> Wow. Very inspiring. Thanks for the info. I never particularly wanted to be able to run a marathon (mainly because running for even one hour, my maximum in the past, just about kills me with boredom) but it would really be an accomplishment you could look back on. Right now I'm working back up to 10km-capability after being too lazy for too long.
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> I always wonder what other people think about while they run. I don't like wearing a Walkman because it makes me unaware of what's going on around me, which can be dangerous, but I find my ability to happily listen to my own thoughts usually has about a ten-minute limit. Running seems to take just enough concentration that you can't mentally concentrate on anything else, but not enough to keep it from being earthshatteringly boring, apart from the last few minutes where you're thinking "Yeah! Yay! I'm almost there!" and it starts feeling good.
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> Brunnen-"unfortunately, it's the only form of exercise I find hard enough that it actually works"G

Running is one of my favorite pastimes, although I do agree with you that it can be boring. One way to reduce the boredom is to run in an interesting environment. My favorite place to run is in the mountains, I can just run and run for ages. I am constantly in a state of wonderment as I run, thinking "whoa! That's a cool tree! WHOA! That's a bird! Whoa! DUDE! I wonder what I should wear tomorrow". Even running in the cities is interesting, you see interesting people, breath interesting fumes, see places that you don't see in a car, etc. Maybe it's just me, but seeing new and interesting things distracts me from physical uncomfort, and makes sure I don't get bored.

Also, when I am running in the beautiful mountains, I sort of space out, and just stop thinking, and just run. Mabye it's just me (I have a similar phenomenon in Histroy ;-). . .I really enjoy just being able to just *be* there, with out having to worry about useless things.

Recently, I broke my toe...so I can't do any running at all. In order to keep myself from getting massively out of shape, I have taken to riding my bike in the mountains. I've noticed that I don't get the same experience from biking, because my mind is on the physical challenge of tackling a mountain by bike, which is very different from just slowly piddling up a hill while running. I'll need to think about exactly why this happens. Perhaps it's because I'm involved in something that's more complex, and maybe I'm using more of my brain to pedal a bike. I don't know. But there is a noticeable difference.

Alrighty, reckon I've said enough...(maybe I shouldn't post when I'm tired and lond winded, eh).

*Tess (You know what makes me mad? I can't do the traditional 4th of July 5K that I've been doing every year for the past 4 years. Bah)