Today is not that day

9:30 pm

long day late day cold day lazy day

pushed off another run

why bother?

heavy ache gives way to warm slow burn,

sweat hot then cold that runs down my neck

my back

in my eyes

hard gives way to ease

plodding gives way

to long smooth stride

mind loosens, hips warm, steps stretch

constraints gone

apologies vanish

honesty is in pounding muscle fiber

a runner cannot lie

you do it or you don't.

I will because Jill can't, Greg can't, Jim can't, dad can't,

because one day I may not be able to

but today is not that day