Running Just As Fast As We Can

Helaine and I went running yesterday. Gil came by and we ran again today.

Compared to people who consider themselves runners, our distance is quite small. For us, it’s still an accomplishment.

As we left our street and made a left up a slight incline, I realized I was feeling stronger today than I had before. My first pause, as my lungs tried to catch up with the rest of my body, came much farther up the road than it had before.

I felt pride in that accomplishment.

We added a few hundred yards to the run today, looping up a stub of a road before heading back down a long, common driveway surrounded by tall trees.

Gil, of course, took this like the Marine he is. I’m not sure he worked up a sweat. Helaine and I struggled, but finished.

“Water,” Gil said. I needed to drink and drink a lot.

He keeps telling me if I run, I’ll start using notches farther down my belt. That would be nice.

He also says I should run in the New Haven Road Race 5K (3 mile) on Labor Day. I’m not sure if I could run a 1/2 mile race today without stopping, so this is a great leap… but September’s a long way away.

What kind of race starts at 8:40 AM? Are they kidding? That’s the middle of the night (for me).

Right now the weather’s perfect and my aches and pains are few. I have incentive to continue. We’ll see how I fare with time.

Am I disciplined enough to continue once the summer takes hold and my gains are not as rapidly achieved? That’s my internal question.