Enrico Maso, translated into English by Ruth Stephens
Chapter 8 – Running In The Moment
To distract himself from the tiredness in his legs, Piero raises his eyes from the asphalt to finally see the city he is running through.
He runs past cupolas, monuments and houses, and is so struck by the beauty of Rome that he forgets his numbers and rules. He’s no longer concentrating on himself but is immersed in the vibrant beauty of the city around him.
After a while, he sees a sign. He grits his teeth. But then looks again.
“40 km. Almost there? I can’t be!”
Piero realises he has come through a crisis. He doesn’t know how or why but he is no longer a prisoner of physical exertion.
Now he feels strong and no longer needs to concentrate on running. Instead he’s living in the present moment, following the tempo of the world around him without having to think.
“Just like Miro,” he thinks, picturing his cat on the sofa. Without effort or thought, Miro’ moves only when the moment is right. No clock, no deadlines. He lives in the moment, but is not its slave.
Piero runs towards the Colosseum, which looks down on the runners and seems to applaud their efforts. He feels like a Roman gladiator: he’s beaten the challenge, he’s lived through a crisis but accepted it, and won!
Marco was right. Running in the moment is almost a philosophical concept. It can’t be explained in words.
Like a plane on autopilot, Piero runs the last 2 kilometers and can see the finish ahead.
“Call me old if you like, but I got here” he thinks as he sprints towards the end of his first marathon.