I'd let my morning run slip by for far too long. But today, my running shoes were giving me the evil eye. And so was Joy, my running buddy. The sun was out, the weather was perfect, what excuse did I have to let another day go by? Only a few minutes into my run though, I felt those missed opportunities catching up to me, taunting me as I struggled up a hill. "I'm just gonna have to face it," I thought, "This is gonna be a slow run." It was just then that I heard applause. The 4 sharp claps cut through the music that was blaring into my ears through my headphones. Puzzled, I glanced to my right. An older gentleman, the owner of a local bakery, was standing on the sidewalk outside his shop, apron and all. When we made eye contact, he gave me a thumbs up and a great big smile. I returned his smile and picked up the pace a little. And I held my faster pace all the way home. I didn't want him to catch me slowing down. Bet he didn't think that small act ...