I heard her breathing behind me

The tap-tap-tap-tap of her shoes on the pavement

Oh, how a 5k can be so trying!

At Waterside on a pretty Saturday morning, along the embankment

We were at the front of the pack, there were no spectators

My chest was burning, legs were heavy, I couldn’t look back

0.4 miles to go

I wondered if that fellow racer was tired

She didn’t let it show

Her gaze was fixed ahead

I extended my stride

For 0.2 miles we were side by side

Then she strode ahead

Ah, I still remember the back of her head- her short hair and hat

Dig deep, remember your training! I told myself

I pulled ahead

We were tit for tat

The final 0.1 – uuuuhh – it’s when they say to sprint

She didn’t seem to be moving much faster than me

But she once again took the lead

I was on her heels, I could see the finish

The gremlins in my head were out to fish

Spewing, “You don’t deserve this (a win)” and “You know you can’t snag a PR again”

Wish I hadn’t listened

That girl beat me to the finish line

I was right behind

By 2 seconds, said the final results

All the way home, my gremlins hurled insults

I snapped out of it

Not again!

Sure, I was burning, but couldn’t I have kicked a little more in the end?

What is lactate?

What’s with these gremlins?

These two seconds that mock

I’m taking stock, gonna gear up for the next race

Next 5k, in the end I’ll be kickin

I’m coming for her and the gremlins

Tap-tap-tap…

This is my addiction