“Take off your headphones. A 5K is a little over three miles, and let’s say you run a ten-minute mile, so that’s about half an hour. You can spend half an hour without distractions. Pay attention to what you’re doing, pay attention to your body, pay attention to your breathing. Some of you are about to run your first race ever—be here for it.” Some of the runners took my advice, taking off their headphones and stowing them in their bags. I watched those people as we all shuffled to the line, and started to watch for the first indication of someone spelunking into the darkest depths of their
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