I’m overweight (again). A combination of a broken ankle, multiple hamstring and quad injuries and significant shoulder and chest injuries sidelined me for the past few years. But I continued to eat like I was still running five miles a day. The result was unfortunate, but predictable.

I’m finally healthy now. I have a few achy bones and some IT band issues — but it’s manageable. So I’ve resumed running.

My goal is to run a 10K in November in under 50 minutes. The last (and only time) I ran a 10K race was in 2018. I was in much better shape then and ran the race in 56:03. My goal is to run this year’s race in less than 50 minutes.

Two weeks into my return to running jogging, I’m nowhere near that goal. I run so slowly that it’s often hard to tell that I’m running at all. I know this because people watching me run by them tell me that all the time. I’m more turtle than hare at the moment.

The turtle life is very different than the life of “normal” runners. Running slowly provides an opportunity to observe life in a way you just can’t do if you’re moving quickly.

Discrete office buildings with unexpected security details stand out instead of blending into the background.

I’ve learned how to tell the difference between interns and young full-time workers as I run past commuting points or office buildings. Interns tend to travel in packs and are always talking. Young full-timers walk with purpose and Bluetooth headphones on.

More people use bike lanes than I thought. There are often bike lane traffic jams at busy intersections. And it’s much safer to jog on sidewalks than bike lanes.

When I run slowly, the world is willing to interact with me. Some cheer me on. “You’re killing it” is the encouraging phrase I hear most often. Others give me fist bumps as I pass them. A few will even run a couple of blocks with me to keep my spirits up.

Occasionally, someone will warn me not to run in the heat. And the concern is genuine.

This sense of community is something I rarely experience when I’m in “normal” mode. But when I’m in turtle mode, it’s there in abundance. The turtle life has shown me a different side of life and humanity. And I rather like it.

It’s ironic. I’m running as hard as I can every day so I can leave the turtle life behind and reach my race goals. But when my turtle life ends, so will some of the joy I get from running.