Marathon Memories, The Poetry Version

It doesn’t take long, until you feel all alone
Thousands with you on the road, but you want to be home

You are tired of the cameras, documenting your run
You are tired of running, its no longer fun

You find yourself doubting, at the end of your rope
You don’t think you’ll finish, you abandon all hope

Your legs feel too weary, to continue this race
You’d gladly walk away, with a towel over your face

You no longer care, about the finish you desired
Not just your body, but your spirits are tired

If it was just about you, you would quit this race
But at the next mile, you recognize a face

Three people have come, with clapping and cheers
Statements they’ve forgotten, that you’ll remember for years

“You’ve got just enough left, we know you can make it”
Says your mother in the group, so you decide you can fake it

Those words of belief, ring loud in your head
You won’t let her down now, you’ll fight through instead

You notice your surroundings, dejected women and men
But you turn the next corner, and see them again

“Come on, you can make it.” says father to son
You feel if you finish, he’ll believe he has won

You run for father, who supports from the sides
You continue moving forward, with the monotonous strides

Again all alone, no finish in sight
You debate giving up, but it wouldn’t feel right

Not because you care, but because they do
They’ve been here for hours, they're invested in you

Your body has slowed down, your legs tight with pain
A finishing medal, seems like little to gain

But your wife says "I love you, and will be at the end”
She decides not to hug you, but a kiss she does send

The last three miles, you must do on your own
No friendly faces, beckoning you home

They’ll be at the finish, cheering you on
They’ve been there all day, their support never gone

You see them again, they’ve awaited this time
They are there to watch you, cross that finish line

As you do so with pride, you know one thing that’s true
Three people came out, and made the day about you

You hobble through the finish, adorned with medal to chest
You think I need three more, they made me my best

You couldn’t have made it, you were at the end of your rope
You wouldn’t have finished, but they gave you hope