Ready, Set, DASH!

Today is the day that I run. You can feel the excitement and nervousness in the air. You can also feel the sweltering hot sun on your shoulders.  As a couple hundred people line up on the finish the line, Jill and I stood next to each other and wished each other good luck (even though she didn't need it). A lady walks on the field announcing that this is the first free race that they put boys and girls together, and then wished us good luck. As she walks off the field another man walks onto the field before us. He speaks in to the bull horn saying “If you would like to run 2 miles you take the left and if you want to run 3 miles you take the right." I instantly think in a panic what happened to the one mile? The man continues to speak. "Now on the sound of this gun you will start." Oh great here it is! "Get set, BOOM!"

As I start my seven seconds sprinting, with wind in my hair and just trying not to get caught in front of anybody.  I find no one else in front of me so I slow down. Then I find Jill, we made an alliance to stay next to each other. So, I started to run with Jill, but I figured out that I am not as fast as her, nor do I have a comparable stamina against Jill. Naturally, I fall behind probably 5 people have passed me already and I become discouraged. I see this figure ahead, a long blond ponytail, starting to walk. Then I ponder if she walks, I walk. As we walk next to one another for 30 seconds or so. She says gasping out breath "We can finish together." then rethinks her choice of words "if you want to". I ponder for a brief second and say "Sure, you want to start jogging at this cone up here?" This cone was maybe 2 meters away at the time. Then the girl says "maybe". Obviously she was just trying to be polite I comprehend that she wants to walk a little more. As the orange cone reaches my feet I start to jog again.

1 mile has passed, and it feels like 3. Coach Cole announcing at the 1 mile split that I ran one mile in 7 minutes, and 32 seconds. Impressed with my mile time I continue to jog for probably about another quarter mile. Sadly, the sweltering sun on your back is not to encouraging for you to keep running. So I stop about another 3 people past me, then I start running again. I am having a hard time keeping a steady pace. I start jogging again then I hear these two boys talking and walking, then one boy exclaims "I respect what cross country does so much more!" I laugh to myself inside. He must be doing this race for another sport. I past the two boys, finding myself among two Episcopal cross country girls. We only have one more quarter mile then I can stop!

As I am jogging down the hill that is by the straight away for the finish line, I see coaches and team-mates yelling at one another to run as hard as they can; even though none of the coaches or, team-mates was on my team. I become encouraged and start running a little faster than before. Then I see the finish line! I was so excited, I started running, as fast as I can with my worn out legs. Now I am about 8 yards away from it and team mate’s parents and coaches are on the side saying "Go Josh!" "Finish Strong you can do this!" and another saying "Go! Kaylin!" As I look to the right I see my parents in excitement for me to finish. I pick up my pace up my pace a little more. Then I finish! This woman handed me a cup of water. The water was not cold, but it was still very thoughtful of her. Then another woman ahead is pouring water down the runners back. Enthralled what is about to be poured on me I walk little faster. As the cool water trickles down my back, I begin to cool off, and realizing it is finally over. The water felt amazing! I loved it! I wanted a thousand more people to pour water on me! Then I see this episcopal runner giving out ice cold rags! I was so excited you wouldn’t understand! I was sweating like I never did before! Now I am going to get an ice cold rag! She gives me a rag and I put it around my neck. My body cools off slowly. I put it on my face, because it feels like an oven. I look down at my cross-country uniform and realize i just doused in water, and now soaking wet.  

As I see my parents walking I wave my hand as a sign that I was alright. When we finally meet each other they congratulate me on my time! My time, I forgot about my time, this will be the second time I forgot to check. I cannot believe it I am so mad at myself. Then I hear my dad say

“What did she get Jen?”

“Her time was 20:02 I think!”

I instantly think what a poor job I did, but I did push myself and that’s all that really mattered to me.

Media~http://www.freewebs.com/rhsxcountry/