Wednesday LONG-Distance Work-out

NOTE: I'm writing a newspaper series about turning 70-years-old and trying for a first place in the L.A. Marathon. 

Below is an account of a 21-mile-work out, semi disaster. 

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WEDNESDAY LONG DISTANCE WORK-OUT

All I can say is that I hung on. 

Wednesday I ran 21 miles.

Naturally, it was the hottest day of the so-called winter. 

In the coolness of the early morning, I did have six sub ten-minute-miles on the track, but as soon as I got out on the street I ran twelve to thirteen-minute-miles.

How do I expect to run a 4 hour, 24 minute marathon or anything close if I can’t pick up my feet when I’m on the asphalt?  4:24 is a ten-minute pace. 

I told the world or at least the newspaper-reading community I was going to get a first place in the LA Marathon which is about 8 weeks away. 

As I said, I hung on Wednesday. 

At mile 19, I stumbled into a restaurant and asked for water. Stood there gasping and gulping ice water until the lady at the counter asked, "ARE YOU OK? 

“I just ran 19 miles and I’m tired,” I told her and left before she called paramedics. 

The good thing is that I wasn’t tired or sore the next day. 

I am faster in races than in work-outs, but how can I even think of being 3 minutes a mile faster for 26 long tedious miles?

I’m probably going to embarrass myself. 

Flunk out, come in at 6 hours and reveal the little old lady 70-year-old I really am.

Good Bye.