One evening or some morning when you get motivated or just fed up.
Going out 15 minutes in one direction and then back. You’re sore, sweaty, and disappointed. Maybe you quit, maybe you come back.
Over and over again until you determine that it’s not working or it’s not enough. Then quite by chance a park. The street clothes make you stick out like a sore thumb so you get “running” gear. Go as far as you can, as far as you dare. Two weeks in and you’re sore as hell in joints you didn’t think could get sore.
You work through the aches and pains. Still not enough, nothing’s happening. Short sprints here and there. Even more sore. Leg cramps at night suddenly waking you up because your body’s not used to it. Two miles before dawn, three in the afternoon and three more at night. If it’s worth it then make time for it.
92, 95, 101. No one else dares to come out in this sun but keep going. Use the sun, use it to burn away the old shell.
Hip pain. Did I just screw up my hip or is it just sore? Months spent just walking. Any time I try to run, crippling pain. Nine months of waiting comes to an end one evening. You can run again. Short distances but at least it’s something.
3 miles, 5 miles, 11 miles walking. Feet aching, exhausting. How many more thousands of miles more to go?
Sprint farther each time. Try to make it from one tree to another and the next day a little farther. Lungs burning as you go as far as you can. Drenched in sweat.
Keep your head down as the others run past. You’re not ready yet, not at their level yet. Some day. Keep going.
Hills, your legs can barely move up. You can see the inflection points where the angle of the hill changes but keep going almost to the top and stand up straight as you go down the other side.
6 months, another pair of shoes, how did you wear out the old ones so quickly?
Quarter mile markers. Keep pumping keep breathing, pass it, keep going as far as you can. A pitiful little victory but something at least. Repeat over and over again, don’t worry about half miles yet.
Cold weather. Barely 40 degrees and what the hell are you doing out here at 5 AM in under armour while everyone else is in bed? Get home soaked in sweat.
One morning, what the hell? No one’s watching, keep going, keep going, you know this segment so well now. Pace yourself, breathe, don’t stop. Just one more hill and the rest is cake. Remember when just this bit was enough. Blow past some arbitrary point. Jump up and down and celebrate. People watching you like you’re nuts. It’s just one mile after all.
Keep doing it, keep building on it. Faster, farther.
One day you realize those short little sprints, those short distances don’t mean anything anymore. What used to be big deals are just blurs now. No fanfare, no big cathartic moment, no graduation ceremony. Just more miles.
Another soul passing by walking, starting out as I once did. I want to reach out and say something. “Keep it up, it’s worth it! It get’s easier!” But no. I didn’t want that at the beginning. A simple head nod. A sign of recognition and respect
Recent Comments