It wasn’t until I heard my teacher shouting encouragement that I realised I was ahead. It all seemed like a bit of a blur, but I was actually enjoying it. Even though it was a harsh climate it felt so refreshing against my cheeks. I could see there was about four people about 30 metres in front of me and one person way out in front.
All I can remember thinking is if I keep going I could come in the top five, and the thought of that was overwhelming. This kept me motivated until something happened which frustrated me. This one girl had hidden behind the trees and as I was beginning the second lap, she joined in the race again. I tried to keep up, but by this time a lot of my energy had gone and this girl, who I won’t name and shame, had bundles of energy left and flew threw the second lap as I had done the first.
To say I was annoyed would be too much of an understatement, I don’t think words a lone could express my irritation at that very moment. I finished in sixth place, this was an achievement I could never have even dreamed off and I thought who knows what I could progress on to if I trained. I knew in my mind I really came in fifth place and that was self satisfying enough, I wasn’t going to snitch on her cheating , I just hope justice would prevail and she would get what she deserved, and my goodness did she suffer the consequences.
I think I could have cried, but I didn’t want to give her the satisfaction, the first five threw received certificates and were also given letters to represent the school in the South Devon trials held at Forches cross. I was asked to be a reserve, which was better than nothing and it meant I had a day of school; convenient as I happened to have a maths exam that day. Not only that but we were all going to be taken to MacDonald’s after which was a definite bonus, so I tried to be optimistic about it.
However, most of all I was looking forward to watching her struggle. I knew she wouldn’t be able to cheat; there were marshals and officials everywhere, not to mention crowds of people that had gathered to watch.
This was pay back time.
The race soon began, as the reserve I got to hold drinks and clothes, which wasn’t the greatest thing as all I wanted to do was join in and my passion for running then began to grow. She seemed surprisingly comfortable on the first small lap, but then it kicked it and she began to walk. She was desperately struggling and was now way behind.
I know I probably shouldn’t have, but I couldn’t help but laugh, I think she got what she deserved and when she finally finished the race people weren’t too happy with her. The other girls had done fantastically well and as it was a team effort she most definitely let the team down. She claimed she had bad stomach crap and unfortunately gained a lot of sympathy!
The day did give me such a buzz; it gave me inspiration to start training so I could do it next year. I even started myself a program, I decided I would try and train for one hour at least once a week, I wanted to keep it reasonable and realistic so I could actually stick to it. As time progressed so did my training and was now doing up to 4 days a week.
My fitness level shot right up, I also developed an interest in a number of other sports including football, athletics and basketball, but my main aim was still cross-country.
Cross-country was a surprise this year. The teachers did not give us any warning, they didn’t want loads of excuses again so when everyone was changed and outside it was sprung on us; personally I found this funny and clever…others didn’t find it so amusing.
Unfortunately as we were all now a year older, the track had got bigger, I wasn’t too bothered, I loved a challenge. I tried to focus myself, I worked hard this year training and I hoped this would pay off. The race began and I started off quite fast but didn’t want to over do it, so I began to pace myself. I ran to my full potential, and was undoubtedly pleased with the result of second place.
No-one cheated this year, I think she learnt her lesson, I received a certificate and a letter for the South Devon trials, and I was over the moon and delighted. I trained so hard in that two week period before the trails, but I pushed my school work to one side and running became my only focus. I didn’t seem to care about my exam grades any more and they began to slip.
The day of the race came, but that morning I was told there were arguments between my sports teacher and other teachers about if I could afford to have a day of school as my grades had slipped so much. Luckily I was allowed to go; I knew I had to start balancing my school work and sports now.
I don’t think I had ever been so nervous in my life, I was shaking so much and not just because it was cold. I wanted this so much so I tried really hard. I came in ninth place, I was in complete shock. Ninth, ninth in South Devon, it just wasn’t sinking in. An official came and talked to me and asked how I would feel competing for Devon trials and representing South Devon and from that moment on. Needless to say I had a smile from ear to ear.
The Devon trails were soon after the South Devon trials so there wasn’t much time to train, but I did what I could. I travelled by couch to Bicton, East Devon, with the rest of the team, the scariest thing was not knowing anyone and the fact they all looked very professional and a lot older than me.
The whole experience was amazing, and the fact I was just there representing South Devon was a great achievement. The course was very long and very hard. I finished in twenty sixth place, which even though doesn’t sound great, I didn’t feel was too bad out of at least a hundred competitors.
Now I am currently in year ten and have found a balance between my school work and sport. I have an incredible passion for running and I’m still training hard. I hope this year to compete in the Devon trails again and come in the top fifteen and with a lot of hard work and determination I hope to do this. As the school work and coursework is piling up, not to mention revision, finding time to train isn’t always easy, but when I do have some spare time I do what I can.