I’m nuts. Crazy. Totally wacko.

Why, you ask?

I decided to sign up for another 5k: the Polar Dash. It’s in 8 days.

So, I guess I’m back on the running bandwagon.

It was a little impulsive on my behalf. I know. But, since hurting my calf, I’ve been afraid to run. My calf doesn’t hurt anymore, but I don’t want to hurt it again. The muscle pull was a huge disappointment.

So here’s my chance for a do-over. I haven’t been training, but figure it’ll get my butt in gear.

The folks who do the Polar Dash put together a list of 20 reasons to run the race. I could make my own, but their list is pretty good. I put my personal top 5 in bold.

1. It’s better to run on over than to be hung over

2. Because it will make you HOT!

3. The sound of pounding feet is infinitely more fun than the sound of a pounding head

4. Your first step into the new decade should be a BIG one!

5. You can justify the holiday cookies as “carbo-loading”

6. To raise money to help the kids treated at Shriners Hospital for Children.

7. Because You and I can’t think of anything “cooler” to do the first day of the year.

8. To show Mother Nature who is boss and get some much needed Vitamin D.

9. When else is it socially acceptable for a grown woman to dress up as a penguin in public?

10. Because if all those other people can do it, you can do it too!

11. Start the year with a challenge; it will make running in June seem like a cakewalk

12. So You can post pictures and tell a race story on facebook

13. Running the Polar Dash will improve your running speed. You will want to hurry up and finish to get out of the flipping cold and to enjoy some hot chocolate!

14. To avoid the peer pressure to do the Plunge into Lake Minnetonka on New Years!

15. To have a perfect start to you new 2010 training log with a Guaranteed 2010 PR.

16. To get your friends, family and coworkers to take notice ~ Because when people call you CRAZY, that really means, “You inspire me”

17. It definitely gives you bragging rights when you return to work on Monday!! Oh yeah….that’s you…the one who ran a 5k on New Year’s Day….in Minnesota….in the middle of winter!

18. Because the finisher’s medal is quite possibly the largest and coolest in 10K and 5K history.

19. So you can say you kept your New Years Resolution for at least one day.

20. To bring in the NEW YEAR with 2000+ of your MN running friends!