Real Miles

A lived mile is a real mile.

In a lived mile I am present for…

Every one of the thousand or more foot striking strides.

Every drop of sweat—

   Glistening on every square inch of my exposed skin,

   Pooling on the small of my back,

   Spewing in every direction in the summer heat,

   And soaking through any shirt I may wear,

   Making me want to throw on a dry shirt

   Before walking the farmers’ market after a Sunday run

   Or before I enter a fellow runner’s dwelling place.

Every breath and heart beat

   Oxygenating blood and moving

   It to striving muscles.

Every sight,

Every sound, and

Every smell of my city

Every drop of rain,

   And flake of snow,

   And gust of wind when the weather is not perfect.

Every glorious sunrise

   When the weather is perfect.

And when I am lucky enough to be

In the presence of another runner,

My lived mile is being present for…

Every shared stride,

Every coordinated turn,

Every life story,

Every word spoken,

Every word heard,

Every smile shared,

Every high five,

Every hug at the end of a run.

Being present for the mile makes it real.

Recording or reporting it does not augment reality.