Pain.

The dreaded ache in my lungs that would climb up my throat and make my lips throb,

This is what I feared.

Every single day I thought I was beating it,

but by diluting the talent I knew that I had.

"I'll do the workout, but I'll jog so it won't hurt."

The not hurting never got me anywhere,

I didn't make progress for an entire year.

Hurt,

not pain is what I felt

Until we got back outside and I felt like I was killing myself.

Pain is what I feared,

but only when I succumbed to it is when I won.

I ran away from it,

and now I run towards it

because "no pain equals no gain"

and I want all of it.