and the long, long night goes on.
3 more hours until daylight.
and we wonder what thoughts the runners are thinking.
their faces reveal nothing
as they go about the task at hand.
unwavering
unflinching.
.
do they think about the many days and nights ahead?
they dare not
or it might crush their spirit.
do they think about the hundreds of miles ahead
as they close in on 90?
they dare not
or the task might seem impossible.
have they retreated to some secret place
deep inside
the body and mind separated?
they dare not
or they might slow down and not make the cutoff.
.
so what keeps them running?
.
it can only be because they started yesterday with a dream.
and these are the athletes who never give up on their dreams.
they will not be broken in a single night.
.
these are true warriors.