Still Crazy After All These Years

“So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize…” ~ Philippians 3:14

As I grow older, I find I’ve forgotten some past experiences I wish I could remember. Unfortunately, I also remember some past experiences I wish I could forget.

My life as a runner includes more than a few of both.

Today is a sunny, nearly fall-like day here in Arkansas. I typically run through my neighborhood about 5:30 or 6:00 in the morning. Today, however, I drove to a large county park about 9:00 a.m. for a 6-mile run on roads I used to travel weekly.

It was a nostalgic experience.

When I moved to this community in the very early 1980s, I met a group of fellow runners who ran 15 to 20 miles nearly every Saturday at that park. At the time, there was a 5-mile loop around the park’s perimeter. We would run the course multiple times, depending on how far we wanted to go. Occasionally, I would run it alone. Four loops for 20 miles.

Down Memory Lane

The road I ran this morning has changed almost as much as I have during the 30 year period. A golf course expansion many years ago blocked off part of the road. There is no longer a loop all the way around the inside of the park. In order to run six miles, I had to run out and back in one direction, and then loop around a smaller area of the park.

Many landmarks are the same. A few are different.

Much like me. Same, but different.

According to my GPS and running app on my iPhone, I averaged 9:45 per mile. That’s roughly two minutes per mile slower than my training pace from 30 years ago.

Of course, I’m 30 years older now… and 20 pounds heavier.

I’m not sure which factor has the most bearing on my speed. No doubt both play a part.

Running To the Finish

For fifteen years or so, I didn’t compete in a race. I had no idea how fast or slow I was running when I trained. When I ran my first 5K in May of this year, it was the first race at that distance I’d run in nearly 20 years. My time (25:35) was about four minutes slower than my PR (personal record) for that distance.

Sometimes it’s difficult to face how much I’ve slowed down during the past decade or two. I wish I didn’t remember how fast I used to be.

On the other hand, I’m grateful…

I still remember how to run.

What physical changes have you noticed as you’ve aged? How do you feel about them?