Night Speed.

These guys were the regulars, I was the guest. First came a quick explanation of the 5.2 mile route, a winter route designed to follow streetlights, not quite enough light but as good as it gets on the far edge of suburbia. We headed into the night.

Only a couple hundred yards into it and the pace was heating up. No conversation. More often than not, this is bad sign, but I was thinking, not tonight! I had the feeling that I was as strong as any in the group, at least the ones who counted those I knew.

Cool. About a half mile of this and we settled in, I liked what I felt. We were quickly down to a lead pack of 5 from the original 12. Everyone I expected was there, including a couple I knew would soon be in a world of hurt. I respect that; Im there often. We live for a little adventure, from the Latin "Adventura", when the outcome is uncertain.

Mile one, way fast but sane. I broke the silence to feel them out. I was making comments more than asking questions but the quiet was telling. A moment later someone yelled "left". My response time was slow, my turn wide. We faced uphill darkness. Climbing is not my strength and now I was the back of this pack. I thought, run smart, its early; I sat back and found the right effort for me. A runner opened up a few yards at the lead then seemed to steady or did we start to pick it up? Im unsure of things on the uphill, it always feels too hard, but what ever was happening, I was still Ok, at least I hoped so. The hill went on and on, 400 meters and climbing into wind and darkness. The home court advantage could take a toll, should I back off? Another 100 meters and there was more light and less hill. I was back at it, I jumped through the pack and closed the gap, a few labored groans and soon we were all together again.

We worked a couple more hard rolling miles; the pack hit a nice groove. All of a sudden, three quick turns, no more directions were given; I was learning to keep a step back at the intersections for better response time. A long downhill, my strength, two guys pushed it up, I went along, they pushed it more. The pain was perfect. A couple minutes of this, another turn, another hill and two less runners in our group.

I was working big time and could sense I wasnt alone in this world of pain. No one backed down. Just as the world started to fog over, another turn and we were at the finish! We jogged an easy recovery mile talking, joking and celebrating the effort. The wind picked up and the night turned cold or was it this way all the time? We had been lost for a while in the magic world of speed and effort. Go run!

Randy Step