Rhyana Freeman, 14, the 2011 USATF National Youth Indoor girls’ 400-meter champion, knows the difficulty that comes with running the 400m. In this piece entitled “Track!” she takes us through what it is like to race the 400m indoors; concentrating on both the thrills and the struggles.
TRACK!
When my heat is called, I walk onto the track and everything falls silent. I can't hear anything but the starter's voice as it barks, "on your marks!"
I jump and stretch my legs for a quick second and place my hands just behind the line. My legs fall into place; my right leg in back and my left leg lined up with my right knee. They rest on the ground as I wait for the next command.
With locked elbows I lean and bow my head.
"Set!" the starter commands and my butt goes up while I wait, poised to start. All that's running through my head is “wait, wait, wait,” and don't fall as my heart is pounding from nerves.
The gun sounds and my nerves disappear. As I round the first curve, I hear only my coach's whistle. The whistle signals to me that I need to get to the break first, which means I have to be the first into lane one after we are allowed to cut in from our lanes.
I can't be scared if I go out too fast in the first lap. The only thing I work towards is getting to the break first. My coach tells me before my race not to be afraid to feel pain and if you're holding someone off because you got to the break first you won't feel the pain even if you went out too hard.
That's all I think in my mind – don't be afraid.
As I cross the break and move slowly into the first lane, I hear my coach's whistle. There's a girl right beside me. The whistle tells me to go faster. My breath becomes heavier.
"Hold her off!" my coach yells.
As we turn around the third curve she's still beside me. I open my stride and drop my arms. The pacing of the race is gone; it's all up to who wants to win more. I can't be afraid to get hurt.
Submitted Photo
I push through the pain, and start on the last curve.
"Get up on the bank!" screams my coach.
My legs are heavy and burning but I push myself into the second lane. He tells me to do this because you can generate more speed and it’s easier to come off a banked track when you are higher up.
I come off the bank and I feel as though I ran into a wall; the last 50 meters feels like you’re running
into a wall. Everything slows down. I can't breathe, my arms are stiff and my entire body is burning. My coach whistles multiple times. I know what I have to do.
I start to swing my arms and try to keep my head as straight as possible. My whole body burns but I want to win. The pain disappears as I push to beat the girl.
My steps become lighter and I can barely breath. Everything in my mind goes blank. She is right there with me; her strides match mine. We come closer and closer with every stride we take, the crowd yelling. The voices are all the same. I can't hear what anyone is saying. Just sounds of people yelling.
Out of nowhere I hear my coach and he's screaming telling me to pick it up and hold the girl off. I try my hardest and use all the energy that's left in me.
As I cross the line I throw my head forward. It's too close to call but it's my best time. I walk off and my hands go down to my knees. My breath is heavy and I can barely stand.
My friends walk over and give me high fives. I look up and on the board and see my name; I have won!