My Best Tortoise-Hustle Pace: On Writing and Running

By Christine Wiese

I’m only three miles into the Asheville half marathon when the male front runners round the first turnaround point and come back past us. The gazelles, as I think of them, run with beautiful form, loping towards the next turn with long, graceful strides. Shortly behind them is the leading woman. I’m at the back of the pack with the other tortoises when she passes and a big cheer goes up among all the women. A female voice yells, “Yeah! Represent!” We’re cheering for a st...