An Unforgettable Sports Meet

In the past three years, my dad had tried his best to give me guidance on my running and encouraged me to do better and better. Running was everything to me, and also to my dad. He was a runner and was amazed by my progress in running. He would attend my every race, even flying home early from business trips to see me run.

I always listened for his voice, which rang above the crowd—telling me to relax my arms and calling out my time. He pushed me, cheered me on and believed in me. We spent countless hours running in the sandy areas of Arizona. Breathing in the dust of the desert and the smell of the farm, we made our way across our city. We pounded miles and miles into our-running shoes, marking our journey towards greatness with every single step. It was a journey that was just ours and a dream passed on from one generation to the next.

Then, we welcomed the arrival of the important race, the state cross-country race of my senior year of high school. During the past three years. my dad and I had been working hard for the race. Finally, it came.

I will never forget that November day. It was extremely hot. As I waited for the gun to fire, my throat felt like a field of cotton cracking (裂开) with the summer heat. I looked out at the crowd; dozens of familiar faces from my community and school shone across my view. They had come for me. They all had confidence in me. I saw my dad setting his watch. Obviously, he was a little worried.

My heart was beating with excitement, and then the race began. For the first two and a half miles, I felt great. I had never been so ready for something. The hot sun beat upon my back, blinding me with its brilliance. Nothing was going to stop me, though. Determination made me focused and guided my steps. In all of my races, I was in the front.

Then without warning, my strength began to weaken.

My lungs fought to take in enough air and my feet felt like bricks.

The medical workers were there in seconds and covered my mouth with an oxygen (氧气) mask.

Paul and I were on our school basketball team, The Lions. We loved basketball and were both huge fans of the NBA. When we weren’t playing on the court, we were watching a game on TV. My favourite player was LeBron James. Paul’s favourite player was Tyrone Bogues, a guy who played for the Charlotte Hornets, although we actually agree that they are both champions.

Bogues was only 1.6 metres tall, which made him the shortest player ever in the NBA. Guess what? Paul was only 1.6 metres tall, too! Paul knew that being shorter than other players meant that he had to practise more. During all those hours of doing jump shots on his own, he used Bogues as his inspiration. Paul once said, “If Bogues could make it, why not me?” Our coach was not so sure. Paul had to try out many times just for making the team. He was still usually on the bench, being just a replacement, which was really tough on him. I knew Paul had real skills, and was someone who worked really hard and had a strong desire to play for the team. However, Paul didn’t get a chance.

Then came the big day. We were playing our main competitors, The Bears, a team whose record of this season had been perfect. They hadn’t lost a single game. Despite our best efforts, we were still 10 points behind The Bears. Without much time left, the last quarter began. Unfortunately, our team members got injured one after another.

All hope fell on me. Unfortunately, a player and I crashed into each other. With pain racing through my body, my knee hurt badly. The team gathered around, looking worried. The doctor put an ice pack on my knee, but it was still painful. Obviously, I could not play any more. The coach gave a deep sigh and murmured in a low voice, “We have no more players”.

Sports Day was getting close in the school. All the children were very excited and were practicing for the big race. John, one of the fast runners of the school, was confident that he would win for he was not doing anything at all. “You have to work hard to come first in the race John. You are not practicing at all,” said John’s mother.

“Mom, you know how fast I am! Why should I waste my time running? Only I will win; no one else will win!”said John. “John, you may be right but talent (天赋) without hard work is not good at all. This laziness of yours will cost you greatly,” his mother warned him. John just laughed. He was so confident that he would win the trophy (奖杯) as no one else in his class was as fast as he was!.

Tim, a classmate of John, was also participating (参加) in the running race. He was not a fast runner. However, he practiced till late at night and had developed great endurance (持久力) to run the race.

There were a few days left for the Sports Day but John did not practice at all. On the other hand, Tim practiced day and night.

The Sports Day was almost around the corner but John was confident that no one could beat him and had not practiced at all. But Tim with his hard work had become a very great runner.

At last, the Sports Day arrived. All the students showed up on the ground to cheer their favorites. The coach blew the whistle (口哨) and everyone began to run toward the finishing line. It was so exciting. John and Tim left all the racers far behind. Both of them were neck to neck.

Suddenly, John went ahead of Tim.

