35 minutes and 35 seconds

Manuel Roca enjoyed some days as a renowned person. Running, as fast as he could, brought him some fame in the small Mato Rujo athletes’ circle. In fact, he took part into a running race taking place in a nearby small village where 245 people met to see how fast their legs could carry their bodies around a 10 kilometres course. This was a bit undulated in the first part and completely flat in the second one. Ploughed fields and meadows paths were to welcome the feet of the participants as these stamped the scorching earth. The wind also played a crucial role as it hindered the regular advancement of the runners. Manuel Roca finished second overall with a time of 35’ and 35”. This came unexpectedly as he was convinced before the race to finish in around 38’. The impression he had after crossing the finish line as he sat down on a bench nearby was that he could do a bit better. He actually regretted not to have won the race, not to have caught the one in front who could be seen in different occasions during the 10 kilometres. The first half of it, Manuel Roca run behind two others participants. Effortlessly and confident he followed their pace and in a couple of occasions he came to contact with them unintentionally. After the 5km mark, he accelerated a bit to test his rivals reaction and realised he could carry on by himself. The hunt started in that very moment. In his head run the conviction that the man in front would be reeled in, in other words he would eventually get caught. Manuel Roca promptly decided to concentrate on the course and to try to cut it as short as possible. So, he chose the straighter trajectories that allowed him to shorten the pain of a few meters. His limits were overtaken, the body ached, he breathed hard for the effort, the heart drummed away with an out of control rhythm. The man in front did not appear, he must be far, unreachable probably. However, he badly wanted to maintain the second position which is a very respectful result if one is to consider that this was his first ever running race. It is time to enter the meditation state. He detached the body from the mind, badly focusing on the latter. This is emptied of all concerns or preoccupations falling still and coming to rest. He gathers concentration to master the effort, the rest of the world has disappeared, it has imploded in a black hole. Manuel Roca now only focuses on where he is, looking around and imagining his vital organs moving in a perfect synchronism within him. He dropped his focus on the touch of his feet on the ground; this rolled under his body quickly. The weight of his body disappeared, Manuel Roca forgot about that. He shifted his concentration on the touch of his clothes on his skin. The air stole for a moment the focus as it caressed his face, his hands and legs. He let the eyes receive the colours and forms surrounding him without mutely expressing any comment. The taste of sweat was salty on his lips, its smell was neutral. Manuel Roca was fully there, running on his legs, trying to speed up his pace as much as possible. He became aware of noises in his mind. He let the sounds in and heard them rising and falling; yet again no mute comments were thought. In the total absence of his body, he let the hearing run right out to the furthest sounds. He embraced them all. His mind was now at rest in the great awareness of his effort. 4km to go, 3, 2, 1 and eventually the finish line. 35 minutes and 35 seconds to run 10 kilometers, Manuel Roca exited the meditation state. He was like he reopened his eyes to meet the aches running through his body. Manuel Roca shaked hands with other participants, he is happy but not totally.