Erica: There's an appalling lack of drinks today, at least until Julie stepped up.
Julie, did you just admit that a snow day with the kids drives you to drink?
How about the classic Blue Hawaiian?
I'll be imbibing something a little classic in its own right:
Mike: Thanks for stopping by with the story of your great trek across AL to the ocean! I wish my visions were 1) that coherent and 2) that successful! Mine always seem to involve me running back to the house, back to the shower, back to the fridge.

Hey, can I tell DOOD he's got his own personal groupie? Looking to snooker him into joining the DIS, you know.
Lisa: I'd say you run more like a gazelle, with or without music!
Julie: I never run out for staples--I always run out for comfort foods. Bread and milk I can go without. Cupcakes? Not so much.
Allyson: So, what ARE you doing with your kids this Monday. On your day off. Bless their hearts and active little bodies.

Bet you that you're itching for a run, huh?
JenB: Wait, wait, wait. I'm to understand you not only have a home theater but you have his and hers TMs there? Okay, I'm so moving in.
Erica: I note you're not forthcoming on what audiobooks you're listening to. So that leads me to believe it's something appropriately trashy.

Do tell, or we'll just start making up titles of bodice-rippers that you'd listen to.
The Tri and the Temptress...
Maria: A Bloody Mary? How positively healthy of you! And I would have never guessed you were a Bamber fan--me, I watch BSG just for strong scripts.
Sarah: I love that you give your dog a running pep talk on the road. I don't think you're crazy, just a good running partner!
Marci: Aw, words of affirmation. Share, share!
Maura: Abby-normals.

Does this mean I should call you ee-gor? Or is that eye-gor? I do some of the same things you do with the math calculations--always with an eye toward stopping. I'm so bad at it, though, that it never lasts & my numbers always add up to way more than 100%.
Jack: Wow, you were taking that BYOB pretty seriously.

Any favorite autobiographies that you'd recommend? I tend toward fiction, but always like new suggestions.
DOOD's RESPONSE: I'm adding DOOD stories, Mike.... When I asked DOOD what he does when he runs with no music, his first response was, "Curse my very existence." To which I immediately replied, "Me, too."
He tends to listen to podcasts as do I. Two of our favorites are "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" and "This American Life." DOOD also likes to listen to "Car Talk." (Me, not so much.)
As for me: I train solo exclusively--that is, until I move in with JenB, her DH, and their home theater.

So I definitely have a few coping strategies. When I'm on the TM, it's definitely music, podcasts, or preferably, movies. (Big surprise, there.)
Outside, in the wild, I have various strategies. I'd like to do what ScoJo does, and think deep thoughts or about my next novel, but when I'm running I'm definitely at the shallow end of my thinking pool. My thought processes are sort of like the stages of grief. (With apologies to those who, like myself, have gone through the stages of grief in other areas.)
From here on out, I'll think of them as
my stages in a training run.
1) Denial: What am I doing out here? It's the middle of winter! If I pretend I'm in Disney sipping a margarita, this run will go much faster. That couldn't really have been only ONE mile....
2) Anger: Why isn't this easier? If I'd been a lifelong runner, I wouldn't be struggling. Stupid meterologist--why CAN'T she control the weather? Okay, pavement, I'll show you who's boss. No way am I letting that 70 yo loop me...again!
3) Bargaining: Just finish the run and you can have Ben and Jerry's ice cream. Okay, legs, give me a PB and I'll let you skip Pilates. New running skirt, new running skirt. January 2010--you've earned the Poly.
4) Depression: What does it matter, I'll never be a Kenyan. 10 more months until Disney. Woo hoo, I've entered another AG and am still not going to qualify for Boston.
5) Acceptance: Okay, this is what I can do today; maybe I can do more tomorrow. Wait, is it time to stop already? Okay, I learned that tofu is not a good pre-run meal and won't try that again. Hey, I just got the approving nod from hard-core running guy--I must be doing okay.
Sometimes I'll do what I think of as my cyborg thing, scanning my body for aches, pains, form, etc. Never a pretty picture, but it keeps me from wondering about my too-red face or whether I really should be wearing THESE tights/shorts.
I like to run around other people, not only for the eye candy (there is that--I'm surrounded by college campuses and young, fit bodies), but because I'm less likely to take unnecessary walking breaks. I know it's an ego thing, but it works.... I also to the landmark thing, promising myself all sorts of goodies at the end of a run. (See above, bargaining, and below, today's bribe.)
Like
Marci, I have a series of affirmations. Sort of. I'm not really a warm, fuzzy person, so I tend to embrace my inner drill sergeant. My favorite?
"Man up, M-F." Makes me laugh every time, from the full-on gendered "man up" (re-appropriate the sexism!) to the profanity. I have a tech shirt that says "Man up" (I internalize the M-F so as to not offend others) that I wear on runs that I know will be hard. It generally gets a few smiles or a thumbs up from people. (I love that!)
And since someone (*cough, cough, Julie*) mentioned cupcakes, here are a few from Dozen Cupcakes in Pgh:
L-R The Elvis (Banana cupcake with chocolate buttercream filling and peanut-butter cream frosting); East End Chocolate Stout (dark chocolate cupcake made with black strap stout, topped with ganache and Irish cream buttercream); Vegan Vanilla (vanilla cupcake topped with vegan vanilla "buttercream"); Carrot Cake (with vanilla buttercream); and Red Velvet (with vodka-vanilla buttercream and a topper of white chocolate)