Stop, Drop & Run
"Breathe in… breathe out… breathe in… breathe out. My toe on the line, and I stole a glance to my right. The Northern Arizona University (NAU) lead runner stood poised in box three. She was a calculated runner, her intensity radiating like heat from a furnace. I had raced her before, and I knew she launched from the start with a ferocity that could intimidate. My plan was to mimic her pace, stay on her shoulder, ride her lead, and wait for the perfect moment to surge past her when fatigue set in. I occupied box four, one of the prime starting spots for this race. It was our home course, our familiar territory, and we had the luxury of choosing our starting boxes. I stood at the front of our team line, flanked by Jennifer and Mia, half a step behind me—Mia on my right, Jennifer on my left. The rest of our team crowded behind us, their anticipation bleeding like sweat. Coach Wilson had positioned us according to our speed; being the fastest girl meant I had the Stop, Drop& Run - Soft Cover 6x9 | Shannon Morse Author
