Around and around I go,
Endless circles,
Rubber burning underneath my tired, aching feet,
Heavy air weighing down my arms,
Fear overcoming my already weakening legs

Around and around I go,
Endless circles,
Teammates cheering along the sidelines,
Coaches shouting commands at their runners,
"Speed up, don't slow down," I heard my coach yell

Around and around I go,
Endless circles,
Smooth circles, yet rough at the same,
"I can't do this," my lungs scream, "Yes I can," my brain argues back,
"Slow down" "No push harder," my mind says

Around and around I go,
Endless circles,
Five more laps, my mind starts to wander,
"Stay focused, you have to want it and work for it,"
"Don't think, just run," I tell myself

Around and around I go,
"Ding!," The bell sounds the final lap,
"All out now," my coach said, "Don't hold back,"
Pushing through the pain;
I cross the finish line with a sigh of relief, happy to have completed the race.