Before finally giving up jogging,
the voice of a 5 yo
had asked out loud
why I was running so slowly.
I stubbornly sped up
for a quick burst
to leave her and mother behind.
On my longer runs I used to encounter
a very fast paced hiker type
who also got my competitive
juices flowing.
Now, I take to the trail
at an leisurely clip and
have not attracted unwanted
attention by young whippersnappers
and have not been bothered by the comings
and goings of the other trespassers
of my path as I stop to watch
the pileated woodpecker fly
from tree to tree.
I don’t miss the jogging.