This morning I found out that I was 8th out of 15 in my age group - 45-49. I have never been in the middle of the pack - usually one of the last 3 or last 10 overall. Are my last place days over? I'm not sure, but I wouldn't trade being last of the pack for sitting home waiting to be better before I start.
As I was in the final stretch of my run, I saw a woman approaching that I had chatted with just prior to the swim start. I made some encouraging words to her but she just turned away. I can't say what she was thinking, or know if she even heard me,, but I know that if I had been in her shoes, I probably would have done the same - preoccupied with my own "stinkin' thinkin'" - that the words of encouragement were just another way of gloating about being ahead of me. I have seen though, over the years in different races, that the applause is sincere - for so many different reasons if not only for the fact that we have all been there in one way or another.
I'm glad that I have not let my slowness interfere with me doing these physical activities. In the race results there was a 70+ person that was faster than me - I hope to be like that person when I get to be that age. Actually, I hope to be as fast as they are next year!
-- lemmefineout - Brooklyn
Yay, Pat! You are an inspiration.
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