songs of experience

I just ran a mile time trial this morning. It is the beginning of winter so, of course, I haven’t done any real speed-work and many would argue I was foolish to do such a thing. I wanted to see where I am, to face the music, if you will (by the way, I find “if you will” to be a pretentious, faddish, and downright silly expression!). I have never related to those people - mostly guys - who feel they must run 12 weeks of 100 mpw before they will ever set foot on a track or enter a race. I think they’re afraid of the truth. They want to imagine the runner they might be, rather than BE the runner they are. I find it extremely liberating to know precisely how fit (or NOT fit, as the case may be) I am. Today, November 22, 2004 … at the age of 42 … I am a 5:03 miler.