Pain

Normally when I discuss pain it has something to with running and the nut jobs that cause it, but today's pain was all my fault.

Instead of going for a run on my day off, I instead went to 

the dentist.

Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!

I am not a dentist kind of person.  Is anybody a dentist kind of person?  If you like going to the dentist, email me.  Type "I like going to the dentist" in the subject line.  You could well be a contender for the 2011 Nut Job of the Year Award.

Anyway, to get through this dreaded appointment I culled my memory bank of lessons learned while running.

When we ran Oil Creek and I found myself running along the cliff of insanity I told myself that if I survived this race I would never be afraid of anything else, ever again.

So this morning while getting ready for my dental appointment I decided to wear the trail shoes that got me out of the mountain at Oil Creek State Park.  Surely the shoes would provide me with the courage I needed.

I also needed a mantra.  I settled on one of my favorite marathon mantras - "this isn't going to hurt at all".

I am happy to report that I survived the ordeal.  Turns out the dental technician was also a runner and talked me through the hour and a half (!) visit with a mind over matter lecture.

Once again, a runner gets me through a difficult time.

Thanks, Shannon.

And thanks, trail shoes.