Week after week. Day after day. Practice after practice. We trained like Olympians. We ran for a purpose. We had already won counties, leagues and regionals. States was a piece of cake so that left the only thing we had worked for all season. Nationals. In that moment all I could focus on was the wind brushing through my hair. My feet continuously hitting the ground. My arms swinging back and forth, and my shoulders loose and straight. I couldn’t hear anything. It was like I was deaf and hearing nothing but my lungs gasping for air. I had forgotten the one thing to do the one thing all humanity knows how to do. I had forgotten to breath. Finally, she came into view. I hit the mark she had set for me, I demanded for her arm, and I handed her off the baton. As I look back at that moment now, I think of how many times I had thought to give up. The times I went home exhausted ready to sleep after a hard workout but then having to do my homework till three in the morning. I had thought of all the times I was thinking of skipping practice but didn’t. As I reflect on that now I can say I am glad I had stayed up till three studying and didn’t skip practice when I desperately wanted to. Nationals has shaped my character to never give up the fight. As a runner, you must never stop running and you must never quit the race. The race will never end, and you must run your best race till the day you can no longer move your legs, pump your arms, and keep your shoulders loose and straight.
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