A Running Experience

1 Pages 335 Words

Pound, pound, pound. With each stride, fatigue accumulates. Lactic acid fills my legs, making every motion harder. My mind asks me, “Why are you doing this? Why put yourself through all this pain?” My heart responds: “Because I have to.”
Running is a painful sport. Ask anyone. There are even shirts that say, “My sport is your punishment.” So it would be hard to comprehend why I would want to do this every day, running 10 miles, with each mile faster than a lot of people’s fastest mile. It’s because of the sense of accomplishment achieved, pushing through the pain and coming out on top. Never has this been most evident than at Cross Country League Finals.
I was in the first race of the day. As I toed the line, thoughts were racing. Sweat was pouring. All I could think of was the great amount of competition in this race. But they say the time before the race is always the worst part, the anticipation, the nervousness. But once the gun goes off, all this anxiety is erased. Boom! Suddenly, all thoughts are erased. I start off slow, as my biggest problem has always been starting off too fast and getting tired early. I am in 30th place and the first mile marker of the three-mile race is seen up ahead. I decide now is the time to step it up.
As I pass the marker, my stride lengthens, my pulse quickens, my legs get heavier, but I push on. Through the pain, through the tiredness, the shortness of breathe. Just one more. Just one more runner I tell myself, as I pass, runner after runner. Finally, there is only a quarter mile left. I realize it’s just me and a runner from a rival school. We are both exhausted, both hurting, but neither of us give in, then there is only 50 yards left. Somewhere inside me, a voice says, “GO.” I go. And I win. Through the pain, through the exhaustion, I win....