I apologize in advance for this stream-of-consciousness post, but I am too excited slash sad to care.

I’ve been a regular reader of The Oatmeal for years. When he published his comic “The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances” last July, I was only 6-7 months into running regularly (with a 10k being the longest distance I had gone), but a lot of it resonated with me. Especially the parts about running to eat. Because that is basically what I do. I’ve never ran to lose weight. I run so I can feel less guilty about downing entire pizzas and cakes.

I even bought the running shirt to go along with the comic. And I ran in it when I went to Seattle last fall, which is where Matthew Inman, creator of The Oatmeal, lives.

This was not taken in Seattle. This was taken at work. Sometimes I get confused and wear my running clothes other places.

So when he announced that he was publishing a book on running, I was excited. And then I saw that he was holding a race: a 10k, half marathon, and full marathon. And, of course, it was in Seattle. Exactly a year after my last trip.

I’m resolving to use more reaction gifs in my blog.

“Why couldn’t you have done this a year ago??” I lamented, knowing there was no way I could afford another trip out west that soon. Although I did entertain the idea because my best friend lives out there, and I miss her bunches. Then I entertained moving to Seattle because I miss her bunches and everything cool happens out there. (I haven’t ruled that out yet.)

But, no worries, east coasters! In an article on Runner’s World’s website, “next year he hopes to expand the race to the East Coast after this year’s ‘trial run’ to see how well mid-marathon cake goes over.” Oh, did I fail to mention that part? There’s cake and Nutella at every aid station. MY FAVORITE FOOD IS AT EVERY AID STATION. Was this race not meant for me?

By “east coast” they probably mean somewhere that is equally expensive and inconvenient for me to get to here in landlocked Tennessee.

And there’s people in blerch suits chasing you. Which is just all kinds of awesome. This is like the one race that could make me want to train for a half marathon again. (And I’m not saying that lightly. I am very much over half marathons.)

I want a Blerch medal! Registration opens (and, let’s face it, probably closes, as it’s expected to sell out quickly) on Monday. Who wants to pay for me to go to Seattle in September?