Running Cheaper Than Therapy

The other day my girlfriend and I tooled down to my old stomping grounds to get new running shoes.
There is nothing like trying on running shoes after a couple of beers and quesadillas.
God, THAT is the way to shop!  I love her.  She doesn't eff around.
Okay so the best thing about The Running Room is that some  dude that can't be more than like 18 is the "expert" on shoes, and I don't know if he's gone to Running Shoe College or if he has just googled a lot about shoes, but it makes you feel really important for about 20 minutes while you hand over your $200 that you are getting the BEST shoes that are going to make you the BEST runner EVER.
Right.  Believe what you must.
What I love the most though honestly are the OTHER people trying on shoes because I have been going to the Running Room for about 8 years and ever since Shaun told me about the dude out front in his business suit running up and down the sidewalk, I cannot take the place seriously.
Look, I don't take a whole lot of things seriously, you must know this by now.
So while my girlfriend ran up and down the block in her mini skirt trying out 300 different pairs of shoes (believe what you want here) I  watched a woman in her 50's talk her way through her shoe buying experience. Because you know by now that I LOVE to listen in.
"Before I got here I threw out every single pair of running shoes I own so I would force myself to come in."
I glanced at her feet.
She was wearing running shoes.
Apparently she figured she couldn't come in barefooted and I knew immediately we had an "exaagerater" on our hands.
I also took in her purse. Chanel.. NOT a knock off.
Hmmmm....when she goes purse shopping, does she throw out all of her handbags?  Would it be rude to ask her where she lives so that I could stand at her garbage can?
Okay, so that was enough of that and since girlfriend was only on to pair 25 and she didn't really need my help. Was she jumping? She was jumping in her shoes..and doing backflips..I had to hand it to her.  That girl was going to get the most out of those babies..
I decided to peruse the clothing.
Immediately the t-shirt "Running Cheaper Than Therapy" caught my eye.
My first instinct was: Holy shit! That' brilliant! We need to buy these!

But then I started using my rational brain and I started to get really really frightened.  Because they were almost sold out of those t-shirts!
Look, I know a lot of runners.
And I know a lot of bat shit crazy people.
And if a lot of crazy people are turning to running for their therapy?
Well, you do the math.

Running does NOT replace therapy, everyone.
Yes, you heard it here first from a lady who has run and attended therapy nigh on 20 years.
Oh, well then in that case, I see your point.
Very funny.
Yes, I will be the poster child, if it helps people get the message.
 Do I believe it's a piece of the puzzle?   Absolutely! Go nuts...ahahahahahahahahaha!
Run.
But if people are looking to replace mental health therapy with a jog. Look out.
It ain't gonna cure your crazy.
Hmmm...I feel a t-shirt coming.
So as I close today's sermon, I would just like people to keep in mind (ahahahaha-I kill myself here) that running is great exercise, but replacement therapy?  Yeah, right.  
Now I am off to check garbage cans.
Look, there's nothing wrong with just seeing if someone threw out a few purses.
That's not THAT crazy.