What a difference a year (or 54 weeks) makes. On Feb. 9, 2008, I did my first 20-mile run (almost). Took me 3:25, which was a huge struggle with a lot of walking. Today, in a cold rain, 3:09 over the same course, and it was a LOT easier -- not that it was easy. And it was also a full 20. Talked to Coach Tom after the run about two things: volunteering at LRM, and becoming a coach. Tom warned me that since I'm so OCD, I will have to be really careful as a coach not to push people beyond the breaking point and get them hurt. The idea is to get them ready, but not get them injured. As for volunteering, I still haven't definitely decided to do so, but the option remains open; they can always use more people. I've always heard that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing the same way over and over and expecting different results. I have a new definition: Running 20 miles in a cold rain in February. | 