One Runner’s Inspiration

Below is a short story I wrote when I was a junior in High School unedited by my adult self.

One Runner’s Inspiration

I fell exhausted on to the soft grass of the football field surrounded by the track. Clasping my hands behind my head, trying to catch my breath before the coach instructed us to run again, I wondered where I would get the energy to continue. I decided to start stretching, so at least my muscles would be prepared for what was to come. As I began stretching, still filled with exhaustion, I tried to remember what it was that forced me to push myself to continue even at times like these. Then I remember back to two years ago. My running sure has changed since then. Back then I was in the seventh grade and full of energy. I would never have been tired after the little running we had just done. I guess these changes should be expected as a person matures. At that moment, I remembered what it was about seventh grade track that was so inspiring that it compelled me even now to strive onward.

That day was like any other. I followed the same routine I had mapped out for myself since the first day of school. The bell had just rung. I a long with the other girls was dressing in the locker room. Today we would run to high school and back. I had a slightly tense feeling about the run ahead. This girl in my class and I had been in close competition for the past couple of runs. We had each won once. Today would decide who would truly be number one. I pulled the bow tighter on the shoe I had just finished tying and walked into the gymnasium. I found spot on the floor and began stretching and mentally preparing myself for the run. The coach came out of her office and told us to go to the stop sign and line up. The stop sign was our start and finish line. I lined up with everybody else and moved in to my starting position. With my left leg forward, back bent slightly, had level and eyes straight ahead, I was fully concentrating.
The coach shouted, ” On your mark, get set, and go!”. I burst into a sprint, but as we rounded the first corner, I settled into a steady pace. I looked beside me and there she was, just a s I expected. The first mile she stayed right beside me. Now the pole which was our turn around point at the high school was in sight. There was one mile left and she was still there beside me pushing me onward. We were side by side the entire way. We turned the corner and saw the coach. With only tow blocks left the other girls started to kick (a very hard sprint). I usually waited until the last block to kick, but I had to stay with her. Then there was one block left. We pressed each other faster and faster, still. Neither one of us gave an inch. Now every muscle in my body ached. Just then a numbness shot through my entire body. I surged with energy as I flew across the finish line.

Afterward, we walked over to the coach and she told us we had tied. We laughed and just looked at each other. As we walked away from the coach, I told her about the experience I had and she told me she had the same experience. We agreed it was the most amazing feeling either of us had ever had.

I now know that the feeling is called runner’s nova, or the runner’s high and is even called catching the cheetahs. Runner’s high is the greatest experience a runner can have. Endorphins are natural painkillers which are released into your body and give you a numb feeling along with a rush of adrenalin.

Once Again, finding my inspiration, I picked myself up off the ground and headed for the starting line. When the coach told me to start running, I took off with my new found energy and began to chase those cheetahs’ hoping to catch them one more time.