doesn’t always win the race, but that mantra has helped me finish the race.  I’m a pretty slow runner in runner terms. But I rarely walk and I keep my heart rate in its zone. Depending on the mileage and the terrain, on a good race day I can  run a 9:15 to 9:30 minute mile. That is huge for me.  Let me explain.

I was the quintessential non-athlete as a child. Ducking from wiffle balls. Getting picked last for kickball. You get the picture. So, now, after having two boys (and c-sections!) and being 37, I’ve discovered that I had in me something I never knew:  athletic confidence.  Now I’m not talking about Marion Jones (with or without the ‘roids) confidence, I’m talking about basic mind-over-body. Telling myself that I CAN do it. ANYbody can do anything.  The running world is full of amazing stories of perserverance and the human spirit.

But something I did learn from childhood endeavors (aside from being a kickball outcast) was that practice can make perfect (or what I call personal perfect). Practice and knowledge are key in taking on something like your first ever road race.  While running may seem simple at first — you put one foot in front of the other — there’s a lot more to it as I learned from coach Katie Malone.  She and I will share these basics on our dual blog and hope that you get The Ache on your race calendar for September 2008. 

Please check back soon for a more meaty entry to get you on a training regimen for Spring.

–The Tortoise

 PS - to learn more about the race or register, please visit www.achearoundthelake.org.