Memoir: My 1st Medal

         The bus rolled down the bumpy road making me bounce up and down on my seat. My heart pounded hard in my chest as we went past another sign that said how far we were from our destination. I was starting to get used to this nerve wracking feeling, the way my stomach twisted into knots,breathing accelerate, I really hated it. My hands fidgeted with the polyester jersey that fell loosely around my waist. It was blue with red on both sides. On the front big and proud read, APOLLO, in white with blue out lining. This was my uniform for cross country.

      I had started cross country in the summer of 2009 now it was September and the team was racing every week. On this day we had an invite to Rocori. For a seventh grader like me also called "new be" every race  was a new one and you could expect anything. This wasn't why I was nervous it was the racing.
      We arrived at their golf course too soon. I hobbled off the bus and sucked in a shaky deep breath. For the next hour I would be doing this. Like usual I walked the course with the other two girls that would be racing with me from my team. For some reason it seemed like I was the only one who was stressing over this race. Time went by fast and soon enough I was already heading to the starting line. My stomach felt hallow and everything around me was hectic. I hung my head low and starred at the ground for a moment to calm myself. I knew once the gun was shot all the nerves and butterflies would go away, it always worked that way. First the whistle blew and all the runners got into position. The five second wait for the shot felt like five hours...
And then it was over,I forgot about everything and just ran. It was like there was no one beside me in front or in back everything was tuned out. It didn't last long. Suddenly there were rows of cheering people their voices all sounded like a clump of noises, an alarm tuning me back in to the race. Having all the people around made me overwhelmed with nervousness, hoping I wouldn't embarrass myself. The path cut into a forest and all of the people vanished. I closed my eyes with relief. 
      In front were a few people that I could see, I made it my goal to get in head of them.
The trail in the forest ended and we were back on the soft green of the golf course. I started picking up my pace rapidly. Then a voice from up the hill boomed loudly. It was my coach. You couldn't miss him anywhere even if you wanted to. He shouted to me when I passed by that my place was 10th. The number went in and came out my ear. Right now place didn't matter because I was beginning to get the aching, pain feeling in my legs that made me want to stop. Stopping was just not an option, though. Cross country was all about endurance pushing hard through each mile and running each mile like you're running only one. Well, that's my method. So, I kept pushing and passed another and another and another until they were all far behind and the only thing in front was the finish line. I began to sprint hard my arms soared up and down reeling me in. I crossed finally, and let my body stop taking in huge breaths and letting it out with a huff. The race was over. I walked out of the chute feeling like always accomplished. The first goal for everyone was to finish the race, I had done that. My other coach caught me and said, great job you ran great! Thanks was all I said back. I strayed back and forth near the chute trying to calm myself, yet again, because I was scared to know my time. The other two girls finished and we all said to each other good job. No one knew anything about how they did. Our coach came to us right then. He told me I had gotten 7th place and that racers who placed 1-10 would get medals.
      My eyes widened and my lips curved up. Cross country was my number one sport, the only sport I could play, it was the only thing I was really good at. A medal would be like a memento of how much I loved to run and that I could succeed in it too.