The consummate chronicler of our running escapades of so many years ago recently informed me that on June 21,1980, I ran the Westchester Half Marathon in just under one hour and thirty-one minutes (does 1:30:52 sound better?). By the most-accurate account, I finished with our friend Warren with whom the report was shared.

In the email exchange that followed, the response of the chronicler - perhaps to the comment that “more training” would have alleviated another runner’s trailing behind at the finish - was that “Better runs were ahead”.

I wondered. How far ahead?

I dreamed for a moment. Could more training lead to better runs this many years later? The reality quickly set in. There is simply no 1:30 half marathon anywhere in this body. Despite the fantasy thinking, no amount of training could bring that back.

So this is about accepting what the years have done...to me, to Warren, and to the chronicler.