An uneducated report

In his latest work, the 2015 Edition of the Bupa London 10000, Daniel, who dares just refer to himself an athlete, tackled his lack of natural athleticism and raw pace in an event which often rewards those very talents in which he is not gifted.  In a culture where physical stature is often advantageous, here he applies his diminutive size as a strength. Daniel’s drugs are not the condemned EPO or ‘blood bags’, but the elusive search for 'satisfaction', 'endorphins' and a sense of self-worth which he can only achieve by pushing himself beyond his limits.

Daniel’s entire existence is an undiluted expression of his individuality, but his true agency is his endurance. The willingness to push on and never give in. Here we experienced first hand his draconian thought process: the single-minded battle of resolve against his Central Governor. Were we witness to a revolution of sorts? Could it be that Daniel is our unlikely hero who rose above his limitations to facilitate inspiration for each and every one of us?

Life is often not fair, a fact which Daniel knows better than many and perhaps his grunt at the seventh marker, his foible audible only to the trained ear was a recognition of this?  To the outward observer there was no change in his demeanor: his cadence still his primary discourse, the three stripes on his black shorts presumably representing his chosen stride per second-rate, covering but a fraction of ground with each power-less step akin to his cartoon heroes.

Nevertheless our hero persevered, eager to inspire in this extempore role.  By the time Daniel was level with the ninth marker, he was at one with his body and his limitations.  To the casual observer, the untrained eye, Daniel correctly selected his route and navigated the turn onto the long road of truth.  The final one-kilometre drag was anything but for Daniel as he grew and grew in confidence.  Relative glory awaited him.  

Without a second thought he seized his moment in history. It was not the raised-arm salute of his heroes of the past, or the Mobotic gestures of the younger generation with which Daniel gifted the crowd at the line of celebration.  The reward to his entourage: an idiomatic grimace and gallant reach for the stop button of his watch, suggesting that perhaps the finish line of this challenge has been mistakenly named by this author.

Behind from the gun, the 32:31 demonstration which he covet on the battlefield today may be a personal triumph, but is merely a drop in the ocean of average performances on the world-class stage. For Daniel’s performance was indeed a metaphor for the struggles which we all endure on a day to day basis in the dichotomy of 21st century Britain: in a post-austerity society in which graft and perseverance provide the biggest individual prizes, but are perceived as insignificant on the grander scale.

In a cruel twist of plot, despite achieving what he set out to do, Daniel must now deal with his own raised standards and shifting expectations. Daniel's greatest prize is also his curse.  Will tonight’s bicycle ride be one of punishment or an identical one of celebration?

But our hero will be back, of that one can be sure.