The Short Stride

I used to see them, the slow runners. I used to think I could beat them up a hill. I used to think they were at the beginning of the run. So slow.

I've been training for a half marathon since last July. It began with me thinking I should just add a block each time. Then I realized to make it up some hills I needed to shorten my stride. A lot. An embarrassing lot. There were some days when I was working my way up a hill and understanding that I looked ridiculous but I was eleven miles in, and the short stride was the only way I was making it up the hill.

Sometimes we see people going slow and we think they're just starting, but really they are eleven miles in.

I've learned not to judge the short stride.