Living On the Start Line

Now, I’m not sure if it was the initial contact with the track that hooked me. But every time I ran, I ran with rhythm in each step I took. I paced myself, so that the vibration between the ground and my legs were ever so consistent.

Or maybe it was the gun. It was the gun that signaled for the start of each of my races. The single shot fired into the air that often echoed miles away as the bullet tears through the surrounding air. It’s the sound of the gun that makes my body jump and cringe while reminding me of what could have been.

So I run. I run at the first sight or sound of a gun. I run until I feel like there is nothing or no one able to get ahold of me.

Every time I step on that line, I always have a goal in mind. Do the best I can, be the best me I can possibly be.

Ready?

It’s the blocks that help position my feet perfectly that allow me to exert maximum force and momentum forward, pushing past everything I was ever told I couldn’t be. My body is leaning forward toward the starting line. I’m prepared. My arms are spread shoulder-length apart from each other while my hands are shaking as I try to hold myself up. I just remind myself, this isn’t the first time nor will it be my last. Yet, here I am and I’m all I have at this moment.

Set.

I keep still. I mentally and physically harness the energy and power I need to take off. I wait patiently until it’s the right time.

Go!

With a swift motion I take off, moving forward never backwards. One foot in front of the other, I run to the finish line, just to dip. .01 to .02 is all it takes to make a mistake. Whether that’s the start of your race or the finish, “just dip” as my coach use to tell me. “Dip at the line like your life depended on it”, little did he know my life did depend on it. Graduation, college, or even division 1; the next milestone depended on every time I stepped on that line.

I’d be lying if I say any of this was hard, because when you’ve made up in your mind that you only have one option, you become your own life guard.

There were other paths easily accessible and widely available. Gangs, drugs, violence, any or all can and will get ahold of you if you allow it. But I didn’t. I choose to live above it and seek acceptance elsewhere. There, I found love, happiness, and motivation to be great. I chose to give myself the option. I chose to turn my dreams into reality.

I can’t forget about the people that also played a huge role in all of this. Both the good and the bad, I sit back and reminisce.

My peers, the ones that asked to “hang out, skip school to drive to the beach, or drink alcohol during the middle of the week”, thank you. Thank you for showing me what not to do.

My parents, this includes grandma and grandpa who pushed me to be the best me, I could possibly be, thank you. Thank you for picking me up from practice when my legs ached so bad I couldn’t wait at the bus stop.

My coaches, although some didn’t have the best approach I still listened and respected them because a coach is a still a coach. I could thank you but I won’t because nobody likes to run 400meter repeats at race pace during practice.

I’m currently living in the truths of my passion. It gave me the path I’m currently on and how I live my life, always on the start line. Ready for whatever comes next.

I guarantee I wouldn’t be who I am, nor where I am today without my passion that drove me. Between visiting an Australian nettle tree, crossing Caribbean Sea, and now on my way to getting my bachelor’s degree, my passion has opened tremendous doors for me.