As muscles tighten, your lungs fill with air,
easy at first as the influx of wind from the front fills them twofold, but
later becoming strenuous as they cry out for slow, drawn out inhales and
exhales. The rest of your body can’t handle what your lungs want, instead they
need oxygen now, they need it immediately, they need to be free… quick!
Breathe in.
The further you travel, the slower time passes. You lower
your head in frustration. Why wasn’t I doing this yesterday? Why can’t I be
finished? I should stop soon… Each and every thought slows you down until you
are jogging at a walking pace. Cars pass, people sitting comfortably within, AC
at just the right temperature. Sweat seeps from your head, drenching your hood
and dripping down each strand of hair into your eyes.
Blink.
Suddenly, your speed increases. You still feel tired but you
are less exhausted. Legs are numb with repetition. Breathing is no longer an
issue, it is just a matter of concentration. A matter of being and living. What
is this new feeling? Have I slowed down? Am I in good shape now? Can I have a
piece of cake?
Not yet.
You have now reached your maximum. You have pushed through
the negative and burst into the reality. The world is now slowing as you speed
up. Everything is a blur except you. You and your goal. You can go on. You can
run another hundred feet. Two hundred. Three hundred. Four…
It’s not worth it to stop now. You might as well go on
forever. This is where you become strong. This is where you actually grow. This
is where you are free.
When you are finished, you slow your pace. Your legs realize
what you are initiating and second guess themselves, stumbling for a moment
before tensing up and supporting the rest of your body. You are finished now.
You have done well, and you will do well again.
No comments:
Post a Comment