#9— Memoir
The Day I Flew Like The Wind
My long ponytail bouncing as the slight autumn breeze kept me cool
I was about twelve, and had not long started secondary school.
When the rounders and netball teams were being decided I didn’t get a look in. I now know I’m dyslexic, but looking back I think I had mild dyspraxia too. I could be clumsy at times, and although I had good hand eye coordination which worked well when throwing the ball, it didn’t work in reverse. And embarrassingly the ball would fly past my head, or the rounder bat.
And so the day came for the whole of the year group — about one hundred and fifty girls — to compete in the compulsory annual cross-country three-mile run. Those that had made it in to the sporting teams were put at the front of all the runners. I was pretty scrawny and was positioned somewhere in the middle of the pack. In front of the physically unfit girls, but well behind the sports stars from the year group.
The race was held in a place that boasted mature woodlands, hills, and banks — not far from the school.
Ready, Steady, GO
We were started in groups separated by a few seconds. As soon as my whistle rang out I began to fly like the wind.
Up the banks.
Hurdling over fallen tree trunks.
Striding up the grassy hill.
Careful with my footing as I practically slid down a loose muddy, stony mound.
My long blonde, ponytail bouncing as the slight autumn wind kept me cool.
I flew past many runners until it was only the front group who were before me. My experience of roller skating in the streets and tackling the uneven terrain of my local woods served me well. I had strength and stamina on my side.
With the finish line in view I put in an extra spurt and to my teacher’s utter amazement I crossed it in second place with breath to spare.
After that day the Physical Education department looked at me very differently.
I became part of the athletics team— swept away by school enthusiasm — but hung up my running shoes when I was about fourteen. However, they never did manage to teach me to play netball.
And what about the girl who beat me? Well she ended up training in a junior Olympic decathlon team a few years later.
I have often looked back to that day when I flew like the wind. Strong and determined. A good way to tackle life, I think.
Another Memoir From May
And one about running away…
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