Dirtineye,

Take it easy--I said "often" in my post. I don't recommend unnecessary runouts just for the fun of it. I was just explaining that you have to learn the tradeoffs between overprotection with poor rests (and pumping out) vs. running a little further--safely--to conserve energy.

My point in addressing that is that these things don't even occur to topropers, or even sport climbers (unless we're talking about skipping bolts maybe).

I acknowledge what you're saying, but I don't think that anybody reading the thread would think I was trying to encourage unnecessary runouts :P

It's all good, you can do it man, you 've been there before, you gonna be fine.
Sometimes there is a little Pink Floyd in my head:

"All you touch
All you see
All your climb would ever be"

What goes on in your head while leading?

I am a noob, but here is my trad lead algorithm:

Check knots, belay;
Issue commands;
Find first placement off belay to avoid factor 2 fall;
Go;

while(!dead() && !done()) {
Climb();
Evaluate();
Breath();
}

boolean done() {
if (at belay ledge) return true;
if (at top) return true;
return false;
}
boolean dead() {
if( uncounscious || !breathing) return true;
return false;

}
Climb() {
Find best holds. Move each limb accordingly.

}
EvaluateSituation() {
if(oh s---?) print "Falling!";
else if(over my head?) print "Oh s---!, off route"; downclimb;
else if(time to place gear? && goodplacements exist?) { place gear; }
else { findnextrestspot(); }
}
Breath{
take breath; hum a tune if scared;
}
findnextrestspot() {
Look for good holds; time to place gear should be at that spot;
}

what am I thinking about when leading trad?

there must be a less boring way to get laid than this

This is bullsh!t.

IF good gear is there for the taking, and you choose to pass it by, then you are confusing style and safety.