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The sports world needs rivalries. Some rivalries may be friendly, some may be cut throat and vicsious. Regardless, it is rivalires that fuel the sports world. This occurs on the professional level, all the way down to the lowest level... 'golf', joking... mostly.
As I've had a 9 year long running career, I've encountered a few rivalries. Most them have been just something I've created in my own head, but one rivalry was quite evident to many. As a young freshman, I was pertty cocky, "still am". Not outright and noticeable to anyone I talked to, but to me, I felt I deserved to win any race I ran. "I worked harder, why not?!" Unfortunatly, it does NOT work that way.
As I competed against small school classification kids, this mindset was reinforced when I raced. "Yes", I won the majority of my races, again... "small school classification kids". All this fueling my ego, as does most athletes having a rather large ego in tact. If oneself does not think they're better than the other guy, then one certainly isn't going to 'foam at the mouth' to beat the guy next to him. A big ego is crucial to have in being competitive in sports. How one conceals it, is another thing.
Regardless, let's get to the point! After pulling a rabbit out of my hat freshman year at pre-state, I won going from 21st at 1k to 1st by 4k and then holding on. A very calculated and executed race to the T to pull off the win, but none the less, "It happened". As Sophomore year came about, a much stronger runner, I won pre-state yet again. Althouh it was a close battle coming down to the homestretch. As my junior year came, I was a new runner. I wasn't 'half-bad', in which, at that pre-state race of my junior year. I pulled away early, as I stomped the field, and won in a very convincing 47 seconds. "No Sweat".
Let me tell you, "He was in the race". "Yes", the same race I won by 47 seconds. Who's "He?", you will later learn. Keep reading.
As state came around, I proceeded to do my typical crash and burn from allergies, and 'more excuses galore' and so forth. As I ran into a spectactor and just being a bag full of problems that day at xc state my junior year, "He" beat me there.
So, "Let it Begin!"
Limping through track, I made my way. Eventually getting to mid-summer, I started to roll in my training. As I entered my senior season, I felt I would not be challenged, ever. Again, let me re-instate the point all driven athletes have ego's when it comes to their sport. It is not a questionable thing... it is a must to compete in the sports world around us. A MUST!
As it was 95 degrees and early October of my senior year, and at a meet two weeks out before pre-state... You know, "My" pre-state, I have won it 3 years in a row! And "Yes", 95 degrees is seasonably warm. The second, "so-called fastest kid in the state/A big school classification runner" was there (this included all the classifications in the state of Oklahoma). As this race also inlcuded, "Him/He" as well. But let's be honest, I was more worried about the big school kid, who was 'famous' for having a great kick. As he would classically do the 'sit and kick' method against runners like me. So I thought, "Fine... I'll make a show out of it today". As the race went off, so did I. Coming through the 800m in a brisk 2.20, I continued to push. As Mr. Big school kid sat on my shoulder, we continued to glide along. My thoughts, "It's cool".
I proceeded to speed up, no worries, it is only a 5k after all...
Coming through the mile in 4.37 and the screaming words from his coach, "HE'S GOING TO BLOW YOU UP, BACK OFF... BACK OFF!!!"
And let me tell you, as a scrawny 116 lb kid at the time, that was the plan. And I did.
As we rolled along and only a 1/4 mile later, I would run alone. No longer hearing the footsteps behind me, I pushed on. Knowingly, the wall was coming, I did only have a 4.29 mile pr at the team. And in some sense, I was all for it. Well, so long as I didn't hit it first. Hearing the screams for my competitor, as his fellow teammates and cheer group yelled along the course, in which, he lagged just beyind. Yelling came in all directions, "IS THERE REALLY PEOPLE IN THE TREES CHEERING/YELLING TOO?!"
Just as I stared the last lap, consisting of a 2k, and no longer hearing my competitors named shouted, and seeing that of only solomn faces as I darted along turns, chopping around the turns, I tried hard to hold off my trademark smirk... well... the best I could.
And perhaps, this race was a bit too much for my ego.
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Winning the race was only a simple matter of pride, as it held no real value. And "No" I did not forget, about the kid, who shall be known thus far into the story as "He", in which, "He" got 3rd place in the race... almost a womping minute behind. As "He" would be at my pre-state meet in just a week. Nor, did I even question being challenege by him, to me, this was going to be a massacre.
Training through, to the point, the warmup at pre-state was "rough", I did not care. I wouldn't need to be at the top of my game anyways.
With the simple sound of the gun, "BANG", the race was underway as 200 hundred kids battled and jostled for positioning. As it immediately became evident in the race "He" was out front, and not only was he out front, but he was 'way' out front. My thoughts, "He'll come back, they always do."
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Did I tell you 'his' school was across the street? Well, it was.
A little before the mile, and a good gap behind, people were yelling as if the race was already over. As I trudged along the course, legs heavy, a slight sense of panic amongst my heavy breathing. I began to wonder if I was going to catch him, as he did not hesistate and dropped the hammer from the get-go. Swinging around a large Oak tree, just beyond the mile mark, I began panic. Screaming to my left, screaming to my right, people were going crazy. And so I began to.
As all fans know, Cross country really does bring out quite an enthused and energetic crowd of people. God knows why people get so into it. Perhaps, witnessing the looks of death amongst the runners, as each, whether fit, fat, or being forced to run for their school, each kid would ran hard regardless of the circumstances. As I said, "Everyone has an ego when it comes to sports". Regardless, people LOVE it when they get to witness this sport known as cross country. Hearing people tell me, "Watching cross country is like crack for their eyes"... That being said, I also began to wonder where these people come from...
