Length - 497 words
Originally written for a competition that was using the central theme 'Start'.
Coming back from injury can be the hardest part of a
young athlete's career, and it's something Jamie has had to put up with more
than most. Now it's the start of the new track season and he's donned his
spikes once more. Will things finally go according to plan?
____________________
Comeback Kid
Spend a day walking the streets of London and you’ll sneeze
the city’s ink for a week, but the running track forms a clearing in the
concrete jungle and the air is thick instead with sweat and anticipation.
Today
is the first round of the regional qualifiers for a place in the national meet
to be held in Birmingham in a few months time. The start of a new season means
the crowd is swollen with first timers, chattering away and applauding
nonsensically at anything their babe minds pick out as a cue. I can feel their vacuous
encouragement clamouring for attention on the back of my neck as I warm up,
carried on a strong tailwind that’s already thrown up some pretty quick results
today and given wings to the lucky losers.
They call me the Comeback Kid. I’ve already had numerous
career defining injuries during my short time in spikes. As a junior I’d break
records every time they cracked the pistol, until one nasty fall took me out of
the game for four months. I count it as one of my greatest comebacks even
though it was more challenging mentally than physically. A lot of the best
potential athletes are lost at this tender age of educational uncertainty, the
time out makes them concentrate on different areas of study and new career
paths open up inside their distracted minds.
I, however, remained committed. The setbacks
never cease but I keep coming back faster and stronger than before.
‘...one to watch is Jamie Underwood in lane five, coming
off the back of another serious
injury, but I hear he’s been posting personal bests in training. What are your
thoughts, Edward? A talented runner if he can keep his body in check.’
‘Oh
undoubtedly John. His record as a flat runner is prestigious for one who has
spent so little time actually competing. He will insist on hurdling though,
claiming it’s his favoured discipline.’
‘And
there he goes, bursting out of the blocks at some speed! He couldn’t have asked
for a better start.’
‘You’re
right John, and you can see he’s just added an extra stride to his pattern as
he approaches the bend and leaves the favour of this stiff wind that’s
been-‘
‘Oh
no! It’s happened again! Terrible scenes here as the leader’s foot catches on
the barrier and sends him crashing to the ground.’
‘A
familiar story for this young talent I’m afraid, and by the looks of it, this
could be another bad injury for him...’
They’ll say that it’s unfortunate it happened on the
first race of the season - but I operate in reverse, and am instead celebrating
a spectacular climax. ‘DNF’ might mean ‘did not finish’ to you, but to me it
reads victory. I get to start over from zero, fighting my body’s quit calls against
this state of perpetual rehabilitation I set it. And this time, as always, it
will be harder. My season starts
here.
____________________
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