Inspiration to Run

Have you ever done something that was perfectly fine, but because it was part of some fad or craze you are embarrassed to admit it?  Yeah, me too.  Here's some of my list:

I had one preppy outfit in 5th grade that made me feel special.
I wore an asymmetrical haircut in high school.
I met my husband online (ICQ chat)
I read Born to Run by Christopher McDougall and dreamed of winning a marathon.

I listed to Born to Run on CD on my way to and from work for about 3 weeks.  It is a fascinating story that interweaves history, science, races, and the dangers of living near the modern drug trade.  I listened raptly to McDougall's description of the personalities and abilities of ultra-marathoners (people who run 50 - 100+ mile races) and to the history and science behind barefoot running.  I had visions of becoming a far different person than I am now - of running impossible distances and generally becoming a running bad-ass.  It is a testament to McDougall's writing that I was inspired to overcome my past experiences with running to try it again with a new appreciation for the role of running in human history and the culture of running.