons why runners are tough? No shortage HERE, HERE, and HERE!

More cartoons HERE!
—-

1) What challenge are you working towards?
2) What is a memorable horrible weather run you have?
3) How do you make it through really though moments in a run?
Tell myself to make it 5 minutes more…just keep going.

The Real Reason We Run?

The truth is the running is awesome, duh. It keeps me sane, and probably you too. But the fact of the matter is…

cakeorgie

——-
No, I am not dead…lol…I apologize for my sudden plummet into blog oblivion the last few weeks. I wound up with some broken arm bones that limited my typing to the hunt/peck method which left me typing at about 2 words per minute. Needless to say I had to be stringent with where I could put my time and wordage…into the paying gigs, I’m sorry, Blog. But I’m doing better and will try to not to leave you with so much [radio silence??]!

Check out some more awesome cartoons HERE!

I also have an article over at Run Blog Run: “How Young is Too Young?”
——-

1) Chocolate of Vanilla?
Chocolate trumps weenie vanilla any day.

2) Have you been glued to USA Track Champs coverage?
You should be.

3) Do you think there is an age that is ‘too young’ to run?
Too many factors to give a blanket age…hence why you should read my article. 😉
best running shirts

Runner’s Strip: The ‘J’ Word

I’m a runner. You can call me every insult in the book and I really won’t care. I will probably even laugh. But the second you call me a JOGGER…all bets are off.
jogger is a bad word
———
Make your running even FASTER…posts HERE, HERE, and HERE.

More Runner’s Strip comics and cartoons HERE.
———

1) What’s something that non-runners say or ask you that may annoy you?

2) Do you use runner and jogger interchangeably or do you definitely keep the adjectives in line?

3) How do you usually react to insults?
Usually I do end up laughing.
best running shirts

Approach the Pre-Run Runner At Your Own Risk

My ability to function as an individual relies quite heavily on my running. Perhaps more correctly my ability to function as a sane and friendly person does.
grumpy runner
I like to run first thing, I try to not go out into normal society until after my run…more out of a courtesy. I’m pretty sure I’m grouchier. It’s because something IS wrong with me, there’s a bit missing. It’s my ‘fix’ of miles and endorphins.

So please, for the sake of yourself and everyone else, don’t speak to me until after my run. I promise that I AM a kind, engaging, and humorous person. The pre-run version of myself…we’ll just think of that as my ugly, evil, non-running twin.

——
More cartoons HERE!
—–

1) When do you like to get your run in?

2) Do you definitely feel like you’re a different person pre and post run?

best running shirts

Runner’s Strip: Racing Fart

There is an art to simultaneously running and farting. To be properly mastered, it takes an expert combination of selective muscle control and timing with your stride.
racing fart
That said, there are few things more gratifying than running and letting go of that abominable bubble of gas in your intestines. The joy of letting one rip is only exponentially rewarding when you’ve been carrying along a potential GI disaster for miles, painfully holding back, but then realize that rather than a number 2 on your hands, the mounting, monster pain-ball was only…GAS!! Pit stop averted.

Go along and keep perfecting your running farts, Runners. Though, what separates the Lukes from the Yodas among is are the ones who can relax/contract/time during races and hard workouts without losing so much of a millisecond off their pace.
——
GI issues for runners addressed HERE and HERE.

More Runner’s Strip and cartons HERE.
——

1) Worst GI nightmare run?

2) Name a time when you thought it was going to be a nightmare number 2 episode while running but then realized it was just a big ball of gas…you can’t tell me the amount of relief you feel is nearly euphoric.

3) Do you have any shame letting a painful gas ball go while running? Do you hold back during certain times or in certain company?
best running shirts

Runner’s Strip: Form

Please, Runners, if for no other reason than the sake of vanity do what you can to improve your form. 😉
running with a hunchback
Joking aside, running with proper form will make you more efficient…running more efficient will make you faster. And hey, you won’t look like this poor sap running either…PERK!
——-
Posts all about form and how to improve yours HERE, HERE, and HERE.

More running cartoons HERE!
——-

1) What’s the craziest looking runner with poor form you’ve seen before? It’s okay if you were looking in the mirror. 😉

2) How has your form improved? What form related work did you do or are you doing?

3) Finish this sentence: I may have poor form but at least I don’t look like…

4) Anyone racing this weekend?
best running shirts

Running Shoes With the Guilt Built-In

You know the kind of feeling where your running shoes are staring up at you, two gaping black holes where your feet SHOULD be.
runner shoe guilt
In case you ever need that extra shove out the door I introduce to you the latest line in running shoes. Other quotes include:

* Love me.
* Erase me.
* I see you.
* That pint will taste better earned.
* You can’t see any writing on a winner’s shoes.

Whatever your shoes are saying to you, don’t let them mock you. Shut them up. Put your feet in them and get running. 😉
——-
MOTIVATION posts.
——-
1) What should be another quote/quip to add to our line or running shoes with sass?

2) What’s something you tell yourself if you’re lacking in the motivation department?
Remind myself that my own running guilt is NOT worth putting up with if I weenie out.

3) If we were to offer a line of spikes with writing on the soles, what should they read?
I think if we were to let people sharpie in some PR goals…just be ready to scratch out and re-sharpie. 🙂
best running shirts