A Little Excerpt

Spring 2022

“So how long have you been running?” Toby Ingram asked his date, Alyssa Riley. This was their first date at a coffee shop.
“Since I was in middle school. I was on the cross country team in high school and college. What about you?” Alyssa asked.
“Altogether since I was like 15 or so. A couple months after I had surgery on my throat, I asked my brother, Brody, to teach me how to run long distances. I wanted a better self image, I guess. But since I started, I’ve taken breaks from running like four or five times. I’m pretty consistent with it now. I try to go like three times a week and still skateboard when I get a chance.”
“For me, it’s like three or four times a week. I’ve been mostly consistent with it since I’ve started. I did have to take a break a few years ago since I had hernia surgery and had to recover from that.”
“How fast can you run?” Toby asked.
“I can comfortably run about an 8.5-minute mile. What about you?” Alyssa asked.
“Very comfortably, I can run about a 9- or 9.5-minute mile. I think I could be a little faster if I hadn’t taken as many breaks as I did.”
“Were you on the cross country team in high school?”
“No, I wasn’t. I did, however, play intramural soccer when I was in college. That was an interesting experience.”
“How so?”
“I’ve never played soccer until then. It was fun in college, but I don’t think I’d continue playing it. I’m more into long distance running and skateboarding.”