Getting better with age

Last Saturday, the rain started early and poured all day in Southeastern Pennsylvania. A nasty, cold rain. I bundled up and stayed inside most of the day. A good 60-miles away at the University of Pennsylvania’s 127th Penn Relays, 96-year-old Ed Cox, of Syracuse, New York, earned 5^th place in the Master’s Men’s 100-meter in just over 24 seconds.

Twenty-four measly seconds. Less than half a minute.

My evening run to the refrigerator in between commercials takes longer. Forget about being 96 years young and running a 100-meter dash in 24 seconds. The story gets better. They guy who won the race, Bob Williamson, is 86 and ran it in 17.5 seconds.

Where was I? On my couch. A cup of tea in my hands, keeping warm.

Yes, there’s more.

In mid-April, Jeanne Rice, a few days after her 75^th birthday, ran 3:33 at the Boston Marathon, averaging 8:08 per mile. A mere six weeks earlier, she ran the Tokyo Marathon, finishing in 3:31.

Um, hello, she’s 75 years-old pushing out 8 minute miles for 26.2 miles. My head is spinning at that one.

I’m trying to get back into running after some knee issues last fall. It’s slow going, my form is a mess, but I’ve missed it. I won’t be winning any races like Cox, Williamson, and Rice — in fact, my times will be nowhere near theirs — but when the training gets to be too much, when I want to stop, I’m going to be thinking of them and their courage.

No giving up. No quitting. Just one step in front of the other.

Image by Cottonbro Studio by Pexels.