Slow & Steady

Next Sunday is the Twin Cities Marathon. One of the most important things for me is to be patient and not start too fast. There is a temptation to start a little faster than my goal pace so that I can "bank" time, so I can be ahead of schedule if things should go poorly later. Even though I know in my head that starting too fast like that will guarantee my feeling miserable later somehow when I get into it I'm tempted to go too fast anyway. It just feels so good, so I keep finding myself going for it. This time I'm going to be successful because I will have a friend by my side who won't let me go too fast, who will help me watch out for my best interest.

I can't help but wonder if it's not the same with people, with making friends. It's generally best to not start out too fast. In my head I know it's in my best interest to start slow because if I don't there is a good chance of feeling miserable in the end. The problem is I get into it and I get tempted to go too fast; to start thinking that I can maintain this. I start imagining a loftier finish than what perhaps should be expected. At least that's what wants to happen when I go it alone. When I bring a trusted friend along they can make sure I don't get going too fast, get ahead of myself, and help me watch out for my best interest.

Slow and steady... bring a friend... now if I can just remember to do this for real...