Running On Soul

This was written October 1998, right before the State Cross Country Championship. I wrote it to Liz, our fearless captain right before her last race. She won by the way, but I never gave her a copy of this.

Running on Soul

When you aren't in the lead, but you still run on-

Or when you have won by a mile but still push beyond-

That's when you're running on will power.

When you push each day, and your muscles fill with pain-

Yet you persevere on, and push yourself again-

That's when you're running with strength.

When your lungs are on fire and when you breath there's nothing there-

But you keep trying and breathing- searching for that air.

That's when you're running on faith.

When the course is scary, the competitions tough, and your heartbeat goes astray-

But you take our arms and comfort us and you lead the way-

That's when you're running with heart.

When you run on willpower and they say stop-

Or pull out strength when for others it's gone-

When they say you can't but you don't lose faith-

And no matter how bad you feel you still carry on-

That's when you're running on soul.

Thank you for running on soul.