By Coach Adolfo Salgueiro

As a runner who seldom, if ever, runs with music, I usually get deep in my thoughts. This doesn’t necessarily mean that my thoughts are too deep, but they do accompany me through my miles. When you come back from a 2+ hour run alone, you can’t believe how many things crossed your mind. Some thoughts were ephemeral, some were transcendental, some dark and some, just bizarre.

I was pondering this last week and decided to recall some of the thoughts that usually cross my mind when I run alone. Maybe some readers can relate, some may think I am crazy and some may want to add their 2-cents to the list. So, here I go:

1.    What a wonderful day for a run. Beautiful weather to get lost in my thoughts and enjoy the sport I love.

2.    This sucks! Why am I running today? The weather is awful, I am tired and I don’t want to be here. But I know that when I get back home I will feel better about it, so let’s keep moving.

3.    It broke! I’ve been running for at least 45 minutes and this stupid Garmin says it’s only been nine.

Shoes. Running shoes is the answer to most of our running thoughts (Photo: Pexels)

4.    I can’t believe my run is over! It was so quick, and I felt so good. I could have gone longer.

5.    Oh no! I’m back to my car/home and my watch says 8.87. I’m not done yet.

6.    Who had the brilliant idea of registering for a fall marathon so we could train in the Florida summer?

7.    This pace is too fast to qualify as easy. I always point this out to my trainees. Screw it! I feel great!

8.    I knew I had to go to the bathroom before I left. Let me find a bush.

9.    Almost done! It is the equivalent of once around the park plus twice my neighborhood’s short loop.

10. That was an amazing run. Some people need drugs to feel like this.

11. What a spectacular sunrise! This is why I wake up at 5AM on a Saturday and run long.

12. I am 10 miles in and have 10 to go. Why couldn’t I take a sport for normal people, like billiards or ping pong.

13. No! Not another gel. I think I’ll puke.

14. I get it now! That’s how trigonometry works. Now the world makes sense.

15. Ok, I made it to the bench where I was to take a walk break, but I will run until the next light pole and reassess.

16. I am beat up and ready for a walk. But too many people know me here. It will be embarrassing.

Running math in your head while you run, may not bring exact results (Photo: George Becker, Pexels)

17. Let’s see. It will be ham and mushrooms on that pizza, washed down with a beer. No, with two beers… But I’ll get donuts first.

18. Come on!! Ditch those negative thoughts. I run because I like it, not because I have to.

19. I’ve run nine miles so far. So, I don’t need to do 13. Nine is a ton of miles. But 13 is better. How about we compromise at 11? Stop negotiating with yourself and run those 13!

20. This is the 3rd time I have crossed paths with this runner. I wonder what marathon she’s training for.

21. I will kill it next season. I will set up PR in every distance. I am going to train so hard that I will never feel this crappy again.

22. It will be so impressive when I cross the finish line in that race. I will smile and raise my arms just like this.

23. If I keep this pace for 26.2 miles, I will set a PR by 22 minutes. WOW!! No… wait a minute. That’s wrong. Maybe I shouldn’t be running math in my head at mile 16.

24. I love these shoes. Maybe I should buy myself another pair.

25. I hate these shoes. Maybe I should buy myself another pair.

26. These shoes are just OK. Maybe I should buy myself another pair.

27. Do I really need another pair of running shoes? Of course, I do!