Recommitting...sort of...kinda...I'm not sure

I got 100 percent of what I deserved on Thursday. I mean, it only makes sense that we'd run all the way to Cheverus High School (I say 'all the way,' though it's barely a mile or so) only to discover the track was gated and locked. So it only makes sense that we'd run all the way back to the Back Cove, and all the way to the soccer fields over by Hannaford.

And it only makes sense that I had to walk portions of it, because I was tired something awful.

I asked John Rogers if he was trying to punish us. Or if he got some disturbed thrill from watching us run from here to there to way over there.

Truth is, it was a workout that my group should have been able to master. You're well aware of my recently lackadaisical approach to training, but I assure you I'm not a solitary member in the "haven't run in weeks" club.

The first 20 minutes of Thursday's run was spent comparing notes on how poorly we'd all been adhering - or not - to the schedule. The overall conclusion: life happens.

Worlds will not crumble if we don't place 20th. Or 200th. Or even in the top 3/4. And as one fellow runner put it, "It's not like anyone's putting money on me to win."

True dat.

Even still, that doesn't mean we should wallow in our waned commitment. Let's mourn the missed runs of weeks past and move on.

There are still three hopeful weeks leading to the race. Records won't be broken in that time, but pride can be rectified. In that vein, I'm opting to add another weekly group run to the the already strenuous training plan (maybe 'strenuous' isn't the right word).

Hannaford has started up their B2B training runs. They're free - and there's food.

Hannaford is again sponsoring free training runs for the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K on Tuesdays through July 29. Meet at the red Hannaford tent in the Forest Avenue Hannaford parking lot at 5:30 p.m., rain or shine. The final run on July 29 will be led by B2B founder and Olympic gold medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson.

There will be a group warm-up and pacers for beginners, intermediate runners and more experienced runners. Free refreshments will be available. All participants must sign a release waiver, and anyone under 18 must have a parent sign the waiver.