"Each step forward has a sacred meaning of its own"   Sri Chinmoy

2 Mile Race #1 - Jamaica High School Loop - August 2026

The day after Sports Day I was pleased to wake up feeling no more soreness than usual in the dodgy knee. It was Saturday, day of the weekly 2-miler, and I felt confident to jog round and see if I could beat my 18.58 from Ireland back in June. Progress had stalled in the weeks leading up to Celebrations, but I was more optimistic after the flat-out race walk the day before and the lack of any serious repercussions. So, I walked up to Thomas Edison High to pay my 2 bucks, opted to wear my lucky number from the day before rather than get a new one, then had a brief jog warm-up and stretch around the block near the start.

The race prayer was a long one about the body, vital and mind walking; the heart running; the soul diving. We repeated it together then there was a nice, long silence before we started and the usual joyful dash for the corner. I was in non-intense mode for this one, very introspective and feeling the joy and fun of running in the big pack at around 8.30 pace. I sped up on the hills, took it easy on the way down, traded places with lots of runners I don't usually run with. I really loved the experience, despite it being a strange half-way-house between walking when injured and racing all-in when healthy. When I crossed the line I was pleased to see 16.46 on the clock. Definitely progress, and progress I felt more sure of the next day when once again the exertions hadn't caused any kind of knee flare-up.

So my recovery seems on track, though it still seems to me that it is going to take a year and a half to be running with any semblance of normality. Once I feel sure of running 5k at this kind of pace I will feel able to sign up for a triathlon and see how that goes. My first love, when it comes to racing, is fell running - but that could be a long way off. The same goes for marathons - will I ever make it back to that distance? Time will tell, but I am already praying, patiently, and singing the marathon song.

Sacred Steps Home