Ready To Run // Hayes Grier

The First Meet

It was a cool saturday morning. We were outside near the track at Brentwood Highschool in California. Eight different schools were here ready for the seasons first cross country meet. I kept looking at the other freshman girl teams. They all had muscular legs and they were all so fit. I felt like a fish amongst the shark crowd.

"In 5 minutes the freshman girls are running"
I overhear a coach say.

I was so nervous. This was my first summer CrossCountry meet. I hadn't realized I liked running until last summer track.
I see my teammates come up to me.

"Coach says we have to go stretch" Brittany, one of the twins said.

"Okay. I'm really nervous" I say fiddling with my shorts.

"Your going to do fine Abby, your a great runner and just remember to stay in the front with us" Briana, the other twin says.

"Thanks" I say smiling.

We all go and stretch and pray. We line up along the other teams. We all look like a bunch of ants ready to take off.

"Okay ladies", the coach says "there's going to be two sounds. The whistle and the gun. You take off when you hear the gun."

I was so nervous, I could feel sweat on my forehead and I had butterflies in my stomach. The whistle blows and we get ready. The gun is fired.

We all take off and I immediately join my teammates in the front. We past some girls and three of my teammates run faster. I stay with Briana at our own pace. I've realized in practice that if I don't go at my own pace, I'll get tired and slow down.

We go through the course and by the second mile I feel my chest on fire. I'm sweating all over and getting sort of dizzy but I don't stop. I can't stop, won't stop.
Stopping will make me feel like a loser and I can't let the other girls see me give up.
I see and hear the coach yelling at me while we start the third and last mile.

"Pump your arms! You have to past the girls in front of you if you want to place!" She yells.

I take her advice and pump my arms which causes my legs to run faster. I quickly past the three girls in front of me. I see Briana ahead of me and make sure to stay behind her.

We turn into the track for the last 100m. I can hear people cheering and yelling. There's a girl in front of me and if I speed up a little I can pass her. But I'm tired and my legs are giving up.

"Go Abby! Run faster!" I hear my bestfriend yell from the stands.

"Let's go Abby!" Coach yells.

I pump my arms and turn into the track. As I'm about to pass the girl I hear a random guy yell.

"Let's Go! Pass her i know you can! Go go go!" He yells.

I pump my arms and try to go as fast as I can, eventually I pass her and cross the finish line.