Date: 2011-05-08 11:08:26 Created: 2011-05-08 07:07:10
It is noon on a beautiful Saturday in May. I have just got home from a 20 kilometer run, but the debate has been going on at least since the ten kilometer mark.
Competition-me:
”Well, that sure sucked.”
Exercise-me:
”Are you kidding? That was a really good run.”
”Oh, I’m sorry. I missed the part where I really got into the flow and pushed myself forward.”
”Not every run can be like that. Besides, the plan was for this to be a longer and calmer run right from the start.”
”You and your plans. You go on and on about them.”
”Look, do we need to have this discussion again? It is important to get variation so I can keep improving and not wear myself out.”
”That’s odd, I never hear you complaining when I do really well. Even if it was supposed to be a slow run.”
”Sure, I admit, I like it when things go well too. I may get a bit carried away. But if it was all up to you, I would try and push the limits every time. I would end up worn out, or even injured. Not to mention even more sore than you are right now every single time a run didn’t end up being a new personal best.”
”Okay, every round won’t be a personal best, but it shouldn’t be for lack of trying. Besides, if I don’t try to push the limits every time, what’s to say I can do it when it really matters?”
”How about the reassurance I get from regular and well-balanced exercise? That’s what got me to this stage, much more so than your constant yearning for new record times.”
”There you go about plans and futures and stuff again. I’m so sick of it. It’s the now that matters, doing my best here and now. That’s all there really is, I’m no better or worse than my last run.”
”Must we go through this every single time I have a slower run than you wanted? Besides, remember how worn I felt after the last really fast round. My body could use the change of pace. And, I made it through 20 kilometers after all, even though I was tempted to call it enough halfway.”
”That was the only halfway decent thing about the whole run, not chickening out after ten measly kilometers. I may have a little bit of spine after all. Sore feet and stiff legs are just things to be dealt with in any case. If I can’t perform a good run under the circumstances today, what’s to say I can do it some other time, when it might matter even more?”
”You certainly have your way with dogged determination. Still, it might be better if you were locked up down in the basement a bit more often. This is supposed to be fun and make me feel good.”
”Ha, like you could lock me up anywhere. Sucker.”
(It ends there, because exercise-me is too reasonable to try and get the last word over competition-me.)