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Running Time?

by on Aug. 18, 2009, under Health, Life, Running

Time is fast.

Time is fast.

 Time has been a constant theme in my world the past few weeks, and it has me thinking about the influence Time plays in our running lives.

I recently reconnected with an old high school teammate, and after compressing some 20+ years of life into a few minutes, we got down to the real question – “How is your running these days?”  My friend lamented the fact that we could no longer hit the road and rattle off 5:00 miles. I consoled him that those 8:00 miles will suit his knees just fine.  Plus, it doesn’t hurt to get into the mindset of the ‘used to’ and ‘now’.  As in, I used to run 5:00 miles, now I run 8:00 miles.  Time has that effect.

Running is a physical challenge at any age. Although things we could do without a thought when we were young, now require a 20-minute warm-up, stretching and a large dose of Vitamin I (ibuprofen). We haven’t lost the desire to be competitive, but as our priorities change – marriage, family, children, mortgages and car payments – we can add Time as a challenge as well.  Finding Time to hit the trails or run with a group can be elusive for even the most organizationally gifted among us.

Don't let Time win.

Don't let Time win.

Don’t get me wrong, I still have the desire to be competitive, but that takes Time.  And while it took me some time to overcome what my friend is going through, I am now comfortable with the ‘used to’ and ‘now’. Time provides the wisdom to savor the glow of completing a run, finishing a workout or competing in a race.  Time has value – time spent with family, loved ones, and time spent running are all important. So is the insight to not worry so much about running times, but more importantly making time to run.

I’m proud of my ‘used to’ but more proud of my ‘now’. I hope you are too.  So if you’ll excuse me, it’s time for some more Vitamin I.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 18th, 2009 at 1:28 pm and is filed under Health, Life, Running. Tags for this post: , , . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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  • michaeljohngreene

    I frequently dream that I am running, not to or from anything, only running.  As I am a part of the “used-to” generation, last night I was delighted to dream that I ran a 61 second quarter mile.  As for finding time, I manage to squeeze in some running, but I can’t seem to find the time to go and get new shoes.  Mine have a hole in the sole and I keep thinking there are rocks in my shoe, but then I remember that my toe is touching the ground.

  • Tim Bentley

    I too have those dreams, although it has been some time since I have run a :61 quarter.   Maybe if I broke it into smaller increments?  I could probably run a :61 quarter 100 meters at a time…

    Thanks for the comment Mike.  Mike can also be found here: http://tucsoncitizen.com/run/2009/07/07/why-we-run/

  • Karen Nelson

    Ahhhh… Time! Time can be a wonderful thing — as in allowing time to mull things over — or it can be a ravaging thing — as in what it does to living things (like our bodies)!  I have the benefit of never being in competition in any individual sporting events (as long as you don’t count baton twirling!) and so anything I do today is just great! Glad you have gotten over the then and now thing! Part of growing older and wiser, yes?

  • Tim Bentley

    Thanks Karen.  I see it often as people come back to running after a long layoff.  An urge to compete/train at the same level as before can be frustrating and often leads to not doing anything at all.  But once past that, you’re right, there is satisfaction in the ‘just doing’.

  • Chris Conboy

    Thanks Tim.  I can relate to that article and your follow-up comment.  I too had a long (20+ years) layoff from running and started again last summer.  The thing that helps me is that all of the road races I run have age groups with 5 year increments.  I know that  can’t compete with 20-somethings in a 5K or a 10K but it is nice to have your age group as a measuring stick to guage your times by in competition.

  • Tim Bentley

    Thanks Chris, do you think it would be too much to advocate for 1-year age groups?  I would support such a movement…HA!

    The age group divisions are a great way to feed the competitive fire and gauge yourself against your peers and fellow runners.  My team, The Slow Old Goats (http://tucsoncitizen.com/run/2009/06/16/because-goats-rule-obviously/) will challenge the fast guys in some of the 5K’s in Tucson.  We do it on a cumulative time basis, only they have to count their top 5 finishers, while we count 4.  It levels the playing field and gives us ‘old’ guys a chance to talk some smack!  We compete for drinks, and somewhat related to my post, not only do the young guys have no wisdom, they often have a lack of $$ to pay their debts.  But we have the wisdom to share…and to keep a running tab!
    Good running Chris!

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