John’s mother came up to Tim and praised him for his hard work.

“Mike, I could walk faster than those women run.” I made my usual comment (评论) after watching my son Mike run in a race. He laughed as he knew I wasn’t a runner. “Listen, Mom, how about running with me next year in this race?” Without thinking, I agreed to this challenge. I felt it’s a piece of cake!

Never did I imagine what the next year would bring. When it was almost time for this race to happen, Mike died in a car accident. A few of his friends knew this “challenge” I had agreed to with Mike. They started to encourage me to run the race. Honestly speaking, I had almost forgotten what I said.

Thinking deeply, I decided I should keep my promise to Mike. The first thing I did was buy some running clothes. I might look good, even though I hadn’t trained.

The day of the race came. I felt pretty sad, but I started off. It wasn’t long before a man started to run next to me. The man was very talkative. He kept saying how tired he was. The chatter went on and on. The race was over, and this man’s wife won! I was just happy to finish and keep my promise to Mike.

I came home, and my neighbor asked about the race. I told him what had happened. My neighbor laughed, “Kay, don’t you know what this guy was doing? He thought you were the competition by the way you were dressed. He wanted his wife to win.” “Oh really!?”

The following year I did train. I even bought some tapes called “Win At Sports” and listened to them daily. If this man thought I was the competition, you could bet I was going to be the competition. His attitude in that race built a fire in me! The race was on!

The race began and I was all dressed and ready.

I stayed behind this man’s wife almost the whole race.

An Exciting Basketball Match on Campus

The Race

After watching my son Todd run in a race, I made my usual comment (评论), “Todd, I could walk faster than those women run.” Todd laughed as he knew I wasn’t a runner. “Listen, Mom, how about running with me next year at this race?” Without thinking, I agreed to this challenge. I felt it’s a piece of cake!

Never did I imagine what the next year would bring. When it was almost time for this race to occur, Todd died in a car accident. A few of his friends knew this “challenge” I had agreed to with Todd. They started to encourage me to run the race. Honestly speaking, I had almost forgotten what I said.

Thinking deeply, I decided I should keep my promise to Todd. The first thing I did was buy some running clothes. I might look good, even though I hadn’t trained.

The day of the race came. I felt pretty sad, but I started off. It wasn’t long before a man started to run next to me. The man was very talkative. He kept saying how tired he was. The chatter went on and on. The race was over, and this man’s wife won! I was just happy to finish and keep my promise to Todd.

I came home, and my neighbor asked about the race. I told him what had happened. My neighbor laughed, “Kay, don’t you know what this guy was doing? He thought you were the competition by the way you were dressed. He wanted his wife to win. ” “Oh really!?”

The following year I did train. I even bought some tapes called “Win At Sports” and listened to them daily. If this man thought I was the competition, you could bet I was going to be the competition. His attitude in that race built a fire in me! The race was on!

I used to be very active in sports and games when I was in primary school. I won the B Division long jump and was a good sprinter (短跑运动员). As a result, I was chosen to represent the school in the long jump and relay events at the District Sports Meet. Before the sports meet, I had put in a lot of hard work and dedication during the training sessions. I woke up early every morning to go for runs and did countless drills to improve my technique. My teammates and I supported and encouraged each other during training, pushing ourselves to do better and achieve our goals.

The meet lasted two days, I had no events scheduled for the first day. So I kept myself busy by watching the others compete. Large tents were provided for the young competitors on one side of the track. Despite being assigned the last tent that was furthest from the track, I made the best of the situation by decorating it with our school colors and creating a supportive atmosphere.

The next day, I was getting ready for my events. The long jump was scheduled for the early afternoon, followed by the 8×50m relay later in the afternoon. I thought I was a pretty good jumper, but as the competition began, I realized I was vastly outclassed. We finished our jumps, and I came in fourth place, just missing out on a medal.

That was disappointing, but I reminded myself that we still had a chance in the 8×50m relay, for which I was assigned to run the fifth leg. The race date arrived. We filed into our assigned spots and prepared for the race. After a tense minute or so, I heard the starter’s gun go off. When the first runners took off, I watched nervously and excitedly as my team runners kept up with the others. As they got closer, I realized we were at least in second place.

My turn arrived and I took the baton (接力棒) cleanly and began my run.

As a result, I left the meet empty-handed.