A week of aches,
Lower back being the epicenter,
Took away my desire
To log any of the miles
Needed to bring my shape back.

Under a winter’s snow
In the early part of April
I stood at the end of treadmill
Wondering if I had made a mistake
Thinking I could enjoy running again.

The belt started with more push
Than my legs wanted.
The belt continued with a rhythm
Pushing my lungs to their fullest,
A pain settled in my heart.

Something happened, a switch flipped
Because of an open mind
That saw the potential of this first treadmill run
In nearly five years,
The mind was there.

Thirty minutes later
And a couple of slow miles
The back pain was gone
And when the huffing and puffing stopped,
I cracked a little smile inside.