carrying rock from the big pile over to a small pile, about 100 feet down the track. The first shovel didn’t seem so bad, but by the 10th one, every muscle started to hurt. With the foreman yelling, I worked as fast as I could, and was exhausted in no time

the winner been subjected to the 15-minute delay at the start line which we experienced in pen nine.Even so, I try to monitor my pace so that I don’t fall into a dawdle early on. Mind you, it’s not that I’m in any particular hurry for myself, but leading a

of the course, the day – and themselves.At the start, he charged boldly ahead. He was unable, it appeared, to contain his enthusiasm. He searched for position and his piece of the road. And more importantly, he searched for the rhythm and pace that would carry

of the course, the day – and themselves.At the start, he charged boldly ahead. He was unable, it appeared, to contain his enthusiasm. He searched for position and his piece of the road. And more importantly, he searched for the rhythm and pace that would carry

visit, she’s pacing her cage. It’s as if she senses that there’s something beyond her moat and wall, something unknown that draws her outward. That something unknown is freedom. She reminds me that many of us spend our lives simply building better cages

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

continued to pass me. First the sub-2:30 marathoners, then the sub-3:00 group, and so on. Little by little they all caught up to me, until I was running with those who hoped to finish in the sub-4:00 range. I began to feel more at home with these runners

“This just isn’t my day,” I heard her whisper. When I turned to look at her, I couldn’t believe my eyes. She wasn’t in pain. She was simply finished. It was as though someone had drained out all of her energy. And the marathon finish was still 13

, every time I started down a path towards better health and weight loss, I’d choose a destination. In terms of losing weight, I’d tell myself that when I’d lost 10 or 20lbs, I’d be thin. And every day I’d stand on the scales and ask myself if I

. I looked for vitamin spinach, supplement spinach, clothes spinach… you name it. I was that guy at the race expos looking for the latest, newest, most surefire way of becoming leaner, fitter and faster.The first time I ran a mile in under 10 minutes