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 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.

I recently played golf with my friend Mike, which is ironic, because Mike is the reason I run today and the irony is that golf played a major role.

Mike and I tried out as freshman for the Sabino High School golf team, (ahem), many years ago. We hacked it around, practicing on the links all summer and gave it our best shot on a hot, monsoony Tucson August afternoon. We weren’t really that good, but thought we maybe had a chance. But in our young naiveté, we missed one thing: the Sabino golf team was perennially tops in the state and had future pro Willie Wood leading the charge. Needless to say, we did not make the team. Back then, after school, sports substituted for Phys Ed and we were petrified that we would have to take P.E. and shower after 3rd period. So we did what any scared 14-year-old kids would do – signed up for Cross Country, a no cut sport!

Twenty-eight years later I am reminded of this story as I ran at the Tucson City Parks Track & Field Meet at the UA open track meets. Alongside me for the mile race were two recently graduated kids from Sabino, one the state high school champ in the mile and half-mile, and the other a close runner up. After the race they were full of questions. They wanted to know times, records and how fast we were back in the day. My memory was fuzzy and I couldn’t remember much except some ugly uniforms and the golf story.

Mike and I remain friends to this day because of our love of running, respect for our cross country coach Mr. Brooks and the ability to look the other way after the other suffers a bad golf shot. We had some great teams back then, but oddly all Mike and I could remember that day were the great times we had along with our teammates. No times, no course records, just laughing and running. I hope that’s what running is for you, laughing, running and pursuing your dreams. Luckily we were able to realize ours.

I finished a distant third to my much younger Sabino brethren that night (the state champ even lapped me). But, needless to say, I’m on the team.

I want to know why you run. What is your story?

No need to be on any team to compete in these City Track Meets.  We’ll see you there!