{"id":251,"date":"2018-04-24T17:36:39","date_gmt":"2018-04-24T16:36:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/themenziesphoenix.org.uk\/?page_id=251"},"modified":"2021-03-11T18:36:04","modified_gmt":"2021-03-11T18:36:04","slug":"the-heat-of-an-afternoon-race","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/themenziesphoenix.org.uk\/?page_id=251","title":{"rendered":"The heat of an afternoon race"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The scorching sun<\/span> <\/strong>burns<\/span> the red<\/span> cinder<\/span> stones,<\/p>\n

six athletes , stretching, retching at their zones<\/p>\n

100 yards of white lines leading on,<\/p>\n

the hungry heat<\/span> haze blinding into one.<\/p>\n

House coloured vests itching on the neck,<\/p>\n

perspiration pouring down the fleshy decks.<\/p>\n

To their marks, then “set” on the treacly<\/span> track<\/p>\n

awaiting the cannon of the gunman’s crack.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The “bang” then prompts the forward thrust,<\/p>\n

the straightening of backs and the plumes of dust,<\/p>\n

of the fiery<\/span> feet that slide and glide<\/p>\n

carrying the weight of the legs that stride<\/p>\n

arm action pumping, calves will assessed,<\/p>\n

lactic acid building, fatigued in the test,<\/p>\n

determination tried, biding the time,<\/p>\n

lunging for the dip of the quenching<\/span><\/strong> line.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n