Running is the most natural form of exercise and a way forward towards physical well-being. Some of you might disagree with the above statement as running isn’t that natural in today’s context. Today even walking seems to have taken a backseat with the advent of technology and science. But truly running has some vital benefits for human body.
In my school days I used to be an ad hoc yet impactful sprinter. I remember in those days I didn’t even have any sort of physical training but when it came to sports I used to be charged up. It was grade
fourth when we actually started having a full-fledged sports day with at least one participation needed from each student. I told my class teacher I could not possibly participate as I had a backache. She knew I was making excuses and enrolled me into the 400 mt race. It was the first time I was participating in an event which I really didn’t want to. Somehow even as a I child I had the perception imbibed on me that studies comes first like most Indian kids in the 90s had.Nevertheless I decided to go with my teacher’s wish. On the sports day, I realized how enthusiastic the other participants were. It seemed like some were just waiting for this day. I was probably an odd man out. It was like a battlefield with some of my other friends showing me faces as if I had been a dud in sports and could not do anything except
manage a last place finish. It was a different atmosphere and the air of competition was all over the place. I had never run 400 mtr so had no idea what it stood for.I was racing my first running race with no idea of how it feels to complete or even win it. The gun shot and I was off in a flash. Somehow out of nowhere it seemed that the energy that I had never utilized before was flowing through my legs and propelling me to go ahead. I was leading the pack until the 200 mt mark. I had sprinted so much that the Legs had started becoming heavy and my no practice hadn’t helped either. Slowly the other guys had started pushing ahead of me. My final burst could do little and I ended the race at 4th place out of 8. Not really bad as I hadn’t practiced one bit.
The crowd cheering the winner, rejoiced parents had started patting his back and there was that mark of glory on his face. The moment had belonged to him and I felt I could have done a little better to clinch that moment from him. That was my first experience with racing and it really charged me up. For the first time I had realized that I wasn’t a dud and had the attribute to become an athlete.