of the race. But he didn’t. Today was his day to find out what time he was capable of running. So he didn’t even think about letting up. By mile two, the indiscretion of his early strategy was starting to show. His stride became more determined, his breathing

and racing. If I see another runner approaching me, I try to get that grim look of determination on my face. As we pass each other, I give the traditional runner’s grunt and wave; then, when I’m sure I’m safely out of sight, I relax and go back to having fun

few great marathons.I tell you this to explain how I came to be standing in a cold wind which was posing as a summer morning in July, in the middle of an eight-week motorcycle tour. In this particular race, runners who needed more than five hours

to Tennessee. Eight weeks of visiting, and talking to, members of American running clubs; eight weeks of riding, running and racing; eight weeks without the tools and trappings of adulthood – no VCR remote control, no microwave, no closet full of clothes

and would not yield. They persisted in running ahead of me – not just somewhere in the vicinity ahead of me, but, for most of the race, directly in front of me.London 2000 was my 21st marathon. It was remarkable because I’d never intended to run even one

. 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

that day, it’s hard to ignore the stares and comments from those who believe I should live up to their expectations. It’s hard to run a race with joy when all but one of the drinks stations have been taken away. It’s hard to revel in the mystery of motion

of agony on Buzzard Bait Hill. It was worth it.All week I had heard about the race up Buzzard Bait. The veterans spoke of it in hushed tones. The first-timers like me listened intently to stories of years past. As our day to take on the hill approached

and hair thicker.Younger runners are often caught up more in potential than performance. Today’s race is only a tune-up for tomorrow’s. They cruise at an unthinkably fast pace; their minds focused on a moment weeks, or years, ahead.It’s a shame these young

knew there was something beyond the cage. Freedom is not without its risks, though. To run free and with passion, to train well and to race with abandon takes courage. It takes more courage than most of us care to admit. It takes a willingness to accept