As I can no longer take it, and aisde from feeling like death, I surged. Closing the 30 yard some gap quickly, I couldn't take not being in the lead! As I pulled up aside from competitor, who kept an intense focused look, he was unphased. My thoughts, "Huh". Hurting from the surge, I did not care. As we just passed the 2k, I pushed forward. I wanted the lead, I needed the lead, I WAS SUPPOSE TO LEAD! As I took the lead, my thoughts, "Anytime now, he should be falling off".
Well, in actuality, he proceeded to take the lead immediately back and put forth his own surge. As I begin hating my existance, people screaming for my rivil, chanting "YOU GOT HIM!!! YOU GOT HIM!!!" As if to say, the race was over. It seemed like there was an ongoing theme here. Let me tell you, people really aren't afraid to insult your own physical ability in the sport known as cross country. I mean, if you have a wound, people will pour salt in it, and proceed to insult your good-hearted mother in the process... Pressure can build from this atmosphere, trust me.
As we both continued to stick to each other, neither of our egos giving in, switching off leads, surge after surge, neither of us broke. As we came upon the finishing straight, along the starting line, in which, was the last 1 mile loop of the course, we were completely in the crowds eyes for almost all of the last 2k. Knowing people were going to see this, I panic... again. Re-surging to take the lead, legs dead, eyes rolling to the back of my head, I would not let this happen... I WON'T!!! Taking back the lead, to which, I thought was rightfully mine. I thought I can now pull away now. As we passed right by the finish line, to start the last 1 mile loop, we circled around up an infamous hill. The same hill I broke away my freshman and sophomore year to win this race in an surprising upset, this was my hill!
You know what? History did not repeat itself, as my rival began his own surge up the hill, and not only took the lead, but opened up a gap. People began jumping up and down, as they were going crazy, in which, one cocky kid from no-where Oklahoma was falling off... "Awesome". As the gap grew to 5 yards... to 10 yards, and then opening up to 20 yards... It was becoming quite evident who was controlling the race. As I still loosely held on, form beganning to faulter, as I broke down... I couldn't help, but take notice of everything. How well my season was going up till then, how important this race was to me, after all I won it the past 3 years, and now people critiqueing (screaming/taunting) my own self worth. As my blood boiled, shooting to the tips of my fingertips, my teeth gritting... "No, it's not over!" As one coach yelled to my rival when he was cresting a small hill, "HE'S fallen off! Just like that, I made a push... "Looks like someone spoke to soon"...
As we were going into the trees, only to be hidden for 200 meters, and then coming out of the woods, to an open 1/2 mile straight to the finish... I began to reel my competitor back in. And let me tell you how much I regretted giving him every little inch I gave him at that point. My body ached, arms, legs, and even my back felt chocked full of lactic acid, as I weezled my way back up to my rival, I was determined.
Finally closing the gap, to the extent, I was just a few yards checked off him... I began to plot my move. This was a hard enough task, as 1.) I felt like crap. 2.) He was famous for splitting 51 in the 400m 3.) I was infamous for a lack of having a kick. 4.) Barbara Streison is a no talent ass clown!
As I quickly decided, I would make the move/the push 400 meters out. As it was right at the point, were the runners go up a really steep incline onto the road, in which, we crossed it, and then proceed to drop 10 yards down a decline, this is where I would get my momentum for "The Kick". As we were coming up onto the road, blood boilding, adrenline pumping for one last hoorah... charging up the incline, striding over the road, and throwing myself in a downward push of momentum coming off the decline... I shot out
And so the real race begun.
As I darted past my competitor, noticing his eyes immediately opening up in shock (his thoughts: "HE'S BACK?!), I did not hesitate. I charge forth with all my might, feeding off the momentum I gained, I would not be denied a win without an honest fight! I WOULD NOT!
Quickly realizing how far kicking out from 400 meters is, "It hurt".
300 meters left, still holding on, grimacing, eyes closed, arms, legs driving forward.
200 meters out, "WHERE IS HE?!"
100 meters out, people jumping up and down, others holding their hands over their mouths in aspirations of who would win this death match, two runners continued to volley for that front spot as we closed down the last bits of the course.
As I glanced at the ground, using my rival's own shadow to guage how close he was, I continued to dig. A shadow approaching, my fists clinched, and as I continued to hold my form together... well, the best I could...
And as the last steps towards the finish line were just strides away....
I watch my opponents shadow disappear... a sense, a euphoria overwhelmed me, as I held my head high coming acroos the line. Exhilarated by my win, there was no denying what hit me next... as it was the ground when I came crashing down from exhaustion. As it felt like I was dying, I did not care. To me and my ego, it would be a much better path than losing a race.
What happened when I recovered? Well, I asked my rival to join me in training (as others wondered why in the damn pickens hell, "I asked" my competition to train with me, to which, I gave a simple response, "Let the best man win". As that winter came along, we became good friends as we trained together and proceeded to represent our track club quite well.
My conclusion:
A lesson can be learned from this.
ALSO: I WILL MAKE ANOTHER BLOG POST IN THE NEXT WEEK AND GIVE EXTENSIVE DETAIL OF WHAT'S GOING ON. AS I ALWAYS SAY, "IT'S A LONG STORY".
