Iowa Ribbons

Where is the 'flat' in Iowa?

Is the question that I asked

Ahead of me the marathon

And such a daunting task.

For the course rolled up

And the course rolled down

And up again just so

It looked like ribbon candy

From the days of long ago.

The starting temp of sixty-nine

Much less than ninety-three

Which we were told was the percent

Of six o 'clock's humidity.

I ran two minutes then walked one

And kept a steady pace

Hit the half in two-o-eight

So far a decent race.

Finally miles that were flat

A few but not yet done

The sun came out and I was toast I

t made a slower run.

The long up grade to twenty

Made a bump of Heartbreak Hill

My aching knees required me

To swallow three Advil.

With six point two left to go

I wanted this over and done

Ups and downs were relentless

Someone asked, "Are we having fun?"

From twenty on the miles repeat

The hills of one through five

The only thought I could think

Was to finish this alive.

Finally hit the twenty-five mark

Across the bridge of concrete

It was pretty unforgiving now

The pounding to the feet.

But Phidippides was with us

As it ended down a hill

For everything up to this point

Had tested strength of will.

One hundred plus had started

And I finished forty-four

Quite hot and sweaty and tired

But nothing now felt sore.

I went across the finish line

So glad it was complete

Done were the Iowa "h"s

Of hills, humidity, and heat.

-- Cathy Troisi

(4:23:55, University of Okoboji Marathon, Iowa)