Run

Feet pounding, heart racing, crowd cheering.

Or are they? I cannot hear anything but my own ragged breathing.

Like music it fills my ears as I press on.

Left, right, left, right, left, right

Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out

In, left, out, right, in, left, out, right

My world is narrowed to the ground before me

because nothing else matters except

placing one foot in front of the other.

Left, right, left, right, left, right

Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out

In, left, out, right, in, left, out, right

Nothing matters but carrying myself forward.

I have to go faster than the others around me.

Catch up. Take over. Repeat until you win.

Left, right, left, right, left, right

Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out

In, left, out, right, in, left, out, right

Every inch of my body screams out to stop.

I ignore the cries and run faster, because I cannot quit.

Quitting means surrender and surrender means losing.

Left, right, left, right, left, right

Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out

In, left, out, right, in, left, out, right

I throw my body forward as I cross the finish line

Disappointment riddles my body as I realize I am third.

Third is not first. Third may as well be last.

Left, right, left, right, left, right

Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out

In, left, out, right, in, left, out, right

I see my coach’s face in mine.

I see his lips moving and the spit that escapes his lips,

but his words land upon deaf ears

Left, right, left, right, left, right

Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out

In, left, out, right, in, left, out, right

My heartbeat slows along with my breathing.

My coach’s words finally reach my ears.

Next time you’ll do better. We’ll work harder.

Left, right, left, right, left, right

Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out

In, left, out, right, in, left, out, right