N

N became apparent to me as footsteps rumbling the timber stretchers on the bridges as I headed down the pathway out of Edwards Gardens returning back to Taylor Creek. I first heard them several seconds behind me on the first bridge at the entrance to the park, and as each subsequent bridge passed underneath me the gap got shorter until they were clearly at my heels. It's instinctive to pick up the pace, the first thought being if they are truely faster, then they'll pass me anyway. I wasn't quite used to runs of this length yet, but I was willing to hit a 7 minute pace for the 8 minutes it would take to reach the split at Sunnybrook.

Once the main park appeared, I split south and she split north, I spun my head with the question in my mind Who IS that?!?. Impressive, lengthy, smooth, and apparently quicker than me.

Her name appeared in results in races we were in together, although I didn't usually know it. I'd spot her easing her way through the park, I'd toss a nod or wave her way and she'd wave back...she might have known me from the chase, or maybe it was just me.

On warmish summer day, a local road race in walking distance prepped in the park below me. Sign up...warm up...wait at the start. And there she stands...a little tete a tete in shoes to happen. I guess I was in pretty reasonable shape at this time. As usual, out too hard, but it wasn't until the turn to come back I realized she was most of a minute behind me. Not the challenge I was thinking it would be.

Fast forward to September. A little local cross-country this time. This is the race she preps for, I could tell by the way she had been running the last few weeks. At the gun, I slip ahead a few steps and carry it down the hill. The course switches from open field to single track and damned if she didn't cut a corner and dart in front of me. Fine. The course is long, I can tell by my pace and my watch. I'm determined to stay right there, and as we reel in fading runners it seems as though she's trying to trap me in back. At one point I have to run off path and dance through the shrubs to get around someone just to keep contact. The hill is make or break, as she darts up smartly and I choose to conserve. Since it's back to field I won't get trapped. Once crested I can get back on pace. The hill is her nemesis, I slip ahead, her breathing is laboured and she struggles to get form. I can sprint, even when exhausted. Once over the line, I turn, she lightly slaps my hand and says "good race".

This year I didn't enter the race as I didn't realize it was on, but I did watch. I specifically timed N just to see if she was any faster. Sub-20 she went. My first thought "short course", and a check on finishing times tells me that's the case. A week later I jogged it just to see if it was short. 21:50 for me, so yes it's a short course. The thought comes to mind...can I beat her time if I run it on my own? Once around the park to get my breath back, then I tear off at race pace...without race officials at the corners I'll need to dodge dogs, leashes and people. People are jumping to the sides as I blast around corners and through tree stands. Take the hill and hammer it across the field, I'm not even looking at my watch to see where I'm at.

Once I hit where the finish line was, I hit stop, and go into a cooldown jog. Check the watch.

2 seconds faster.

I guess I'm not old yet.