Finished a 7-miler yesterday evening just in time to meet Kelly for a picnic and the Metropolitan Opera in Prospect Park. Split-wise, it was an interesting run; I don’t know that I’ve ever had a non-race run with 2 sub-7-minute miles. Mile 2, which I thought I was running at about 8:30 pace, was actually 6:55– a testament to how good I’ve been feeling lately, I guess. I also had a 6:55 mile at mile six, thanks to an anonymous stranger.

Somewhere during mile 5 I heard a weird sound, and turned to see a kid on a little training bike careening toward me and a guy close on my tail. Usually, the few people who pass me totally smoke me, but I eventually heard this guy’s steps steady behind me. Once there was room (lots of walkers on the path due to the opera) he caught me, and we kept pace with one another, non competitively, for the next mile and a half or so. It was great. He really kept me going. About halfway into mile 6, right at the base of the hill, he chirped “thanks!” and headed off out of the park.  I’ve never really run with anyone before, but it was really nice to have someone keeping me honest through the part of the run I’d likely have slacked on were I alone.

This was one of those moments where I felt like an actual real runner, which is rare. Nathaniel mentions being treated badly at running stores until he reached a certain level of fitness and running acumen, and I’ve experienced the same thing. I guess this was a more positive one of those moments.