for the marathon in 1999. He and I ran the same marathon in Chicago on the same course on the same day. He finished in 2:05:42. I finished in just over 5:30:00. In fact, I heard the announcement that he had set the worlds record as I was approaching mile 11
age – solidly middle-aged – are always running in the past tense. The best days are behind them, as are their PBs. Every conversation is a trip down memory lane. They wax nostalgic about 10 or 20 years ago when times were faster, waists thinner
around, and I had lost sight of the runners in front of me. Eager to catch up, I launched an all-out effort as I began my second run interval. Everything after that is a blur.I didn’t make it to the end of the next five-minute segment before my legs
initially unfolded according to plan. I hit the halfway point at 2:27:32, right on target. At mile 15, I was still there. By mile 17, I was three seconds off the pace, but still hopeful, even though I was beginning to feel the signs of impending disaster
occurred for me in the middle of a marathon relay. My mother, my son and I were a team. Being the real runner, I completed the first 13.9-mile leg. My son, blessed with youth and enthusiasm, had the 9.3 miles in the middle, and my mother, claiming
.But it was this runners first encounter with himself. You see, Andrew was only eight years old. And suddenly, two and a half miles into a 3.1-mile race, he had to confront himself. Like so many of the adults around him, Andrew had to decide if he was willing to confront
.But it was this runner’s first encounter with himself. You see, Andrew was only eight years old. And suddenly, two and a half miles into a 3.1-mile race, he had to confront himself. Like so many of the adults around him, Andrew had to decide if he was willing to confront
d known when they started out. JOHN BINGHAM1. Three steps forward, two steps backI thought that once Id started running regularly, Id become increasingly better all the time. I thought my progress would be linear. For a while, thats exactly what
