Racing For Glory
Running is one of those things we all did as kids. And when I saw today's prompt, I smiled. I just had a flashback to the races I have been involved in as a kid and even as an adult.
Racing, does not only have to do with sprint events but also involves the use of automobiles. For me, I have never witnessed racing with automobiles, so I really don't have much experience with it. But for sprinting, I have good knowledge about it as I have taken part in a lot of it.
As a kid, I was involved in a lot of races. I remember when I was about 8 years old, we had an intra-school sports competition, and the coach of my team selected me to be among those that would take part in the 100-meter junior boys race. I got home so happy, and I was telling my parents how I would win the race. They encouraged me and told me to go win the race. After days of practice, I was confident that I was going to win.
Then it was our turn to race; all the junior boys lined up, and I was jumping and stretching myself, as I used to see the athletes on TV do. The race began, and I ran so fast that the gap between me and my closest opponent was big. I crossed the line first, and I started celebrating. I thought I had won the race. Only to be told I was disqualified, I was confused as I didn't understand what was going on. My coach told me I ran in the wrong lane, and that was the reason I was disqualified. My coach encouraged me and told me to go get ready for the relay race. I felt disappointed, but a teacher walked up to me and encouraged me; he told me I was the best and I should keep it up. His words were what I needed at that moment. I was determined to assist my team in winning the relay race.
The race started, and I was to run the last lap. I was scared of failing again, but as I looked at my coach, he was signaling me to keep calm. I received the baton, and all I could remember was my teammates hugging me. I had won the race, and at the moment, I was proud of myself. I could not breathe, so the medical team gave me glucose.
The worst experience I had in a race was when I was in university. I trained with my colleagues, and I was the best. I was proud of myself; I was going to represent my department in the school athletic competition. I was confident that I was going to win medals in the 100, 200, and relay races. I stopped training and was moving about the campus with my shoulders held high. My friends didn't help; all they did was hype me and tell me I'm the best in the school.
It's day one of the competition. I qualified for the semifinals of the 100 meters with the fastest time in my heat. It was an amazing feeling. Day two came, and I won my heat in the semifinals, but it was really a slow race; I think the time was 15.04 seconds. I wasn't disturbed; I was going to win the final, so I thought. The final came, and I was the last in the race. I felt so embarrassed; my opponents had been training for weeks while I was busy being proud of the little success I had.
I ended up not winning any medals, and that's when I realized that training is key to success in sports. One might be talented, but if one doesn't harness his talent, his performance level will be low. It was after the competition that I really understood the saying "hard work pays."
In 2022, I witnessed the National Sports Festival in Nigeria, tagged 'Asaba 2022'. I have always been a fan of the Olympics, but I have never had a chance to attend one. So when I had the opportunity to attend the Asaba 2022 games, I took it with both hands.
I was really excited about it, and I can tell you that professional athletes are built like machines. I remember the men's 100-meter final. The spectators were buzzing; everyone had come to witness the most talked-about event in the country.
The athletes came out for their warmup, and I could see the confidence and calmness in them. I was really impressed by their confidence. The tension in the stands was high, but the athletes were all relaxed and chatting with each other, some taking selfies and others just looking around and taking in the atmosphere.
It was time for the race. All the athletes went to their blocks, and at the sound of the gun, all the athletes sprang to life, and the race was over within seconds. The speed at which the athletes ran was shocking to me; my mouth was wide open. I remember Usain Bolt winning gold in the 2008 Olympics. The race was fast, but seeing a race live is different from watching on TV. If one blinks, then you will miss the action.The race was lightning-quick, and the winner won by clocking 10.25 seconds. I asked about the winner, and I was told he is 19 years old. I was impressed with him, and I discovered that he has been training for a year in preparation for the sports festival. I was also captivated by the movement of the bodies of the athletes; it was smooth and rhythmic. One could see that the posture of the body was important.
I had flashbacks of all the races I had run in the past, and I smiled. I realized all I did then was just have fun and that the world of recreational racing is different from professional athletics. The two worlds are millions of miles apart.
This prompt has brought about good memories, and I think I would take part in a race pretty soon. Running is good and has its health benefits. I also hope to watch a live race again whenever I have the opportunity. I hope to experience a marathon and hope I will be able to compete in it, but my legs will not give it up.
Let's keep racing.
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