At some point during a training cycle, a runner is inevitably asked the question, "You ran 10 miles on a Saturday morning for fun?" The question is obvious and simple. The answer may be not as simple. Is running really that fun?
Yes, if your idea of fun is setting your alarm clock at the crack of dawn to beat the Summer sun. It may sound ridiculous, but if you've ever finished a long run, you know that running, sometimes, is the greatest fun you've had when alone.
So, is running fun? Maybe it's not fun when you're hunkered over your bathroom sink popping a blister or watching the clock come to a complete stop when you're sitting in your post-long-run ice bath. Maybe it's not fun when you order lean protein and whole-wheat bread while your friends load up on happy-hour treats the night before your long run. Or when the alarm clock goes off on a dark, Summer morning before dawn. But all things considered, running can be the most fun part of your life.