#43 six and a half hours

i started out ok

but i broke around midway
about 20k

legs aching

lungs begging

my stride a slo-mo stumble

bibs passed me like i was standing still

all friendly

offering encouragement

keep going,

next station's just around the bend,

this is the last bad hill

never before have i experienced so much

consecutive kindness

wonderful examples of humanity

and i wanted

to punch them all in the nose