Posting on posts

Back 75 pounds ago, I posted an early run and the pace as recorded. A friend challenged it, somewhat disbelieving that someone of my girth and appetites for beer and bad food could achieve that speed for any sustained time.

His misgivings were understandable. But somewhere in my bones remained the vestiges of the runner I once was. It’s possible the time was off, as it was sourced via by iPod mini. But the effort was real.

Since then I’ve kept track of time, pace and distance. And I post them.

The primary reason is accountability for me, to myself and my training and my goals. It’s a selfish decision to post, as in doing so it prevents me from exaggerating. There are no fishy times – they are what they are.

As many know, the treadmill is my nemesis. It kills me. And it would be extremely easy to quit, to simply push the pause button and hit the shower. No one else particularly cares, but the workouts are either 44 minutes or 56 minutes – precisely. Quitting early is a form of cheating; however, knowing the post will be public forces those final few minutes out.

On the road, it is slightly different. When five, 10 or 15 kilometers away from home there is the imperative to return to the starting point. Running wallet free means catching a Lyft back is not an option.

Sharing the effort of the day is also a visual reminder of progress or stagnation, something all runners will experience. It’s a way to say ‘I tried’ and that on that day, at that time, it was the best you could do.

Also I’ve been touched by those who have shared their support for the physical transformation the posts represent. Some profess admiration, some confess to being motivated to start the process themselves and some make sly jabs about why I waited till my 50s to renew my affection for running.

So is it braggadocio that motivates the posting, no. Is it a desire to hold myself answerable? Yes. Does it feel good to know others might feel inspired? It would be fraudulent to say otherwise.

The times, though, ultimately are unimportant. Advancement is not in the pace, it is found in the evolution, in the forward movement and crossing the line that works for you.