Running

The journey started out filled with energy and hope. I always start out the run using my toes and the ball of the foot to burn out the calf muscles, giving me a smooth and flowing motion through my whole body. The sun shined bright and my breathing, even. People on the street peered at me enviously, wishing that they can run like I do. Wishing that they have the determination to train.

The track is filled with people with different sport activities. Most of them wandered around aimlessly in different form of rest, not exercising at all. Some got up to move a few minutes at a time, but sat back down right away. Often wonders why they are still overweight even though they exercised the whole afternoon.

Near the 8km mark I felt my knee burning from friction, a slight adjustment of the way I ran shifted the load to the other knee. A small doubt started to develop, questioning whether or not my body would break down at the next corner. Time passed by, muscles started burning and my whole lower body became really stiff. My brain had to focus on what the legs will be doing next and guide the movement process that used to be automatic.

Last four rounds, my arms started to tire from swinging back and fourth, I shifted the motion to using my back and kept my arms pinched to the side of my ribs. This required more cardio, but that was ok. There’s only 4 to go.

Last round Started sprinting on toes again. Suddenly, the body is no longer tired, but my lungs couldn’t carry through. I slowed down after half the circle and came to a grueling crowl right before the finish line… Crossed and stopped.  Then all my muscles felt like cramping up. My legs wobbled under my own weight and I collapsed.
16km in one hour. Half way to 32km, half way to Iron Man.