Spirit of the Runner

Beneath his heaving and panting
Between the sweat that flows from his head
Beyond the pain he endures
Before the agony he anticipated

A lonely figure on the side of the road
Admidst the cars and motorcycles that zip pass
In the thick smoke from the roaring engines
He wonders, 'Why do I still run?'

His answer comes instantly
His reply came from within
It is one that requires little thought
And it was something that he held from start

Because from the days he trained
He saw his coach ahead of him
Not instructing how to run
But inspiring him to go on running

Because from the side of the tracks
He saw his loved ones sitting there
Watching him run and race
And applauding him when he makes it great

Because ahead of the track
He saw the podium and the ribbon
Dashing across it not just to break the knot
But to stand tall and high a head above the crowd

Because behind him as he runs
He remembers the pain and effort he went through
At all times of despair and defeat
It was the sweetness of victory that made him last

Because as he runs and runs
His energy may be depleting
And though his physical strength is stretched to the limits
It is perseverance that keeps him going

Because as he pushes himself step by step
He knows that the journey is still long ahead
And though every step placed drains him ounce by ounce
Still he hangs on and goes on

Because he knows that though the race may be hard
It will always come to an end
It's not about finishing the race
But it's how he finishes the race

Beneath the footsteps of a runner
Is a determination of a fighter

In the eyes of a sprinter
Is a vision that has kept him training and dashing to clock new times

Before the start of every race
Beyond the medals that he will collect
Between the struggles that he goes through every time his feet hits the road
It is the spirit of a runner
That reminds him to never give up when the going gets tough
And hang on to the promise that the long race and journey
Will come to an end,
Sometime,
If only he keeps running.