When people find out that I run, all year round, for fun, they often have many questions. No one usually believes that someone who runs so much can be sane, happy, or even healthy. Over the years I've been asked a lot of questions that make me laugh, roll my eyes, and even panic. Here are seven of the most frequent, and most annoying, questions that I can guarantee every runner has been asked at least once (as told by the men of Spongebob):

1. Why do you run?

Why do you BREATHE? If you really want to know the answer to this one, give me a week's notice to allow me to take the time to write a small, concise and detailed essay on the reasons why I run in a way that your non-runner mind may understand.

2. Are you fast?

"Fast" is a relative term. Ask me my mile time, I'm pretty slow. Ask me my 5K time, I'm pretty average. As a long distance runner, I cannot sprint 100 meters any faster than you, if that's what you're asking.

3. You actually like to run?

It's a very complicated, love/hate relationship...please refer to question #1.

4. Do you ever get bored?

Running gives you a lot of alone time and a lot of time to think about anything and everything. It's easy to entertain yourself if you just use your I M A G I N A T I O N.

5. Why don't you just go on the treadmill?

Winter, spring, summer, fall, I would rather face any adverse weather conditions than to give in to that metal death-trap machine.

6. Doesn't running hurt?

Yes. Yes. One thousand times, yes. But, we do it anyways.

7. When do you get a break?

Ha ha! Running is a year round sport, we don't ever get an off season. We'll get a break when we're injured...or dead, whichever comes first.

Moral of the story is: yes, we are crazy, but yes, we love it. If you have to ask, you'll never understand.