Forty-Eight

someone needs to tell him he’s too old for this
26.2 miles in a row is a long drive for him
and without even one bathroom stop

someone needs to tell him that hills should slow him down
instead of providing an excuse to pour on the coals
accelerating both down and up

someone needs to tell him that running is bad for you
wrecks knees and joints, wears out your heart
runs you into an early grave

someone needs to tell him that distance running is about survival
not an experience where a person get to the end
“with something left” down the homestretch

someone needs to tell him he doesn’t have time for this
a wife and three kids, everyone always busy
squeezing training into the margins

someone needs to tell him to retire, quit while he’s ahead
accept his old age and great results
rest on his many medals

but he wouldn’t listen, even if we tried
his resolve unsated
his will unwavering

a bold contravention of the laws of physics
laugher in the face of entropy
older, wiser, and faster every year