Fables

Time: 9:30

Weather: Overcast 65 F

Route: Along the paths between prison and art museum

Distance: 4.5 miles

What are we supposed to do when we lie? 

A Jeff Tweedy song lyric reveals that "all my lies are always wishes." I think the kind of lie in the lyric is a hope for ourselves, one we blurt out when shoulders are chipped and our esteem feels vulnerable. We want to be stronger or faster or smarter or have a better job or a nicer car. We want to lay claim to the things we wish were true. It's part of the culture to want what we see on TV shows or in social media. It's that life over there we want, not this one.

After running, there are times when I've answered the "how far?" question with a bit of added on distance. I don't know why. I certainly answer correctly most of the time. What is happening to me when I don't? I think I am telling a fable about who I wish to be. I already run a lot. So much more than most people. But the people I read about, the ones in Running World, they run more than I do. And sometimes, when I'm asked the question, I go into Fable Mode and add some distance. 

This blog tells the truth about how far I run. But mostly it tells the truth about who I am. All autobiographical writing is destined to be a pseudo version of the self. By even writing about myself I am changing who I am. But, that change is truthful -- at least in the moment. So the miles are the miles, but the person is changed by writing about the miles. The person, me, now is the person who told a truth about embellishing, and now can use that truth to either "wink" and embellish some more, or just answer the question minus the wishes. So, yeah, I ran 4.5 miles today. (Or was it 5 miles -- wink.)