My brain and my body were at war. I was too tired for where I was on the course. My muscles were working too hard for what they were producing. Each foot fall felt like crashing into sludge, and pulling my feet out for another step felt impossible. My lungs were on fire, heating my entire body to the point that I didn't notice the bite of early November wind across my cheeks. Even as I understood that my goal was out of reach, I pushed forward.
