Hey Larry, et al:

Just a quick note of support here for your Mass Velocity efforts. Mass Velocity has already made a significant difference in keeping us old-and-not-really-that-fast-anymore guys informed and encouraged. I had a few thoughts I wanted to add.

Having been an active participant in other masters/seniors sports, I find sprinting to be the most physically demanding. As others have similarly said, what we're doing is so far out on the edge of the bell curve for our age group, that small differences in performance level are really not significant. As for the Bill Collinses of the world, I just don't know what to say, he is as rare as can be. Myself, I'm running primarily for the same reason I did 35 years ago: it just feels cool to get it going - whatever "it" I happen to have. It's no different than putting on that brand new pair of sneakers when you were a little kid and right away wanting to run, fast, no stopwatch required.

I can't have the same goals in running as I did when I was young. After all, while I might get a bit faster in the short run, the long term change is inevitable: I'm going to slow down. So are Bill Collins and Michael Johnson. And there are certainly less demanding ways to stay fit for the sake of general health. But in the bigger picture the aim is the same as ever, to do what I can with what I've got. The attendant benefits of fitness, excitement, comraderie, and a reason to stay focused make it more worthwhile. So I hope I can stay physically able to do this - frankly it's touch and go in that regard - and find a way to work it in with the other demands of life in general.

So a pat on the back to all of us!

Rob Porcaro