An Addiction Self-Test

Marathon & Beyond editor Rich Benyo developed an addiction self-test that can provide a quick way to size up where running stands in your life. This self-test first appeared in his 1990 book, The Exercise Fix, and was adapted for an article on exercise addiction in the Winter 1996 issue of FootNotes.


Directions:
On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the strongest, weight each of the following statements as they apply to you and your running. Then total your numbers and check the interpretations at the end of the test. Fill out the test in pencil, or make photocopies, so you can retake it perio dically.
____Running is extremely important to me. I'm positive I'll be running for the rest of my life.
____A day without a run is a day without sunshine.
____If it becomes downright impossible to get my workout in today, I can always double up tomorrow.
____Until I get my workout in, I'm a real bear'as in unbearable.
____A little pain indicates there's serious progress being made.
____If two aspirin/ibuprofen are good, four are twice as good.
____Warm-up and cool-down are important, but it's what comes in the middle of the workout that counts.
____As far as running goes, more is always better.
____A string of running days must remain unbroken.
____Quality without quantity is impossible.
____Of course I know how many miles I ran last month. . . .
____Unless you've run a marathon, you're not a real runner.
____The more marathons you've run, the more serious a runner you are.
____Rest is for the weary, not for the strong.
____Discomfort exists to run through, not to be an insurmountable barrier.
____All my friends are runners, and I wouldn't consider befriending a nonrunner.
____Many running-related pains can be gotten rid of by running through them.
____If a shirt doesn't boast a race logo, it isn't one I want to wear.
____It exhibits their inbred weakness if people don't want to hear my step-by-step re-creations of races I've run.
____If I have a piddling injury and a sports medicine expert says I shouldn't run, it's obviously time for a second (or third) opinion.


Score
Where does your total fall?

161-200: Running addiction personified. Get help immediately.
121-160: Leaning towards running addiction; beware.
81-120: Neutral.
41-80: Fitness with a mellow bent.
20-40: Approaching terminal mellow; better sign up for a race.