Abby's Big Race --Part 4

On the morning of the big race, Abby awoke to a subtle mixture of excitement, anticipation, and dread. She assumed such feelings were common for most people about to enter a competition, but that did not prevent the raw emotions from stealing upon her conscious and unconscious mind. Thus preoccupied, Abby hardly noticed the toast and orange juice her mother placed before her at breakfast.

"You have to eat," said her mother, who was struggling to make the coffee-maker work. "You don't want to run out of steam in the middle of the race."

"I'm not hungry," said Abby distantly, though she picked up the toast and nibbled at it anyway.

Half an hour later, Abby was in the back seat of the car, watching the forest speed by. She spotted a deer among the foliage, and it took off into the underbrush as the car approached, a great bounding blur which soon disappeared. I wish I could run like that, thought Abby. Run away from all these feelings...

It seemed like no time at all when they arrived at the County Wildlife Trust. The 10km course followed a small stream before climbing to the summit of a mountain known locally as the Apollodor, before returning to the start. Hundreds of people crowded the parking area, and Abby's dread seemed exponentially to increase.

The sight of her team-mates cheered her some. They had gathered under a big elm tree, where Franz's father had set up a grill for cooking wurst. "But not 'til after the race," he said to Abby with a wink. He too wore glasses.

There was also a man whom Abby had never met. He had a kindly look to him, a slim frame, short and wild hair, and a beard flecked with gray. His square-shaped glasses gave him the appearance of an over-worked academic.

"Hey, how you doing?" he said cheerfully, greeting Abby. "I'm Mr. Roskilde, the running coach. You must be Abby."

"I am," said Abby, shaking the offered hand.

"Awesome," said Mr. Roskilde. "Yeah, I've heard good things about you from Margaret. We're very excited you could help us out, today."

"Glad to be here," said Abby, though secretly she wished she was back at the library, away from the attention of so many people.

At 10 o'clock in the morning, the teams lined up at the start. Abby tried to line up behind the rest of the team, but Margaret, who seemed to be everywhere even with crutches, insisted that she stay at the front with Jutta.

"There's only room for two runners at the front of each box," she said, "and we can't afford having Franz clog up the start."

"Hey, I'm not that big!" said Franz.

"That's not the point," said Margaret hastily. "You want the starting box arranged with the fastest at the front, and the slowest in the back. That's just how it works."

Just then, Mr. Roskilde summoned the team a few meters behind the start for a quick meeting. They assembled in a tight semi-circle.

"Hey, how y'all feeling?" asked Mr. Roskilde, a grin upon his face. Several smiles met his own. He continued. "Look, there's no pressure on any of you to do something big today. Above all, I just want everyone to have fun, and enjoy the ride. Because look, a race, approached the right way, can be an inspired and overwhelming act of creation and discovery." He paused for a moment. "Um, hmm, that doesn't make a lot sense..."

Everyone laughed in good nature, knowing such lapses were common with Mr. Roskilde, who could shift several times between the profound and apologetic in the course of a single speech. Some said such qualities came from being an academic, but nevertheless the quality endeared him to just about everyone.

"Alright," he began again, "no more speeches. Just have fun, and be careful on the course. Good luck everyone."

The starter gave the one minute warning, and the team returned to their box, lined up fastest to slowest. Ahead was a wide field, interrupted only by the distant shape of the starter in an orange jacket. Abby rubbed her hands together, trying to keep her mind off the coming race. She noted the sunlight, which now fell upon her face, and the wind which tickled her cheek as it blew. The touch of heaven and earth thus sought to calm the stormy mental seas, thought Abby. Then the gun fired.

Soon Abby was immersed in a mass of runners, all of them sprinting for the trail at the end of the field. And away she flew, running with the Buffaloes through grasses long and willowy. 


Abby saw Jutta toward the front, and made to join her. She reached her just as they came upon a narrow trail leading into the woods. The pace slowed considerably as the trail began to wind perilously among giant boulders, logs, and treacherous tree roots. Abby shortened her steps and continued on, passing a few of the sprinters as she went.

At length, the trail began to climb. Now everyone toward the front of the race began to struggle. Soon Jutta could no longer keep up. "Come on, Jutta, we just need to reach the top," said Abby encouragingly.  But Jutta could no longer respond, and so Abby continued on without her. She kept passing people, though she did not understand how. Up and up she climbed, the fall of her feet creating a kind of rhythm. Running to the top, to the top of Mt. Apollodor, one foot, two foot, three foot, four... 

She reached the top, where a statue of a solider marked the turnaround. She was all alone.

Down we go, from the roof to the floor of Mt. Apollodor...

The trail grew rougher, and the rocks seemed to form steps, fit more for a giant than runner. Once a runner, she hoped beyond hope, that she might navigate the giant steps without landing on her face...

Abby bottom of the mountain, following the trail along the stream once more. She encountered some slower runners, who had not yet begun the climb up the mountain. There was no sign of any of her team-mates, so Abby continued on.

The trees rushed by as Abby increased speed on the smoother portion of the trail. She remembered the deer from earlier, and wondered if this was how it felt all the time.  A deer and a human, so much the same; both born to run, living life like a game...

She reached the field where the race had begun, and far ahead she could make out the finish line. It must be nearly over, thought Abby as she let herself relax and glide over the grass. I wonder how many people have finished?

There were hundreds of people lining the final straight-away, and they cheered Abby with much enthusiasm. Abby had never felt so many eyes upon her. Can't they go and cheer the winner she thought anxiously. She turned her attention to the cloudless sky, where an eagle flew high above the proceedings. She noticed the sweat rolling down her forehead, and all the thousand sensations then passing through her wearied legs. Wow, my legs really are tired, she thought, noticing the fatigue for the first time.

With that realization, she crossed the finish-line. She could see Margaret going crazy with excitement, her mouth forming the words you won! you won!. Much to Abby's surprise, her legs buckled under her, leaving her on her back. The eagle soared in the sky above. High above on eagle's wings, the soul that soars wins first within...Then everything went dark.