Breathing
Comes
Short
And
Laborious
Legs, arms, mind!
Everything burns with effort.
Feet hitting the ground,
Legs like windmills
In overdrive
Mentally…wearing down
I can’t
I can’t do this
I have to stop
Oh, God!
I have to stop.
Breathing on the verge of
Out of control
Breathe
In,out in,out deep-breath in,out

Give in the slightest?
And you’re done, you’re
Finished.
You can’t run a race
When you’re not giving your all.
In, out in, out out in, out
About to crack
Split in half
Break apart into a million pieces
Oh, help me. I have to stop

But still those spikes
Hitting the gravel
Still those burning arms,
Back and forth
Still those burning legs,
Pumping for all they’re
Worth.
Distant cheers and
Encouraging words
Do not reach my brain
Through this barrier
Of agony

The finish line,
I see it
It’s there
It’s close, no it’s not
But oh, God!
I want to stop lay down
Die
I’m dying
In,out,in,out,in,out.
Around the bend
The straightaway
Kick into high mode
Don’t think
Just go.
A blur
It’s all a blur
I only know this one thing,
This one feverish,
This excruciating,
This one unbearable
Moment in
Time

But when those windmills
Cross the line
I know I would
Do it all
Again.