run your own race…with no meter in your heart
dedicated to Katy-Ann, Maya and DeAnna…who i met as they finished their extraordinary track careers. their support of each other as runners and friends has been so inspirational to me.
this is also dedicated to athletes everywhere and anyone like me who struggled to define new measures of success after your sport…please…go run your own race!
____________________________
they met over meters
some ran the same distance
clocking all kinds of times
as their speeds might be different
but what matters more is
who they are to each other
i mean friendship is more than an instant
and it’s ok to be different
embracing your gifts
is what a real friend does
they don’t hold you to some kind of measure
they stand for you always
because your presence alone
is the treasure
i hope for you three that
you will run with each other
through the race of life
or disrupt the idea of
that it is a race
i mean can we finally
start to face
that life is a journey
step by step
little by little
occasionally stopping
to remember all you have done
and all that excites you
but might still be left undone
so i hope you will
slow it down
run your own race
and don’t let anyone try to measure you
by a meter
a clock
or a speed
move at your own pace
but move with
purpose
love
character
intention and
a vision
of what world can be
when they see you three
runners who became teammates
teammates who became friends
friends who became sisters
who after all the racing
can finally
just be
as they decided to never
use a meter
or a measure
say
what a friend can be
so go go go
move oh so free
the world wants you to shine
and please don’t ever fall in line
use the speed of your heart and soul
to burst ahead
breaking the tape
breaking down the walls
because when you bring out the best you
you make it easier for those running behind you
so take off
run your own race
now you
get to decide
where you will start
just always remember
to run
with no meter
in your heart
