The first half of that quote, as if you actually didn't know, is "You shouldn't take life too seriously." from famed scholar Van Wilder.
Have fun. That's what this is about, right? I don't mean the "run happy" memes you see. I'll get into that in a later post. Maybe even later this week, I'm not quite sure yet.
I mean don't take your running too seriously. If you're a runner, you have goals. They might range from finishing a 5k all the way to winning major races. Many runners have set training schedules with specific workouts all planned out. Mine actually has prescribed runs all the way through December. I'm sure many of you reading are in a similar situation; you've got it all planned out. You're going to follow that couch to 5k or Boston Qualifier workout plan until you meet your goal. My question is why. What is your reason for running? Why do you run instead of swim, bike, or CrossFit? My guess - you like it. You enjoy it. Otherwise, why wouldn't you do something else? Why would you decide that you're going to give yourself a running challenge (whether it be 3 miles or 100) without it being something you enjoy?
I think that we, as goal-oriented people who are often lost in spreadsheets and living from long run to long run, need to remember this. We do this for the fun of it. It's rare that there's money at the finish line. A few are lucky to have some sort of sponsorship, but that isn't always contingent on results.
Endurance running is often a selfish endeavor, particularly if the runner has a family. Sticking to a training plan often involves missing a lot of time from home, going to bed and getting up early on weekends, and spending a lot of time recovering post run.
We need to remember that running is what we do for fun. And sometimes, that means ignoring what your training and diet plan says. Sometimes you have to, say, drive to Austin to spend time with friends. That time with friends is worth more than having an ideal run the next morning.
Sometimes you need to go off diet to have a date with your wife and experience a different culture.
Sometimes that "going off diet" lasts til the next morning for breakfast too. I ended up only gaining about a pound, so I'd say it was worth it there. That should be worked off in a couple of days.
Have fun. That's what this is about, right? I don't mean the "run happy" memes you see. I'll get into that in a later post. Maybe even later this week, I'm not quite sure yet.
I mean don't take your running too seriously. If you're a runner, you have goals. They might range from finishing a 5k all the way to winning major races. Many runners have set training schedules with specific workouts all planned out. Mine actually has prescribed runs all the way through December. I'm sure many of you reading are in a similar situation; you've got it all planned out. You're going to follow that couch to 5k or Boston Qualifier workout plan until you meet your goal. My question is why. What is your reason for running? Why do you run instead of swim, bike, or CrossFit? My guess - you like it. You enjoy it. Otherwise, why wouldn't you do something else? Why would you decide that you're going to give yourself a running challenge (whether it be 3 miles or 100) without it being something you enjoy?
I think that we, as goal-oriented people who are often lost in spreadsheets and living from long run to long run, need to remember this. We do this for the fun of it. It's rare that there's money at the finish line. A few are lucky to have some sort of sponsorship, but that isn't always contingent on results.
Endurance running is often a selfish endeavor, particularly if the runner has a family. Sticking to a training plan often involves missing a lot of time from home, going to bed and getting up early on weekends, and spending a lot of time recovering post run.
We need to remember that running is what we do for fun. And sometimes, that means ignoring what your training and diet plan says. Sometimes you have to, say, drive to Austin to spend time with friends. That time with friends is worth more than having an ideal run the next morning. 
Sometimes you need to go off diet to have a date with your wife and experience a different culture.
And sometimes, only sometimes, you have to wobble.
Olympic Trials update:
My cousin James' Olympic girlfriend Colleen Quigley made the Women's 3000m Steeplechase team and MY Olympic girlfriend Brenda Martinez got tripped while coming around the corner for the 800m but made the 1500m team with THIS finish:
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