False start

You know those people who just really love to run? The people who enjoy the fresh air and really think it's important to be in shape?\nYeah, it turns out, I'm not one of them.\nI don't know why I thought I did. I mean, I've always flirted with the idea of running. I ran track in junior high and even went so far as to run the Mini Marathon in the eighth grade. But looking back, it wasn't so much about running as it was about the girls.\nYou see, it's no coincidence that when the men's and women's track team practices split up in high school, I decided running wasn't for me.\nHowever, I do have fond memories of junior high track. The thing I realized this week, though, was that none of those memories actually involve running.\nInstead, I'm swept back to the time when a friend asked me if I liked a certain girl in our grade during the middle of a big meet. \nLet's call her Runny McRunnerson.\nI told him that I did, in fact, think that Miss McRunnerson was quite attractive. Actually, I think I just stuttered a little amidst an onslaught of blushing. Either way, he left and returned a couple minutes later to inform me that I was now dating the adorable Miss \nMcRunnerson.\nThis was really something. I mean, my first girlfriend was somewhere within 100 yards from me.\nScanning the field, I decided that I should probably go talk to her. You know, tell her how glad I was that we were dating or wish her luck on her run or at least make sure she knew my full name.\nHowever, I soon decided that I didn't want this blossoming relationship to get bogged down with so many details so early. I mean, there would be time for all of that later, right?\nThe rest of the afternoon is all kind of a blur. I'm sure I ran my race, but I don't remember how I did. And I'm sure I watched her race, although again I'm a little foggy on the details.\nThe next thing that I do remember, though, was that my friend approached me again with some startling news.\n"Umm, Matt. You're not dating Runny anymore. I am," he explained.\n"Et tu Brute?" I whispered back, shaking my fist in the air and trying to suppress my bitter rage and tears!\nOK, obviously I made that last part up, but looking back, that's what I should have done.\nActually, to be honest, I wasn't all that crushed about it. If anything, I was a little confused and blamed myself for not going over and verifying that she knew who I was, but I guess you live and learn right?\nAnyway, what I'm getting at with this story is that not much has really changed since junior high. Oh sure, I'm a bit taller and I've lost the goofy glasses and hard-core bowl haircut, but I still have the same smooth way with the ladies.\nAnd I still hate running.