#157

the mysticism of athletics is a concept with which i have some experience like the exaltation after a great goal or a michael jordan buzzer beater or a diving hail mary catch in the division finals or simply in the way my legs stretch out as i sprint alongside the arroyo seco parkway or channeling that blinding energy into the last push up or the long womblike glide of a good stroke in the swimming pool or the way my body changes in the mirror from day to day depending on what i do physically and what i eat transforming the holy body from one shape to another like i am both the clay and the god and my willpower is my god power because i can be as strong as i will and i can look however i will and i can feel however i will and with great concentration i can transcend with an unlikely shot or a blistering sprint or an adrenal yank of the pull up bar and the memory of transcendence will stick in my muscles and hurt for days as punishment for reaching beyond my abilities and i enjoy the pain because it just feels so goddam good