The Mind of an Endurance Runner

Two weeks before a 50 miler: Another race, can't wait
 A week before a 50 miler: Another race, should be fun
A day before a 50 milers:  I should have put in more miles, but I've done more on less.
Morning of a 50 miler: Oh man, this is going to be a LONG day, I should have trained more.
When the starting gun fires of a 50 miler: I'm just going to have fun, let's take it slow.
1/4 of the way through the a 50 miler:  Man, I'm feeling good.  Maybe I can PR this distance.
1/2 way through the a 50 miler: No way I'm going to keep this pace to PR, but I'll still easily put down a good time.
3/4 through a 50 miler: I think I'm going to die.  Why the hell am I doing this?  There's no reason to run this far.  I hurt, I'm tired, and and this sucks.  Maybe this is enough.  Not sure I want to do another one of these.  I don't even know if I can do the 100.
Near the finish of a 50 miler: Thank God, I'm almost done.  I hope they have beer at the finish line.
After the finish of a 50 miler: Where are my flip flops?  Get these shoes NOW!
An hour after the finish of a 50 miler: Whew, long day.  That sucked, but it wasn't too bad.
The day after the 50 miler: Holy crap, I can barely move.  I can't believe I ran 50 miles yesterday.
Two days after the 50 miler: Meh, the 100 shouldn't be that bad.

Yes, I did a 50 miler two days ago.  And the above is a VERY succinct play of the past couple weeks.  Every long race, I ask myself why I'm doing it.  I never have an answer for it at that moment.  But I keep coming back.