I Know I Am A Runner

I yammer about being a runner.  About how I define being a runner.  About becoming a runner.  This week, I confirmed my identify as a runner yet again.  Not just by mileage or speed, but by my choices.   

Our family set out on our annual outing to the Iowa State Fair.  You gotta' love State Fairs.   And Iowa's Fair is legendary.  It among the things you should do before you die.  It is the only place you can get any type of food on a stick AND have it deep fried or dipped AND walk through a cattle barn or step in horse poop at the same time.   For seven hours, we enjoyed the sites and smells of the fair, eating our way through fresh baked cookies and hand squeezed lemonade.   

And even in the fun of the moments, my little runners' voice was always with me. "Want those cookies, that's 4 miles.  Want that corn dog, add another 3 miles.   Think you need that funnel cake, think you can squeeze in a marathon, like TODAY?!?"   "Smoothie?  Only if you want another long bike ride today."

And little fat fairy was happily chiming in with, "I will see you those 4 miles and raise you another 2 pounds."   (insert evil fairy laugh)   Fairy and I had a come-to-Jesus meeting last week and she agreed to take a few of those pounds back if I agreed to take the advice from all of you - scale back on the portions and keep running.  And, both of us lived up to the our 5 pound deal exchange.  But, "fair food" was not part of the negotiation.  I know if I strayed, she would use her evil powers to make me as big as the Fair's Super Bull (weighing in at 3,322 lbs!)

Because of my little TRI (that I haven't trained for) in the near future, my little runners' voice won the battle of wills during our fair visit. After a lovely cup of cookies for breakfast, I curbed my splurge and was a good girl the rest of the day.   And my good choices paid off.  At 7:35 pm that night, I did a 16 mile bike ride and a 3.1 mile run in the 88 degree heat.  I finished my run in 27 minutes - a new record for me!

I knew it before and during our fair visit, but at 8:58 p.m. that night, I confirmed my membership as a runner.  Being a runner is giving up some of those pure indulgences to get a better run.   Willingly.  And then realizing that the run was sweeter than anything you could have eaten.

Enjoy the State Fair in your neck of the woods!  And of course, enjoy your run!

Photos by me

Comments

[August]

YES! You go girl! I love it when I make it over such difficult hurdles!!! That's great that you did it. I think connections like the one you made (about the run being sweeter than the junk food)especially stick with us in our subconscious when we actually practice them.

Speaking of sticking with you, I love your guys articles. I was totally thinking of them during my 5am run today!

[Sandy]

Amen, Amy! Even though it's difficult to resist sinful treats when they're staring you in the face, it's so worth it for your run. Sounds like you enjoyed a great workout - good for you!

Great post!
~Sandy

[Maggie Mae]

Good job! Now, me, my philosopy is as a runner, I can gorge myself on those deep-fried sins and not feel guilty. For once in my life, I can!

However, wouldn't you know, now that I run, I'm not quite as enticed by them as I once was...

Isn't that always the case? Or sometimes, I guess...although I'm suddenly in the mood for a Twinkie...

[Nitmos]

Nice job battling the heat, evil fairies and fair food for a PR run!

[Rob]

Great job on your evening exercise. I loved the fair when I was growing up in New Hampshire. Every county seemed to have one then, lots of bad food and rides that made you want to give it back. Good times.

[Megan]

Well, I am going to side with the fair. It has been a long standing tradition for us as well. I justify the (insert food here)-on a stick by walking for 8 to 10 hours through every building, in the heat.
My selections this year: corndog, funnel cake, pork-on-a-stick, cotton candy, sasparilla, big pickle, strawberry-banana smoothie, and some saltwater taffy for the trip home. :D And I can tell you the route down the fairgrounds and back and in what order I eat all of this too. Dear god I'm addicted to the fair!

[Bella]

That is one of my weaknesses...sinful food in either fried or loaded with the sugar. I need to be more like you...thanks for the post.

