I've started training to run a half marathon in May. I have never been a good distance runner. I'm slow, I'm sort of lazy, and I never want to go far.

And then today I set out for a run with my running buddy. Last week I set a personal record of 5.45 miles. This week I decided to set my goal at 6 miles. Before this point, the farthest I had ever run in one go was five miles, and that was one time when I was 21. Today I ran a little over 7.

It's remarkable what a body can do when you treat it decently and allow it to surprise you.