When I was in 5th grade we had a sporting event called “Field Day”. It was a bunch of track and field sports where you sent the best from each class.
In the days before were ‘the trials’ – individual heats for each class that decided the fastest, best entry for each category.
I was best at the 50-yard dash.
They allowed us ‘athletes’ wear more athletic clothes (shorts, running shoes, etc) instead of regular school wear like jeans and nice shirts. I wore the coolest shorts I had and my sportiest t-shirt that morning.
Some of the girls in class had made us competitors a ”lucky rabbit’s foot” with our name on it. It was made of construction paper so we each slipped it into the bottom of one of our shoes.
The school provided each one of us a chocolate bar for an extra burst for our races. They suggested that we eat some pasta or rice the night before for extended energy.
I don’t recall what I ate the night before.
My event was about 1/3rd the way through the competition so I had to wait a while. I started running around due to nervous energy and my teacher told me to save it for the race.
It was an hour later (felt like an eternity) that they called us for the 50-yard dash. There were 4 classes so there were only 4 lanes marked for the run. I was in the first lane; there was nobody to my left and 3 runners to my right.
I put my left foot on the line and twisted it a bit to ‘dig in’ to the asphalt. Yes, I realize this makes no sense now but it made perfect sense then.
I looked down the lane and saw the 4 judges (teachers) with stopwatches. Two of the teachers switched places when it was learned that the student they were timing was in their own class. They didn’t even want the appearance of impropriety.
They called for quiet. I remember the sun beaming brightly down on me, making me a litter warmer than I wanted to be. I looked over at the starter as he put the whistle in his mouth. I looked down the lane again and heard the whistle chirp. The race was on.
I felt good running, didn’t trip, didn’t feel like anything had tightened up – I felt loose… and fast. For the first half of the run I couldn’t see the other runners beside me – I had gotten off to a good start. As we neared the finish line I could see them in my peripheral view.
As I crossed the finish line I looked to my right to see all three runners had passed me. In a four-man race, I came in fourth. I was told later that all 4 times were within a second of each other. It was also pointed out to me LATER that the other 3 guys had leaned forward toward the finish line which is why they finished before me.
I wasn’t aware of this little trick.
Looking back now, I don’t remember feeling bad for coming in 4th. I recall watching some of the other events, especially the race between Ian North and Drew Johnson on the pull-up bars. The cheering was so loud as each one of them tried to pull themselves up ONE… MORE… TIME. I think the winner did 19 or 20.
I think I could do all of 4.
In the days before were ‘the trials’ – individual heats for each class that decided the fastest, best entry for each category.
I was best at the 50-yard dash.
They allowed us ‘athletes’ wear more athletic clothes (shorts, running shoes, etc) instead of regular school wear like jeans and nice shirts. I wore the coolest shorts I had and my sportiest t-shirt that morning.
Some of the girls in class had made us competitors a ”lucky rabbit’s foot” with our name on it. It was made of construction paper so we each slipped it into the bottom of one of our shoes.
The school provided each one of us a chocolate bar for an extra burst for our races. They suggested that we eat some pasta or rice the night before for extended energy.
I don’t recall what I ate the night before.
My event was about 1/3rd the way through the competition so I had to wait a while. I started running around due to nervous energy and my teacher told me to save it for the race.
It was an hour later (felt like an eternity) that they called us for the 50-yard dash. There were 4 classes so there were only 4 lanes marked for the run. I was in the first lane; there was nobody to my left and 3 runners to my right.
I put my left foot on the line and twisted it a bit to ‘dig in’ to the asphalt. Yes, I realize this makes no sense now but it made perfect sense then.
I looked down the lane and saw the 4 judges (teachers) with stopwatches. Two of the teachers switched places when it was learned that the student they were timing was in their own class. They didn’t even want the appearance of impropriety.
They called for quiet. I remember the sun beaming brightly down on me, making me a litter warmer than I wanted to be. I looked over at the starter as he put the whistle in his mouth. I looked down the lane again and heard the whistle chirp. The race was on.
I felt good running, didn’t trip, didn’t feel like anything had tightened up – I felt loose… and fast. For the first half of the run I couldn’t see the other runners beside me – I had gotten off to a good start. As we neared the finish line I could see them in my peripheral view.
As I crossed the finish line I looked to my right to see all three runners had passed me. In a four-man race, I came in fourth. I was told later that all 4 times were within a second of each other. It was also pointed out to me LATER that the other 3 guys had leaned forward toward the finish line which is why they finished before me.
I wasn’t aware of this little trick.
Looking back now, I don’t remember feeling bad for coming in 4th. I recall watching some of the other events, especially the race between Ian North and Drew Johnson on the pull-up bars. The cheering was so loud as each one of them tried to pull themselves up ONE… MORE… TIME. I think the winner did 19 or 20.
I think I could do all of 4.