I used to have many photos of me as I like me, but lost most in the fire. I still have one of my favorites snapped by K. It is at a foot race in Highlands, NC.
Doing too much early is a killer. It is unheard of to do that for a guy with my experience. My "game" is coming on late as I have no speed and have to wait until the field settles. Still, that day I pressed too hard in the early miles as my body had grown old and my ego disagreed.
About a mile to go and my body quit on me. I was running alone and then struggling to get in. I knew all the other geezers were well behind me. One came by me running strong as he had not been an idiot like me. I forced myself to hang with him. It was hard, pain was intense for us in that mile as he tried to move away.
The last 200yards was uphill after crossing a bridge. We knew that. I knew K was at the finish. She never hopes I will do OK, expects it. We crossed the bridge, and my brain found a gear my body was trying to hide from me.
Later found out this guy was in a younger age group, so the pain was for nothing.