Smith-Cotton's Poem

I finally catch my breath from my panic attack as I wait for my team to be called to the starting line. I stand shaking, nervous and afraid of what is to come. I try to search for some type of assurance from my teammates, but they are just as nervous as I am. We are about to run a total of 5 kilometers, up a large hill, snaking through trees and shrubs. The mud was squelching under our tan boots, from the downpour the night prior, as we anxiously waited to begin. I take another look around and think to myself, “Why do I do this?” “Smith-Cotton!” the man in the uniform calls our team to the fading orange starting line. We all take one last look at each other and somehow come to a telepathic agreement. We were all going to do this without holding …show more content…
The most difficult part is turning around and going back. Since we have already gone up that harsh ascent, we know how laborious the descent will be. Still, no matter how difficult it is, we must finish it. We begin our decline. We run back through the thin path, narrowly missing the trees as our speed quickly picks up. I am screeching. I do not want to collapse as I run down this steep and narrow hill. Abruptly, the path widens again and we are on flat ground. I am relieved for a second, and then I realize that this final segment is what I have to put my entire body and mind into. We give every last bit of energy that we have into this. This is where we sprint the quickest. This is literally the final …show more content…
“Let’s go, Antonova!” my commander roars at me. My body is giving up on me. I no longer have any more push, but my teammates do have more pull. I see the orange of the finish line and I finally muster just enough energy to get through. I push through. I push through and I feel strong. I have just completed that grueling and laborious run. A question flashes through my mind. Why do I do this? I look around at the tired faces of my teammates and I see relief. I see the excitement in their eyes and I smile to myself. The other team huddles around us, as do our coaches. We all get congratulatory pats on the back. We did it. I see the pride on their faces and I can’t help but being happy. This is why I do