sunday, in the afternoon.

most runners i know run faster than i do and i know a few who run really fast. like, they are not world-class fast, but they are really fast for amateur part-time hobbyjogger type runners. they're talented and they work hard and it all pays off and they're just fast. one of these talented hardworking fast guys - hereafter: phastguy - is recently injured and he's recovering and yes his recovery pace is faster than my perfectlywell pace, but that is not the point here. the point is that there's a 5k race coming up and he's probably not going to be racing.

when i race a 5k, i have a tendency to leap from the gates like some sort of wild animal who's been caged and i dart & zoom through the starting mile like my captors are in hot pursuit. then i get all tired & sort of bored & like ho hum are we done yet & wow this is really hard - and that's mile two. then for mile three at first i get all excited again at the possibility of Getting A Good Finishing Time but then i realize it's pretty much hopeless b/c of my LOSER mile two but i am thinking maybe i can make up the difference so i try to turn it on but firstly i actually am a wee bit knackered at that point and secondly i know it's completely hopeless so i am also mentally beat.

in conclusion, it would behoove me to steady the flow a tidge. to that end, i decided that what i need is a pacer so i gathered my courage [by which of course i mean, had a wee jar of the creature] and messaged phastguy to ask if he is not racing it, would he pace me in the upcoming 5k.

he didn't ask for my PRs. he didn't ask for my running résumé. he did not ask for my training plan. he did not ask how i would approach the race. he did not ask for any evidence that this thing that i want to do is within my grasp. i said i wanted to try and that i could use his help. he said «I think that would be awesome.»

no questions asked.

«I think that would be awesome.»

there's something inspiring about the implicit vote of confidence, but still i am partly thinking this will rock and partly thinking i just don't know if i can do it. he said «There's only one way to find out.»

yes, there is only one way to find out, and tonight, right here, right now... i think that it will be awesome.