Senior runner is inspiration
If you saw a group of runners near Heritage Park on Saturday trailed by one slow poke, that lonely jogger was me. The morning 5K came about after a friendly challenge by some friends, among them were a couple of running enthusiasts. I'm more of an dining enthusiast but joined in the "Fun Run" anyways and clocked in at 44 minutes, about six minutes faster than the pace of most senior citizens who walk the same distance around Central Park.
Unless you're Gordon Barnard, of course. He could probably complete the run in half the time without breaking a sweat. I first met Barnard, a senior center regular in his mid-70s, at an early morning 1-mile walk. When I showed up yawning, he arrived after already finishing six miles. Recently Barnard came back from his native England, where he ran two full marathons in less than a week. When he told me this, I was thoroughly embarrassed.
"I've never even run a 5K," I told him.
"Don't start," Barnard joked. "There's something masochistic about us runners."
I did not follow Barnard's advice this weekend but I'm still embarrassed. Two marathons in a week ... that's like 17 more 5Ks!
Unless you're Gordon Barnard, of course. He could probably complete the run in half the time without breaking a sweat. I first met Barnard, a senior center regular in his mid-70s, at an early morning 1-mile walk. When I showed up yawning, he arrived after already finishing six miles. Recently Barnard came back from his native England, where he ran two full marathons in less than a week. When he told me this, I was thoroughly embarrassed.
"I've never even run a 5K," I told him.
"Don't start," Barnard joked. "There's something masochistic about us runners."
I did not follow Barnard's advice this weekend but I'm still embarrassed. Two marathons in a week ... that's like 17 more 5Ks!
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