My heart is pounding as I stepped onto the burnt-orange track. Thousands of people have their eyes on me. It is so loud here, yet I hear nothing but myself nervously drawing in air. I look up into the stands, and out of the thousands, spot my own family. With proud tears in their eyes, they chant my name, and for one peaceful moment it was just me and them, and I heard, "Dana! Dana! Dana!" so vividly. The murmurs of the strangers surrounding were tuned out by my family's support. I snap back into reality and slowly approach lane 4, where I had been assigned to run. As the starter lifts his gun, I try to keep from jumping out of my skin. I hear the starting gun pop, and before I know it I'm running.
My ability as a runner comes from hard work
My ability as a runner comes from hard work