The day I discovered I could run
A ‘One Day’ story
You know how it is; you start Junior High and a whole new world opens up. You meet people not only from your estate but also from other parts of town and even the outlying villages.
The world feels so much bigger than it did in primary school. Then comes the first cross-country run. You have no idea where you will rank, but you run anyway.
“Just keep going” was the mantra going through my head as I began to see others stopping and falling back.
I think there was something about life in this run, the voice continued, “Keep going and you will be ok.”
I finished, and I was the first to do so. I was surprised.
When Spring came, it was athletics rather than cross-country, and once again I surprised myself by coming second in the 200 metres, 800 metres, and 1500 metres. Yes, at Junior High, there was always one to beat me. I would have to wait until Senior High to secure the wins.
But somewhere in these races, it was not just about the immediate; it was about how to live life. The nerves I would feel on the day of races, getting to the starting line, the focus when ‘the race was on’ and the mantras within.
And how do I know it was about how to live life? Because I am still drawing on it 40 years on, as evidenced below.
Monday 22nd September 2025
I am reminded this morning of the feeling I would have on a race day; I would be nervous as I made my way to the track.
Once at the starting line, I was focused, although still nervous. Everything that it would take to run was within — the energy I had to contain as it wanted to escape before the pistol sounded.
So it is with today. It is not a physical race, but there is nevertheless a course to follow.
I am ready yet nervous to begin the course.
Tuesday 23rd September 2025
Here we are again, moving to the starting line. Thoughts are bringing me ahead of myself.
I am writing again, as when it is a weekday here are these feelings. Usually by Friday, they are not so intense; by then, I have tired myself out.
A part of me wants to accept the feelings as part of the routine; this is what happens: you feel nervous, but regardless, you switch on and start going through tasks.
What is it I want? To not feel this? Probably. Could this be part of the process to tune up and be ready? Maybe.
Whichever way, I have written how it feels, and now I leave it here and move to the tasks.
I just feel it’s so repetitive.
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