Writing as one in the 55-59 mens division, I have finally found 
myself out of the top 10% of finishers. We all know the back half is 
not as serious as the front. Neither discipline, nor devotion, talent 
or luck run in the back. (Short of the aged and infirm on their good 
days.) The shock is seeing how far forward the race extends on the 
first open vista. None-the-less, even among the less talented in my 
purview it is a race and everyone around me is not giving an inch 
without good reason. Recently, I received an explanation on why 
thinner runners do better in the heat: our core slower to heat up. In 
the heat and humidity, this 4 miler appeared to follow the rule. I 
watched my peers take off ahead at the start. But as time went on I 
found myself slowly moving forward, unchallenged. This is not to say 
runners did not pass me. A few went flying by either due to a late 
start or a very conservative early pace. But they were younger. Doubt 
of ability and health is always just beneath the surface. Moving 
forward is a good omen.

The great illusion which I always look forward to seeing is runners 
appearing to be changing speed past the turn off the 102nd Street Cut 
Off (the Fat Man’s Cut Off among some of us) onto the West Drive 
going south. The line of runners ahead on the cut off are moving at 
the same pace as the runner who is observing and appear stationary to 
the eye. However, after they turn off onto the West Drive, their true 
speed is appreciated, which is my own pace, and they seem to cut to 
the left at a great speed.

I find the line of hills rising beyond this point going south are not 
as obvious in respect to effort as when I am on a bike. My guess is 
that I am better at adjusting for the change in effort on uphill 
grades on foot than on wheel due to the more direct connection and 
slower speed with the road. As weird as it appears, I have to look 
around to perceive if I am going uphill. Going downhill is another 
matter. My intention is to open my stride to gain as much ground as I 
can muster. When my body tells me things are getting easier I have to 
consciously open my stride. It is so easy to dog it and lose the 
opportunity.

As I approached the finish line I had to use the training that Coach 
Tony has given us in our track workouts, concentrating on form, speed 
and ease. This is not the time to let down one’s guard as all horses 
recognize the club house turn and the strongest will play their best 
hand. Passing a few runners at the line could mean that I held back 
too much. Or, it might mean I played my cards just right. Sadly, with 
all the stuff I could muster, I ran this race over 20 seconds per 
mile slower than last year. What will next year bring?

Being an older athlete is many things. You need to be on holiday from 
injury. But the element which I am most aware of is the grace of 
having the opportunity to be on the field of play another time with 
friends on many teams: something you can all look forward to in your 
dotage, and me with a little more luck next race.

Hank Schiffman