To Victory

We could feel the burn.

Somewhere during the 10th mile, the hill gone unnoticed on the way out became a monster obstacle to our return. I never thought it possible, but the mountain climbed straight into the sun. The sun that stared me down.

Right into my will.

"Everything in the darkness will be made light." I've found its truth. Be it the light of God or the light of day illuminating, it holds true. Today, the latter exposed me.

In what must have been 112 degree heat according to my internal thermometer, which is never wrong, we ran straight up into the sun. The trees parted like I was a modern-day Moses, only my pursuer wasn't Pharoah; it was "I don't have to work hard for anything, and you can't make me" me. (I think he may have brought "I may collapse from heat exhaustion me" as well, but my water bottle kept him at bay.)

Knowing my pursuer wouldn't relent, I continued into the fire. I asked my running partner,

"Are you okay?"

"Yea, I'm good."

"Me too," I lied back.

Was it ambition, stupidity or pride that drove us into the sun? Our wings didn't melt, so it wasn't pride. And we carefully considered the cost of defeat, so it wasn't stupidity.

Like a mother eagle protecting her young, the canopy of trees enveloped our leveled path. The sun couldn't beat us. The mountain wouldn't slow us. My pursuer's friend caught up to him, and both withered on the path, there on the 10th mile.

While we raced on.

To victory.