Winning was not a problem, it was making a mark in today’s event that was the challenge. If I were to just simply run this race, it would be like leaving my footprints along the beach. Tide and time would wash away those marks – someone else may beat my timing some other time, and I would be nothing. Or, I could imprint my hands onto the blocks of semi-wet cement in Hollywood, and there, I would stay forever – just like my name would be a new barrier for any other inspired runner, aiming for a record.
The sun’s heat beat down upon us, sending endless streams of torment and torture. It was unusually hot, and it worried me even more. This race was not against each other, it was a race against time.
A bead of sweat slipped down my forehead and trickled slowly down my neck. At that instant, the gun exploded, sending a thunderous shock wave across the stadium. The spectators, too, exploded in an obstreperous reverberation of cheers and support.
I was oblivious to my surroundings now. My internal body clock told me that I was going at a comfortable speed, each step taking me closer to the finishing line, closer to that gold. But, it warned me about my suppressed goal—to set a new record.
With only a hundred meter to go, I felt my legs give way. Lactic acid filled my muscles and lethargy soon followed. My arms no longer swung in full force, but were now moving sluggishly. Breathing seemed to be almost impossible as my lungs begged for air. My eyes lifted off the track and rested momentarily at the spectators’ stand where they met with the disappointed ones of my coach.
I knew what I had to do. The past two years of hard core training was about to be flushed down the drain, if I did not put it to use right here, right now. A dream I never once imagined was now chanced upon the opportunity to be fulfilled. I could not afford to let it slip past the grasp of my hands. I already had it; now I only had to hang onto it, hold it dearly till I crossed the finishing line. I could not let them down, not my coach, my friends, my family and especially myself.
This was my life.
They say the mind is stronger than the body and what you believe, you can achieve. I was about to put that theory into test. Telling myself that I had to continue to strive forward, to overcome all obstacles and win was no easy task. My legs had to be convinced that it felt no pain, the lungs were forced to function properly and my arms had to regain its full frontal force
In my mind, I began to chant, “Go, go, go…” These crucial moments would later come to determine this stage of my life.
In an instant, my whole body started to lighten up. The pain was no longer there, ankle-irons of lethargy soon faded. I was flying now, and could probably skip across water if this stadium was to suddenly be transformed into a silver lake. My toes barely touched the ground and I felt no resistance; no force could hold me back. The wind caressed my hair as I cut through it. The sun’s surrounding heat had no effect on me. I felt free.
Eighty-meters in front of me was the finishing line, the end to all my pain. I struggled on, pushing myself beyond the limits of my legs. Sweat poured profusely and stung my eye, but I ignored it; there was too much at stake at risk to worry about a sore eye.
My mind was taking over. It was no longer my legs which ran the race, but my mind. The world stood still, just for the split second when I made that defining moment. No more pain was felt, only a sense of pride, anguish and anxiety. With only fifty meters of track left under my feet, I forced all of my remaining energy to continue to carry me forward. This was the turning point at which my legs were strong enough to finish the race at such speed, as they had never done before.
The last few meters of the race seemed never ending, and the finishing tape seemed to keep its distance from me. I knew I was ahead, the noises of the crowd cheered my name faithfully. Finally, I leapt at the tape. All my effort was over. It all became a blur, then dark as I collapsed onto the ground.
The next thing I knew was that I found myself lying in the shade, on a stretcher no doubt. In my cracked vision, I saw running figures heading toward me. Upon arrival, eloquence was delivered, sending limitless sprouts of joy through me. I had done it!!
