Sports Day 800 metres

by Maya-Marie
(Blaxhall, Woodbridge, Suffolk)

It was School Sports Day and we were all lining up to do the 800 metre race. The horn blew and everyone went into full sprint. Me on the other hand took it steady. I took in lots of oxygen, paced myself, and left my joints strong but loose. Half way through the race and there was a lot of heavy panting, heads sagging and small whines from other racers around me. Me on the other hand was breathing in the rich, fresh air steadily and keeping my 1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4, pace steady. Gradualy, without recognition, I began to overtake people. My mind however was the same "just keep going, there's ages to go yet." even though there wasn't. I find, that if I think of the finish line being a matter of metres away, I tend to slow down thinking "YES! I AM THERE!!!" When as a matter of fact, I am not. I find the further away I picture the line being, the more determind I am to pass it. As a result of this thinking I came second, and was imensly proud of what I had acheived. I took in some deep breaths of air, caught up with myself and praised the other runners. I did my cool downs and drunk a good, heavy amount of Lucozade sport before collapsing down on the cool grass. I is a very bizarre feeling when running. The air you take in is ice cold and makes your gums prickle (which is why you breathe through your nose) and there becomes a point when the pain, fear and fatigue hits you and you are convinced that you are going to die. I think we have all expeirienced the feeling of "just stop, why am I bothering?" However by going into The Zone you will find yourself almost bouncing of the ground and fluently passing the other runners around you, and you feel extremely rewarded afterwards.