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My school annual cross country run fell on 30th April 2009. Weeks
before the event, we practiced running every Wednesday from 2 p.m.
to 3 p.m.
On that day, the bell rang later, at 7.40 a.m. Dressed in our respective colorful house T-shirts
-- yellow, green, blue and red, we assembled at the
basketball court and lined up according to our houses Tahan, Kinabalu,
Bakawali and Jerai. The Sports Secretary, Mr. Ramanathan, then briefed us
on the dos and don'ts during the cross country run. After that, we walked
in single file to the school gate.
Mrs. Lee, our school principal then made her way to the front of the
line. Preet !! And we were off. The first group of students to run were the
class B students -- the first, second and third formers. Then it was the turn of
the class A students -- the fourth and fifth formers. We ran from the school,
cut across a hill where there was a stream and passed a housing estate
with nice bungalows. The route was scenic but the actual running was a
real killer.
Most of us forced our legs to run fast, overtaking some slow students,
ignoring their jeers and cheers. Having played the fool during the practice
sessions, most of us felt our hearts pounding like a thousand drums. A group
of girls overtook me. Despite the muscle ache, I increased my stride and
managed to match their paces.
We followed a hilly road which led us past a stream. The bank of the
stream was lined with shady trees. I was sorely tempted to stop to take a
rest but decided against it. I gritted my teeth and pushed myself forward,
wanting to win maximum points for Tahan House.
A group of us soon reached the second checkpoint where a teacher
was waiting with bottled water. We slowed down, grabbed a bottle of
water from her outstretched hands and rushed off. I soon lagged behind as
I was starting to tire. We continued running and found ourselves pounding
along a rather nice-looking path with trees on both sides. Suddenly,
a sharp pain spread from my calves to the rest of my legs but I did not
stop running. The soles of my shoes were as hot as fire as I pounded the
pavement to catch up with the other girls ahead of me. Try as I could, I just
could not catch up with them. I managed to reach the finishing line later,
scoring only five points instead of seven. Those who came way after me
got five points each for their houses.
It was close to 9.30 a.m. and most of the students had returned to
school. Luckily, there were no casualties as those who could not run took
their own sweet time to walk back to school. Most of us rushed to the water
cooler to quench our thirst. When the bell rang for break, we headed to
the canteen to get our favorite drinks and food.
The results of the cross country run were announced the next day.
My house, Tahan House was the champion House. Lily was the Class A
champion for girls while Lin Shan, a willowy boy, was the Class A champion
for boys. |
