heart racing, sweat dripping
I struggle to finish
the last mile

breathless 
screw whoever said
running is fun

going for a walk
my boots
stuck in concrete

go for a run
      . . .
            no

top quarter champion

TOP half Chamption

bottom quarter champion

mile 4 on the cyclical path
I hum the same song 
to the cornfields

on the elliptical
        Beyonce has
                nothing on me

she runs and I follow her
she stops I stops
the treadmill: my best friend

counting calories
the crinkle
of my protein bar wrapper

TOP half champion

CHAMPIONTOP

BOTTOM half champion

clinking weights
lift them up
all the way this time

a silent prayer
to get through
one more rep

the perky fitness instructor’s
“five more reps!”
oh god

how many was that?  
     17 . . .
                    . . . 18

top quarter champion

BOTTOM half champion

bottom quarter champion

getting up at 6 am
dragging myself out of bed
and into the gym

perverse glance
do it once more
this weight is getting chucked
at your head

dashing through snow 
searching for 
a summer body

the squirrels  
wonder
what is he running from

downward dog . . .
upward dog . . .
Oh no, cramp!

back stretching in
deep child’s pose   I feel myself 
come back to my body

breathe in
breathe out
am i doing this right?

with every breath
she feels her shoulders
start to relax

top quarter champion

TOP half Chamption

bottom quarter champion

the mirror doesn’t reflect
it’s the backwards version
of who i am

motivation?
yeah
i don’t know her.

stretch
   sssstttrrrreeeeettttttcccchhhh
                damnitipulledsomething

hamstrings
                pulled
like a rubber band

TOP half champion

CHAMPIONTOP

BOTTOM half champion

workouts & salads
maybe
I’ll look like her one day

eating another salad
I sit here wondering
will i ever be skinny enough . . .

I peel my cucumber
as the cookies
mock me

first workout
this calls for celebration
cookie dough

top quarter champion

BOTTOM half champion

bottom quarter champion

warm, tasty
overflowing with sodium
the wavy noodles

fast food
ramen
repeat

i squat
in hopes
of a dump truck ass

love handles
freckly knees
I want to be friends