I ran with the Cambridge cross country club this morning. The pack leader looks at me and asks, “So you’re a half-miler yeah?”

I reply, “Yes, I run the half-mile and mile.” A hush fell over the group, which consisted mainly of 5k and 10k road runners and half-marathoners. After about a minute of silence the pack leader turns to me and asks, “Can you hold your distance?” in the same tone of voice senior fraternity brother would ask a pledge, “Can you hold your liquor?”

I replied in a cowboy accent, “Damn straight.”

“Good lad,” he smirked and we floored it for the remaining five miles.

All before my first class this morning.