"Who are you?"

5:30AM.
Lying in bed.
Late night. Opening night of summer show. Big laughs. Great fun.
Five hours of sleep,give or take.

No kids at home. No husband at home. Just me and my (visiting) mom. No reason to really get up and out the door for that run I had planned. I haven't even signed up for that marathon yet. There's nothing saying I have to run it. No one NEEDS me to run it. I certainly don't NEED me to run it. I could sleep more. My bones are begging for sleep. My muscles are still firmly velcro'd to the bed.

But, of course, have to pee. Too much water - well, probably the right amount - back stage last night.

Shuffle to the toilet. I'm up anyway. Should just get dressed and go. Five miles to Wolfeboro and then 8 up to camp for breakfast. Thirteen on hills will be good for marathon training today.

Where am I going? Back to bed. Oh, bones and muscles, you are too strong for my brain.

Lying in bed.

"Who are you?"
"I'm a runner."
"What do you do?"
"I run."

Who are you?
I'm a runner.
What do you do?
I run.

Repeat 198 more times. Give or take.

6:15AM.

Up.
Dressing.
Ignoring traces of stage make up and gray hair spray from last night.
Extra shirt - Cool and comfy this morning.

iPod Shuffle starts off with "A Lovely Night" from Cinderella. Beautiful fate.

No time for Wolfeboro but plenty of time for 6.5 of dicey hills to camp.

I feel stronger and faster than I have in a long time. 8:23 for mile 1 & 2. Slightly slower on the monster hills but well-below marathon pace. Catch a glimpse of my leg muscles and have to admit, they represent well my time on the road.

I'll shoot for 18 miles at scary o'clock on Monday.....

(Seriously... check out that right quad!)

Who are you?
I'm a runner.
What do you do?
I run.