50/50 Club

[diamond_ace 3,112]

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.

 

 

 

 

(A lot of "inside" references in here that I don't expect many of you to get unless you know me and my life pretty well, but the basic idea is still there)

[Da Trifecta 1,896]

What is this?

[diamond_ace 3,112]

What is this?

It's called freeform poetry. I know, poetry is dying (practically dead, to be honest) but I enjoy doing it at times.

[diamond_ace 3,112]

Basic background info, for what it's worth:

 

I much prefer running on roads or grass to treadmills (rather the asphalt or the grass, never the rubber, never the metal)

 

Ten years ago was my senior year of high school, during which I ran an 18:57 as my fastest race, and never came within even ten minutes of it since. I quit running for eight years, just resumed two years ago albeit at a much greater level recently (last 6 months or so) than prior. (beating back the ghosts of a ten year memory / 18:57 engraved into the mind like a time-worn time / eight years away, two years to stay / etc.)

 

What got me in shape at the time, despite my hatred for them, was in fact a treadmill in the basement. I did only a moderate amount of outside running that summer because it was hotter than average. (need i remind you that it was the rubber, the metal, that spared the grass)

 

Back in high school I only ever did 5ks, since I've been back, even though the speed is nowhere near what it was, the distance far outweighs it. It was a 10k that got me back into it, my longest race to date was a 10 mile, and I have a half marathon coming up in May. (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)

 

I wanted to try the marathon back in high school, to this day I believe I was in good enough shape, because my problem was always with speed, never with endurance. My parents wouldn't let me because they said I wasn't prepared. I'm in the process of working up to it now, plan on doing my first one sometime toward the early fall if I can find a good close one. To me, it'll prove the doubters wrong, and that's a huge motivation. (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)

 

There's always a point during every race where you question why you're doing it. In longer races it's more pronounced, but even in a 5k it's there. It's just a point of physical exhaustion, where every footstep is like lifting a 50 pound weight, every breath dries out your mouth, etc. For reference, my primary running shoes are neon blue. (neon blue feeling heavy tasting salty and dry, confusion spits in my eye, start pondering why)

 

For the half marathon in May, I have a goal of beating my sister's time. In the long run, not by the one in May because it's too soon but eventually, I want to cut it to under two hours. (will it be less than two? faster than you? so much work to do to make much ado)

 

I've gotten to the point where even having not done some of these distances yet, I'm planning on doing ones even longer afterward, beating my own distance level each time. 10 miles turns into 13.1 (half marathon) turns into 26.2 (full marathon) turns into potentially an ultra (likely the Marshall Mangler 50k as it's nearby and isn't that much longer than a full). (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 / the goal is only the goal to go until you can't go and then go some more)

 

SO yeah, there's the cliff notes for this one.

 

 

EDIT: The 50/50 club was an award we got in high school cross country for when we'd first ran a total of 50 miles. The majority of the decent runners got there in the first week or so, a few guys struggled with it, but we got t shirts that said "Vincentian Academy Royals 50/50 club"  when we hit the milestone.

Edited March 18, 2014 by diamond_ace

[Da Trifecta 1,896]

I am sorry for the misunderstanding Jason. I love your words. I have read them and great work bro.

[Runny Nose 15]

Nice poem. Now I would be lying if I say I'm a fan of poem but I love this poem. It's probably because I love running myself but the point is this is good.

[AwfulHomesick 148]

This is incredible stuff.