The end

Two hours had passed since I'd last seen that particular trail. It was long, with a steep decline, I had cruised down it whipping through the brush and bounding over rocks. I remembered how it felt to throw my arms out to my side like wings stabilizing my foot steps. But now faced with the opposite task of the last climb, the other side of the proverbial coin, I couldn't remember how it felt to fly. My legs sunk into the ground with each step as if gravity had somehow increased, by body felt like it was tied to the earth's core. Just a couple more steps, left foot right foot left foot right foot. I saw Mike, I saw the finish, I saw some cookies and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It all ended so fast. I wanted to enjoy the last strides but all I could think about was the moment at which my legs would be permitted to stop and all of this would be in the past. Marty handed me a trophy and I sat down at the picnic table drenched in sweat. Next year, I'm running the 50k.