Little Inklings 2022

THE VICTORY OF DEFEAT Today is the big day. I finally get to run a marathon in beautiful New York City. My name is Barbara, and I am already 50 years old. This is going to be my most athletic feat ever. I have been training for almost a year so that I could complete these 26.2 harsh, cruel miles. The people joining me to watch are my son, my three daughters, my husband, and my mom. I love my family and I think that they are going to be my key to victory. I need to win this race for them. When I get up to the start line, I lock in. Right as the gunshot sounds, I sprint out. I need to pace myself, but if I want to win this thing, I need to lead the pack. As I run, I feel my cramps set in, but I keep going because I need to win, for my family, and for myself. At mile 13 I see my family in the crowd, cheering me on. I don’t have time for high-fives because there is someone right behind me. He’s gaining on me and as I look back, he says, “You're too old for this race. I’m going to smoke you, old bat.” Now, I am upset! I fire back, “Yeah sure, try and beat me then!” As he speeds up, I speed up with him. I will NOT let him pass me. As we approach the finish line, he is still right behind me. We only have 0.1 of a mile left, when I see a motorcyclist burn on my back right. He crashes straight through the track and runs over the man behind me. As I see this happening before my eyes, a dilemma unfolds in my head: do I save him and lose the race, or do I win and let him die? My first reaction is to sprint to the finish, but then I see my family. I see the look on their faces and I know immediately what I have to do. Without giving it a second thought, I turn around and go help the man who ridiculed me. As the runners fly past me, I know that I have lost the race that I have trained so hard for, but I realize that I have won a bigger victory. TINO PENA ❜ 26 70