Finishing Strong

 My lungs burned for air, my feet ached for a massage and I all I could hear was the sound of my heartbeat in my ears as I took by first run of spring. My energy was diminishing. It took all I had to round that last corner on the paved trail. My chest pounded for relief but all I could focus on was the fence straight ahead of me. It was a symbol of my finish line.
I could see it as clear as the bright yellow sun but my body was screaming at me to slow down. My thoughts started leading me away from my goal to finish strong what I had started strong. Nobody is watching, I can walk. I deserve to walk. I need to walk. I can't do it. I started to feel defeated. How could I let such thoughts and feelings get the best of me. I had come so far. Why would I let myself down now. I could do it. The finish was in sight.
In that instant I felt a surge of energy in my legs and new life in my lungs. The time had come to push myself. To prove to myself, nobody else that I could finish strong what I had started strong.  The power in my legs made me want to run faster and longer. I began to sprint with my eyes focused on the fence. It was getting closer although time seemed to pass slowly. I was doing it. My heartbeat raged, my lungs felt like they were on fire and my feet were numb with pain. Only a few more steps and I could touch the fence. Then it happened. I gripped that fence with all my might with my bare hands. Nothing had ever felt so good to me. My finish line. I did it. I finished strong what I had started strong.