3 Steps

It was a hot day of course.

When was it not?

And it was a home meet.

Us girls were setting up our blocks and test running over the hurdles a few times when suddenly the Official called out loudly-

Runners take your marks!

My heart was pounding as I stretched out my legs and settled into my blocks.

Soon he would call out "get set" and the agonizing few seconds between those two words and the sound of gunfire would follow,

just as they did before each race.

The few seconds I would think-

Maybe it wasn't too late?

Maybe I could just stand up now and walk away safely?

No harm done.

I didn't have to run this race.

Surely I didn't.

Who was making me run this race?

Through all the races I ever ran I never did get a chance to answer that question.

We were off.

Taking the seven steps needed before throwing ourselves into the air over the first hurdle,

where then the technical stuff would begin.

Counting out the pattern in my head, land 1, 2, 3... land 1, 2, 3...

I cleared the first three hurdles taking 3 steps each time,

continuing with my run flawlessly.

Before leaping over each hurdle I thought that surely this was not happening,

but my momentum was shoving me forward as the extra speed I was gaining made it absolutely impossible to fit in another step.

When I got to the middle of the race I again feared that this was all too good to be true and soon I would hesitate.

Which, at the speed I was going, hesitation would cause me to eat track in front of the entire crowd.

But before I could entertain the thought for long I was landing off the last hurdle,

having 3 stepped the entire race,

my trail leg forcefully being propelled in front of me, and crossing the finish line...

In an instant I wanted to burst into tears.

I thought the smile I was wearing would literally engulf my entire face as I gasped for air and my lungs seared in painfully dry flames.

I was in complete shock and awe.

My mind was racing as pride, victory, began to seep into every inch of my body.

I had really just done it.

And it was really that easy.

Medals, trophies, awards, ribbons, records, qualifying for state...

None of that mattered anymore.

I had 3 stepped an entire race-

and I would never 4 step a single hurdle ever again.