2-5-00

feet pound the hard earth

with every step, a surge of pain

concentrating on the blurs of autumn brown and green

and the brightly clothed opponents ahead

legs pulling uphill

carrying me closer to the thick gray above

lungs filling with heavy scents of mud and rain

footsteps at my heels push me harder

pain.

visualizing defeat

counting the distance remaining with every nearing step

pushing through the crowds

close my eyes

as they cheer

block them out.

almost there