One Way to Realize You're Out of Shape

...is to host a run for your half marathon training program that includes three big hills and two scenic trails and lots of rolling terrain in between.

We had about 20 takers this morning for a challenging course that I created for the group three years ago. It's based on a longer course I used to do regularly when I lived in Scripps Ranch, which remains my favorite place to run in San Diego and probably always will.

It's a deceptively simple course but it does require people to pay attention and to review a map if they are first-timers, and everyone but me was this morning. I served as the sweep, which meant I lagged behind everyone so when I pulled into an aid station, the volunteers knew they could break down and head home. [This didn't work as well this year because of a defiant late-comer who unknowingly set into motion a chain of frustrating events.]

Moving up the first hill I suddenly realized: Wait a minute, I really am the slowest runner here today.

The hills and my breathing got harder with each mile, influenced by the rising summer-like temperatures on this cloudless day. But when it's your course and your sweep, you must soldier on. Especially when it's your husband, working off four hours' sleep, calling your cell to say he's back at the lake and can't find a single open space in the congested parking lot to unload his much-needed water station wares.

I'm glad I did keep going because I helped a young woman named Jackie up the final hill and she seemed grateful for the company and the conversation. And everyone enjoyed my post-run oatmeal cookies, their reward for a morning that was hard run.