Mathematical running

Some people daydream when they run. Some analyze their life. Some put their thoughts into perspective. Some runners clear their minds of everything.

And me? Well, I do math.

I know, it doesn't make any sense at all. I've always thought of myself as a right brainer. After all, I'm a journalist.

But for some reason, whether I'm circling a track or taking in scenery, my thoughts always turn into calculations while I'm running.

What kinds of calculations, you ask? I calculate my pace, my anticipated finishing time, what percentage of the workout I've completed, how many laps I have left, what percentage of a mile I've completed, how many laps XX miles would be, what my half marathon time would be, what my average pace is, etc., etc.

The more challenging the calculation, the more excited I get. This hard and fast mental focus gets my mind off my physical pain. It also serves as a mental boost when I reach certain milestones and realize that I'm 66.666% done with my workout. Who wouldn't be excited about that?

Sometimes I wish I could focus on thoughts rather than numbers while I'm running, but for some odd reason my brain doesn't work that way when I'm on the track.