The Hill and the Runner

“Well, well, well. Look who it is. Mr. Runner is back.”

“It’s me.”

“Pretty hot today.”

“It’s not hot…It’s balmy.”

“Balmy? You’re dripping all over me and your shoes are melting into me and you call that balmy? ”

“Ok…you’re right…it’s hot. So what? ”

“So, nothing. Just don’t want you to overexert yourself. ”

“That’s big of you…you’re a real…sweetheart.”

“Well I am big. As you know very well. As for sweet? Not so much. But you know that, don’t you? ”

“I don’t…know. The view…from the top…is always…pretty sweet. ”

“The top, huh? You’re a long way from the top.”

“Not so…far.”

“Pretty tough words, considering…”

“Considering…what?”

“Considering how you looked last time. You were struggling, not pretty at all. I’m surprised you came back. Thought last
time might have been the last time. How long has it been?”

“Don’t know…it’s been a while…but I’m here…today.”

“Think you can handle me today?”

“Today and any day. You’re the same…every day. You don’t get…stronger or weaker…you just are.”

“Well, listen to the running philosopher. But, Mr. Socrates, you can certainly get weaker.”

“Or stronger.”

“Stronger, huh? I have my doubts.”

“It has…been a while.”

“Looks like you could use a break. Why not take a break in the shade? Your secret will be safe with me. I won’t tell a soul you stopped.”

“But…I would know.”

“Know what?”

“That I…stopped.”

“So?”

“So…that would hurt…more.”

“More than what?”

“More than…my legs… right now.”

“Ah! So, the legs are hurting, Mr. Stronger? Now that you mention it, they do look a little rubbery. Still lots of me left to go.”

“Not…as much…as you think.”

“I know exactly how much more of me is left.”

“And I know… exactly…how much of you… is left and...”

“And?”

“And how much…of me…is left.”

“How much you have left? Ha! By the looks of it, not much. Your legs are doing a pretty good impression of Jell-O right
now. You really look like you need a break.”

“Do I?”

“You sure do, absolutely. Go ahead no one’s around, take it easy.”

“You sound…worried.”

“Worried? By you?”

“No, what I think…of you.”

“So you think of me, huh?”

“I do.”

“You thought of me before you decided where to run today?”

“I did.”

“And you’ve thought of me since your last visit?”

“I have.”

“So why should I be worried? You’ve been away for a while and here I am big as ever.”

“Big as…you’ll ever…be.”

“Big enough to keep you away for quite a while.”

“Not that long.”

“You used to come more often.”

“That’s true.”

“So? Where you been?”

“It’s not…important.”

“Not important, huh? Let’s see, lounging on the couch? Playing video games?”

“No…still running…same as always.”

“Except that you’ve avoided me. Let me guess, you found a nice flat road where your mile times are better and you feel
good about yourself, right?”

“Not exactly. …If anything…my times have…suffered.”

“Really? What was all that talk about getting stronger? The stopwatch doesn’t lie, you know.”

“No. No, it doesn’t. But…it doesn’t tell…the whole story.”

“The whole story? So, what’s the whole story?”

“Simple really. I’ve been running…on other hills.”

“Aha! I knew you were getting soft…”

“…BIGGER HILLS! I’ve been running…on bigger hills!”

“What do you mean bigger hills?”

“You heard me. You know, the view up here really is nice. Not as nice as some other hills, but not bad. And look at that; like you said the stopwatch doesn’t lie. See you around.”

“What? Hey! Come back! I’m the biggest hill there is!”

“You know, I used to think the same thing.”