clop go the sound
the feet against the ground
rather the asphalt or the grass
never the rubber, never the metal

incessant, incessant, incessant
beating back the ghosts
of a ten year memory
long since past its best by date

need i remind you that it was
the rubber, the metal, that spared the grass
coming down the hill
never flew so fast

18:57 engraved into the mind
like a time-worn time
cave painting of my life
what was once good can return in a while

eight years away, two years to stay
eight and two makes ten
just add the k
or rather the m

might as well plop on another three
and a point one just for measurement
see how steely the runner can be
sturdy as rubber, flexible as a post

neon blue feeling heavy
tasting salty and dry
confusion spits in my eye
start pondering why

but why is not the question
the question is why not
why can't this happen
because i believe it can isn't good enough

i have to know
i have to know what would have been
what could have been, what should have been
so channel the anger from within

and just beat back incessantly
the ghosts of time past
ten years of fruitlessness
turning into a juicy pear

pair of shoes, hair removed
dare to do, scared of who?
it's me against me
and only i can see

will it be less than two?
faster than you?
so much work to do
to make much ado

the old meets new
but it's kept askew
this is what i'm born to do
only 26.2 for me and for you

i'm going but i can't go
i'm stopping but i can't stop
i'm knowing but i can't know
what awaits at the top

for the top is just a mirage
i'll always want some more
there's no keeping score
just one more, then one more

in a world where time
is not measured by the beat of a clock
is measured by the distance covered
is measured by shoes meeting their ends

the goal is not the medal
the goal is not the orange slice
the goal is only the goal
to go until you can't go

and then go some more.