Run Tom, Run

I went running right after work again yesterday at about 5:30. Its a rather toasty time of day to run 5, but I was having some guys over to play poker later, so it was my only time to get my run in for the day. As I was getting out of my car and walking up to the sidewalk I saw an older gentlemen that I've seen out a few times before. This man looks to be in his 70s, possibly late 60s at best. He ran by and after getting my mp3 going, I took off as well. I assumed that I would quickly pass him, but as I started to approach him I realized that this chap was keeping a pretty healthy pace. It was about 95 out and I was keeping what was probably just under a 8 min/mile pace and it was clear that he had already logged a few miles. My prediction is that he has been running for decades, as most people don't start their running careers that late in life. He had a normal stride with his left leg, however he had a brace on his right knee and a bit a shuffle with his right leg. He wasn't able to pick it up, so think about trying to run 8 minute miles with a sprained ankle and this is what I was watching. His skin was leathered, most likely from one too many long runs under the brutal Texas sun, and from a distance you would have guessed that he was running 10 min miles at best. I passed him, but he then noticed that he was staying with me. I'm a healthy guy in my late 20s and have been running for a few years, and this pace in the heat was killing me, yet this man seemed unphased by it! How is this possible? Every time I noticed him starting to close on me, I picked up my pace again. This was our exchange for the rest of the 2.4 mile lap - me struggling to stay ahead and him closing every time I slacked my pace just a tad. Towards the end of my first lap he effortlessly sailed passed me to finish up his lap. All of that and he still passed me with ease at the end of the lap! I probably could have gotten much more out of that run if I simply would have slowed up a bit and ran with him. Much more could have been learned by talking to him about his years of running then by my pushing ahead on my own, struggling to stay in the lead - only to be passed in the end.