It’s sort of strange how people find it fun
Oddly enough, one of them I’ve become
I spend a lot of money on super cushiony shoes
I lace them up, hit the pavement, and then cruise
Bobbing up and down, forward, propelling with my arms and legs
Swimming through the air
Dopamine surging, a good feeling – primal
Every day my heart begs
For this movement pattern – essential for survival
I run the loop in the neighborhood
Almost faster than my legs can move
My heart hammers as a I fly
Flowing in the groove
Ah! Running feels so good
My chest burns
Legs tire as the lactic acid churns
I peek at my watch as the sidewalk turns
A quarter mile to go
I push off the pavement with my toes
Over the greenery as a walker comes my way
Chest on fire
I’m getting tired
Mental toughness developing in the works
Toward the end, my hamstrings lurk
Finally, I hear the diiiinnng
My watch reads mile 1
I take a walk break
Two more to go
Trying to get faster
I’m out to master the 5k
Each repeat gets harder
But I do another
Dopamine despite – or because of? – the struggle
What can I say?

Running has a special way
Of this great sport I am a lover