The importance of making a good first impression is well understood these days. In the military, we wear starched uniforms, spit-shined boots, and sport short regulation haircuts all in the name of making a good first impression. But, are first impressions always accurate? In the following example, my perception did not equal reality.
It was the spring of 1989 and I was a young 24 year old Ranger assigned to the 1st Ranger Battalion. The Rangers are considered the most elite infantrymen in the world. We prided ourselves on intense physical training. The average age of an infantryman in a Ranger unit was 22. My girlfriend Lillian, now my wife, and I had gone out to eat and by chance happened to be seated next to a group of Savannah Striders. The Savannah Striders, a local running club, was conducting their monthly meeting. They were a lively bunch but did seem rather advanced in years. I asked a member of the club, where and when they usually meet to run. He responded that they met at Lake Mayer on Saturdays and Sundays. Saturdays was generally a friendly slower paced run and Sundays was reserved for longer runs. I remember making a sly remark to Lillian that the pace of these runs would have to be slow to prevent heart attacks.
I let curiosity get the better of me and joined them on a Saturday slower paced run. As I wheeled into the meeting area for the run, I noticed that I appeared to be the youngest one there. Upon exiting my vehicle an older woman and man approached me and thanked me for showing up. I estimated there ages to easily be in the mid to upper 40's. They began to make small talk about the military, asking me how long I had been in and if I enjoyed it, etc . We were still chatting as the run began. .
For the first mile the pace was very easy and I had no trouble maintaining the conversation. As soon as we passed the first mile marker the pace began to quicken to where I started to have doubts about my physical supremacy.