Slow and steady wins the race, they say. Maybe, if the race is between a smug, sleepy rabbit and a focused turtle. In races that involve actual people running toward an actual finish line, slow and steady never wins.

Slow and Steady: that was the name of my band in college. Kidding, of course. My band’s name was Sorority Girls Drinking Zima. And it wasn’t a band so much as a Thursday night.

Anyway.

I am a slow and steady runner. The other day I thought I was flying, running the fastest I’ve run in years. I looked at my Garmin – a watch that makes me feel like a cool, runner-girl even if I’m an old, runner-lady – and my pace was exactly the same as it always is. Slow.

I struck up a conversation with a woman on the trail the other day (Fun Fact: strangers talk to me, and I have no idea why. I have to fake death to avoid chatty seatmates on airplanes). I was on a five-mile training run, and H was riding his bike with me. I stopped to stretch out my latest ailment, a nerve issue that gives me numb-foot, and this woman started chatting me up.

It turns out she’s a triathlon coach, and is new to the area, so we talked trails and training until H reminded me that we had to get home before dark, Mooooommmm. And then he turns to this stranger and says, “We have to go, because she is the slowest runner ever. I’m going as slow as I can on my bike, and she still can’t keep up!”

First of all, didn’t your mother ever teach you not to talk to strangers, kid? And secondly, I have to nod in agreement, because it’s true. This woman, God bless her, looked at H and said, “But she’s not sitting on the couch, she’s out here getting it done and that’s what matters.”

Ha, take that, kid. I sit on the couch when you’re at school, sucker.

I saw something in H’s eyes when the kindly stranger pointed out that logging the miles is as important as going fast. I saw what looked like understanding, and – perhaps – pride? That look made the last couple miles easier, lighter. Later he told me that I was “super strong even though you’re not super fast,” because he was tired after five miles on his bike.

Maybe I am strong. Maybe I’ll never be fast (but, please, oh, please let me get a little faster), and I’ll probably never grace the podium after a race, but I’m going to finish. I just hope it’s not dark when I cross the finish line.

***

A little business to take care of…

1. Plenty of time left to register for ZOOMA Texas. There’s a 5K and half marathon, followed by wine and massages. The race is at the Hyatt Lost Pines, where there’s a lazy river, people. Registering is a no-brainer, really. What are you waiting for? Register here.
2. There’s a race in San Antonio this weekend that sounds very cool. I’m not able to go, but wanted to share it with you, just in case you’re looking to log some miles this weekend. Here are the details:

WHO: The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Team in Training

WHAT: Inaugural HERO-THON Half Marathon San Antonio

WHEN: Sunday, January 27, 2013, 7:00 a.m.

WHERE: Alamodome
100 Montana Street
San Antonio, TX 78205

• First ever race for the HERO-THON Half Marathon Series that will soon have more races scheduled throughout the country
• Open to runners and walkers of all abilities
• The course starts and finishes at the Alamodome and takes participants through some of San Antonio’s most famous landmarks (River Walk and downtown included)
• There is a Finish Line Festival for participants to celebrate their accomplishment and cancer survivors after the race
• Funds raised from the race go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) as they dedicate themselves to finding cures for blood cancers
• The HERO-THON brings out the inner-superhero in everyone
• REGISTRATION – Half Marathon registration is available online at herothonlls.com;  Will also be available at the race expo on Saturday at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center,  and on race morning, Sunday, at the Alamodome. Entry is $95

About the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

• World’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to funding blood cancer research.
• There are 61 chapters throughout the U.S. and Canada and Austin is home to the South Central Texas Chapter.
• The organization invested $76 million in blood cancer research in 2012.
• Mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma.
• Every four minutes, someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer and every 10 minutes, someone dies.