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.
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.