BANG! The gun went off. All the force in my left leg exalted into motion on the red polyurethane track. I felt the big gust of wind slap me in the face, tears crawling from my eyes from the breaking wind. I was determined. However, I saw a small shadow creeping behind in my peripheral vision. Was someone about to pass me?!
The big meet was Saturday, my fellow teammates and myself have been preparing so hard for many meets, but this one in particular was different. We changed how we ran everything. For the three hundred meter hurdles, our plan was sprint one hundred meters, jog the second hundred meters on the curve, then let it all out the last hundred on the home stretch. However, our coach changed everything. We had to run 800 extrocenating meters for a warm up, stretch out our muscles so we did not cramp up, then we put up 12 hurdles around the entire red, blazing hot track. For we did not know why? Then our coach ordered us like dogs to get one last drink. So we did as told and then followed him to the start line. He said, "Today we are going to work on stamina for the 300 kiddos, we will be able by the end of the week to sprint it no sweat, ight."
Our work out was one whole mile (four times around the track) with the twelve hurdles in between. We had to pace ourselves every way possible to make sure we cleared each hurdle and passed the finish line. My fellow teammate Jason, or CJG as we called him (Captain Jmoss Grey) was first to start this horrific disaster of events. Jason was our number one hurdler in our school and he was in top five in our district. My name was ABG (Assistant Bosa Grey) because I was second on the team I was named assistant captain. I was running behind though because I was only fourteenth in the district. Fred, a rival of mine was thirteenth. I knew Fred was coming to the meet Saturday as well because it was our astronaut meet, similar to the district meet; so I tried harder then ever in practice just to make sure I have a chance to pass him in the leader boards. Every night I went home in pain with how sore my legs were. I would lay in my bathtub soaking in water for hours just to relax the muscles I was straining just hours before hand. Finally, it was Friday. My coach sent out a text "No practice, rest up, stretch out, and eat healthy."
So I did as told. I ate Chicken Parm with spaghetti and a banana to avoid cramps. Then I stretched out my muscles after dinner. I went to bed extra early. The next morning, I woke up feeling well rested and I took a shower, packed my lunch, as well as took a gallon of water to the meet to make sure I was hydrated. Everything was going as planned and I did everything my coach said. I was very confident walking in to this race. However, my event was the second to last race so I had to wait for everyone to conclude their events. I kept stretching out with my hurdle squad as well as I did a couple laps to loosen up. Finally the intercom said, "Three Hundred Hurdles get signed in, you're up next."
Instant fear shot into my eyes I was so scared. I had no family support there either. Therefore, I couldn’t blow off steam. I got signed in and I was the second heat, Jason was in the first heat. His heat went, as I watched he got second. That scared me even a little bit more. I sat up my blocks to bounce off of and got myself set. I could feel the butterflies rising in my stomach. I looked over in lane one, as I was in lane two and saw Fred my rival I trained so hard for. Then in an instant! BANG! The gun went off. All the force in my left leg exalted into motion on the red polyurethane track. I felt the big gust of wind slap me in the face, tears crawling from my eyes from the breaking wind. I was determined. However I saw a small shadow creeping behind in my peripheral vision. Was Fred passing me?! He approached me on the curve. I was just about to give up, until then everything suddenly hit slow motion. I looked in the crowd to see the only person standing up screaming was my brother. I could not fail and give up and have my little brother watch that. He was so excited. He woke up early enough with my stepmother Jenn to watch me race. I was so happy. Then I instantly remembered. I can't lose. I kicked myself in overdrive everything went back to normal. Screaming in the crowd I could hear myself heaving. My breath was thin and short trying to push out everything! I had to win for my little brother. Halfway through the last hundred meters, I passed Fred in mid jump. I bolted to the next hurdle and glided so smoothly and touched the ground once again with my toe and the speed just kept coming. I lunged myself across the finish line and fell to my knees. I couldn’t breathe nor could I believe I just won against my rival! He shook my hand and said see you in districts. I was confused. I haven't ran the qualifying time of 46 seconds yet to make districts till I looked up and saw my name on the leader board an astonishing 44.6 seconds! I Was overjoyed. However, later on I learned I missed the finals for a medal by .5 seconds. But my coach said to look forward. I was just a sophomore and my junior and senior year has yet to be written. I smiled and hugged him. Then I ran to my brother and threw him in the air. If it wasn’t for him surprising me with his presence I wouldn’t love the rush and intensity of track and hurdles today.
