The track meet still remains as one of the most exciting events in my life. I was only in eight grade but to this day I have never run faster. This story is about one of those races that surprised even me.
The 4x400 race never thrilled me, but its challenge certainly interested me. My duty: run that last leg of this relay as fast as possible. I was the only eigth grader on a team of ninth graders, so the pressure of succeeding always filled my mind as we lined up for the start of the race.
The day couldn't be better for a race as it was a typical hot and humid day in Saudi Arabia. I have never been a relaxed runner and my stomach always became tied in knots just before a race. This was one of the last races of the day, so everyone was ready to get it over with.
Though we ran as a team, we never talked about the race. We all had our individual goals. Our first runner needed to establish a lead. If by chance our first runner lost the lead, or never attained it, his goal was to get us as close as possible.
Our second runner needed to increase our lead or take the lead, based on our place in the pack.
Now it may seem that we were confident of being either first or second, but our team had an impressive line-up and we all were top runners in our respective races. I don't ever remember losing a race with this relay team. In fact, I don't ever remember being behind at anytime, but this was a different scenerio. We were racing against the best.
One week earlier we'd qualified for this meet in a great time, with no one ever close to us, so things were looking good.
Back to the race, the third man needed to establish a bigger lead or achieve the lead. If all things went as planned, we should be about 100-200 meters ahead of the rest of the pack.
My goal for the race was simple. Run for my life and cross the finish line with the lead. Of course, being the cocky bunch we were, I needed to be ahead by at least 100 meters, which is a pretty big lead in this type of competion, but that was the confidence we had in our abilities.
This was the most prestigious track meet of the season, our world series. The qualifying meet which took place just a week before only sent the top two teams to this all Saudi Arabia meet. I was lucky and had qualified for two events (the 800 and 4 X 400 relay). I didn't run real well in the 800 meters so my only redemption would be a win in the relay.
Like so many races, I didn't think or plan my race, I just knew I would have to run real fast. My stomach churne with each tick of the clock, but I stood in the infield, ready for battle.
The race:
The gun sounded and off our first runner went. My nerves quickly left my stomach, but after the first 200 meters, a lump began to form in my throat. We were behind, and by a lot. Looking across the infield, I can't see our first runner struggling, out of breath and dejected. I felt for him as now his only goal was to maintain a safe distance. I don't remember who was winning because I didn't focus on who the leader was, but how big was the gap.
They came around the final turn and we seemed to be in last, but we were in fifth place. I studied the faces of our competitors, looking for a crack in the armor, but all I could see was desire and enthusiasm. They had the winning look and I'm sure they felt invinsible. Still, even though we were quite far behind, everyone seemed to be in the race.
As I looked at our second runner, I realized we were definetly still in the race. He stood tall, confident and didn't feel the distance. At least, I didn't think he did. We were trained to win and a small distance between us and the leaders wasn't going to stop this guy from running his heart out. We all wanted to win and again that is what drove us to this competition. I wasn't worried, yet.
The transition came and went without any troubles.
Sometimes, you would see teams
with a big lead drop the baton and stumble from first to last, but
the leaders had practiced and the exchange was near perfect. One
team ahead of us lost the baton , but quickly recovered. The first
turn didn't close any of the gap. The leading team still strong,
wasn't going to relinquish the lead this lap. All I could hope for
was a slimmer lead. A 100 meter lead could be closed, but anything
above that would be impossible to overcome. A 100 meter lead is very
difficult to close because that could be 10 - 12 second head start.
This went through my mind as they passed the 200 meter mark and it
looked like a 100 meter lead. I took a deep breath and hoped something
would happen.
We seemed to make up ground between the 200 and 300 meter marks,
but only in places. We started in fifth and we had since moved up
to third, but in a battle with the fourth place team.
I looked at our third leg and he still remained confident. He was
our weakest runner, but he had a really big heart. His event was
the 100 meter dash and he did well in the 200 meter, but the longer
distance challenged him. I had run on the 4 x 100 relay the week
before and we finished in third. Today, he seemed focussed on this
race and I hoped his desire would prevail because we needed some
help.
The runners came around the final turn and no one had made up any
time on the leaders. The leaders had a 100 meter lead. I watched
as they passed the baton and had hoped for a miscue, but it was smooth.
Today wasn't a day they were going to make mistakes.
I waited in the box as my third runner stumbled into the transition.
We were in second place with a huge lead to contend with. I didn't
think of the task ahead of me, just focused on the leader and the
lead. As I grabbed the baton and began my run, the leader just made
the first turn. He had about a 120 meter lead. A very tough challenge.
As I look back at that race, I realize that it looked like doom.
There just wasn't a betting person who would have bet I could catch
the leader. I had never been in this situation so it wouldn't be
natural for me to believe I could win. This was my test.
I sprinted out of the transitional area and just put my head down
and pumped my arms and legs. I had been running the 100 meter sprint
for a few years and had some speed, but I never won the race. I really
and truly didn't think I could hold up this pace, but I needed to
catch or come close to the leader.
I wasn't going to come in second place, either I would finish first
or third, fourth or worse. I had to give it my all and this really
was why I was running the anchor leg. I was talented, but only my
legs would tell me how talented on this day.
As I turned the first turn, I had made up some of the lead, but
it still looked grim. The leader still looked strong, but he had
relaxed. I could tell by his running stride, and he had no idea that
I was on his tail. I had in my mind that he went out a little too
fast and now was resting on his laurels. As I crossed the 200 meter
mark, I was very close to the leader, probably 20-30 meters. For
the first time, the leader turned his head as he must of sensed my
presence. He then knew there was a race going on, but forgot about
racing.
My legs felt like rubber, but they kept pumping. I had not lost
one stope from the beginning. I was running 4 consecutive all out
100 meter races.
As we went into the third turn, I pulled neck and neck with the
leader. I could sense his pain, fustration and exhaustion. I still
remember the look on his face. He didn't even realize I had been
so close. I continued to push and took the lead. I heard a huge roar
from a very small crowd, but it gave me even more motivation. Now,
I had to keep the lead, but my body was beginning to feel the effect
of my all out sprint.
We exchanged the lead, back and forth we battled. It was a close
race and as we turned the final turn, I felt vulnerable, but kept
pushing as hard as my legs would move. My legs were jello, my breath
was short, but my desire to win kept me going as fast as possible.
I stumble across the finish line and collapsed. I had won the race
by a mere seconds, but we were the victors. I don't think I've ever
run so hard. It was one of my most memorable races.
After the race, my coach approached me and informed me that I had
run the race iin :51 seconds. For an eigth grader that was a pertty
awesome time in the 400 meter run. Shoot most high schoolers couldn't
run that fast. It was a great run and I could probably build on that
with some training. I do remember another coach saying that I had
the talent to run in the Olympics if I had dedicated myself to the
track.
I learned that day to never give up. I broke down my race into small
goals and achieved them one by one.
It was a day to remember
ps : current world record of the 400 meters - 43:17 (if only I had
kept training) check out who owns the world
record
Tags: dhahran, track, story
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