Apr 26, 2000

It's both satisfying and scary to hear that someone actually follows my advice to the letter -- or the number. Steve Vaughan from Ohio mimics my practices of running by time periods instead of distances and keeping score by daily average instead of a weekly total.

He averages times, as I do, once a month instead of by the week because the longer period gives a more realistic reading of fitness. We both count only the days actually run instead of taking penalties for needed days off or days cut short.

We also have minimum figures for counting "run" days. His is 20 minutes, mine is passing the 10-minute test and continuing.

Steve writes in response to my recommendation last week (RC 300) to use the first 10 minutes as a trial run and to stop there as pains demand it. "I worry about too many 10- or 20-minute days deflating my daily average," he says. "Is there another idea for keeping score, or will the monthly time frame resolve low days or weeks?"

I reminded him that there are times when the feet and legs, not the prearranged plan, must take charge. But if we listen to the early-run signals, the downtimes are few and brief.

My latest low spell came because I made the mistake of racing on a sore foot -- making it much sorer. The next month's daily average still dropped by only a minuscule five minutes. The month after, all was well enough to allow a marathon finish.

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