The Art of Running

Your legs burning,
your breathing labored,
your vision blurred,
your arms like rubber.

But you can't stop,
you must go on.

The road continues,
and continues,
further and further,
without end.

But you can't stop,
you must go on.

Tree roots reach up,
like snares,
hills rise,
like mountains.

But you can't stop,
you must go on.

Each step
is harder than the last;
every breath
weaker than the previous;
every muscle
burns with excretion;
every fiber of your being
screams out in panic, "STOP!"

But you can't stop,
you must go on.

You round a corner
your goal is in sight
it stares you down
as you strain to reach it.
harder and harder
you push yourself
head swimming,
legs wobbling,
arms shaking,
stomach churning.

As you reach it
your legs almost buckle
but you steady yourself
like an acrobat  with one to many drinks.

All your energy spent,
you hobble past your goal
completely and utterly
spent.

But you can't stop,
you must go on
because
You're only half way there.