Pain. Pain in every part of my body. Every muscle in every limb is screaming at me to stop. Each step brings more misery than the last. The huff of my panting breath mingled with the tap of spikes hitting the ground. The distant roar of the crowd is just a hum in the background. All of the sounds surrounding me muddle together in my ears. I pay no attention to them.

Sweltering heat. The muggy and humid kind. Heat so intense sweat pours off your body and makes you believe your skin will melt off. I round the corner and pass by my coach shouting something incomprehensible.

Three laps left. I concentrate on the feet of the girl a few paces ahead, doing anything to keep myself from focusing on my burning muscles. Legs protesting as I push the pace even more, and I pass a few more struggling girls.

Two laps left. The pain is becoming even more agonizing. My throat is so deprived of water that each breath feels like sandpaper.

“Just focus. Breathe. Close the gap between you and the next runner.” My steady pace doesn’t waver as I come through the straightaway of the track.

One lap left. Lungs burning. Heart racing. Feet pounding. Breath wheezing.

Almost. Almost there.

“Just a few more feet. You can make it.”

The finish is three steps away. Two steps. One step.
My feet cross the line and my suffering is put to an end.