Lace up your shoes, put one foot in front of the other. Repeat until his name is no longer circling in your mind, till all you hear and think and breathe is your footfall, gentle against the pavement. Invest in good shoes, sweat-wicking clothes and a quality sports bra: trust me, it’s worth the cost. When it’s raining, wear a visor to keep your vision clear – you’ll still need to log your miles. If you don’t, you’ll curl up on the couch, phone in your hand, scrolling through pictures of him. You’ll want to call him so run an extra mile instead, run till you’re soaked through, shoes sloshing with every step, but you’re no longer tempted to hear his voice. Wake with the sunrise, watch the sky lighten as you crest a hill, your gait easier than it’s been in weeks. Run faster, push your pace until your legs quake and every atom aches from something that isn’t his touch. Sleep hard every night, your body wonderfully exhausted. Dream of the hills you will tackle the next morning. Wake rested and ready, your body craving movement, you mind clear and unencumbered by any thoughts other than today’s route. Lace up your shoes, put one foot in front of the other. Repeat.
Courtney LeBlanc is the author of Beautiful & Full of Monsters (Vegetarian Alcoholic Press), chapbooks All in the Family (Bottlecap Press) and The Violence Within (Flutter Press). She has her MBA from University of Baltimore and her MFA from Queens University of Charlotte. She loves nail polish, tattoos, and a soy latte each morning. Read her publications on her blog: wordperv.com. Follow her on Twitter: @wordperv, and IG: @wordperv79.