Here is a story that came to me a while ago, tell me what you think. I have no running experience so I guessed what it might be like. So enjoy.
Run of a Lifetime
I have been running since I was three years old. My pop was a world-class endurance runner and would bring me out and let me run with him. I ran my first 5k while my friends were playing with blocks, then ran my first 10k before I even learned to ride a bike. Before I started high school I ran in my first marathon. I know that today will be the greatest day of my life. The Hammer Falls high endurance race is 50 miles long. Most don’t finish; the ones who do are never the same. My dad ran this race twice and never finished higher then fifth place. Today it all comes together, because today I’m going to win it.
The weather was sixty-five degrees with low humidity. The day was perfect. I lined up at the starting line, stretched a little, looked over at my fellow runners. I then got in to my blast off position. In this type of race you want to free yourself up from as much humanity as you can so you’re not moving off your line as much. Basically you need to sprint for a bit to separate from the others. Three minutes till race time.
I hear screaming behind me, like someone has cramped up and can’t take the pain. Then again to the right of me I hear some more screams. Dudes, it’s not even hot. Eat a freaking banana you morons! I focus on the road, one minute till blast off. I hear a gun shot. Early. Whatever. I’m off.
I sprint like a madman and I hear another gun shot to my left, what the heck is going on? Are some of the other runners not paying attention? Focus Brad. Stay on your line, you’re in the lead; don’t care about the others, just go.
Whoa this is totally weird the crowds are leaving early. I hear a lot of screaming. Dang! Did I just see that old dude bite that lady in the face? Whoa! Oh Dang. Get to steppin’.
Some of the other runners have caught up to me. Oh no you don’t suckers, I look to my right and see three runners from the Kenya team, man do they look scared. Screw them, this is my race and they are not passing me. On my right is Larry Reason, the Olympic marathon gold medallist. He also looks scared. Maybe something really bad is happening back there?
All five of us break out of the city limits and head for Hammer Falls. As we head out on to Highway thirty-four the Kenyans and Larry stop. So do I. Larry comes up to me and is crying. “Zombies! Holy God in Heaven, everybody was eating everybody!” I just look past him to the city we just left and some one, a lot of some ones are running towards us. I can’t quite make out faces but I hear the moans and screams. These zombies, can run and they are running right for us. The Kenyan runners scream as one and take off running for Hammer Falls. I look Larry in his eyes, smile and tell him, “I’m still going to win.”. I run after the Kenyans. This is my race. Zombies or no, I’m going to win it. A minute later I hear Larry behind me.
All five of us are tired, we have been running for an hour now and the moans and screams are getting louder, the zombies are behind us and gaining. My guess is the water and food tables will be up, but will be abandoned as news was relayed to them. We need water and soon. Could also use a power bar there the best...focus on running Brad, eat later.
We come around the bend at see the tables. We grab cups of water and some power bars and keep moving. I think the zombies are a half a mile behind us. How do you out run a monster that never tires, never dehydrates and never stops?
We just need to get to Hammer Falls before they do. I take the lead from one of the Kenyans and start to pull away. Larry catches me and maintains my speed. I hear a scream behind me, one of the Kenyans fell down. He must have pulled a muscle or just tripped. The other two stop and go back to help him. The zombies are two thousand yards behind them and running fast. Larry and myself just keep running. After a while, we stop hearing the moaning and screaming. Maybe the zombies caught the Kenyans and stopped to hydrate or whatever they do.
We are almost there. Ok that’s bullcrap, we are almost half way there. Lucky for us all the food and water tables have been set up. We have been staying hydrated which is good thing, but we are thirty miles in and fatigue is setting in and I’m starting to slow down, Larry does not, he starts to pull away.
I settle in to a good rhythm, my sore muscles are ok with this speed, and I’m content to just keeping Larry in sight. That’s when I hear them, moaning and screaming. I look over my shoulder and see two of the zombie Kenyans and about a thousand of their new friends gaining on me. I will finish this race before I die. No, I’m going to win this race. I pick up my pace. So do the zombies.
Five miles to go, I see Larry has slowed. He is five hundred feet in front of me. One foot in front of the other, keep pushing Brad, keep pushing. I’m gaining on him. Just a couple more minutes and I’ll have him. I see him looking back, trying to pick up his pace, but he can’t. This is probably the fastest and the farthest he has ever run. Four miles to go.
I catch him at mile two. He looks at me with wild eyes, the zombies have kept pace and are just thirty feet behind us. I wink at him, as I pass him. He will get silver today. I want this, I need this. One foot in front of the other, push past the pain Brad, just push past the pain. One mile left.
I see the last hill, over it and there will be the finish line. I hear Larry scream as the zombies have finally caught up to him. He tries to pull away but his spirit breaks, and they pull him down. I’m almost to the rise. I’m going to do it Pop! I’m going to win!
I come over the hill and see the banner: Finish Line. I pick up my pace, finish strong, don’t be a wuss. The road comes into view, and I see the crowd waiting for me at the line. Their hands are out stretched, there screaming for me! I run through the tape and raise my hands in victory, as the crowd surges in. I won! I won! The race of a lifetime.
(Sounds of crunching and biting)
The End.
