Enga mellom fjella

Marathoner

Marathoner

         for Elliot

pace pace
pace pace

and the need to brace yourself
in the snowy breeze of Junuary,
to win come summer oozing water
from the pores, sweat cooling muscles.

Left foot right foot

one after another in meditation
to the rhythm of this day
unfolding as it must. You lust
to run as water runs, to fly,
a wisp of cloud that scudders by.

© 2008 Kåre Enga [165.149] 2008-07-13

Note: Junuary came June 11th with snow! It is not a typo.

Elliot Bassett won in 2:44:07 (split:1:21:25) way ahead of any competition. Oddly, I remember meeting him last time I was in town, but I cannot remember the context. Bugs me but my notebook is still in Kansas. I didn't catch him crossing the line, but he is in this photo on the left in a blue hat, white top and black shorts:



The newspaper story: http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/07/13/news/top/news01a.txt

It was a day of balloons at the northside of the Higgins street bridge:



Another marathoner crosses the line:


ME:

Harumph. I managed to catch the marathon bright and early, figured out that an Albertson's grocery store was only a few blocks east of here. Bought a paper and cooked my burger. I did stop in one place that won't rent by the month until October ...

The barista at Liquid Planet recognized me from December! I ordered a Thai coffee (mmmm ... cardamom) Odd to be in a town where I have no friends nor family. It feels okay ... but very odd. It was this way when I first landed in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

My sister called asking whether I was coming back to Seattle. I kinda have a room there I could rent at her friends', but I really feel a need to be in Missoula for now. One more day left to decide. Tomorrow will be stressful.

View as I step out my front door:



Montana: 87º at 20:00 and sunny warm.

** Image ID #1295354 Unavailable **

6452