These runs suck. Nearly 100 soldiers run two miles at a pace we can stay together. That usually means 11-minute miles and trying to keeping from tripping over the soldier in front of me.
Before this company run a drug and alcohol counselor led us in rah-rah anti-drug cheers. When he said Army, we said, Drug Free.
Then he said he was going to run with us and call some special cadence. He did, for a few hundred yards, then sergeants from our unit took over, then he called for a few minutes near the end. The run took 26 minutes: 13-minute miles!!
When we were back on the parade field, the drug counselor led us in a few more cheers. His jacket was off. He was sweating. This painfully slow run was clearly a big effort for him.
Then he said to all of us, "I'm 60 years old and I can still do this!" I was in the back row of the formation. There was some laughter around me. He didn't know there was a 60-year-old in the formation who runs two miles at a 7:30 pace.
I am very careful not to say I am good for my age. There is always somebody better.
