Nausea, saline saliva,
Deep breaths of near-defeat,
One more staggering step, almost held back
By aching quads and lack of will.
No, not one more.
The bass of each heartbeat
Reverberating through my veins.
3,100 ft up, another 1000 to go.
The buzz cajoles another step out of me.
Light-headedness, the mind stops thinking,
The heart is racing on.
Stubborn determination speaking through my fingers,
As they push aside every branch, snap every twig
That obstructs my path.
Snow, mud, filth, sweat, tears, rain,
Or dogs.
I am immune to all.
It is not the spectacular summit sunrise
Or the exuberance of success
Or the shame of failure
Or even the challenge,
That drives me.
It is the simple satisfaction of
Taming the beast. Every time.
Each time. And again.
