Today’s run was a little faster than Saturday’s or Monday’s. Without really being aware, without trying, I was able to go just a little faster today. I think that mindfulness in a lot of cases for the runner simply means to just show up and do the work. It is so wonderful I don’t have to plan our course we run. My running buddy and coach meets me and I just follow her and she lets me know the miles as they pass. Each run is a new run. This newness also helps the mindfulness. This newness also helps the speed. We have never run the same run. With time, I will get faster. It will be awhile before I can boast of my past marathon weight and past marathon speed. I may never get both back. but I am committed to each new run as we slowly build the weekly mileage in the present. Mindfulness, speed and newness for the runner are related in how they all are experienced only in the present.