September 21, 2004

My legs are burning and my breathing is a 2-to-1 pace - every time a foot hits the ground I am exhaling, never feeling like inhaling. The t-shirt is sticking to the top of my chest and to run my hand across my lower leg right now would be like sliding a wiper blade across a wet window. The back of my head is equally moist, and I am trying hard to keep it up like they say to do. My keys are in my left hand with my watch, and so I try to pump both arms equally - don't want any more injuries stopping me this time.

I listen to my body carefully - some days while I am starting up my shins feel stiff while others my calf muscles complain unevenly about the bouncing of 220 pounds. Most days I stop because my hamstrings feel tight and yet stretched out at the same time. On the long days this is all that stops me and on the short ones I fear a sudden shooting pain down my leg that makes me want to stop and forces me to.

But most of the time - in the middle - I just run.

September 21, 2004 02:06 PM