There I was, standing on the line, I knew what I had to do. It was easy, I wasn't nervous. To my left a guy who I didn't know, and to my left I would find the guy who this rope was tied to. My job was to drag him as far as I could as he was looking for a 25 second pb. Here we go...
"On your mark..."
There I stood, an invisible rope tied to this man who was a friend but for this race he was more than just a friend, he was my oasis while I his thirsty elephant on a mission. I look to my left, my heart beating, adrenaline pumping, legs surging with a seemingly endless pool of energy, I'm ready for this. Before I knew it, this group of men, runners, everyone with their own mission, me included, is called to the line with the gun pointed in the air. The only thing I can remember from what seemed like the longest second of the day was the image of my opponents shaking with anticipation but for this race not opponents but travelers on my journey. Then suddenly, BOOM, the gun goes, an explosion of runners off the start line, fighting for a good position from the start, but not me, casually, I allow my trusted ally to go ahead of me leading for the first lap keeping an even pace, a pace that felt easy, but I knew that it wouldn't stay easy for long, before I knew it, a few seconds later I crossed the 400 meter line on perfect pace
He looks back at me and says "Give me a thumbs up...."
He tossed me a thumbs up back, I took this as a sign as he felt good, so onward we rolled. I kept pace, kept it smooth, kept it honest. To me this pace was a walk in the park, I knew thou it would get hard for my friend. I kept pulling at the rope, stay on pace lil man. We can do this.
"2:30, you guys are on the money!" Our coach yelled.
The second lap goes by without even batting an eye, but here, in the midst of the third lap, the fatigue starts rolling in, a littler earlier then it usually should have because of previous races I did in the day but I knew that i had to just push threw it. Following my trustworthy leader we approach another runner not quite cruising at our lightning fast speed, on his heels the chief looks back at me
"let's pass him?"
I could tell this runner was lavering, his shoulders were tight, we had him beat, just had to get by the lad. I made the move on the corner which was a bad idea as my partner couldn't get around him. A gap formed. The runner whom I just passed had more to give, I slowed a bit so I could re-tie the rope, he blew by us and slowed. I waited till we hit the next straight stretch and we took him. We didn't look back after that. Forward I looked as we were approaching another runner... could we get him?
"A tad off pace guys, 7 seconds back, work the second half" Schroeds announced.
It was top of the fourth 7 seconds behind, when alarms started going off in my head, I could feel the rope getting thinner and thinner, my body yelling at me to quit, lie down on the side of the track and just cry, but, I've been threw this before, I knew what to do, 7 seconds behind, that was nothing I told myself, so I pushed deeper, the back of my partner turning into a mere yellow blur, but if I looked pass that yellow blur I could see another fast skinny blur slowly getting nearer as we pushed through that lap passing the line with...
The encouragements of Schroeds "Go catch him guys only 5 seconds off"
I pulled beside my guy, told him to look up, told him we are gunna catch that guy up ahead. Two laps to go. We could do it! Alright man, lets pick it up, I take back the lead and begin the move. Unlucky us are nearest competitor hears us and starts picking it up. It's almost over man, hang in there lets do this. I spoke words of wisdom. I was calm, hoping that my calmness would inspire him I kept picking it up.
"So close man, lets go, lets go!"
The only thing I heard was a distant muffle from inside of my body, at this point nothing mattered I was just a searing mess of pain just holding on for the race to end but as I look over at my partner I slightly pick up the pace, I remember him saying "get on my hip" and so i surged and caught right up next to him however it wasn't enough my legs were giving out and my chest felt like exploding, the last 800 is truly the hardest part of the race.
"Just hanging in there"
DING DING! One to go! I look back, I get the go ahead to go after the last lap, 8:23... 8:24... 8:25... I take off. This is it! On the back stretch I catch up to a runner, I see another in the distance, I keep pushing as he disappears around the corner. Down the home stretch 5m away... 4m... 3m...
"I got myself a race"
As I cross the line for the last lap, I hear the seemingly distant sound of the bell, unfortunately it provides no motivation, I want to go faster, I want to have a kick but there is nothing left, both legs and spirit exaughsted the rope to my partner long since severed, he takes off, there wasn't much he could do for me at the point anyway, as the lap drags on I manage to keep a pretty steady pace
"I think I can, I think I can"
As the finish approaches, I pull away. Crossing the line, I look up at the clock, 9:23...
"Holy s***, I just closed in a 60, wheres Adam?'
I cross the line in a stumble ripping off the pinny faster then I would if Phill Collins were on repeat I look over at my partner, he closed in a 60, holy crap, I look over at the clock, a new pb. Even thou the mission of a 20 second pb failed I settled for the one second I got because I had a great time, I just hope that one day, I can pace my pacer, but we'll see about that one.
Much love
rj and ap
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