Saturday morning runs are fun. They’re relaxing. Last week as you may remember, I set a personal best for the halfway point – 4K, and today I set out attempting to see if I could come close to equalling it. I was running comfortably, and fairly quick. I was almost at my 2K marker running east, when I saw another runner heading north on the street I was approaching, the very intersection and direction I was would be heading … and it’s a straight 2K, and I was confident he’d continue on the same path for that reason. And more importantly … he appeared to be hauling ass! Great, I thought! I got me a rabbit!

Now, I come across many runners, but usually it’s in the opposite direction and we exchange pleasantries – runner’s etiquette … and sure, occasionally I’ll come up from behind someone … and just as quickly I’ll blow right by them. I rarely see runners who are fast. I knew this guy was one of those … he was young, in great shape … and like I said … he had plenty of pace! As, I turned the corner, he was about 80 meters in front … now keep in mind, I’m already running pretty much as hard as I can wanting a good 4K time … he became my added incentive … and also, keep in mind – he’s completely unaware I’m on his ass, and that I’m racing him! I have 2 kilometers to catch ‘n pass … and I really was confident that I would. My eyes are fixated! All I’m focusing on is him. I’m continually measuring the distance between us. As much as I tried, as hard as I ran, I was only able to shorten the distance by 30-40 meters … and time was running out. I knew I wouldn’t catch him, let alone pass him … and the whole time I was chasing him, I was in awe, and amazed at the smoothness and calmness of his running style, his stride … if I ever did approach his flank and surprise him … I felt he’d have buried me!

On a positive note, I was able to better last week’s time by a full ten seconds, a new PR … all was not lost. Thanks rabbit!