Welcome

Welcome to Off The Pace, a blog about running. My running, your running, and how it fits into the rest of life and the pursuit of happiness. Or just mindless bloviating. Either works.

At the end of 2006, as I went running on the last day of the year before hosting a New Year's Eve dinner party, I totaled the miles I've logged since I began running "competitively" at age 11 (mile fun runs) and then competitively in middle school and high school, through college cross country, indoor and outdoor track, and into marathons and road races. I stopped keeping a detailed running log after college, when I realized I was running for the log sometimes rather than for myself.

However, I have kept fairly steady on training distances, and so my estimate is pretty accurate. I believe, from 1982 to 2006, I have run 52,000 miles, give or take. Lots of 100+ mile weeks in college, lots of 60 mile weeks as a marathoner. And this blog, which probably three people will find and read, is an attempt to determine what, other than 3% bodyfat, I have gained from all those miles.

My belief is a lot -- but I'm going to look at some themes and what not and see what I've learned. I instead passed by a father and his 12 year old son out running yesterday. I thought of when I began running with my father, and then on my own, and then competitively in middle school, and high school, and college. And when I could no longer run for varsity letters and All-American plaques, I keep running.