Kevin and I ran the 2000 N hill route this morning. He beat me up the big hill easily, and pulled me along the rest of way. Like I told him, I'm getting in okay downhill and even on-the-level shape, but my uphill fitness is lagging behind. I felt tired the whole run trying not to hold Kevin back too much. I felt slow, but my overall average pace (hills included) was 9:47/mi today, compared to 11:10/mi on the same route last Thursday. My father, who turned 80 recently, told me when people ask him why he's so happy he tells them it's because he always sets his goals just 1 step ahead of him so they are easy to achieve. In another conversation he pointed out how dirt poor he used to be, and now they have in abundance everything they need to be happy. I'm a believer in "line upon line", "here a little, there a little" and that "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass" (Alma 37:6). I don't know if I'll ever get back to a sub-3 hour marathon, but I do know that if I consistently get out and run (and do other small things to improve my life) that great things will come to pass. It's been true for 52 years. That's the great thing about true principles, they can always be relied on to deliver as promised. | 