[Diana]

Good for you! It's always hard to resist temptations as good as those at a fair but in the end it paid off. You should feel really proud of yourself.

[Running Hawkeye]

Nice work Amy, I'm headed there tomorrow AND Friday so once again your post is so timely. Either I'll be so inspired by your ability to avoid the food or I'll spiral into deep depression because I don't. I'm planning to take my camera and snap a pic of each food stand I can resist.

[Amy]

I am so glad to know that I am not the only person with a weakness for fair food or the fair! Thank goodness it comes just once a year. Thanks for the continued encouragement!

[jason]

Congrats on the PR!!!!

I looooovvvveeeee funnel cakes :)

[pat monahan]

That's a lot of bull. NO, I mean the bull in the picture. Great post. I went to the AZ state fair a few years back, I'm still working off the weight I gained.

[kate]

Glad you listened to your little fat fairy and have done well! I love the county fair every year, it's one of the few times I allow myself minimal guilt when eating something bad for me. Other times I eat it and add up the miles I need to run, like you have!
Glad you had a good time, I think I can call myself a runner... I turn down bad foods, so I can enjoy my runs more! Thanks for making me feel like I can call myself that too!

[Jessica]

Hey, I'm a Minneapolitan and I will vouch for the MN state fair as being another one of those "all deep fried, all on a stick, all the time" places. Tough, but like you, I keep telling myself how hard I will have to work to burn off all that crud, PLUS... I will feel so AWFUL after I eat it! Totally not worth it!

[Brian]

One corn dog for 3 miles and the state fair, I'll take to corn dog every time.
It’s true that you give up lots of things but were only human, and we need a corn dog every once in a while.

But food is fuel, so I think you made choice.

Being a runner is not measured my miles or speed it’s measured by the passion you have and the feeling that it brings out. I know I am a better person because of my running.

Nice blog, keep up the fine work,

-Brian

[Marcy]

CONGRATS on the PR!!

Ooohhhhhh God do I love me some fair food. That stuff would make me feel like 15,000 lbs the next day on a run though LOL

[Andria]

Great post! I have been going through the same thing lately. I'm just starting to get into a running routine. We had pizza the other day and we always get pepperoni. I said, you know what, I don't like the pepperoni enough to drag it along on the run with me tomorrow. So I made my half just cheese. That feels so good and I'm happy you made that decision!

[kara]

I'm heading out to the County Fair today.
Curly Fries and zucchini dogs! (Corn dogs no meat.)
Lucky me - I've never had to trade miles for food.

[Bob Gentile]

AMY SAID: And then realizing that the run was sweeter than anything you could have eaten.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Good words and great post...thanks

[Lisa]

Haha! I know the feeling! During Monday's run I was soo happy to know that I ran off enough calories to equivalent a cheese burger!

[Art Dinkin]

Whoo Hooo! You go girl! Look at that... a sub-30 5K, in the heat, after the fair, and a bike ride. I'm proud of you! :)

Of course I will never be able to keep up with you on our next run... ;)

It was a hot one yesterday. I decided to look the heat index right in the eye and ran a few miles at 1:30. I am so stupid I did not see another human being on the Greenbelt Trail until almost the 2.5 mile mark.

[Jes]

Congratulations! That is will power and determination! Keep up the amazing work! And good luck on your tri!!!!

[Amy]

Bless all of you who have had to choose between good/junk food and good runs! Good to know I am not the only one who has to choose.

Art - I hope I can keep up the speed, at least for a few more weeks, but so far it doesn't come consistently - instead, when I least expect it. Looking forward to our next run.

Hey Des Moinians - want to join us?!?

[Janet]

Amy, congrats on winning against the Fair - I am definitely *not* a runner, though we do walk 1-2 miles daily - and I find that I simply don't indulge in too much Fair Food because it's usually so hot that loading up on junk just doesn't sound appealing. I certainly more than make up for it in other ways, but I don't seem to be one of those who has to eat their way from one end of the fair to the other. Loved reading about your visit to the Fair! ~ Janet