This boat was sitting close to my 800 meter repeat turnaround point. (photo credit: www.bridgeandtunnelclub.com) |
Looking back, I clearly remember my legs burning and my mind screaming at me to just go to bed already! But I also can remember the fun of jumping down those stairs, brushing through the trees, and flying past the black waves crashing on the dock. It was beautiful. It was impossible-- but I did it. The last 800 came and my dad-- having paced me for the first 400 of the last few-- stood guard at my turnaround point. He yelled and cheered me on as my weary feet pounded the bricks. He simulated my coming races, calling my name as I flew down the second 200. This time though, he stood further back. "What are you doing," I angrily gasped, "The turn is up here!" He nodded, "but I think it was a little short before. This is probably more accurate." I shot him a glare out of frustration, glad I didn't have the breath to say any more. As in- "you could have told me that before, so I was doing them right!" It hit me though: I was tired. I was absolutely working to keep going. Isn't that doing it right?
So I let it go. I switched on that final gear and powered up the hill as I crossed from the dock back onto the brick pathway. The cold night air brushed my legs and filled my chest, and I tried to breathe deeper. I imagined my freedom: my strength, and I pushed past that last crest of the uphill and flew down the stretch to my starting point: a small grove of trees. With that final push, I keeled over at the trees and grinned from ear to ear. I'd done it! I'd sat in a plane all day, hardly had any water, got slapped with the southern humidity, and survived a killer headache as a result of it all. I was ecstatic that I had it in me. It was one of the first hard workouts I'd done for the season, less then a year after anorexia had stolen my freedom to run.
I took one last glance up at the beautiful night sky as it fell into the black crashing water below, and gave my dad a high five. "I did it," I whispered to myself, "I'm back."
wow, thats beautiful:)
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