Deer-Legs

I saw Deer-Legs at a distance in front of me after we passed a few hundred meters from the start line. The large mass of runners that took off to the road began to disperse. Faster runners rushed forward and slower runners dispersed along a long tale. Each is based on its own ability and speed.

A friend and I went out early in the morning so that we would be on time to start and warm ourselves a little before that. The day was nice, and the early coolness of the morning was still in the air.

Deer-Legs had long thin legs and she ran with casual steps, not really fast, but at each step she covered a long distance. She did not really run but rather leaped with feminine charm from leg to leg.

I began to increase my running pace to move closer to her. Initially, the distance between us narrowed, but after a short time, it no longer reduced. I began gasping for air and felt that if I continued with the increased pace, I would lose my breath and would not be able to continue. Out of choice, I returned to my earlier pace, and helpless saw Deer-Legs move away from me until she disappeared at the horizon.

I ran along the road, but the little adventure with Deer-Legs made me feel tired. I advanced to half of the track distance, where we surrounded a big circle, and the way back began. Now, tiredness increased, I breathed heavily, and my legs became increasingly heavy, as if lead weights were hung on them. I inhaled and exhaled. The pace of running steadily decreased and I felt dragging myself more than running. Other runners passed me one after the other. Every step became a nightmare, and thoughts began in the head. Why at all did I come? What am I doing here?

But I advanced anyway, until in the middle of the way back, there was a turn. When I passed it, I saw a mountain in front of me a few tens of meters away, and the track continued to the top. How come a mountain is there? Everything has a limit; I thought, and decided to stop running and start walking when arriving at the mountain bottom. I already started to slow toward stopping, but in the last minute, I raised my eyes, and whom do I see? Deer-Legs running along the track up the hill.

When I arrived at the mountain bottom, my legs did not stop, but rather continued to run by themselves. I inhaled and exhaled heavily, and during each inhale a large quantity of oxygen entered and put fire to a tank in me that boiled water to steam. The steam pushed the leg pistons. Inhale, exhale, the right leg pushed uphill, the left leg followed uphill pushing, and again, inhale and exhale. So, I advanced uphill until the slope became milder toward the top, and the breathing slightly calmed down.

When arriving at the top, I saw the track continuing downhill. No longer I saw Deer-Legs, but this time, because she was behind me. I leaped downhill, and the remaining distance I hovered more than ran.

And the friend? He arrived quite ago, had time for coffee, and then returned to the end line to cheer me toward the finish.

https://www.tale.co.il/author/urila/