Personal Narrative-First Hill

I sprinted off the start line and was engulfed in the sound of all the runners, their feet pounding against the pavement. Adrenaline coursed through my veins. I turned right and began to ascend the first hill of the MT SAC invitational two mile course. As I continued up the hill, the rhythmic thuds of the runners’ steps decelerated as everyone settled into a steadier pace. I whizzed past the first mile marker, my surroundings a blur and the wind rushing around me. Then came the second hill. I discovered that I had overexerted myself. My brisk pace slowed. One minuscule step felt like a million. My throat felt raw, and my head was pounding. One of my teammates approached me .
“Hi Serena ,” she called,” you can do this .” “Thank you . Best
of luck ,” I croaked.
I watched dejectedly as she passed me. As the finish line finally came into view, I remembered two more of my teammates passing me. Another girl finished less than a second before I did. To this day, that moment is still clear in my mind. That race taught me that ultimately, it doesn’t matter how you start, but how you finish. I also learned the importance of pacing. Those two lessons will stay with me for the rest of my life, both in the area of athletics, and also, in day-to-day life.