i used to do it all the time,
as a child, i could not stop,
but had to move at a constant break-neck pace.
i would race my brother,
even though i knew he would win.
but i would run anyway.
somewhere, i gave up,
when i couldn't win,
was no longer the fastest,
and it became clear that i was built for other things.
now, i run to reclaim what i lost
so many years ago.
i run to stay in shape,
to avoid the fate of my father,
to feel the joy again, as i did when small,
of running for the sake of it.