In late July I signed up to run the "Tübinger Stadtlauf," the city's annual 7.5 kilometer race. Because of travel I couldn't start preparing until mid August, and got off to a slow start because of some stomach issues. But I'm in high gear now. I bought some really great shoes and have been running almost every day. Last week I ran a distance I estimated with google earth at about six kilometers and did it in 30 minutes, so it appeared that I was going to get the 7.5 mark in under 40 minutes. I then set myself the goal of running the 7.5 kilometers in the same time I ran 10 kilometers back in 1983 when I was on the cross country team: 36 minutes. A few days ago I ran about 9 or 10 kilometers and felt great. Today, I ran a distance I measured very closely with google earth to be exactly 7.5 kilometers and ran it in 36:24. I was ecstatic! I am already at my goal. The actual course for the race has a few hills, which my route today did not have, but with another 10 days to train and the crowd their watching, I'm certain I can at least hold that time.

When I started training a few weeks ago, I ran up the Rammert hill toward Kressbach and couldn't make it all the way up without walking part of the way. Now I run up to the Rammert including three uphill sections without stopping. I am fired up! I am not going to be timing myself any more before the official run, however. That's just a little bit too much work.