| The Poetry of Walking | |
Racewalking poetry, courtesy of John Cary, O.M.D. of Cary Health Alternatives, 706-812-0909.
"Oh Walkers"
by John H. Cary, O.M.D.
Let's hear it for the ones who go,
To such great lengths to buy their clothes.
Of Lesser lengths and weights imposed
and color schemes to turn your nose.
These ones I say will go all out,
To don this armor I talk about.
Just so that they might scream and shout
And then go panting on their routes.
Upon the pavement pound their feet,
A million times to say the least.
A million more and it's complete;
For these ones here there's no defeat.
"Oh Walkers! Oh Walkers!
Go out and do your things,
The pavement now is waiting,
as well as dogs and rain."
Of injuries they do sustain
And will endure this constant pain,
But keep on walking through heat and rain
And sleet and snow but won't complain.
To doctors they will tell their woes
And also go to health food stores,
But, "Rest," they'll say, "from track and road
Will stop your pain and ease your load."
But they won't quit, I know their types,
They love to walk and feel it's right.
It makes them free and so they'll fight,
With vitamins and sleep-filled nights.
They cure themselves, eventually
And pound the roads again with glee.
Toward freedom they go happily
And at it even spiritually.
"Oh Walkers! Oh Walkers!
Go out and do your things.
The pavement now is waiting,
as well as dogs and rain."
"The Race"
by John H. Cary, O.M.D.
Today, oh let me tell you, the race will soon begin.
You're stretching now and loosening up and your blood is feeling thin.
You know that you can do the pace; you've done it much before.
Your stomach feels so out of place as you go nearer to the door.
"It's just a race," you tell yourself, "you're not to win or lose."
Just do it as you always would, for to yourself to prove.
So now you do the things you do in preparation for,
You meditate and contemplate to prepare you even more.
You make sure you eliminate the meals you've had before,
Just so that it won't slow you down as your feet pound on the floor.
So here it is, this thing you know you've been looking forward to.
You tell yourself you're calm and cool and lie much more to you.
Your head is light, your muscles tight, your stomach's kind of numb.
A little sweat, a little fright and you're chewing hard on gum.
So now you're off and feel relaxed as the pavement hits your feet.
And soon you've really left the pack 'cause now you are elite.
